Marnie's Rung

Ok, kids - this chapter contains the first sex scene I've ever written. I am nervous and vulnerable. Be gentle with me, ok?

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm
Chapter 6: Helmet Reflections
Chapter 7: The Real World
Chapter 8: Hooligan's
Chapter 9: Joan
Chapter 10: The Hospital
Chapter 11: Thanksgiving

Chapter 12.
Marnie’s Condo

When they got in the car, Marnie reached across the center console and hugged him. “Thank you for that – that was wonderful. Better than I expected.”

“Your dad said he’d see what he could do about helping me find work.”

“Oh Cal! That’s awesome! My dad has a lot of connections!”

“I assumed so.”

“Awesome.”

They drove to Marnie’s condo in relative silence. At every stop light, Marnie rested her head on his arm. When he walked her to her door, she invited him in for a nightcap.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Marnie went to the kitchen to grab a couple beers and Cal looked around her living room with his hands behind his back. He looked at the titles of the books on her bookshelves and was mildly impressed. Who was this woman he was getting involved with? She returned with the beers and they sat close together on the sofa. Cal put his arm around her and she melted into him. What a nice fit.

This was the first time they’d actually been alone. That wasn’t technically true. They’d been on the bike alone, but they couldn’t talk. They’d talked for hours on the phone, but they weren’t together. They were alone for a couple moments in the barn, and… Marnie sat up. She didn’t want to move too fast. She’d made that mistake before.

She opened a drawer in the coffee table next to the couch where they’d been snuggling and pulled out a small silver-plated mirror and a tiny silver spoon. She removed a small baggie from the drawer and tapped a small mound of the white powder onto the mirror. May as well get this party started. She offered the spoon to Cal first and he took two quick snorts. She followed suit.

She snuggled back into him and they talked – together – for the first time since they’d started whatever this thing they were starting was. When they lapsed into silence, Marnie shifted her position so that she was facing him. She wanted to fill that silence with kisses. She reached up and grazed her hand across his cheek. He turned and kissed her palm. She tightened it into a fist, saving the kiss. What was she, thirteen? Cal brought out a side of her that had been dormant for years. He smiled and kissed her closed fist. His hair had fallen over his eyes and it was completely disarming. That was ok. She wanted to be disarmed. She wanted to surrender, she wanted…

Cal sat up this time. “Ok?” he said, picking up the small spoon again.

“Oh, yeah, sure.” She responded, brushing her hair back into place. “You ready for another beer?” she asked after taking her own turn with the spoon.

“Absolutely.”

Marnie felt his eyes on her as she walked out of the room to the kitchen. She walked just a little more slowly and exaggerated the sway of her hips just a little bit; not enough to be raunchy, but enough to be noticed. It was, she realized, not intended as a tease. It was just such an utterly feminine way to walk and Cal sure had her feeling like a girl.

She returned to the sofa with the beers and they both took a long swallow followed by another short snort. Marnie tilted her head back and shut her eyes. Cal kissed her exposed throat gently. Damn, that was a cool effect. The drip down her throat coupled with the kiss on the neck made her head spin. She grabbed Cal’s shoulder – more to steady herself than to pull him in. His kisses traced a line from her throat to a spot behind her ear; a spot that sent an almost electrical shock through her whole system. No one had ever kissed her just like that in just that spot before. This was magical. Her knee rose, seemingly of its own volition, her foot grazing Cal’s hip. Man, if he could make her feel like this with a kiss, she couldn’t begin to imagine what he had in store for her when the clothes fell off. His arm encircled her waist and pulled her closer. His lips found hers and she dissolved – a quivering paradoxical mass of weakness and strength. She was straddling his lap, now, one hand entangled in his hair, the other on his lower back, pulling him closer. His readiness was evident and matched by her own.

A million thoughts tried to race through her head. Logical thoughts. Reasonable thoughts. Thoughts about implications for the future. They were all stopped in their tracks by one word, repeated over and over with increased levels of desperation by her overly enthusiastic libido: yes, Yes, YES!!!

His mouth left hers and began a slow and deliberate path down her throat again. When his path was blocked by her shirt, she pulled it over her head. He looked at her appreciatively for a moment before picking up the kisses right where he’d left off. His hands came around and cupped both of her breasts, pushing them together and kissing her more vigorously along the line of cleavage this produced. She took a brief moment to be thankful that she’d had the foresight to wear a pretty bra. In the moment it took her to be thankful for this, he’d unfastened it in one swift gesture. His lips continued their journey, taking the time to savor every kiss. Marnie was in a frenzy at this point she wanted him – needed him – now. The time he was taking was somehow infuriating and delicious at the same time. She couldn’t believe his last girlfriend had left him. She would never walk away from this – even if she wanted to, she’d never be able to. He owned her.

She felt his breath on her nipple before she felt his lips. As his lips closed on it and his tongue encircled it she moved both hands to his head. He looked up and saw the longing in her eyes – the passion that came from someplace deeply ingrained – a passion that may have proven evolutionary theories, so animal was it in nature. He pulled away and smiled at her, that same animal gleam in his own eyes, as well. He pulled off his own shirt and she gasped. She ran a finger tentatively down his muscled torso to the top of his jeans. She tried to be as deliberate as he’d been, but she didn’t share his sense of discipline. She fumbled with the button at the top of his jeans, but she also didn’t share his finesse. He took the opportunity to undo the button himself. Marnie stood up and slid out of her own jeans, leaving them in a heap on the floor. Cal kicked his off. He looked her up and down with the same languishing manner she’d come to expect from him. He placed his hands on her hips and pulled her to him, still standing, as he sat forward on the sofa. He kissed one hip bone and slowly, almost tortuously, made his way to the other. Marnie was quivering at this point and felt that if he removed his hands from her hips she might not have the strength to stand on her own.

Cal stood at this moment, too, and gently guided Marnie back to the sofa. He moved on top of her and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in. He entered her the same way he kissed her – slowly, deliberately. She met the movements of his hips with her own; increasing the intensity as he did. He kissed her lips, her eyes, her breasts – randomly now – not with the sense of purpose he’d displayed before. She embraced him with her arms as well as her legs, pulling him in further, further – becoming lost in the synchronous dance of their lovemaking. She abandoned all sense of self and succumbed to her passions. When she’d abandoned herself fully, her body responded with a sweet release. Her nails dug into his back and she no longer met his movements, her hips frozen in the position that kept him in her most deeply. As she called his name, he took one last thrust and abandoned himself to his release as well.

He collapsed on top of her and kissed her face – her eyes, her cheeks, her nose, her forehead and even her lips once or twice. She stroked his hair when he relaxed his head onto her chest.

