Tonya laughed self-deprecatingly. “I don’t think Nate and I ever got that deep. We were too busy doing other things.” She stared off into space as if lost in thought. “I never looked at it that closely, but you know me, I never really gave a damn what other people say. Folks have been calling me a whore since high school, big deal,” she said dismissively.
Callie saw through the bravado. She remembered those rumors and knew how much they had hurt Tonya as they both had been virgins until they were in college. Nate had been Tonya’s first, and the relationship had lasted until he went off to join the Peace Corps their junior year.
“So what’s the deal between you two?” Tonya asked.
“I guess you could say we’re dating. He said he wants to be with me as much as he can, and I want that too.”
“Cool, so when are you seeing him again? Didn’t you say they’re about to go out on tour soon?”
Callie began straightening the books. “Yeah,” she said glumly. “They’re going back on the road in January. He’ll be here day after tomorrow. He’s spending Christmas here at my folks’ house, and then we’re going to Canada a few days before New Year’s. After that, who knows?”
“Callie, why are you leading that boy into the lion’s den? You know how your daddy feels about white men, especially white men who are trying to get,” she paused with a wink, “have gotten into his daughter’s drawers.” Then the second half of Callie’s statement sank in. “You’re going to Canada with him for New Year’s? Wow! Have you told your folks about that yet?”
“No, I haven’t told anyone besides you.” Callie tried to change the subject by asking, “Do you think you’ll be okay with the store? The literacy group and the financial planning workshops don’t start back up until after New Year’s. It’s only for a few days, and Cynthia and Addie are out of school and they can help. Plus Roshonda…”
Tonya interrupted, “Of course I’ll be okay. That’s why we hired Roshonda in the first place, remember? So that we could have a personal life. Of course,” she continued sarcastically, “some of us have way more life than others.” Much to Callie’s chagrin, she wouldn’t be distracted from the previous topic. “But you still didn’t answer my question. What about your folks?”
“Tonya,” Callie said earnestly, “I really like Bryan, and I want to spend as much time with him as possible. I know Daddy will be difficult, but I don’t think they’ll do anything to hurt his feelings. I just want them to get a chance to know him as a person, you know? Not as the ‘long-haired, drug-using rocker from California,’ but as Bryan, the man I lo…” She stopped. Where on earth had the “l” word come from? “Anyway, Tonya, I miss him. You know how the poems and stuff talk about missing somebody so much you ache?” Tonya nodded. “I always thought that was a bunch of nonsense. Now I know better. A thousand times a day I think of something I want to tell Bryan about, then by the time he calls I’ve forgotten, and we end up just sitting there breathing into the telephone because we don’t want to hang up. I didn’t think it was possible to miss somebody so much.”
Tonya hadn’t missed her friend’s slip of the tongue, but deciding that Callie had been tortured enough for one long day, she reached over and gave her a brief hug. “Girl, you know I understand, but…”
“I know, but I’m an adult now. I’ve never given my folks any reason to question my judgment or choices. I know they don’t like it, but they’ll have to live with it. Being with Bryan is worth it.”
Their little chat was disturbed by a shout from the stockroom. “Callie,” Cynthia called, “your cell phone is ringing.” She rushed into the room giggling. “I think it’s your boyfriend.”
Callie snatched the telephone from her hand and answered it, then walked to the back of the room for privacy to talk to Bryan.
“Did you see that cell phone he got her?” Cynthia asked Tonya. “It’s the latest Motorola, and it’s titanium plated! I can’t wait until I can finally tell the girls at school about all this. They’re not going to believe it! It’s the most awesome cell phone in the world, and he gave her a direct line! That’s sooo romantic!” she gushed.
Tonya grunted in disbelief at Cynthia’s enthusiasm. “Oh yeah, nothing says ‘I love you’ like titanium plating.”
