Chapter 16

Not so much in the mood for this.

“I was invited,” she stated with a defiant tone.

“But I thought you were up north until the third.”

“Changed my mind.”

“Who’s watching Charlie?” he asked.

I was learning so much.

“Sam and Harry,” she answered firmly.

Strawberry looked at me with apologetic eyes and introduced us.

“Pleasure to meet you,” I said.

She responded with a mini-nod.

Her name was Natalie, which somehow I knew meant “born at Christmas.” Well, Feliz Navidad, Natalie. And though I’d never heard her name spoken aloud, I knew it was his ex-wife. One whose acquaintance I was hoping to avoid.

Feeling uncomfortable, I excused myself to the ladies room. No sooner had I refreshed with blush, gloss and a spicy breath mint, than darling Natalie came craftily through the door, still looking beautiful with that sour puss grin.

She crossed into my personal grooming space and whispered, “I’m not done with him yet.”

What did I do? Leave me alone. What is this, a Glenn Close movie?

She appeared fierce and looked a little like the actress, so I refrained from debate. Instead, exposing my intelligence, I did a quick hand-jive and said, “Alrighty then,” and slipped out the door.

Strawberry was waiting for me. “I am so sorry. I had no idea she would be here.”

“I know. Who’s Charlie?”

“Our dog. We raised a golden retriever together. She got custody.”

“Oh.”

His freckled hand took mine and he led me to the dance floor. We knew we were having a moment. Not sure what kind of moment it was, but it was sure was a moment.

We didn’t talk about the situation again that night, nor did I glimpse Natalie prowling about with any rabbits. This was Sir Strawberry’s battle, not mine.  My theory is that I shall not judge one’s relationship vault, lest they look into mine and find some real doozies.

The next day I met up with good friends at our annual New Year's resolutions eat-all-the-pie-you-can party. I was pleased with the previous year and the resolutions I'd kept. But I was even happier to welcome in a new year, because for some auspicious reason I felt it was one not to be missed.

 to be continued…

*Check out the Factoids Page for lucky foods to eat on New Years. 

Mr. Strawberry and Me will be back in January. Happy Holidays!

Chapter 15

Thank God that’s over.

Y’know it was one of those nights better to have never happened. Let’s call it a never-happened night. Poof…never happened. Better to have sat around in loose pants, watching old movies with plenty of chocolate at your fingertips. Possibly practicing darts for future Olympic competition. Anything but this.

The evening started out lovely. It was New Year’s Eve, and I was feeling fancy. Mr. Strawberry arrived for our date rather resembling the crowned Prince of Dashingness. Oh, this man. I don't mind saying that I'd become quite partial to his ginger effect. We were off to his friend’s black-tie cocktail party. The night was young and so were we. Well, relatively.

I opted for New Year’s Eve with Strawberry, not only because it was what I wanted, but because I thought it was best. I turned down Colin, not because I wanted to, but because I thought I better. He still smelled of trouble with a capital T, and that stands for Tail-Twirler. Like it or not, that’s my current reasoning.

The party was operating full-throttle by the time we got there. Busy servers were offering the likes of exotic caviar, tomato tarts and assorted martinis. There was a full orchestra swing band and fountains of champagne. It’s a good thing I was feeling fancy, because these were fancy folks with fancy things to say.

 

Lost in my martini and reveling in all the festivity, I was unprepared for what, or who, was coming next. As I saw her loftily saunter across the crowded room, Strawberry placed a soft kiss on my forehead. Nice. When I realized that this curiously attractive woman was headed directly for us, I smiled a friendly smile. No return smile from her. What an odd approach, I thought, as she tapped Strawberry on the shoulder.

Shock saturated his face when he turned and saw who was tapping.

“What are you doing here?” he asked without humor.

Uh oh. It can’t be.

Oh yes, it can.

to be continued...

Chapter 14

While Strawberry was helping me do the dishes that Thanksgiving night, I finally got the courage to confront him about his lack of jello consumption. Not to seem overly concerned, I asked in a half-teasing kind of way. He smiled at my inquiry. It was a smile that had begun to cause my knees to weaken.

Then taking the dishtowel from my sopping hands, he rested his forearms on my shoulders and said, “You are a wonderful cook, and I loved everything you made. But I distrust jello.”

I needed to delve deeper.