“That was…”

“I know…”

After a few moments of post coital bliss, Marnie excused herself. When she returned to the living room, she tossed a towel to Cal and he cleaned himself off appreciatively. He slipped his jeans back on and she pulled his shirt over her head. It was far too big and fell to mid thigh. She planned to ask if she could keep it.

“You want another beer?”

“Maybe just one more.”

When Marnie came back with the beers, Cal was playing with the silver spoon.

“We are never going to sleep tonight, are we?”

“Sleep is overrated.”

Marnie awoke sometime early the next afternoon, her arms and legs engaged in a tangled mélange with Cal’s on the sofa. They’d never quite made it to bed. She smiled and kissed his head, while carefully disentangling herself without disturbing him. Wow. She’d have to call someone about the upholstery on her sofa tomorrow. White had seemed like such a good idea at the time…She went to the kitchen and started the coffee. She was a little hung over. She was quite disheveled. There was a distinctive knot in her back from spending the night sharing a small sofa. And she couldn’t stop smiling.

As she waited for the coffee to brew she allowed herself to review the events of the evening. Thanksgiving, indeed. In the heat of their passion, they had neglected to use a condom. She knew that was stupid and allowed herself a moment to consider the potential consequences of it. She was on the pill to regulate her periods, so an unplanned pregnancy shouldn’t be an issue. She hadn’t been with anyone since… she thought back…well, it had been a long time, for sure. She was pretty sure he hadn’t been with anyone since his ex, and she knew he was faithful to her. Of course everyone also knew that she had not returned the favor. Yeah, what they’d done was pretty irresponsible. They’d take proper precautions next time. Which, if she had her way, would be right after breakfast. How many times had it been last night? Three, at least. Damn, that Cal knew his way around a woman.

As if on cue, Cal entered the kitchen, his hair sticking out in every direction, rubbing his eyes. “Mornin’, beautiful.”

“Mornin’ yourself! Coffee?”

“God yes.” He sat at the kitchen table and leaned back, smiling. “You look good in my T-shirt.”

“How do you take your coffee?”

“Black.”

“Hope it’s not too strong” she said, placing a mug in front of him.

“Impossible” he responded, warming his hands around the mug for a moment before lifting it to take a tentative sip. “Perfect.”

“I do try.” She said, executing a mock curtsy in his direction before joining him at the table. He reached across the table and put his hand over her free hand. She intertwined her fingers with his. She liked the contrast of her small hand in his large one. She liked this.

“A guy could get used to this.” He said, as though reading her thoughts.

“Go right ahead.”

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Fridays

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm
Chapter 6: Helmet Reflections
Chapter 7: The Real World
Chapter 8: Hooligan's
Chapter 9: Joan

Chapter 10.
The Hospital

Marnie woke up Thanksgiving morning and called Cal before she rolled out of bed. She told him that she was going to the hospital to visit Joan and, no, she didn’t want him to join her. Her reasoning was that if there was legal trouble she was in a much better position to deal with it than he was. She did not state this aloud. She closed by reminding him to pick her up at noon to head for her parents’ house for Thanksgiving dinner. She offered him one last chance to get out of it. He declined and wished her luck with her visit with Joan.

She grabbed Joan’s purse as well as her own and was on her way. As she pulled into the Visitor’s Parking Area she considered how much shorter the ride had seemed in comparison to last night’s wild ride. She walked to the entrance then shuddered. She hated hospitals. She realized that this did not make her in any way unique. She walked through the big automatic doors and walked up to the information desk. The desk was being manned by two elderly women who gave her Joan’s room number, directions to the room, and a wish for a happy Thanksgiving. She wished them the same. She stopped in the gift shop and picked up a large floral arrangement, took a deep breathe, and headed for Joan’s room.

When she found the room and Joan was the only one in it, she breathed a sigh of relief. She had really not wanted to encounter Officer Ormond, but had fully expected him to be in attendance. This was good. Joan appeared to be sleeping. Marnie placed the flowers on her nightstand where she’d be sure to see them. She threw both purses on a visitor’s chair in the corner of the room and sat in the chair closest to Joan’s bed. She gently took her hand.

“Hey, Marnie.” Joan said weakly, opening her eyes and smiling faintly. “What are you doing here?” Speech was clearly difficult for Joan at this point. There were tubes in her throat as well as an IV in her arm. Her face had been scrubbed clean of makeup and her usually teased-to-the-moon hair had been combed into a smooth ponytail. She was quite bruised all over, and Marnie wondered how much of that was a result of her and Cal and Andy throwing her around. Joan had clearly had a rough night.

“Hey, Joan! How ya feelin’ this morning?”

“I’ve…” Joan smacked her lips and grimaced, then made a concentrated effort to swallow. “Can you get me some water?” she said, indicating a small Styrofoam pitcher and a cup with a straw on her bed table.

“Is it ok for you to drink? With the tubes and all?” Marnie asked as she poured a cup.

“It’s ok. I can only handle a little.” She sipped gratefully on the straw. “Thanks, hon.” Marnie just nodded.

“So fill me in! How did I come to be here? Swear to God, Marnie, they keep asking me but I don’t remember a thing. I vaguely remember going to Josh’s. You weren’t there, though… what do you know that I don’t know?”

“When we got there, you were already pretty out of it. What had you taken?”

“I don’t know – that’s the thing. I got these pills from a guy. I was having some problems with Nic and I just wanted to take the edge off, you know?”

Marnie nodded. She knew.

“So I met this guy – I’ve used him before, you know? It wasn’t like some stranger or something. Can you give me a little more water, hon?” All this talking was clearly taking its toll. Joan looked exhausted.

“So you don’t really know…”

“I don’t. What do you know?”

“Like I said, when we got to Josh’s you were already pretty out of it.”

“We?”

Marnie felt a blush creeping into her cheeks. “Cal. Me and Cal…”

Joan smiled. “’bout time.”

“Well, it’s no big deal. We’re just hanging out. Anyway. When Cal and I showed up you were pretty much out of it. But you were drinking – just a beer – and you did at least a couple lines. Then you just sort of passed out on the table. We couldn’t wake you up, we couldn’t get any response from you. We were all pretty scared.

Josh didn’t want to call a squad because he didn’t want his house associated with an overdose. God knows what all he’s got stashed there, you know? So Andy suggested bringing you down here in his truck. He and Cal carried you out and the three of us brought you here. We kind of dumped you at the ER door…” Marnie looked down at this point, “Joan I’m not sure why we did that. No one was thinking straight. I’m really sorry. Really. But it looks like they’ve taken good care of you.”

Joan nodded and indicated that Marnie should go on.

