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“You can dress for dinner in there,” says Pops, gesturing to a guest room off of the spacious modern kitchen at his mansion on the hill overlooking the city. “I had Cherie bring over some clothes for you.”
Cherie has been introduced to us as Pops’s new “lady friend,” whom he just met that day while kayaking.
They must have really hit it off for her to come to dinner at his house. And to bring me some of her own clothes? Crazy fast, I think.
But then I look over at Shep, who’s looking over at me with such care and concern, and I know that moving fast is a relative term. Someone can fall for a person completely in less than one day.
Cherie hands me a selection of clothes and I turn to change in the guest room.
“Pops, what’s the big deal if she wants to wear gym clothes to dinner? It’s not like the pope is coming,” Shep says.
Levi addresses me. “Young lady, do you want to wear Shep’s raggedy gym clothes to dinner or do you want to dress up?”
I look from Shep to Levi, and I say, “Well, I do feel a little silly.”
“See that?” Levi says, looking proud of himself.
Shep smiles and I give him a wink before I close the door.
Chapter Ten
Shep
When she comes out wearing Cherie’s clothes, I’m looking at an actual angel.
The soft lavender sweater brings out her blonde hair and makes her blue eyes pop. The black skirt cut high shows off her tanned, sculpted legs way better than my ridiculous basketball shorts. She’s even got on heels and jewelry. Cherie went all out, and she barely knows my Pops yet.
When we arrived at the house, she was there waiting for us, already looking like she belonged there. Cherie is much younger than Pops. Closer to my age, but something about her and Pops just works.
Who am I to question their attraction for each other, when I am falling head over heels for a female who I don’t yet know anything about?
We sit down to dinner and the chef has prepared my favorite: chicken and waffles.
Cherie asks, “Jane have you ever tried this before?”
I glance over at Jane and she’s shaking her head. “I’m not sure, but it smells amazing.”
Cherie’s face falls in embarrassment. “Oh god. I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive to your…condition.”
And then I fall completely, madly in love with my sweet Jane. She reaches over and places a hand on top of Cherie’s. “It’s fine, don’t be embarrassed. You just met me and I’m wearing your clothes. I’m more than willing to talk about anything you ask.”
I’m sitting so close that once again our thighs are touching. I reach under the table and place my hand on the slit in her skirt, holding on to her smooth, bare leg. “Are you sure? You don’t have to talk about it,” I say.
Jane nods her head at me. “I think it will help me remember if I talk about what I know,” she says.
“She’s right,” says Pops.
The food, the oldies music on the stereo, the candlelight and the company all make the moment feel like a bunch of old friends talking, and it is like a comfortable homey feeling, the four of us.
“That man I saw at the hospital. It’s my uncle. I remember him. It’s still a little fuzzy, but we all lived together in som
e place. There’s a tall fence. A bunch of little cottages. My uncle is the one who sort of takes care of things, makes sure we’re all safe.
“I’m not sure who my mom and dad are.
I seem to remember there’s a lot of rules and it’s very bad if you break them.
