Parker's Island (21 page)

“I thought you liked Brian?”

“We do.  He’s a wonderful young man.  I just want you to take it slow.  Be careful,
and
don’t do anything you may regret.”

“Mom, we haven’t
done
anything
,
” I said, embarrassed.

“Okay.
I guess you could miss br
unch
this once.  But, please eat something
.  Y
ou are way too thin.”

“Okay
,
thanks,
”
I said and headed off.

“
D
on’t you want a ride?” s
he called after me.

I knew my father would be talking to his congregation forever, and I needed to talk to Brian right then.  “No, I’ll walk
.  I
t’s beautiful out today
,
” I said without looking back.

“Be home for dinner!”
s
he called after me.

I half walked, half ran to
Brian’
s house, hoping he would be back from church by the time I got there.  I had to make him understand that I really did want to kiss him, and that it had meant something to me.

By the time I made it to
hi
s house, I was determined to make him listen to me.  I knocked on the door, still out of breath from my brisk walk. 

Brian
opened the door
.

“I need to talk to you!” I said.

“
Delaney
,
now’s not a good…”

I didn’t take no for an answer.  I pushed past him,
turning to face him.  I
reach
ed behind him
and pushed the door shut
.  He was going to listen to me, right then, whether he wanted to or not.

“Please let me explain.”

“Let’s go out
si
…
”
             
“NO, just listen.”

“Delaney…”

I put my hands on his chest and pushed him back against the door and said, “I know you think that I’m
going to disappear again, or that Logan is going to come and sweep me away.”

“Delaney, we
really
should go…”

“Shut up
,
Brian
!
  Please
,
let me finish.”  I was determined to tell him how I felt.  He had to listen to me.  “I’m NOT going to disappear!  And as far as Logan is concerned, that’s over! 
It was over before it actually started! 
Please believe that!”

“Okay
,
”
h
e said, “Can we take this outside
now
?”
h
e urged again
, but
I refused to listen.

“NO!  I’m not finished.  You need to know that when I asked you to kiss me it was because
I
wanted you to.  I didn’t do it for you or because of what Molly said.  I was confused about what
she said, yes
,
but
that had
nothing to do with
it.  It was
my decision.
”

He stood there, not sure what to say or do, so this time I took the lead
.
I pulled him down to me and I started to kiss him.  He was hesitant at first, and I assumed he still didn’t completely believe me, so I kissed him hard and longingly, wanting him to know I wanted his kiss.

He let me kiss him for a moment
,
unable to resist
kissing me back
, but finally he
gently pushed me away.  “Delaney, um” he said, out of breath.

“So, do you believe me now?” I asked.

“Yes
,
”
h
e said
,
looking very shocked.

“Good!  Try to remember
that
the next time you
storm off thinking I did something against my will.
”

“Um, even if
it was possible for me to
forget this moment
,
which it’s not
,
I
don’t think all of the witnesses would let me.  In fact, I’m sure that I’ll
be
constantly reminded of this moment for many years to come
,
”
h
e said, with a very strange look on his face.

“What?  You lost me.
  What witnesses?
”

“Delaney, turn around.”

I did
as
he said and almost passed out when I noticed, not six feet away, a room
full
of people.  They were all stunned silent and staring right at me.  I was frozen in place
.
I couldn’t move or make a s
ound.  I was absolutely mortifi
ed.

Brian put his arm around me then and whispered
,
“I tried to tell you.”
 

Brian’s mom appeared then
.
“Delaney, we’re just having a little gathering after church.  Don’t
worry
.  W
e’re all friends and family here.  Let me introduce you…
”
She saw the terror in my eyes and
immediately
changed her tactic, “On second thought, why don’t you and Brian go to the store for me?  We’re
…
out of 7-up
,” s
he said
, looking over my head at Brian
with a nod
.

Just then one of their guests, I’m assuming a relative, walked over to me, grinned and then patted Brian on the back
.
“She’s a wild one Bri
.  Y
ou better watch her every minute!”
h
e chuckled and
then
strode
off
into the kitchen.