“We kept your purse. Again, I don’t know why. Seemed like a good idea at the time. I brought it back for you.” She said, pointing at the purse on the chair.

“Aw, thanks hon.”

“Cal and Andy didn’t want me to, but I called your husband.”

“And I’m glad you did.” Marnie turned around quickly at the unexpected voice from behind. “Jerry” he said, extending his hand, “Jerry Ormond.” Marnie took his extended hand to shake it, but he pulled her up and enveloped her in a quite unexpected hug. “It sounds like you saved my girl’s life.”

Marnie wasn’t sure how to react to this. This was not what she expected at all. Jerry was a middle-aged man, balding on the top and thickening in the middle. He looked like he’d been up all night. He released Marnie and went to the other side of the bed where he kissed Joan gently on the forehead. “Mystery solved?” he asked her.

“Not entirely. But I know how I got here, anyway. Oh! And Marnie brought my purse. Oh, I’m sorry Jerry. This is a friend of mine. Marnie. Marnie? I guess you’ve figured out that this is Jerry.”

“Marnie, I don’t know how to thank you enough for all you’ve done for her. Really. How can I repay you?”

“Jerry? Not arresting me, frankly, is payment enough.”

“We’re gonna put her in rehab when she’s released.”

Marnie nodded. “Good. That sounds good. Guess I won’t be seeing you for a while, then.”

“Tell everyone…” she stopped, tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jerry.” His eyes were full, too.

“I’ll tell everyone what they need to know.”

“Thank Andy and Cal for me, would you?”

“Of course.” Marnie hugged Joan gently, avoiding all of the tubes to which she was attached. “You take care of yourself and get well.” She searched in her purse and produced a business card. “If you want to reach me, call me here. Don’t look for me at Josh’s.

Now I have to get going. Cal is picking me up at noon to go to my parents’ for Thanksgiving dinner. Oy!”

“You kids have fun.” Joan said.

Jerry walked Marnie out into the hallway. “I really am grateful to you. For bringing her here – for calling me – that can’t have been easy.”

Marnie nodded and Jerry continued, “Obviously you’re not in any trouble for this, but that’s only because …” he looked over his shoulder into the room where Joan appeared to already be asleep. “It’s bad what happened to Joan. They had to pump her stomach. They said she would’ve died if you hadn’t brought her here last night.”

Marnie bowed her head and gulped her mind filling with ‘what ifs’ as her eyes filled with tears. “You seem like a good kid. Get out of this scene. Go to rehab yourself if you have to. I can tell that you’re better than this. You’re not in trouble. You saved my Joanie’s life. I’m concentrating on that part. Not on the part where you knew she was risking it and you let her. Not on the part where you risk your own. But you do, you know. This isn’t a game. Joan could’ve died. You could die. You could be arrested. You could end up in jail. I’m thankful to you. I like you. But I couldn’t stop that from happening if you got busted. Straighten up and fly right, kid.”

Jerry patted Marnie on the shoulder and she walked quickly down the hall. He was right, of course. She shouldn’t be doing this. She shouldn’t be hanging out at Josh’s. She was going to straighten up and fly right. She and Cal would straighten up and put it all behind them and move on with a nice shiny life together. Soon. Maybe soon. But probably not just yet. It wasn’t like she was an addict or anything. But then neither was Joan. Shit, partying a couple nights a week and having a little fun just shouldn’t be this hard.

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Fridays

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm
Chapter 6: Helmet Reflections
Chapter 7: The Real World
Chapter 8: Hooligan's

Chapter 9.
Joan

Cal called both Monday and Tuesday and they talked for lost hours. They talked the way people do when they’re getting to know someone new. Someone they think is delicious. Someone they want to soak up like a sponge. They talked about everything and nothing and they hated to hang up, although Marnie refused to engage in the ‘you hang up first’ game. Cal talked about his kids and his job search and growing up on the farm. He talked about losing his parents. He talked about how he met Josh and Andy. Marnie loved his voice. He could’ve read the phone book and she would’ve listened. She loved his stories. He talked about his dog, Riff, and the dog he had growing up. And when he asked about Marnie, he listened to her answers.

For her part, Marnie talked about her sisters and her parents. She talked about college and how she’d grown apart from most of her friends but still stayed in touch with a couple. She talked about how she met Josh. They agreed that they owed Josh a thank you – without their connection to him, they never would have met. They talked about how weird that was, because he was so unlike both of them. She talked about her job. She talked about her grandmother.

Cal was an open book. Marnie was more guarded. It wasn’t that she had secrets to keep – although who doesn’t? – it was just that she wasn’t sure how he’d react to stories about her privileged upbringing. She didn’t want to blow this before it had a chance. No one was more surprised than Marnie, therefore, when she heard herself say, “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

“Ted and Susie are spending it with Susie’s family, so I figured I’d just hang out at home and watch football.”

“Why don’t you join me?”

“Join you?”

“My mom always sets out a huge spread. Believe me – there’s room for one more.”

“I don’t know…”

“No imposition! I’d love to have you there. I mean – I understand if you don’t want to…”

“No, I want to.”

“My family can be a little – I don’t know…”

“All families are like that.”

“Not yours.”

“Not Ted and Susie. You haven’t met anyone else.”

“Fair enough. Well, if you’re sure you’re up for it…”

“I’d love to meet the family that made you who you are.”

“I’m – I’m not my family, Cal. Remember that, ok?”

“Ok.”

“Alright. Let me call Mom and tell her to set another place.”

“You want me to pick you up to go to Josh’s tomorrow night?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

There was a full contingency at Josh’s when they arrived Wednesday evening. Sonya was hovering over Josh possessively and it was pretty clear that Josh was not digging this. Andy stood up and came to meet them at the door. He had been talking to Cal over the past couple days, and he enveloped the two of them in a bear hug. It felt like a stamp of approval.

Joan was already at the table, smoking a cigarette and drinking a beer. She looked a little out of it. Between drinks and drags, she rested her head on her arms on the table. “How long has she been here?” Marnie asked, concern creeping into her voice and her face.

“She was like that when she got here. We’re not sure what’s up.” Andy answered. He looked a little concerned, too. “Hey Joan!” She didn’t respond. “Joanie!” he tried, much louder. She lifted her head in slow motion and looked at Andy with one open eye.”

“This isn’t good.” Marnie stated, her brow furrowing, “I don’t like this.”

“Joanie, sweetheart, you okay?” Andy asked, sitting next to her and putting his arm around her. She waved him away.

“She just needs a little pick-me-up.” Sonya said. “Get some toot in this woman, stat!” She said to Josh.

