Heart Of Stone (10 page)

They both laughed.

“See there we go. Common ground.”

“Sure if it’s that you’re nuts.” Donnella smiled smacking him on the arm, but he wouldn’t let her go.

“He is cute, though, isn’t he, my little big boy.” Mary squeezed his face. Kissing him on the cheek. “Why don’t you two go take that pup for a walk or something while I finish up in here, or better yet go watch that asinine movie? I’ve got it covered here.”

“Are you sure ma?”

“You’re only even helping to impress
her
, usually you’re in there knocked out from too much nog already.” Mary laughed, shooing them both out of the kitchen.

***

“I like you’re mom.” Donnella smiled leaning back into Matthew as they sat on the porch swing, watching the waves of Long Island Sound crash against the rocky beach. Bits of ice and snow gathering around the piers, ebbing with the tide. “And I like your hometown. It’s peaceful.”

“Yeah, it has its moments. This just happens to be a peaceful one.” He tilted her head up and kissed her gently. “Can you stay or is it just for the night?”

“I don’t know. I’m waiting to hear about a meeting, that I really cannot hand off, it requires my handling specifically, as I drew up the papers myself.”

“Anything I can do? I mean I was gonna be a suit for half a second there.”

She smiled. “It’s sweet that you even care what I do. But no. It’s just a merger I’m vying for.”

“Not another contract, like mine?”

She looked up at him, her eyes darkened, “No. there’s no one but you now.” She turned in the swing, facing him. “You have my undivided attention. Just so we are clear, no one has had that in a very long time.” She kissed him again before settling back into his arms.

“Good… Then spend as much time here now as you can, up till your meeting and then spend New Year’s Eve with me. I’m going up to the apartment in Westport to see Janet and our friend Raj, we have some drinks, get gussied up, and go dancing at the clubs. It’s fun and it’s hassle free.”

“That sounds like a really fun time. I’d like that, but I don’t know…”

“Have I steered you wrong yet?”

“No… Okay. I’ll stay as long as I can, boy it’s a good thing I packed a few days’ worth of stuff. I had a feeling you were gonna do this to me.”

“I was afraid you would say no.”

“And I was afraid you’d never get around to asking.” Mary yelled from the living room window which sat next to the swing with a laugh.

***

“Day after Christmas Shopping. In a
mall
. I never do this, why are we doing this?” Donnella lamented as they pulled up to the Westfield Shopping Center in Milford, Connecticut. Just a fifteen minute drive from Mary’s house. They took Donnella’s SUV because it had more room according to Mary.

“It’s a tradition, when I was growing up, things were tight so we waited until the day after Christmas for presents, when the prices were way down. It just sort of stuck. C’mon it’ll be fun.”

“If I break a bone…”

“We’ll be even.” He wiggled his fingers at her.

“You can wiggle those for me again later, stud.” She batted her eyelashes at him grabbing Mary by the arm. “You’re the professional here. I’m sticking to you.”

“That’s a very good idea, dear.”

***

“So what was Matthew like as a child?” Donnella asked as she and Mary fished through a rack of thick cozy sweaters. Surprised to find that even
she
found two that she was going to buy for herself.

“Are those for you?” Mary asked ignoring the question it seemed.

Donnella nodded, “One is.” She popped her lips applying some chap stick. “The other is for one of my assistants.”

“Give me the one for you.” Mary insisted. “No personal purchases… Family rule.” Mary smiled throwing the sweater into her cart instead.

“I can’t let you do that.”

“You most certainly can, and you will. Young lady.”

“Yes, Missus Mayfield.”

“And for Christ’s sake would ya quit with that already, all Matty’s friends always called me Ma.”

“Oh? Okay.” Donnella was stunned but pleased at the woman’s treatment. “I’ve got Matthew a present back at the apartment, but I’d like to get him something today. Any suggestions?”

Mary stopped shopping as though in thought. “I think your being here was gift enough, but if you want to get him something he’d like I can make a suggestion. But it may be more commitment than you are ready for.”

Donnella raised an eyebrow. “Just what has Matthew told you?”

“Oh, not much. Just
everything.
I am his mother, dear.” Mary smirked.

***

“So there he is not a stitch of clothes on, in the middle of his Aunt Claire’s wedding reception, bouncing around in all his
glory
to
Shoot to Thrill
. It was adorable, I have the pictures.”

“I’m sure, I’d love to see ‘um.” Donnella laughed hard, holding her side. “That’s… and he was how old?”

“
Four
…” Matthew hung his head down, hiding his reddened face. “I was four.”

“And my sister, rest her soul, was so mortified. See our Matty was always blessed, as I’m sure you are aware, so of course he got the whistles, and wide eyed stares.”

Donnella just kept laughing shaking her head, and holding her side. It was starting to be uncomfortable and even Matthew noticed as she moved in her seat.

“Ella, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I just think I need the washroom. Where?”

“Ma?”

“I got it, sweetie.” Mary took Donnella’s hand walking her to the restroom, as Matthew went to settle the check, he pushed in the chair, noticing a dark spot on the cushion where Donnella had been sitting.

Hurriedly he made his way to find his mother and Donnella, concerned. He knocked on the door. “Ma, is she okay?”

Mary opened the door a pinch. “She’ll be fine, just give us a few.”

Looking inside he saw Donnella splashing water on her face, then drying her hands. She turned to see him, a sad look on her face. “Sorry about that, apparently my period decided to come early. It wasn’t due till
next
week.”

He put an arm around her as she came out of the bathroom. “I was freaking out for a second there. You were fine them boom, you were just…”

“A mess of cramps and sleepy face. Yeah I get like that.”