* * *
“No, baby, please, I can’t take anymore. We’ve got to stop now,” Bryan gasped, moving away from Callie on the sofa. It was Christmas Eve, and Callie and Bryan were supposed to be watching a movie in the den of her parents’ house. The rest of the family had retired for the evening, leaving them alone. Bryan couldn’t believe Callie’s behavior. He’d come to Alabama firm in his resolve to keep his hands to himself while in the Lawson home because he had no intention of getting dressed down again by her father. Unfortunately he hadn’t taken Callie into consideration when making that resolution. He hadn’t a clue as to why, but his usually reserved Callie had suddenly turned playful. From the moment he arrived, he’d known he was in trouble. She’d jumped into his arms and planted a huge wet kiss on him right in front of her family. Bryan wasn’t sure but he thought he’d seen Jesse Lawson grow fangs right before his very eyes. During the embrace he’d been careful to keep his arms splayed to avoid even the appearance of having initiated it.
Fortunately her family hadn’t noticed when his eyes crossed from the bolt of desire that shot through him when he felt Callie’s bare foot stroking his calf during dinner. Despite that close call, she had resumed her antics while they cleaned up after dinner, playfully popping him on the backside with the dish towel.
The soft, wet kisses they’d shared since her family had left the den had quickly evolved into deep, passionate exchanges. And somehow they’d wound up prone on the sofa, feverishly straining to fit their bodies together in a way that was not possible through their clothing. The fierce grinding had stressed his perilous control to the point that he either had to end the embrace or make love to her right there on the sofa.
“But I missed you,” Callie pouted petulantly, as if that excused the way she had jeopardized his life. She leaned against him and reached up to stroke his hair. “I really, really missed you.”
Bryan disengaged again. “Callie, you know how your father feels about me. He made it clear that he didn’t appreciate me disrespecting his home the last time I was here. What if he’d walked in and caught me between your legs like that?”
Callie crossed her arms across her chest. She knew Bryan was right, and she really did appreciate the way he was working so hard to make a good impression on her family. He wasn’t accustomed to having to behave in any prescribed manner; indeed, people generally went out their way to accommodate him.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, I know I’ve been a bad girl, but I can’t seem to help it. I guess I’ve gotten used to having you around, and now that you’re not here…” She shrugged. “I realize what a big part of my life you really are.”
Bryan smiled. “I feel the same way, Callie. That’s why I don’t want to mess things up with your folks. I know they’re very important to you, and I want them to at least trust me to take care of you and respect their home, even if they can’t come to like me, okay?”
Callie nodded, seeing the logic in this. “I think dinner really went well, don’t you? You and Daddy talked about football and stuff.”
“Yeah, he’s a big Titans and Falcons fan, and I really like the Raiders, but all in all, it was pretty cool. That’s why I don’t want to blow it by having him catch us making out on the sofa like a couple of kids.” He leaned over and brushed her hair out of her face. “But I can’t wait until we get to Whistler. I’ll show you how much I’ve missed you.” Then he goosed her. “You’ll definitely pay for your misbehavior at the dinner table, young lady,” he growled.
Callie giggled. “I couldn’t help it, you were being just too well-behaved. ‘Thank you so very much, Mrs. Lawson,’ ‘I’ve never had such an incredible meal, Mrs. Lawson,’ ‘May I assist you in clearing, Mrs. Lawson?’” She mimicked his deep, rasping voice.
“ ‘Could I blow your nose for you, Mrs. Lawson?’ I just couldn’t take any more!”
Bryan continued to tickle Callie, delighted by this change in her manner towards him. It was yet another intriguing dimension of this complex woman he adored. Now if he could only survive it for two more days.
He moved over to the end of the sofa, pulling Callie with him to rest her head on his shoulder. They sat contemplating the fire he’d built earlier. He suspected he’d impressed Callie’s father with his ability to build a fire and chop and gather wood. He had B.T. and his endless attempts to “make him into a man” to thank for that. While B.T. was no outdoors man, unless you counted his fanatical golf game, he had insisted that Bryan and Brodie learn manly skills.