Josh cut out a few lines and offered the mirror to Joan first. She raised her head and took a snort, then another. She smiled at Josh; “Thank you, baby.” She patted his hand, and put her head back on the table.

Marnie and Cal exchanged a worried glance, then took a seat at the table with Mike, Kristen, and a young girl they’d never met. She was introduced as Kristen’s roommate, Jen. The mirror made it’s way to them. Marnie inhaled, tilted her head back and shut her eyes. She opened them when she heard Cal’s familiar tap, tap, tap.

When the mirror made its way to Joan again, she didn’t sit up. “We should just put her in a bed – or on the sofa.” Sonya said with an air of authority and ownership that clearly didn’t sit well with Josh.

“She can’t crash here, idiot, her husband is a cop. You’ve got to think sometimes, Sonya.”

“Fuck you.” She said, quietly. The insult had stung. She knew he was annoyed with her and she couldn’t for the life of her figure out why. She’d crashed here for the past three nights and had made his meals and done his dishes. She’d even brought a toothbrush and some clothes over so she didn’t have to run home so much. And the sex was amazing. So why was he treating her like she had no right to be here? Dick. Ungrateful dick.

Andy approached Joan again. Her cigarette had burned to a stub in her hand. Andy removed it and snuffed it out in the ash tray. “Joan? Joanie? JOAN?” Andy looked up, panicked, “You guys? I don’t think she’s ok. I think we need to get her to a hospital.”

Josh went to the table to assess the situation for himself. He sat next to Joan and said very quietly and patiently, “Joanie? What did you do? Talk to me here. Let me know what I’m talking to.” Kristen started to remind him that he was talking to a who not a what, but when Joanie did not respond she wisely realized that perhaps semantic arguments were best left for another day.

“Oh, shit.” Said Josh, rising and pacing the room manically, “Shit shit shit. This can’t be happening. JOAN, DAMMIT, DON’T DO THIS TO ME!!!” He covered his face with his hands. Sonya put her arm around him and he threw her off. “You don’t get it, do you? Her husband is a fucking cop! We’re fucking dead meat!”

Sonya sulked in the next room. She knew he was right, but he didn’t have to be so fucking mean about it. It’s not like any of this was her fault.

Marnie went over to where Andy was attempting to tend to Joan. She was completely unresponsive. Marnie searched for a pulse but couldn’t find one, which wasn’t terribly unusual because she could rarely if ever find her own, either. Still. Joan wasn’t right. Her skin felt cold and clammy. “For real, Josh, we’ve got to call a squad. She’s gonna die here without some help. I’m calling.” She picked up her purse and dug in it for her cell.

“Think about this!” Josh screamed. “If we have a squad come here we’re all fucking accomplices to whatever fuck…her husband is a fucking cop…” he repeated, collapsing into a chair with his head in his hands.

“How about if I just take her to the hospital and drop her off, then?” Andy suggested. “Cal and Marnie can ride with me. We’ll just drop her off without ID. They’ll take care of her.”

Josh agreed. Cal and Andy picked Joan up, no small feat as she was completely dead weight. They carried her to Andy’s truck and laid her across the back seat. Marnie sat at her feet and Cal jumped in the front with Andy. Marnie stroked Joan’s hair and whispered reassurances that it was all going to be ok. Everything was going to be ok. She was quite cognizant of the fact that this was more for her benefit than for Joan’s. She just needed to feel like she was doing something. The ride to the only hospital in town seemed endless. Andy stayed within the speed limit and stopped at every stop sign. No way was he going to risk being pulled over tonight, with the passed out, overdosed, half dead wife of a police officer in his back seat. No one had much to say. When they pulled into the Emergency Room entrance, Andy ran in and quickly grabbed a wheelchair. He pushed it back to the truck where Cal and Marnie had been working to pull an unresponsive Joan out of the backseat. They managed to get her slumped into the wheelchair. Cal pushed the wheelchair to the entrance and left her there, just inside the automatic doors, while Andy pulled the truck up to the door so Cal could jump in quickly.

When they were a few blocks away from the hospital, Marnie started to sob. She was sitting in the front between Andy and Cal now. She had been strong when she needed to be, but she didn’t need to be anymore. She succumbed to the feeling of helplessness and fear that had been building up. What if things didn’t work out ok? What if Joan… she couldn’t even complete the thought in her head, it was too much. It was all too much. Cal put his arm around her and pulled her head into his chest. Joan was their friend, and they had just dumped her and hoped for the best. It wasn’t right. “I need to call her husband.” She said. She started rooting through Joan’s purse for a cell phone. They had agreed not to leave her purse with her at the hospital – let them treat her like a Jane Doe. Marnie couldn’t remember now why they’d decided to do that. It had seemed like a sound idea at the time.

Cal took the purse from her. “They’ll figure it all out, honey, don’t worry.”

“He’s her HUSBAND! He deserves to know!”

“He’s a COP! It will be our asses!”

“I’m sorry. I have to do it.” She retrieved the purse from Cal and he didn’t resist her. She found the cell phone and looked through Joan’s contacts until she found the name she was looking for. Jerry. Joan occasionally talked about Jerry. Officer Jerry Ormond. She hit send.

“Hey, honey! What’s up?”

“Officer Ormond, this isn’t Joan. This is a friend of hers.”

Jerry’s voice changed in an instant. “Where’s Joan? Who are you?”

“I’m a friend. Joan was – we just dropped Joan off at the ER without ID. You need to get down there and ask about Jane Does.”

“What the hell happened? Who are you?”

“Jerry? Officer Ormond? She’s been doing drugs. Coke that we know of, but we suspect something else. We don’t know what, or we’d tell you, I swear. We think she overdosed. We took her to the hospital – we wanted her to be taken care of.”

“No – you’re lying…” She could hear the desperation in Jerry’s voice. He didn’t want to believe it.

“I’m not, Jerry, Officer Ormond. I’ve told you all I know. I thought I’d call you and let you know so you could get down there and identify her before they went to the trouble and expense of trying to figure out who she is. I’m very sorry, sir. But you better get to your wife.” Marnie clicked the phone shut and put her head in her hands. Cal rubbed her shoulders.

“You did the right thing, babe. He had a right to know.”

“What a fuckin’ mess.” Andy added. The ride back to Josh’s went a lot more quickly. The room became silent when the three of them walked in. If the expression on every face could be summed up in one word, that word would be: WELL?

They relayed the story together, interrupting each other to clarify points. They all agreed that they’d done the right thing. The mirror made its way around the table a few more times, but the party never really built up any momentum. It’s difficult to feel festive when a cops wife has just OD’d in the house and you’ve dumped her, unidentified, at the ER. They were all in it together. A big, ugly secret hung over them like the sword of Damocles. Everyone took off as soon as the last of the coke had been passed around, eager to be away from it. Sonya clung to Josh. He allowed it.

