When I’m With You by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 9
Paisley
I climbed out of bed, grabbed my phone from my nightstand, and scrolled through my emails. Romeo was already sitting by his food bowl in the kitchen when I walked in.
“Good morning, Romeo,” I said as I opened up a can of Fancy Feast and dumped it in his bowl.
As I popped a k-cup in the Keurig, I suddenly remembered it was Halloween and I was expected to be over at my parents’ house at around five o’clock. My phone beeped with a text message from Keaton.
“You up?”
“Yeah.”
“Unlock the door. I’m outside.”
I opened the door and he stood there with a smile on his face.
“Good morning, sis.”
“What are you doing here so early?” I asked.
“You’re going surfing with me today. Grab your stuff and let’s go,” he replied as he walked inside.
“Not today, Keaton. I have things to do.”
“What could you possibly have to do? It’s Halloween.”
“Coffee?” I asked as I walked to the kitchen.
“Sure. One cup before we go.”
“I’m not going.”
“Why not, Paisley? We haven’t been surfing together in a long time and I miss our fun. Besides, I can tell the parents that we went today, and they’ll get off your back about not leaving the house and doing things. It’s a beautiful day out.” He smiled.
Romeo walked up and rubbed against his leg. “What’s up, Romeo?” He bent down and picked him up. “Come on, Paisley. We won’t be gone for that long and whatever it is you claim you have to do, you can do it when you get back.”
If I didn’t go, he would hound me. That was what he did. He hounded people until he got his way.
“Don’t you have a website to design or something?” I asked.
“I don’t work on the weekends. You know that.”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“Yes! Thanks, sis. Is your surfboard still in the garage? I’ll load it in my truck.”
“Yeah. It’s out there. I’ll go get ready, but we better not be gone long.”
“We won’t. I promise. Did you hear that, Romeo? She said yes.”
I rolled my eyes and smiled as I went and got ready.
* * *
Keaton wasn’t kidding when he said it was a beautiful day. We grabbed our surfboards and as we were heading down the beach, we stopped and waited for the joggers to pass by. I looked up and was shocked at who I saw. He stopped and looked at me.
“Hi, Paisley.”
“Ben. Hi.”
“You surf?” he asked, out of breath.
“Yeah. You run?”
“Yeah. Every day.”
We stood there awkwardly in silence and I prayed that Keaton didn’t say anything.
“Well, it was good seeing you. Happy Halloween.” He smiled.
“Good to see you too. Enjoy your run. Happy Halloween.”
As Keaton and I headed down towards the water, he wouldn’t stop staring at me.
“Are you going to tell me what just happened and who that good-looking guy was?”
Shit. I had no intention of ever telling him where I went last night. I could have lied and said he was someone from the paper, but I didn’t.
“Get in the water and I’ll tell you.”
We put the surfboards in the water and climbed on. As we paddled our way out, I told him about last night.
“Instead of going straight home last night after dinner, I stopped in at that support group.”
“Way to go, sis. And?”
“Ben, the man we just saw, was there. It was his first time attending the meeting and his wife passed away about a year ago too.”
“Wow. He looks around your age. How crazy is that?”
“I know.”
“Did you talk?”
“Just a few words. I just wanted to get out of there and go home.”
“Okay, I’m going to say something I normally don’t say, but he’s hot, Paisley.”
I smiled. “I know. I’m not blind.”
“So are you going to go back to the meetings?” he asked.
“No. I went, I saw, I conquered, and I don’t need to go back. Do me a favor and please, I mean please, don’t tell anyone in the family about this. I mean it, Keaton.”
“I won’t. Get ready, sis; here comes a wave.”
“Wow, look at you,” I yelled. “Hot surfer boy on the loose!”
He laughed and lost his balance. After we finished surfing, we headed back to the truck.
“Remember, don’t say anything to the family about what I did last night.”
“My lips are sealed.”
* * *
Romeo jumped on my desk and sat down on the edge while I took out the pale pink stationery and pen.
My dearest husband,
What a week it’s been. Kenny added another column to Dear Paisley. He wants me to answer questions about sex. Try to contain your laughter up there. How am I going to write about sex? I mean, I know about sex and what’s good and what’s not – at least I did when I was with you. I’m not sure if I can do this. I went to a support group for widows last night, out of curiosity. It was weird sitting there and listening to people talk about their grief. I could relate, though, and in some way, it was comforting. Keaton dragged me to the beach to go surfing with him this morning. I will admit that I had a good time. It felt good to hit the waves. I got caught in a rip tide and went under. For a few moments, I didn’t try to swim back up because being pulled under and the feeling of drowning, wasn’t any different than how I felt above the water. I miss you. Happy Halloween, darling. I wish you were here to save me from having to celebrate with my family tonight. Never forget how much I love you.
Love forever,
Paisley
I folded the letter, sealed it in the matching envelope and put it neatly in the drawer. I sighed as I looked over at Romeo. He was staring at me with his bright blue eyes. As I placed my hand on his head and started to pet him, he purred.
* * *
“Happy Halloween, Paisley. Where’s your costume?” my mom asked as I walked through the door.
“I’m wearing it. See? I’m a widow.”
The frown on her face told me that she didn’t think I was funny.
“I can’t believe you just said that,” she said as she turned around and stirred the spaghetti sauce on the stove. “Your sisters and brother are in the living room.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. Do you need any help?”
“No. Everything is done. The table is set and as soon as I pull the bread out of the oven, we can eat before the little trick or treaters start to come by.”
I grabbed the bowl of spaghetti off the counter and set it on the table in the dining room.
“Hey, Paisley,” Charlotte and the gang said.
“Hey,” I said with a small smile as I kissed each family member, including soon-to-be members, on the cheek. “Dinner’s ready.”
They all got up and we took our seats at the table. As we were passing around the bowl of spaghetti, Piper decided to ask me a question.
“So, are you going to tell us about Ben?” She smiled.
“Piper!” Keaton shouted.
“Thanks a lot, Keaton!” I said as I slapped him.
“What? I accidentally slipped and said something to Mom. She must have told everyone else.”
“Now, Paisley. Why on earth wouldn’t you tell us about your support group and Ben?”
“First of all, Mother, it isn’t my support group, and second of all, there’s nothing to tell about Ben.”
“Sure, there isn’t,” Charlotte said.
I rolled my eyes and slapped Keaton again with my napkin. “See, this is why I didn’t want you saying anything!”
“It’s Mom’s fault. Yell at her.”
“Stop it, both of you. If Paisley says there’s nothing to tell, then there’s nothing to tell. I think you all need to drop the subject right now and leave Paisley alone,” my dad interrupted. “If there’s anything at all to tell, then she’ll tell us when she’s ready. Now I suggest you all get eating before the kids start coming around.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled.
He nodded as he winked and continued eating his dinner.
As soon as the little voices of trick or treaters were heard, Charlotte and Ryan stood on the porch and passed out candy. I went to the back and lit up a cigarette. As I stood out there, trying to escape the badgering of my family, my dad walked outside and stood next to me with his hands in his pockets.
“Ben, eh? So what happened to his wife?”
“Cancer,” I said as I took a puff of my cigarette and then looked at it.
“How long were they married?”
“Five years.”
“That’s a shame. Young guy?”
“Around my age.”
“Wow. So sad. You two must have been the youngest in the group.”
“We were.”
“Weird.”
“I know,” I said as I took one last puff and put out my cigarette.
He put his arm around me. “Let’s go get some dessert and you can tell me all about this sex column I heard you’re going to be writing.”
Damn you, Keaton,I thought to myself.