He proceeded to explain that his well-intentioned mother, a nurse, was convinced that jello, particularly lime, was a cure-all. Whenever he was sick, she forced him to eat it. But eating it never made him feel better. It made him feel sicker. So now, he consciously avoids even the sight of the rubbery substance, or he becomes less than lucid.

I wonder if he’d feel differently if he knew that a bowl of wiggly lime jello, when hooked up to an EEG machine, shows brain waves identical to those of adult men and women. Just a thought.

To be fair, I must admit that when he nearly drooled describing the cranberry sauce his mother makes, I politely kept my mouth shut. However, I did turn my head and release a mute gag. Thank goodness he arrived with wine, and not the cranberry thing. Yuck! I’m a non-cranberry sauce eater, and it would have slyly found its way into my napkin.

In the end, jello was not a deal-breaker. I was slowly reincorporating a man into my life, and this situation had given me further insight into my sweet Mr. Strawberry. It also reminded me not to rush to judgment, nor to assume a prejudice against a side salad until I’d heard all the facts.

Speaking of judgment, or the absence of it, Colin was still bobbing his tail-twirling self in my vicinity. After managing to dodge dinner for several weeks, I finally stopped resisting. I decided that brunch the Sunday after Thanksgiving would be harmless. But it wasn’t and I reluctantly had a good time. Truth is, Strawberry weakens my knees, but Colin makes them knock. I wish they didn’t, but they do. And that seems so wrong.

I am flattered to have two gentlemen callers, but it gets so complicated. And the big holiday dilemma is that they’ve both expressed interest in my whereabouts for New Year’s Eve. Oh Holy Night! Naughty or nice?

                                                       

        to be continued...                    

Chapter 13

Strawberry and me. Has a nice ring to it. Sounds…sweet. And that’s exactly what the last few months, our getting-to-know-you period, has been. Sweet.

Our biggest quarrel was on Thanksgiving over a seven-layer jello mold*. Most people are absolute about jello on Thanksgiving Day. There are the jello eaters on one side of the table and the definitely non-jello eaters on the other. There’s no jello in-between. 

Once a year I break down and make a traditional jello recipe handed down from my great aunt. Let me be perfectly clear. This is the only time I ever eat jello. It is minus any floating fruit, devoid of stringy carrots, and deliciously picture perfect for the palate. Except, Strawberry’s palate, that is.

What bothered me most was his disdain for the product. As he handsomely headed down the buffet, I noticed a slight nostril expansion when he spotted and detoured away from the attractive jello. I considered, foolishly, that maybe he’d have it for dessert. Then again, that nose action was telling me otherwise. 

You know, when you cook with reckless abandon, even if it is just jello, you like people to eat and enjoy it. And I was sensing an arrogance from Mr. Strawberry. Like he was above jello. I thought, “No one is above jello.” They may not like it, but they’re not superior to it.

Even my sister-in-law whispered, “He didn’t eat the jello.”

“I know.” Don’t remind me.

“Colin ate the jello.”

“I know.” Don’t remind me.

“But he was also a big fat cheater, right?”

“That’s right…don’t remind me.”

to be continued...

*Check out the jello recipe on the Recipes Page, just in case you get the urge.

Chapter 12

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely, as we uncomfortably entered my place. “I was anxious to see you.”

He was so close behind me that I felt a little claustrophobic. His big feet took this extra step and removed the heel of my right shoe in the process. This, for whatever reason, made me itch. And sneeze. Then I remembered I was allergic to his soap.

“Oh. Sorry, babe,” he apologized.

I reached down to recover the loss of my sneaker and tried to breathe. “Could you give me a moment, please?” I demanded, hobbling off to my bathroom.

“Okay, but you look great,” I heard from a distance.

Reluctantly, I looked in the mirror and let out a silent scream. Not just at the reflection, but at my current predicament. No time for processing. Only solution was muscle up and confront. So, I pulled my hair into a ponytail, brushed my teeth and feasted my face with cover-up.

When I returned, Colin was standing in the same spot. However, he was now holding two bouquets of calla lilies. “There was a knock at your door. Delivery guy. Got something goin’ babe?”

“Maybe I do. Maybe I don’t.” I said, amusing myself, thinking of Strawberry.

He laughed. So did I. And a thaw began. Colin probed no further about the possible other admirer, but I could tell he was wildly curious. And I was okay with that.