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Fridays

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm
Chapter 6: Helmet Reflections
Chapter 7: The Real World

Chapter 8.
Hooligan’s

The four women had just been seated and their drinks had arrived at the table, courtesy of a slightly overenthusiastic waiter. Vodka martini’s all around.

“Cheers!”

“First of the day!”

“Marnie?” came a man’s voice from a couple tables away, “I thought that was you!”

Josh. What were the odds. She watched the eyebrows of all three of her companions rise in unison. Well, except Brittany’s. She couldn’t see Brittany’s eyebrows with all that hair covering her pretty face. But they were rising, all right. She could feel them.

Marnie half rose and gave Josh a hug. “Josh? This is my mom, my sister Corrine and my sister Brittany. This is Josh.”

The three women acknowledged him and he looked them over. “I just wanted to say hi. See you Wednesday, Marn?”

“Probably. I’ll let you know.”

“Ok. Nice meeting you. See ya!”

“Is that your young gentleman?” Corrine asked.

“He is rather devastatingly handsome”, Brittany added, leaning over a bit to watch him walk away.

“If you like that type...” Corrine threw in. The way her lips pursed implied that she did not, but the way she followed Brittany’s gaze said something else entirely.

Marnie laughed. “Josh? No, God. No. Josh is just a friend of mine. Josh is… a bunch of us hang out. Josh? Just, no.”

“You just have a whole” – her mother made a circular gesture with both hands – “thing going on, don’t you?”

“If you’re implying that you don’t know every detail of my life, you’re right. I highly doubt I know every detail of yours, either. Cheers!” she added, lifting her glass and trying to change the course of the conversation. She had never really meant for those two worlds to collide. Who could’ve guessed Josh would be having a beer at the very same place she had asked her family to meet her for lunch. Well, on the upside, maybe the topic of Cal would be an easier transition. She wondered if Josh was holding. A little toot might make this conversation easier, too. She didn’t risk asking. If her mom and sisters saw an exchange being made, she’d never hear the end of it. And they’d see. They didn’t miss a thing. Her martini would have to do. She took a swig, squared her shoulders, and relayed the events of the last couple days. She left out the part about starting at Josh’s and said she just ran into Cal at The Vista.

Something crossed her mother’s face as she waxed rhapsodic about the farm. Was it regret? Was it nostalgia? Marnie wasn’t sure, but she knew she’d somehow struck a chord.

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Fridays

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm
Chapter 6: Helmet Reflections

Chapter 7.
The Real World

Marnie felt as though she was floating, as she hung up her jacket and scarf and made herself a cup of herbal tea. She checked her messages for the first time all day. It was funny how it hadn’t even occurred to her before now. Twenty-one messages appeared on her cell, almost all of them from her mother and her sisters. Nosy bitches would have to wait. She wanted to have tonight to just drink it all in.

In the moments between lying down and falling asleep, Marnie’s thoughts alternated between “this is crazy stupid” and “this is crazy awesome”. The only thing she was sure of when she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep was that this was crazy.

The next day, Marnie had a predictably hard time concentrating. She sat at her desk, she answered her calls, she looked out her window and she thought. She thought things like: “looks like a nice day for a ride…” and, “I wonder what Cal’s doing right now….” and, “that was one helluva kiss…” and, of course, that thought led to others and not a lot of work was getting done. She decided to go ahead and return her mother and her sisters’ calls. She knew what they wanted to talk about and – hell – it was all she wanted to talk about, too.

As she picked up her phone, an IM came through on her computer from Corri. Corrine’s screen name was Enirroc1997. Someone had told her that using your real name online was dangerous, so she had simply spelled hers backwards and added the year she and Alan had gotten married. Marnie wasn’t sure what amused her more – the paranoia that had led to Corrine using an alias or the fact that Corrine actually thought that spelling her name backwards was clever. Ah, why did one have to amuse her more than the other? Both reasons were funny as hell.

Enirroc1997: Hey Marnie – you there?

MarnieH: Morning!

Enirroc1997: Morning? Where the hell have you been? You didn’t answer any of our calls. And you ran out on brunch mighty fast.

MarnieH: you were WORRIED?

Enirroc1997: Well, yes! As a matter of fact we were! I am!

Another chat window opened.

Britwit: MARNIE!!! WTH???

MarnieH: Hey Brit – I’m chatting with Enirroc , too – let me invite you in.

Britwit: enirroc. snort…

MarnieH. You here Brit?

Britwit: yep. u here, enirroc?

Enirroc1997: I will never know why you two find it so funny that I want to keep my family and myself safe from online predators…

Enirroc1997: Anyway, we’re not here to talk about me.

Britwit: tru dat! u have a lot of splainin to do, miss marnie!

MarnieH: since when do I answer to you guys?

Enirroc1997: Since you ran out of brunch and left us with Mom and all of her questions – questions for which we had no answers, I feel compelled to add.

Who IM’s words like “compelled” and phrases like, “questions for which we had no answers”? Oh yeah. Corrine.

MarnieH: No big. A friend asked me to take a ride on his bike out to his brother’s farm.

Britwit: a friend?????

MarnieH: yep

Enirroc1997: A GENTLEMAN friend?

Britwit: a bike?

MarnieH: My friend is a guy, yes.

MarnieH: we rode out, yes.

Britwit: the guy ur bringing to thnx dinner?

MarnieH: I don’t know about that. It’s just – it’s not…shit, you guys – I don’t know what it is.

Enirroc1997: Watch your language, Marnie, the FCC might come after you.

MarnieH: I assure you that the FCC is not monitoring our conversation and neither is anyone else.

Enirroc1997: It must be nice to be so sure of everything.

Britwit: where is that eye-rolling emoticon when I need it?

MarnieH: 

MarnieH: Anyway, he’s very nice and we’re just hanging out.

Britwit: cute?

MarnieH: Devastatingly.

Enirroc1997: Money?

MarnieH: God, Corri – why do you have to be so superficial?

Enirroc1997: Oh, I apologize. Discussing his devastating good looks is deep but inquiring about his means of supporting himself financially is superficial. I’ll make a note of that.

Britwit: corri, u r 2 much.

MarnieH: I better call Mom, if she was actually worried.

Enirroc1997: Telling her you rode to the middle of nowhere on the back of a veritable stranger’s motorcycle should be very reassuring.

Britwit: srsly, corri, how do u even TYPE all that?

Enirroc1997: “Srsly”, Brittany, it doesn’t take that much extra effort to use actual words.