“So long as you are okay, dear.” Mary put a hand on her shoulder tenderly. “I’m just glad I still carry things just in case.”

“Me too.” Donnella tried to smile, but it was exhausting.

***

Mary drove them back to the house and Matthew put Donnella into a warm bath to soak before joining Mary back in the living room. He sat on the glider by the fireplace and ran his hand down his face with an exasperated groan. “Well that was my scare for the year.”

Mary knitted her brows in concern as she sat beside him, “It’s just a little menstruation, Matty. We’ve talked about this, all of us do it.” She let out a little laugh. “Some of us just fall apart more than others. “Remember how horrible I used to act? You’d go stay with Howard Shultz and his parents for the week, just to get any relief.”

“It’s not that. She’s got one of those IUD things. I just thought with how quickly she suddenly… I thought…
I’d
hurt her.”

“Oh, baby.” Mary hugged him, he wrapped his arms around the tiny woman, eclipsing her. He shook, she could tell he was crying. “It’s
okay
. She’s
fine
. Probably wants to see you. Go up there. Spend some time with her. Hold her. Cramps need warmth and massage. Trust me.”

He sniffed, pulling away from her with a nod. “She made a request for my hot chocolate when this time came. I’m gonna run down to the market. Can you just let her know?”

“I can.”

10

Matthew came back to find Donnella curled up in his bed with Pepper at her feet. The pup got down with a happy tail wag leaving with a wave of his hand as he made to sit on the edge of the bed. His movement made Donnella roll toward him with a tiny smile.

“Hey.” He held the mug of hot chocolate in his hands tensely, his thoughts of her being in pain still brimming at the surface.

“Hmm. Is that my medicine?” She sat up, gingerly pushing back against the pillows with a wince.

“Yeah, and I brought you a couple of Midol.” He put the pills in her hand and she tossed them in her mouth instantly swallowing them.

“You are a God among men. You know that.” She took the mug from him placing it on the maple nightstand, under the low light lamp. “You’re mom told me you had a little bit of a freak out.”

He dropped his head. “Yeah, sorry. I just… When you mentioned the IUD, I didn’t know what it was. So I did some research. There are some horror stories.”

“I’ve read them. But it was the best solution for me. I assure you, I’m fine. I flux sometimes. Stress does it. It only lasts a few days and it’s only the first couple that
really
suck.” She moved back on the bed, opening her arms so he could lay down with her.

He pulled her forward and climbed behind her. Wrapped his arms around her firmly, then pulled the blankets over them. He kissed her neck. “Mom said warmth and pressure massage helps.” He worked his hands down her stomach, and gently pushed against her at the belly button.

She let out a little laugh. Taking his left hand which was free of the cast, and positioned it lower, just above her pubis. “It’s more like here, and in my back.” He rubbed firmly in slow circles against the soft fleece of her leggings, and she backed into him with a contented sigh. “That’s nice.” She cooed wrapping her fingers into his other hand at her chest. “How long until this thing comes off?”

“It’s only been two weeks, so probably at least another month.”

“Have you been able to work at all?” She noticed bits of paint smudged into the fiberglass and cotton at the opening of the cast around his hand.

“I’ve started playing with a few things. It’s a work in progress.”

“Kind of like us?” She yawned.

“Yeah. Kind of like us.”

“Would you do me a favor?” She asked letting go of his hand.

“Anything.”

“Go grab my purse? It’s just over by your dresser. I need something from it.”

He pulled from her without question, and retrieved the oversized pocketbook. He never understood a woman’s need to carry so much stuff. “Here you are.” It hit the bed with a thud and a bounce.

She rifled through it a moment then pulled out a small black envelope with electric blue designs on it. “I had a present for you back in New York, but since we were doing the shopping thing…” She flipped the envelope over in her fingers toward him.

He looked down at her, strangely, as he made to sit back down. Then got up leaving the room in a hurry. She made a sound of protest, only to be silenced when he returned with a little red bag with green tissue paper sticking out every which way.

“I was going to wait, but since you initiated…” He handed her the weighty bag as he took the envelope.

“You really didn’t…”

He looked at her, “Yeah… I really did, why wouldn’t-” His mouth dropped open as he fingered the papers in the envelope. “Are these… No fuckin’ way.
AC/DC
, front row center? VIP... In Sydney?”

“The flight itinerary is there too.” Donnella grinned, seeing his whole face light up as he bounced in place excitedly.

“Fucking, A... But there are two tickets, and it’s in May… Do you?”

“If you want me to.” Her smile was beginning to hurt her face.

“Fuck yeah.” He wrapped his arms around her kissing her repeatedly. “Of course I want you to come.”

“Easy, you’re squishing me… Not to mention my present.” She squealed.

He pulled away. “I hope you like it. Truth be told, I called in reinforcements for it.”

She opened the bag, pulling out the tissues of paper, reaching down inside she found a small pedestal and then a snow globe. The snow globe contained inside a snowy scene of central park with a couple kissing on a bench. She turned it in her hands and the snow inside shifted, as it lit up, changing colors slowly from white to red to blue then green. Playing
Wintertime Love
by
The Doors
. A tear rolled down her cheek. Snow globes were a secret passion of hers. Having received her first one from her mother when she was just five years old.
Harold…
“Oh, Matthew.” She sniffled. Watching the snow fall inside.

“Why are you crying?” He kneeled down in front of her. “Do you not like it? I just thought, it reminded me of that first night in my apartment. That couple on the bench?”

“I know…” She put the globe aside, grabbing him by the sides of the face. “I love it.” She kissed him. “It’s perfect. Just like you.”