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The bushes they had taken me to looked so insignificant in the daytime. I chuckled.
No one would ever suspect the party that small clearing in the bushes had hosted.
As I watched the group of men tossing a Frisbee nearby and, beyond them, the mother pushing her stroller down the lane and beyond with couples and families going to and fro, I laughed at the thought of just how many people must have heard us and at least stolen a peek or two. I never knew I harbored these kinds of desires for risk. I never would have imagined myself capable of such daring behavior. But I lied to myself and told myself that it was just a dream and that I should enjoy it.
When you wake up, you can get back to your frustrating life in New York. Until then, appreciate what this dream is throwing at you.
Life is but a dream. Life is but a dream.
I rode on to Gran’s with Michael Row Your Boat stuck in a loop in my head.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.
I arrived at Gran's with the song still spinning in my head. The giddiness must have shown on my face because it was the first thing Gran remarked on as she welcomed me in.
“Well, look who’s a cheery little bee,” she said with a sly smile on her face and a rising lilt in her voice.
“Of course I’m a cheery bee,” I said and kissed her on the cheek, “I’m happy to see my Gran.”
She laughed. “You may very well be happy to see your Gran, but I recognize that look, and I’d say you’re happy about a whole lot more than that. Come on in. I’ll put the kettle on and you can tell me all about him.”
Gran had the coziest little house: wood beams on the vaulted ceiling, framed pictures, and colorful crafts decorating every wall, petunias, and geraniums adorning the windowsills. I sank into the plush cushioned couch, and the smell of wood and pine married with that of the tea.
“Comfy?” she said.
I answered with a wide giddy grin.
She must have put something in the tea because once I started I just wouldn’t stop talking. And I held nothing back. I started to tell her about Wyatt. “Tall rugged handsome cowboy, gentle when gentle’s wanted and rough when rough’s needed.” Gran cocked her head to the side and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. “Is that so?”
I nodded enthusiastically.
I kept talking and telling. I’d ask a question then not give her the time to respond before I went back to talking and telling. Once I let slip the names Grayson and Samuel then it all came out: making out on the hood of his truck; the threesome; the foursome; everything.
I think I was more surprised by the fact that I was telling Gran about my adventures than by the adventures themselves. Nevertheless, Gran was a good listener. She nodded and poured more tea and nodded and listened.
Finally, I paused, took in a deep breath, and waited for the rain of judgment and chastisement to come down on me.
But none of that happened. Instead, Gran leaned back in her chair, one hand holding her tea saucer above her lap, the other delicately holding the teacup by its handle. She looked up at the ceiling with a nostalgic sweetness and sighed.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you.”
“You are!”
She took a sip of tea, smiled, and shook her head. “When I was your age, a girl couldn’t dream about doing the kinds of things you’re talking about.” She looked at me with a raised brow. “Of course, we did dream. But never could we imagine we had the freedom to do what we wanted. Now, girls of your generation,”—she shook her head and took another sip—“they’ve got so much freedom they don’t know what to do with it.”
“Well, I’ve certainly been putting it to good use,” I said.
Gran laughed. “You sure have, dear. You sure have.”
After a moment’s silence, I added, “I’m just worried, you know.”
“Worried?” Gran sat up straight in her chair and set her teacup and saucer on the table. “What are you worried about? Getting pregnant?”
I waved away her comment. “No, I’m not worried about that.” I put my hand to my heart. “I’m worried emotionally. I mean, I really like this… these guys.”
“Oh,” she said, looking a bit relieved.
“Is it possible to be in love with three men at the same time?” I asked.
Gran let out a long breath. “I can see how that might be or could turn into a problem.”
“What am I talking about?” I said defeatedly. “I’ve just met them. I hardly know them, and here I am talking about how I might be in love with them, in love with three guys at the same time!”