Britwit: wutev

MarnieH: yeah! And sit up straight! And I don’t know why you wear that hair over your eyes like that – you have such a pretty face!

Britwit: lol

Enirroc1997: You really would look prettier with your hair off your face, Brit.

Britwit: roflmao

Enirroc1997: “Wutev”.

Enirroc1997: So, seriously, Marnie – what does he do?

MarnieH: I need to call Mom – you guys free for lunch?

Britwit: i m

Enirroc1997: I suppose I could tear myself free.

Marnie: Hooligan’s at noon?

Enirroc1997: That seems appropriate.

Britwit: ur a hoot enirroc!

Enirroc1997: “Wutev”

MarnieH: Ok, see you both then. Should I invite Mom?

Enirroc1997: I suppose that would save time. She’d just be pumping Brit and I for information anyway – may as well let her hear it from the horse’s mouth.

Britwit: lol ur a horse!

Enirroc1995: lol ur an idiot!

MarnieH: Alright! Noon then! Should be fun!

She exited the chat and dialed their parent’s home.

“Hammond residence”

“Lupe? It’s Marnie.”

“Miss Marnie! Thank God you’re ok – Mrs. Hammond has been so worried!”

“Can I talk to my mom?”

“Yes, yes, I’ll get her!”

“Marnie?”

“Hey Mom.”

“Don’t you ‘hey Mom’ me, young lady! Your sisters and I tried to call you all day yesterday. Where have you been?”

“Mom? You do know I’m almost 30, right?”

“Darling, you’re still my child”

“I’m sorry I worried you – hey – I’m meeting Corri and Brit for lunch – want to join us?”

“That sounds like fun, actually. I suppose Lupe can hold down the fort. Where and when? I assume you’ll be explaining what was so important that you had to run out on brunch so abruptly.”

“Hooligan’s. Noon.”

Marnie heard her mother sigh.

“I’ll be there.”

“See you then.”

Marnie tried to return to work, but returned to looking out the window instead. She remembered the smell of the hay in the barn and the feel of the sheep’s wooly coat. She thought about Cal’s hands as he pulled her up – how strong and confident he was. She thought about that kiss – how he had kissed her lips, but she had somehow felt it in her whole body. She thought about what it would be like to touch his skin – to feel him…whoa there! Slow down! This was no way to get any work done. What the hell was this? It’s not like she’d never kissed a boy before…

She returned to her computer and stared at the screen. It didn’t make sense. Now kissing Cal – that made sense. That was the sort of idea she could get behind. Not much money in it, though. And heaven knows he wasn’t bringing any in. Was Corrine right? Did that matter? It had mattered to her mother. She left her farm life in a heartbeat when her father came along with promises of a better life. Marnie loved her father, but as far as a better life? She wasn’t so sure her mother had traded up. She’d never seen her parents act as naturally loving as Ted and Susie had acted yesterday on the farm. She imagined her dad casually patting her mom on the bottom as he helped with kitchen chores and shuddered. She couldn’t even work up the visual. Her parents lived in a different world.

It had mattered to her sister. Corrine had chosen her mate carefully, based on potential. Alan came from money. There was a position waiting for him when he got out of school. Money and the right names open a lot of doors. Corrine knew this was the lifestyle she wanted and she wasn’t about to settle for less. Alan had been her first real boyfriend and her only lover. If you could call it love. Alan was always more of a provider than a lover, although there were girls all over town who might disagree with that assessment.

Marnie sighed. She’d known money all her life. She was privileged and she knew it. She had no business feeling superior to Corrine, because she had allowed money to open doors, too. She took that for granted – and why not? It had just always been so. Would her grades alone have gotten her into the school she chose? Maybe. Would she have been able to afford school at all if Daddy hadn’t footed the bill? Probably not. She would have been waiting tables or pursuing a trade. Would she have gotten this job in this office if her last name hadn’t been Hammond? Possible, but unlikely.

Yes, money helped. Money paid for that beautiful condo on the hill and the never ending maintenance on the Shelby in the garage. Money provided the always up to date and stylish wardrobe she was accustomed to sporting. Was this going to offend someone like Cal? When he first picked her up, she saw a glimmer of – what? – something – when he saw her living conditions. She didn’t imagine they were easily comparable to his own. Was she ready or even willing to compromise on that? And what the hell was she doing here, anyway? They’d had one date – sort of – and one kiss. She reminded herself to keep it in perspective. She had never even seen where he lived. He might live in a mansion, for God’s sake, and just be slumming at Josh’s for kicks! On the other, more likely hand, he might not. Besides – this was a lot of conjecture based on one stupid kiss (there was nothing stupid about that kiss).

Ok. Work, Marnie. Get something accomplished, here. You’re acting like a school girl. A cute boy kissed you. How nice. Get over it! It’s Monday! Work!

Marnie didn’t listen to herself. She looked out the window and tapped a pen against her desk. Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. Her cell rang. Cal.

“I was just thinking about you!” Marnie said, her smile splitting her face and her fingers absentmindedly twirling her hair.



A brief note about this chapter: Anyone who has ever attempted to text with me, knows that my texting style most closely resembles that of Corrine. I am not proud of this. Needless to say, I don't text much. I enlisted the help of my thirteen year old daughter to try to make Marnie and Brittany's styles more organic to their characters. Some of the changes she made made me cringe, but I think they were ultimately good. It was so much fun working with my kiddo! Thanks, Lea!

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Friday

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch
Chapter 5: Ted's Farm

Chapter 6.
Helmet Reflections

As they headed away from the farm, off the gravely side road to the relatively smooth terrain of the main road, Marnie found herself lost in her own thoughts. This helmet was private all right. The perfect place for contemplation – and she had a lot to think about.

She had known Cal for years. She had liked Cal for years. Nice guy. Salt of the earth. God knew she had liked looking at Cal for years. Theirs had always been more of a casual acquaintance, though. They saw each other at Josh’s place, and sometimes at the bars. They were friendly, but barely even friends. Last night was the first time they’d really spent without the usual cast of characters at Josh’s place.

Josh’s place. How were they going to handle that? Were they going to maintain a façade of friendly acquaintance? Were they going to arrive and leave together? Was she going to do her lines off of his taut, ripped, abs from now on? Her body gave a little involuntary shiver at this point. Cal sensed it. Pat, pat, pat. Was this going to change everything?

And what about her family? They’d like him, for sure, what’s not to like? Marnie rubbed her hand along Josh’s chest at this point. He reached back and patted her thigh. Pat, pat, pat. She smiled. What’s not to like? Well, perhaps they would find it less than thrilling that he was unemployed. They might be less than pleased with the fact that he had two relatively small children out there somewhere being raised by another man and having no contact with him. It was just possible, Marnie reasoned, that they would not consider him to be a reasonable prospect for their middle daughter.

