Laurie's Time (The Fairfield Series) (8 page)

“Thanks Mom. What I really need is you. Is Dad home too? I gotta talk and sort some things out,” Rob said, affectionately looking at his mother.

Smiling, she called into the den. “Mac, turn the TV off. Family time!”

*

Rob sat with his mom and dad and talked for hours. He confessed what they already knew about his reputation. As hard as it was to discuss his sexual transgressions with his parents, it was harder realizing how selfish he had been. It never occurred to him that his mother had had to listen to snide comments over the years from some women coming into her shop. Or that his dad had heard comments as well.

He sat in the den with his parents, feeling completely ashamed and embarrassed. Looking up at them, all he could offer in his defense was, “I never slept with as many women as my reputation. I swear that I would hear of women claimin’ to have been with me, and I knew that had never happened. But I never said anything to correct the misconception. I also never saw it as usin’ anyone. Honestly, whenever I had sex with someone, I always made it clear that it was physical only, and if they weren’t on board with that, then I left.”

Hanging his head, he admitted, “I guess that seems like very little doesn’t it?” Then raising his head back up, looking his parents straight into their eyes, he said, “But making excuses for my past is piss poor. I’m over thirty years old; it’s time to man up.”

Bernie looked at her son with pride, thinking how much he looked like his father. Mac was the best of men and even though Rob didn’t realize it, he was like his father in all ways. Once he gave his heart to a woman, that would be it for him. “Son, it’s not a crime for a man to sow his wild oats. For that matter, it’s not a crime for a woman to do the same.”

This statement brought raised eyebrows from both her son and her husband. Laughing, she just added, “Well, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander!”

Mac and Rob just shook their heads laughing, as Bernie relieved a lot of the stress and tension of the conversation.

Mac, looking at his son, asked, “Rob, what has brought about this sudden desire to look at the kind of man you’ve been and what you want to be? You’re a good man; kind, caring, loving, friendly, competent, loyal. Why the sudden self-doubt?”

Bernie, looking over at the two men in her life, leaned over and patted Rob’s hand. “I think it has everything to do with a long-haired beauty.”

Gazing at his mom, Rob smiled. Mac grumbled that he was the last to hear anything and demanded to be brought into the picture.

Rob began to share about Laurie. He explained about seeing her at the grocery store; then Bernie interrupted to share how she met Laurie with Carol at the shop one day right after Rob had left. He continued on to the night at Smokey’s. He shared everything with his parents, desperately needing their insight. When he got to the part about Amber, both parents winced as though in pain. “Yeah, it went downhill after that,” he admitted. He even told them what Tom had said about Laurie having been hurt before.

“She just needs a chance to see the real you. The part that is not a player, no longer a player,” his dad interjected. Bernie just rolled her eyes at her husband.

“Honey,” she said. “It sounds like she’s being practical. Once burned, she’s not looking to get played again. Your dad is partially right – she does need a chance to see the real you. But that may take time. Are you serious about her? I would encourage you to befriend her first. Then that will give her time to see the real you.”

Rob sat for a few minutes digesting this advice.
Friends. Could he be friends with a girl that he wanted to wrap himself around and protect from all hurt? And what if he was the one that caused the hurt?

Knowing he had to give it a try, he kissed his parents goodnight and headed home.

L
aurie greeted the opening of school with great enthusiasm for her class of twenty-four first-graders. Each day she headed off to work, satisfied in the knowledge that she was doing something she loved. For the first month of school, they were required to have a fire drill every week, and she wanted to make a good impression on the principal. She had taught the students exactly what they were to do, how to act, and where to go. In the second week of the new school year, she was not surprised to hear the fire drill alarm. Her class immediately lined up and proceeded outside.

She was surprised though to see a fire truck outside with firefighters around. Her eyes immediately landed on one particular firefighter. Rob. Trying to be unaffected, she couldn’t help but notice his eyes staring straight into hers and his smile directed at her.

Her students began to talk with excitement, seeing the fire trucks. She quickly brought them back to order, and they continued on to their assigned location. At the end of the fire drill, Ms. Darby announced that the class with the best behavior would get to see the fire truck and talk to the firemen. Laurie was pleased when her class was called. Leading the children over to the fire truck, she tried to keep them in order.

Seeing that she was losing control of her class, Rob quickly stepped up. Looking impressive in his fireman’s uniform, he towered over the six year olds.

“All right, everyone, listen up,” he boomed. The children immediately quieted, looking at him with awe. “Only the children who listen to their teacher will get to climb on the fire truck and meet Mr. Mac, the Fire Chief.”

The children all looked to Laurie for instruction. Shooting him a grateful look, she divided them into three groups to rotate among the firefighters and the fire truck. The firemen took each group and began giving tours.

Rob maneuvered Laurie over to the sidewalk. “How have you been?” he asked sincerely, smiling down into her beautiful face. Her long hair was pulled back, and the wind was blowing tendrils all about. In the sunlight he saw that her hair had strands of light brown, dark brown, reddish brown all swirled together. He realized that he had never actually noticed a woman’s hair before. Not like this. Not memorizing its color. Or how the wind swept the loose strands around her face. He fought the urge to bury his hands in it, just to see how it felt.
Jesus, get a grip, man.

