Lost and Found (30 page)

"I told you pretty much what all they said. I’m falling for
you Liv”; please talk to me"; "I want to start a relationship with you"; "trust me Liv" blah blah blah!!" She sits down
across from me on the bed.

"I'm still pissed that you read them ya know so leave me
alone and let me read them for myself."

"Whatever. Here, let me pull out the ones I didn't read and
I'll wait for you to catch up." I just look up at her and sigh.
"So... While you're reading about love at first sight an all,
what happened here this weekend? You sounded nuts on
the phone."

"We had sex and it was amazing. That's pretty much it."

"Oh yeah right! That wouldn't have you crying on the
phone."
She's not going to leave me alone about this so I tell her
everything while I'm reading the cards.

"He what? You slapped him? Abortion? Why are
you still here?" Oh my lord! Maybe I shouldn't have told
her everything. But that's what we do! We tell each other
everything.

"Claud, if you're going to react like that, I'm never telling
you anything again. We worked through all of it. Well, most of it." She rolled her eyes at me.

"So, what are you going to do if you ARE pregnant?"
Wow. I figured she would have been madder about what
he said about Derek.

"I don't know. Leave the country? I doubt there's
anything to worry about and I explained that to him. Why are you not mad about what he said about Derek?"

"Oh, I am. Kind of. It ticks me off that Derek isn't here to
defend himself, but honestly O, I always told you that Derek
was selfish and if you're honest with yourself, he treated
you like you were his doormat. Don't get me wrong. I miss
him every day and loved him, but best friend wise? I
always wished you had defended yourself. Sounds like
you've finally learned how to take care of yourself. I am
proud of you for that!" She high fives me and picks up a
card she hadn't read yet. I pull it out of her hand.

"Hey! What was that for? I thought we were going to
read these together!" Pffft, I don't think so.

"Do you see your name anywhere on the cards? No. They
say Olivia!" I look at the one that I'm holding. "Wait.
This one says My Darling Liv. Hmmm..." I look at all of
the rest of the cards and they all say Olivia. A couple of
them say Liv, but none of them like the one I'm holding.

"Open it! I bet that's the best one!"

I can't open it. I put it down and just stare at it. I bet this is
the one that he said he poured his heart out in. She reaches
forward to grab it and I jerk it back.

"If you do that again Claud, I'm going to punch you! Don't
think I won't! Got it?"

"Good Lord! You're acting like it’s a hot potato or
something. Just read the damn thing! Out loud please!"
She lies down on the bed on her belly and puts her chin on
her hands, as if she's watching a movie.

"Claud, you don't understand. I think this one is why we
had that argument. He said he poured his heart out into this
one. I'm just scared to see what all he said."

"Why are you so scared? It sounds like it's going to be a
good thing. Were the other ones bad? No, Olivia. Just take
a breath and open it and read it. You might like what he
says."

She's right. I've got to get over being afraid all of the time. I
open the envelope and the card is blank, but there is a piece
of paper inside. I start reading it to myself, until Claud
reminds me to read it out loud.

My Darling Liv,

I understand why you're scared, but I'm begging you to take a leap and trust me and believe that the last thing in
the world that I want to do is hurt you. I cannot help my
reaction when I am around you and I understand your
hesitation, but I know you feel the magnetic pull that we have for each other.

These last few days have been some of the happiest of my
life! Not only have you helped me make up for years of neglecting my children, but you've shown me that I owe it
to myself and the children to move on and look forward to
my future and quit running backwards into my past. Do you believe in love at first sight, Liv? Because I do. Never in a million years did I think it would happen to me not
only once but TWICE, Liv!! Yes! TWICE!!

I know we haven't known each other for very long, but I
can already see my future with you and Gideon and Eden
having a perfect life together. You are absolutely the
dearest soul I've ever met. You so love my children and
my biggest regret was that they would never have a mother again, but after meeting you? I know that you
have fallen deeply in love with them and love them as
much as I do. That is very rare, Liv! For a woman to walk
into strangers lives and genuinely love someone that you
don't have to love. I know it is because of your kind loving
heart. I know that you're scared to take this huge leap
with me because of how soon it is, but Liv?? I promise, from the bottom of my heart that I want way more from you than just a physical relationship. The last woman I
made love to was my wife Vanessa and I have never taken
sex lightly.

I want to know you, I want to show you love; I want you
to get to know me. I want to date you and treat you like
the Goddess you are. Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you are even more beautiful on the inside.
Beautiful really can't even describe you, Liv! Gorgeous or
absolutely stunning can't even describe you. Angelic!
That's why I called you my Angel! So please, PLEASE
take this leap with me, and we don't have to forget our
past, but cherish the memories, and let’s make some new
memories... Together! Me, you, Gideon and Eden.

Yours Truly,

Cash

We both sit there for a couple of minutes. Claudia exhaled a long sigh, as if she was holding her breath.

"Do you realize what this means, O?"