Callie’s mother seemed to be warming up to him. She’d just beamed when he insisted on clearing up after supper. He’d even heard her tell Jesse, “That boy might not be so bad.” Jesse had only grunted in response, but it had to be a step in the right direction. He pulled Callie closer. Two more days of sexual frustration wasn’t too great a price to pay for the type of progress he’d made. He stroked her shoulder. Soon, very soon, he’d have her all to himself in the snowcapped peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
* * *
The next morning Bryan awakened to the sound of Cynthia and Addie knocking on everyone’s door to awaken them for the highlight of the day, at least as far as they were concerned: the opening of the Christmas presents. Though it was barely seven o’clock, he was already awake. Callie had given him advance notice of her sisters’ Christmas morning wake-up call. He lay in bed until he heard the family members move downstairs, then got up and hastily dressed in black jeans and a charcoal gray fisherman’s sweater. He didn’t bother to put on his boots and instead padded downstairs in his stocking feet.
The smell of sausage frying and coffee brewing greeted Bryan. Cynthia and Addie had begun breakfast as early as possible in an effort to speed everyone along to the main event. He followed his nose into the kitchen. He found Callie, as he’d known he would, at the coffeepot getting fueled up for the day. She looked deliciously rumpled in a pair of snug-fitting jeans and an oversized red crew-neck sweater. She gave him a somnolent glance and it was all he could do to resist the urge to take her back upstairs to her bed, or his bed, or for that matter, any flat surface. When he found himself contemplating the mechanics of making love without a flat surface, he moved to pour his own cup of coffee to distract himself from his prurient thoughts.
Fortunately Addie announced that breakfast was ready, and they moved to join Mr. and Mrs. Lawson in the dining room. Though most meals in the Lawson home were eaten in the kitchen, Christmas was a special occasion. Edith Lawson had set the table with her Christmas china and they drank their orange juice from her wedding crystal.
Addie and Cynthia had prepared homemade biscuits and scrambled eggs with cream cheese and sausage. Fresh fruit rounded out the meal. Much to the girls’ dismay, everyone ate their breakfast in a leisurely fashion, making polite conversation about the issues of the day. Jesse Lawson especially enjoyed teasing them about their presents.
“I don’t know why y’all are in such a rush. I’ve told you girls already, you’re not getting anything but coal and switches,” he drawled laconically.
Both girls happily joined into what was clearly a family ritual that was enjoyed by all. They pouted and made doe eyes at their father and Addie even managed to produce a tear or two until Jesse finally relented. “All right, y’all might have a gift or two under that tree,” he conceded.
They both rushed over to shower him with hugs and kisses. “Thank you, Daddy!”
Finally the family moved from the table to the den, where the eight-foot Christmas tree was surrounded by mounds of presents. Callie and Bryan shared the love seat, while Edith and Jesse sat on the sofa. Addie and Cynthia rushed over to sit on the floor next to the tree.
As the girls took turns calling out each person’s name and handing them their presents, Bryan was surprised to find that each family member had bought him a gift. He hadn’t expected it, though he had brought presents for each of them. He had spent a great deal of time thinking about Edith Lawson’s present before finally deciding on a simple gold circle pin. It was perfect for so classy a lady, but not so expensive that it would be daunting. He had originally planned to give Jesse Lawson season tickets for the Tennessee Titans, but abandoned the idea when he realized that Jesse might think he was trying to use his money to exert undue influence on him. Not that Bryan was above trying that tactic, but he had enough savvy to know it probably wouldn’t work. Besides, he needed to keep something in abeyance in case he really screwed up. He had learned strategy at the knee of a master. B.T. would be extremely proud. Instead, he gave him two tickets that were good for the home game of his choice. Cynthia and Addie were thrilled with their Apple iPods. Fortunately the portable MP3 players closely resembled ordinary personal stereos so the Lawsons didn’t know how expensive the little gadgets were. He’d also given them Steiff Teddy Bears, though theirs were considerably smaller than the one he’d given Callie.
Edith Lawson presented him with a lovely pale blue cable-knit sweater and told him, “You can’t wear black all the time, son. It’s just not natural. And the color will look pretty with your eyes.”
Callie doubled over laughing at the expression on Bryan’s face. “My goodness, Bryan, what are you going to do about your image? You can’t be seen in real live colors,” she gasped as she struggled to get the words out around her the bubbles of laughter.