Taking both bouquets from Colin, I put them in separate, but equal, vases. He watched me. Then he began to talk. And talk. And talk. It was a heartfelt, verbal vomit of extraordinary proportions. Perhaps he’d sought advice from Clementia, Roman Goddess of forgiveness and mercy. Whoever he chatted with, there were more tender apologies than a girl could ever dream of. 

Finally, he dribbled out a courageous last plea for absolution and softly said, “That’s a wrap, babe.”

Long pause. He was waiting.

“I don’t know what to say. It’s so unexpected. I need to absorb this.”

“I understand,” he said respectfully. He came over, took my hand and whispered, “Maybe you’d have dinner with me? Casual.”

Oh, Colin. “All right, but just because I’ll dine with you, doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”

“Yeah, but you’re thinking about it.” He did that tilt and lift thing again, and away he went.

Time heals all things, or so they say. All things except maybe trust. I knew I could forgive this repentant tail-twirler I was once in love with. But truthfully, I didn’t know how to trust him again. Trust. It’s a very good thing and a hard thing to come by, let alone regain.

TRUST
      
     to be continued...

Chapter 11

Antsy universe. Hello? In a hurry much? Could you not have given me some time to respond before throwing this cadlike creature on my doorstep?

I couldn’t believe it. I just stared at him incredulously. Never mind what the universe was thinking. It deserves an obedient curtsy, I suppose. But what was he thinking? The ultimate cojones of it all. 

Smiling, he tilted his head to the right, lifting one eyebrow. Hmmm. The tilt and lift action was his way of investigating his approval rating. Not so fast, hot stuff. You got some work to do. Settle in. This is gonna be a bumpy ride.

There’d been a five-year absence since I’d last heard from this big fat cheater. And I wasn’t about to make it easy on him.

Irksome as he was, he still charmed me. Dang it. But, I wasn’t going to let him know that. At least not right away.

Colin, whose jet-black hair had turned shades of grey, started walking toward the car, holding long-stem calla lilies as a truce tool.

“Hi babe,” he said. No answer from me.

“Is it okay if I still call you babe?” Still no answer.

“You look great.” Oh brother.

“Babe??” He offered the flowers.

“I do not look great, Colin.” I wanted to call him Tail-Twirler, but refrained. “My hair’s underwashed, my dark circles are overexposed, and I have revealing chocolate at the corners of my mouth.”

“No, you look great. You look….you look like you.” I could only sigh.

“Well now that you’re here…would you like to come in?” I asked without encouragement.

“Love to,” he joyfully replied, still holding out my favorite flowers that I refused to accept. 

to be continued...

Chapter 10

The next day I went over to Claire’s for consultation. I needed perspective. She listened as I recapped the previous evening. Since I played back Colin’s message 14 times, I was able to repeat it verbatim. We were both truly awed at Colin’s timing, and frankly, his everlasting balls.

“You know, when it rains, it pours. And it usually pours in three’s. So beware of one more,” Claire warned smiling.

I was already soaked and did not need a third.

Many questions still remained. Do I call him back? Do I let it go? Do I send him a ribbon for his tail? I mean, what does he really want anyway? 

Then my friend calmly asked, “Well, do you want to call him back?”

Life can be so simple. Naturally, I wanted to call him back. I am curious. And maybe it’s the universe giving me the opportunity for completion. But this time it would be at my pace, and in my moment.

I decided three things by the time I left Claire’s. I would call Tail-Twirler back. He would have to wait a week. (Don’t want to rush that completion.) And I would follow my current bliss and see Mr. Strawberry before the week concluded.

Having made those decisions, I felt like celebrating. So on my way home I munched on some secret chocolate stash that I carry in my glove compartment for special occasions. Then I checked for messages. There were two. One work related, and one from Strawberry. The sound of his voice made me blush. He told me he had a great time last night and hoped I liked the flowers.

Flowers? Really? Sweet.

I love flowers. Unless, of course, they’re delivered inverted…in which case, as in Victorian times, means you’ve just been dumped. I was hoping mine would be upright.

As I drove into my parking space, I noticed a tall man standing outside my door. Though his back was to me, I could see he was holding a bouquet of calla lilies. Delivery guy, I thought. But when the man heard me pull in, he turned and looked right at me. And I freaked! May I have my moment please!?!

 to be continued...