Laurie, suddenly feeling shy after how their last encounter ended, smiled and replied, “Fine. I’ve been fine.” It was as though her brain stopped working and she simply couldn’t think of anything else to say.

He acted as though he didn’t notice her discomfort and continued. “How are your kids? I have to admit, I never had a teacher that looked like you.” Even though she was wearing comfortable slacks, he noticed how they hung perfectly off her ass. Her blouse was prim and proper, but it did nothing to hide her shape. He was suddenly glad for the large fireman’s uniform that could hide his hard-on.

“The kids are great,” she admitted, smiling up at him. “I really like them. They haven’t learned to be cynical about school yet.”

He noticed the smile that made his breath catch, had reached her eyes, and they seemed to sparkle.

Reaching over she laid her hand on his arm. “Thank you so much for doing this for them. It’s a great way to teach them about fire safety and such a treat.”

Rob, feeling the spark from her tiny hand on his arm, looked into her face and noticed that she seem to feel it as well. She jerked her hand off his arm and once again looked disconcerted. Not willing to lose momentum, he dove right in.

“Laurie, I’d really like it if we could be friends. I’d love to take you to dinner.” Seeing that she was about to object, he quickly continued. “It would just be dinner. Just two friends having dinner. I’ve been in this town for most of my life and could fill you in on anything you’d want to know.” Seeing her hesitate, he pushed his advantage. “Come on, Laurie, just as friends. What have you got to lose?”

At this, she looked deeply into his blue eyes and began to smile.

“Well, okay. But just as friends.”

Feeling as though he could breathe again, he grinned his famous panty dropping grin. “Well, all right then. I’ll pick you up at six tonight.”

She was startled. “Tonight? So soon?”

“No time like the present to get to know each other!” he replied.

Laurie, biting her lip, looked as if she was trying to decide. Continuing to press his advantage, he convinced her to give in. By this time, the children had made their rounds of the fire truck and were lining up to go inside again. She walked over to the fire chief to offer her thanks. He was a big, handsome man with a booming voice and a cheerful personality.

“I would like to thank you so much for letting my class get to see the fire truck and your men up close,” she said sincerely, smiling up into his face.

Stepping forward, he took her hand in his, carefully perusing her face. “Call me Mac – everyone around here does. Except for Rob. He calls me Dad,” Mac said smiling broadly.

Laurie, glancing between Rob and Mac, saw the familiar look the two men shared. Laughing, she shook Mac’s hand and turned to take her class back inside.

“See you tonight, Ms. Dodd,” Rob said softly, so as not to embarrass her in front of her students. She turned and gave him a smile before herding her students inside.

“Dinner?” Mac asked.

Rob nodded. “I have to start somewhere, Dad. The truth is, I haven’t had dinner with a woman in a long time. But at least she didn’t say ‘no’!”

Mac slapped his son on the back and boomed out for men to pack up their equipment. As Rob turned back to the school, he noticed Laurie standing at the door looking back at him. Giving her a wave, he headed back to the station, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.

*

Laurie tried on multiple outfits before flopping down on her bed in frustration. Carol came in, viewed the fashion disaster covering Laurie’s room, and took over.

“Okay, what look to do you want to go for? Sultry, come hither, I’m in control, I’m unattainable, –”

“None of those!” Laurie jumped up from the bed, looking into Carol’s laughing face. “What are you laughing at?”

Carol, still giggling, apologized. “I’m sorry, Laurie, but for someone who is just going out with a new friend, you certainly are worried about what you look like.”

Laurie huffed in exasperation. “I know,” she said, looking back into Carol’s understanding eyes. “I wish I knew what was going on. I mean, he can get any girl he wants….and probably has! What does he want with me? I’ve made it perfectly clear that I’m not going to be his next conquest. Is he one of these guys that just can’t believe that someone is not going to hop into bed with him?” Laurie stopped her rant, sat on the edge of the bed and put her head in her hands.

Sitting down on the bed next to Laurie, Carol put her arm around her friend. “Laurie, I don’t think Rob has any agenda other than getting to know you.” Laurie looked up into Carol’s eyes, seeing nothing but compassion. Carol continued, “I know you see Rob as a player and there is no denying that he has had his share of hookups. I also know that his reputation is worse than what it really is. And, I know that he hasn’t slept with anyone since he first saw you in town, the day you arrived.” At this, Laurie looked confused.

“Yep, according to Tom, Rob saw you at the grocery store that first day you were in town, and he hasn’t been able to think of being with anyone else but you since then.”

Laurie quietly took in this information. “He said just friends, Carol. He promised we were going out as just friends.”

Carol smiled and nodded. “Yes, but for Rob that’s also new. He’s never tried to be friends with a woman and hasn’t taken anyone out to dinner for years.” Letting this information sink in, she then winked at Laurie and said, “Okay, now let’s find a going-out-with-a-friend outfit!”

An hour later, Rob sat in the parking lot of Laurie’s apartment building. Nervous…. he couldn’t remember the last time he was nervous. Nor could he remember the last time he had wanted to take a woman to dinner. Taking a deep breath, he got out of the truck and headed inside. Knocking on the door, Carol opened it and greeted Rob warmly. He glanced down at Carol, noting her beauty, and was glad that Tom had met such a wonderful woman. Carol smiled up at Rob, laying her hand on his arm. Awareness filled him that with Carol, he did not feel a spark at her touch as he did when Laurie touched his arm.