I can't talk. All I can do is the only thing I ever do. Cry. I just nod at her and she gets up and pulls me into her arms.

"He loves you! He's in love with you! Please don't fight
this. Embrace it! Everything he said is the truth! I see now
why he was so mad at you for not reading the cards, and I'm so glad I didn't open that one. What a sorry friend I would
have been. I'm so sorry I invaded your privacy and it will
not happen again. Scouts honor!"

She saluted me like the Girl Scout she never was, which makes me giggle and hiccup, which causes both of us to
laugh.

"I need to go talk to him. The kids will be here in a little
over an hour. Do you want to hang out up here or maybe go
downstairs and visit with Carmen?

She's a sweetheart, but
don't you dare go behind the bar in the kitchen, because she will probably cut you with a knife. And I'm not kidding!"

"Hmmm. I must meet Carmen! Go, go talk to your man!" I jump up and give her a hug and I feel like everything is running in slow motion, as I run to the
elevator. The elevator seems to be running extra slow
today, because I can't get to him quick enough.

********************

His door to the study is half open and I look in and he's on
the phone with one of his employees, yelling about
somebody named Maggie he's wanting to fire. He
seems really mad and mentions something about the human
resources department getting involved.

He looks up and sees me through the door and motions for me to come in. I must look a mess, because he looks at me and scrunches his brow up, quietly asking me what's wrong. I know he can tell that I've been crying. He finishes up his
call and comes around the desk and pulls me into his arms.

"Liv! What's wrong, Baby? Did you and Claudia have a
fight?" He looked behind me to see if anyone was there.

"No, nothing like that. Just hold me for a minute, okay?" He
picks me up and walks to the couch and sits down with me
in his lap. He has a way of just sweeping me off of my feet.
Literally!

"You know I don't mind holding you. It's becoming to be
one of my favorite things to do, but please tell me why
you've been crying. Maybe I can help."

He's holding me like I'm a baby with my head in the crook
of his arm and his other arm under my legs. He reaches
down and kisses me, and I start crying all over again.

"Sweetheart? Why are you crying? Please talk to me."

"I... I had ulterior motives for Claudia coming. Ever since
our fight last night, when you mentioned the cards? I've wanted to read them."

"So, you had Claudia bring them to you. Is that why you
wanted to leave at four this morning?" I nodded and he just
grinned and pulled me closer to him and hugged me as hard as he could.

"I owe you an apology for not reading them. If I had read
them, we never would have had that argument. I'm so sorry,
Cash." I pull his head down and kiss him.

"So, I'm guessing you read the one with the letter in it?" I
nod. "That was the last one I had them write. Before I hung
up, the lady that wrote it out for me told me that if you
didn't fall for me after reading that letter, that she had a beautiful daughter she wanted me to meet. So, Liv, should
I call her back and ask for her daughter’s number?" I turn
red with jealousy.

"Absolutely not! You're taken, Mr. Kingston!"

I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my chest and I
feel absolutely wonderful and like I don't have a care in
the world.

"If you call me that one more time, I think I'm going to have
to take you right here on this couch!" I open my mouth to
repeat it, but remember that Claudia is here and that would
be rude, so I shut my mouth.

He drops his head, realizing why I'm hesitating. "Claudia.
Isn't it time for her to leave?"

It was as if he could read my mind. He pulls me under him
on the couch and starts kissing me on the neck, knowing
that that's one of my weak spots.

"Oh no. Now you're not playing fair, you know what that
does to me." He whispers into my ear.

"Which is why I'm doing it and I know when I whisper in
your ear you get goose bumps. Is it working?" Oh, what am I going to do with him?

"Tonight! When the kids fall asleep. I promise!" He rises
up and adjusts his pants and I can see why he's so frustrated
by the bulge that's trying to force its way out of his pants, which causes me to giggle.

"Oh, you're laughing at my little problem? I see how you are,
you little tease." This has me laughing harder, because what he has isn't exactly little. Gigantic would be more exact.

"What was I interrupting when I came in? It sounded like
you were chewing someone out." Maybe I shouldn't have
asked, because the look on his face went from playful to
pissed.

"Just a little problem I'm having at work. Nothing I can't
take care of." He frowns and I notice that he has the cutest
little frown lines above his eyebrows. "I'll tell you about it,
though, because this woman is absolutely crazy and you'll never believe what she did to me at work Friday. I want to
fire her, but I have to talk to human resources first and do it the right way." I already want to kick her ass, because he
seems a little worried.

"What's her name? Do you want me to kick her ass for ya?"
He leans his head back and laughs and laughs. I'm not laughing at all and I don't even know what she did yet.

"That would be a sight to see, but I can handle it. This
employee, Maggie, has pretty much slept with every man in
the office. She is all the time flirting with me and it seems that everywhere I go at the office, she's there, like she's
stalking me." I stop him.

"Okay! I really want to kick her ass now!" I can already
tell where this is going.