Reasonable prospect? Where the hell had that come from? He’d kissed her once, he hadn’t asked her to marry him or anything. She was crossing bridges before she came to them again. That was a silly exercise. Oh, but what a kiss it had been! She smiled thinking about it and gave Cal a little squeeze. Pat, pat, pat was her reply. Seriously! First kisses were always amazing – everyone knew that. Maybe she was making more of it than she should. Oh, but even in a field of amazing, that kiss stood out. She thought things like ‘taking your breath away’ or ‘going weak in the knees’ were merely the stuff of romance novels and the dreams of silly little girls. But damn! Cal’s kiss had left her light-headed. It had changed her. Well, maybe that was a little dramatic.

Then again, maybe it wasn’t. Who didn’t want to live in a world where a kiss could be transformative? It was the stuff of the fairy tales she and many generations of little girls before her had been raised on. A frog transforming into a prince; a dead princess being restored to life; a witch’s spell broken…

Seriously Marnie? Seriously? She had never been a ‘helpless princess in distress’ kind of girl, and now she was having an internal debate about the relative merits of transformative kisses? Seriously? That was one helluva kiss, no doubt.

They were back at her place long before she’d noodled it all out.

She jumped off the bike and handed her helmet to Cal. He walked her to her door and put his arms around her. “Thank you for coming with me. I had a really nice time.”

“Oh, seriously! Thank you for taking me! It was – amazing.”

“Can I see you this week?”

“You better.”

The kiss in front of Marnie’s door was not transformative. But it was awfully nice.

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Friday

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition
Chapter 4: Brunch

Chapter 5.
Ted’s Farm

Marnie thought she had something to wear for every occasion, but she stood in front of her closet, stumped. She’d need to wear something warm for the ride – last night had proven that. But she also wanted to look cute. Not that she thought Cal would be caught up in anything that superficial. He clearly liked her – he wouldn’t care how she dressed. But she cared. She finally opted for a short leather jacket and a soft, warm wool scarf. She grabbed a pair of leather driving gloves and shoved them in her pockets, just in case. She had a feeling she’d be glad she had them.

When the doorbell rang, she was ready to walk out the door. “Hey! Right on time!”

“I had no idea.”

“About?”

“About – this” he said, indicating her condo in a swooping gesture.

“Oh” she said, dropping her gaze for a moment.

“It’s really nice Marn. I mean REALLY nice.” When she didn’t respond, he continued, “I kept getting further and further into this neighborhood and thinking – this can’t be right.”

“Look, it’s no big deal. Did you want the tour, or were you ready to get going?”

“Raincheck on the tour. Let’s roll.”

“Fuckin’ A.”

“Fuckin’ A.”

She locked her door and hit the remote button for her alarm system. Cal handed her a helmet. “Full face, today.” They had both worn helmets with less coverage last night.

“How come?”

“Well, from a practical standpoint, they’re safer. But the real reason? It will be warmer. And the shield will keep that cold wind off of your face. You’ll thank me.”

“Well – thanks, then.” She said, smiling at him then putting on first the helmet, then her gloves. He started the bike and indicated that she should jump on. She did so easily and wrapped her arms around his waist. She hoped it was going to be a long ride.

The further away they rode from town, the better the ride became. She trusted Cal completely and relaxed her body into his, following his every move. He reached back absentmindedly from time to time to pat her on the thigh. Now why the hell would that particular gesture make her feel so cherished? Pat, pat, pat. Just like his tap, tap, tap on the mirror. She smiled at the connection. Wait – she was smiling at no-one and no-one could see her. She let the smile widen until she was grinning like an idiot. Well what do you know? This helmet was the most private place in the world. She could do ANYthing here! She sang a few notes, tentatively at first then more loudly. Cal didn’t do anything to indicate he’d heard her. Oh AWEsome! She sang every song that popped into her head. She squealed out loud when they took a particularly twisty turn. Wheeeeeeeee! This was pure uncut joy.

Her legs were starting to get cold, but it was nothing she couldn’t deal with. She had never felt happier or freer than she did at this moment. This was crazy good. Why hadn’t she been doing this forever? She was going to ask Cal to teach her to ride. Maybe. Definitely. Maybe not, though. If she could ride, she couldn’t wrap her legs around Cal. She couldn’t rest her heavily helmeted head on his shoulder. She couldn’t give in to him – give over all of the control. Giving over control was delicious.

They turned onto an unpaved road and Cal slowed down. They must be close, then. When the thrill of the ride slowed, the awareness of her discomforts rose. Her legs were cold and cramped. Her back was cramped from leaning over for so long. The weight of the helmet was heavy on her neck. How perfect was this? The moment she noticed things that were uncomfortable, the ride was over. She thought maybe she could seriously dig this whole biker chick thing. No doubt, life was good for Miss Marnie Hammond.

Cal pulled up in front of a big white farmhouse. If Marnie had to guess, she’d guess it was more than one hundred years old. It was beautifully maintained. There was a porch which wrapped around the entire perimeter of the house. She couldn’t have imagined anything more charming.

She dismounted and was surprised to feel her legs buckle a little bit beneath her. “Whoa there!” said Cal, putting an arm around her to steady her. “Trouble finding your land legs?”

“I guess so” she said, removing her helmet and handing it to him to put on the back of the bike. “Cal, that was amazing!”

“You liked it? I’m glad. It was a long ride for your first time.”

“It wasn’t my first time.”

“Last night didn’t count.”

“Oh. Then I guess it was. I loved it. Seriously. That was awesome.”

“Hope you feel the same way on the way home. Come on – let’s go say howdy to my brother.”

Marnie followed Cal up the stairs. He walked right in the door into the kitchen and yelled, “Ted? Susie? Anyone home?”

Marnie looked around. This place was great. It felt like her grandmother’s house. She could imagine her grandmother working on her quilting in that rocking chair by the fireplace. Marnie couldn’t think of much she loved more than a fireplace in the kitchen, unless maybe it was a fireplace in the bedroom. There was a fire going and she stepped over to it to warm her hands. She removed her gloves and rubbed her hands in front of the fire. The effect was almost immediate. She felt the numbness on the front of her thighs fade away, as well. If she were a cat, she would’ve purred.

“Cal? Is that you?” a woman’s voice called from the next room. “I thought I heard the bike, Ted said you might stop by…” her words drifted off as she entered the kitchen and saw Marnie. She was clearly surprised, but regained her composure in a moment. “I’m Susie.” She said, extending her hand.