I was still frozen in the same spot. 
The comment from his relative only added to my humiliation, but I could not
have
possibly blush
ed
any
deeper
as every
ounce
of blood from
my body
already
filled my face. 
Brian turned me back around and said, “It’s okay.  Let’s go.” 

He led me outside.  I stopped at the edge of the porch steps, feeling completely humiliated.

Brian walked down two steps and then turned to face me.
  Standing two steps below me put us almost at eye level.  I co
uld tell he knew I was humiliated
.  He didn’t say anything at first, he just touched my cheek.  “What did I just do?” I asked, finally
able to speak
.

“You just made me the happiest
guy
alive!” 

“Oh
,
my God!  Your parents, your friends and family.  They all watched…” I was shaking.

“Delaney, it’s okay!  You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I kissed…
”

“Yes
,
you did
.  T
hat was my favorite part, by the way
,
”
h
e grinned.

“How can you be so calm?  I just made a huge fool of myself.  Oh
,
Dear Lord
,
why didn’t you stop me?
”

“Delaney,
its
fine
.  T
here’s nothing wrong with showing
a little affection
.
  Trust me, I appreciated it!”
h
e grinned.

“You have no shame!” I said, thawing.

“Why would I be ashamed of having the most beautiful young woman kiss me in front of a few friends?”

“I did more than that!” I said, reminding him of
all I had said
.

“So, I guess you kind of like me
,
huh?”
h
e asked
, grinning
.

“No
,
” I said
,
realizing
‘like’
wasn’t a strong enough word for the way I felt about him.  “I kind of love you
,”
I admitted, knowing it was true
.  I really did love him.  It was a comfortable, safe love, and I felt very lucky to have him in my life.

I could see the absolute adoration in his
eyes
.  M
y words were exactly what he was waiting for.  He picked me up and kissed me with such desire
that
I was almost frightened by the intensity.

“Um, I’m sorry to interrupt
…
”
h
is mom said, standing behind us on the porch.

“Not as sorry as me
,
” Brian said, teasing his mother.

“Well, I really did hate to interrupt, but
did you two realize that
you’re standing in front of the window
?
”
s
he aske
d quietly, trying not to embarrass me anymore than I already was
.

“Oh no!”
I said.

“Are you okay
,
Dela
ney?  It’s really no big deal.  W
e really didn’t hear what you said…
a
ll that well
,
”
s
he
lied
, trying to spare my feelings.
             
I started to laugh then, thrilled to be back in Brian’s good graces
,
and
r
elieved to
realize
that I actually did love
him
.  My life was finally beginning to make sense.  I knew I still loved Logan
.
I knew I always
would
.  But
I
also
knew Brian was a good, caring
person and that I loved him too
,
in my own way, and he loved me
unconditionally.

“We’ll go get your 7-Up now
,
Mrs. Walters
,
” I said, grabbing Brian’s hand.

“Delaney, I
don’t really
need any 7-Up
,
”
s
he smiled
and gave me a wink
.

“Oh.  Than
k you!”
I said, knowing she had
simply
offered me an escape from my humiliation.

“Honey, I think if you
’
r
e
in
love with my son,
then
it
’
s
okay for you to call me
Christine.”

“Thank you, Christine
,”
I said, blushing yet again.

She hugged me and whispered in my ear, “Thank you for making Brian so happy.  He loves you so much.  You are a very welcome addition to our family.”

“What are you two
whispering
about?”
Brian asked, curious.

We both ignored him, and then I said, “Thank you
.  T
hat means a lot to me.” 

We spent the rest of the afternoon together. 
He finally walked me home just before dinner, as my mother had ordered.
  We were both just happy to be together.  He didn’t say much
and
seemed deep in thought
when we
were standing on my porch.

“What are you thinking about?” I asked.

“That I couldn’t possibly love you more, and that
I want you to kiss me again, like you did earlier
,
”
h
e said, reminding me of my earlier humiliation.

I blushed again, and said, “The next time I
’
m about to make a huge fool of myself, please promise to stop me!” I said.

“I tried to stop you.  You were just very determined to make your point.”

“You could have dragged me outside; you are a bit stronger than me, you know
,
” I said, grinning.