"Calm down, Liv. She's clearly trash and she will be fired,
but I don't want to be sued either, in case she turns it around
on me, okay? There weren't any witnesses to what she did,
so it would be her word against mine."

"Oh, lord. It's bad, isn't it? What did she do?" I can feel my
heart racing, I'm getting so mad.

"Friday, everyone leaves early when they're done with their
weekly work. I've done that for years, so everyone can feel like they have a longer weekend. Just an added perk that I
give my employees to make them more productive through the week, some of them finish up late on Thursdays, so that
they can have a full three day weekend."

"That's a great idea and I'm sure they love having the option. You sound like a fair boss to your employees."

"I try to be and trust me, no one has complained." He leans
forward and runs his hands through his hair like he's
nervous to tell me the next part.

"Anyway, I'm finishing up and ready to leave to come
home and someone knocks on my door. My assistant had
already left for the weekend and I told whoever it was to
come in. It was Maggie and she was wearing a coat. I don't
know how I knew, but I knew that she was up to something.
I should have walked out right then, but she shut the door
and I didn't move. I just sat there at my desk. I was really
gruff with her and asked her what she wanted. Her response
was "you" and then she took her coat off and was naked underneath!" I immediately stand up, because I'm irate.

"Okay! I'm for real going to kick her ass! Who does she
think she is? What'd you do then?"

"I was in shock! And then I was absolutely furious! I
went and picked up her coat and wrapped it around her and
screamed at her that she should be fired and who does she
think she is! She screamed at me that if I did, then she
would say I came onto her first and that I told her to come
up to my office naked or I would fire her! I pushed her out of my office and shut and locked the door and got in the elevator and came home."

"Oh, Cash! What are you going to do? You just left her
there? Was anyone left on that floor? What if she vandalized anything?

"Oh, she wouldn't, because there are cameras everywhere in
the offices, even mine and the foyers where the elevators are. But, there's no audio, so all you see on the camera is
her coming into my office and taking her coat off. It could
look exactly like what she said. I'm hoping human
resources and my attorney can help me figure out a way to
fire her." I sit in his lap and give him a hug and start
rubbing his shoulders to try to calm him down.

"I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. You're too good of
a person to be treated that way!"

"Am I, Liv? Do you really think that?" There he goes
whispering in my ear agai,n giving me goose bumps.

"Of course I do, and would you please stop that! You're not
being fair!" He laughs and kisses me.

"Okay. I'll stop, but will you answer my question?" What
question? He didn't ask me anything and he's shaking his
head at me. "Will you take the leap with me? Will you be
my Girlfriend?"

When he asked me to be his girlfriend, he sounded like how
Gideon would ask a girl in his class and I can tell that he
purposely asked me that way to be funny, because the word
"girlfriend" did sound funny at our age. I giggled and
pushed him back onto the couch and kissed him with
everything I had.

"Of course I will! Did you think I was all blubbery and
acting like a little kid because I was going to say no?"

He got the biggest grin on his face and I could have sworn I
saw a tear fall onto his cheek before he attacked me on the
couch with tons of kisses, which had me giggling and
kissing him back.

"You are so going to get it tonight, my Angel. You have
made me a very happy man."

"You've made me pretty happy too, I must say." The
doorbell starts ringing like crazy, which lets us know that
the kids are back. That's Gideon's way of making an
entrance.

"Dammit! I'm going to break that damn doorbell! It
always has such bad timing! Grrrr!"

"Haha. Quit your whining and go see your kids!" I patted
him on the butt and winked at him.

"Oh, Liv! I may ask you to do that again tonight! That was so hot!" He's so fun to be around and laugh with.

"Come on, Mr. Kingston. Oh, I mean Cash!" I'm at the
door already and i turn around and wink at him, as he's looking at me like a love sick school boy.

"Not fair, Liv! Not fair! Now you're just teasing me!"
I turn and walk out the door, knowing that it's going to take
him a couple of minutes to compose himself.

********************

We walk into the living room and Claudia is sitting on the
couch with the kids. She was such a great aunt to my kids
that seeing her with Gideon and Eden has me thinking
about her visits with mine and Derek's kids. Gideon is
holding a baseball glove and Eden has a couple of Barbie
dolls in her lap that she's playing with.

"Hey Dad, Olivia, look what Aunt Claudia brought us.
Wanna go play catch?"

Claudia is looking at me with an apologizing look. I know
that the gifts she gave them were supposed to have been for
Jenna and Jerimiah. At first I'm a little upset, but I realize
that there is no reason for the presents to stay in her closet
and it probably helps to give them to Gideon and Eden,
instead of looking at a reminder that her niece and nephews
were gone.

I look at her and smile and nod my head and she smiles
back at me. Cash must have sensed something, because he comes over next to me and puts his hand on my lower back
and asks if I'm okay.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why don't you go play catch with Gideon
for a little while before dinner is ready, for some more
father son bonding time?" He leans down to kiss me, as if
it's the most natural thing to do and remembers that we are in front of everyone and he pulls back and grins at me.