“Marnie. Nice to meet you.”

Susie shot a glance at Cal that expressed surprise, confusion, and mild pleasure. Cal shrugged. “Marnie’s a friend of mine. I thought it would be a nice day to take her for a ride.”

“Well, you sure weren’t wrong about that. Have a seat, Marnie. Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you guys anything? I still have coffee on…”

“I’d love a cup” Marnie answered, “But first – could I visit your facilities?”

“Oh – sure enough! Long bumpy ride and I bet Cal didn’t even offer to stop… Right through that door there. Don’t mind Ted’s dirty towels – there’s a clean one on the rack by the sink.”

“Thanks!”

Marnie did indeed need to use the facilities after the long bumpy ride. When she stood up to wash her hands, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Oh, holy hell! Her hair was a nightmare. She tried to run her fingers through it but to no avail. Shit!

“You didn’t warn me about THIS!” she playfully accused Cal, holding it out on either side of her head with her hands as she re-entered the kitchen.

He laughed. “It’s the price you pay. For the record, I think you look great. Seriously.”

Susie smiled at this. It was nice to see Cal interested in a girl again. That last one, she’d been no good from day one, that one. She had a good feeling about this one. They seemed to have chemistry. And they sure did look good together.

“Where’s Ted?”

“He’s out in the garage. Why don’t you go get him, I’ll keep – Marnie is it? – company.”

Cal looked at Marnie and she nodded her approval. She watched Cal walk out the door and turned her attention back to Susie. “Have a seat at the table there – how do you take your coffee?”

“Cream and sugar, please. Your home is lovely.”

“Oh,” Susie said, “It is what it is I s’pose.”

“It’s beautiful. Absolutely charming. I love a fireplace in the kitchen.”

“This one opens on the other side to the dining room.”

“You’re kidding! Can I see?”

“Sure”

The two women walked out of the kitchen and into the dining room. It was informal and rustic and Marnie loved it. Her eyes gave this message to Susie before her words could. “We can stay in here, if you prefer” Susie said.

“Oh no, let’s go back to the kitchen.”

The two women headed back to the kitchen and clutched their cups of coffee at the big heavy wooden table. There were long benches on either side instead of chairs. The word ‘charming’ was getting a more serious workout in Marnie’s head today than it had in an awfully long time. Marnie felt instantly at home.

“So tell me about yourself. How long have you been with our Cal?”

“Oh, we’re not really together, you know, we’re just friends.”

“Um hmm.” Said Susie, not believing it for a moment. Marnie wasn’t sure she believed it, either. She knew she didn’t want to.

The two women fell into easy conversation. Susie told Marnie stories about Cal and Ted’s antics on the farm. Apparently this had been the house where Cal had grown up. Ted had inherited it when their dad passed on. Ted and Susie had been working it ever since. It wasn’t a large farm, but it was enough to provide enough income for them to keep it going. They had a few small crops, some egg-laying chickens and a dozen sheep. The sheep were her pride and joy. Susie hosted a sheep to shawl event every spring when the sheep were shorn. She asked if Marnie spun or knitted – she’d love for her to join them this spring. Marnie did not, but decided to make learning a priority between now and then.

So this was how Cal grew up. Awesome. Her mother had grown up like this, too, but she didn’t like to talk about or acknowledge it. Marnie could never understand why – it had always seemed like a pretty great way to live to her.

Cal and Ted came in through the kitchen door. Ted was a glimpse into Cal’s future. The same startling good looks, just a couple years further down the line. Well hello there, farmer Ted. Ted came over and pulled her to her feet in a bear hug. “I’m pleased to meet you, Marnie. Cal’s been telling me all about you.”

“Nothing too terrible, I hope!”

“Not hardly. Susie taking good care of you? Sus!”

Susie had already returned to the counter to fix coffee for the men. “You kids staying for dinner?”

Cal and Marnie exchanged glances. “If it’s an early one.” Cal answered. Long ride home and Marnie’s got to work tomorrow.” The fact that he did not hung heavy in the air for a moment. Susie tactfully swept it away.

“Dinner’s always early on the farm, Cal. Surely you haven’t been gone so long that you’ve forgotten that.”

“4:30, then?” he said, winking at his sister in law.

“Probably. And I don’t want to hear a word about it, either, Mr. Fancy Pants.”

Marnie smiled at him and then turned her head to include the whole cozy room in her smile. She wished she didn’t have to work – she felt like she could stay here forever. Of course – eating dinner at 4:30 would take some serious getting used to…

“I need to start fixing things. Why don’t you boys take Marnie for a walk around the farm.”

“I could help you” Marnie offered.

“Nonsense. You go out and enjoy this beautiful day. Take a little walk. Work up an appetite.”

Marnie had a feeling that wasn’t going to be a problem.

Cal helped her into her jacket, while Susie smiled approvingly. He held the door for her and ushered her out onto the porch, where Ted was already waiting for them. Ted’s pride was evident as he showed her around the grounds, pointing out the large garden and the field where the sheep grazed. Their next stop on the tour was the barn, where some of the sheep were escaping the elements. Marnie was enchanted by the sheep. She looked to Ted for approval and Ted nodded toward the sheep. She had never touched one before. She expected it to feel soft and fluffy, like the cotton balls they resembled in pictures. She was surprised to find that it felt rough, oily and matted. She dug into the wooly mass with both hands. The sheep seemed to like this, turning to look at her and nudging her hand with its muzzle.

“She likes you!” Ted proclaimed.

“The feeling is mutual!” Marnie dropped to her knees in the soft hay. She loved the way it smelled. Even the smell of the sheep – which was not what most would consider to be an olfactory treat – met her nostrils with delight. She hugged the sheep around the neck and smiled at Cal. He hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for a moment. His expression was one of simple, pure appreciation. Marnie was caught off guard for a moment. She wasn’t used to being looked at like that. A girl could get used to it, though. Oh yes she could.

“I’m going to check on the chickens – do you kids want to join me?”

“We’ll be along in a minute. I think Marnie might need another moment or two with the sheep.”

As Ted exited the barn, Cal approached Marnie. He squatted beside her in the hay and tousled the sheep’s fleecy coat with his big hand. Do sheep smile? Because it seemed that this one had.

“You havin’ fun?”

“This has been the most crazy, fun, surreal day of my life.” Then she added, “I guess we should catch up with Ted – I’ve never seen a chicken up close before.”

“They’re not quite as loveable as the sheep…” Cal warned. He rose to standing then offered his hand to pull her up. She took it and rose to stand next to him. She didn’t let go of his hand right away. She looked up at his face to find it looking intently at hers.

“Cal, I don’t know…” she started to say, but his lips were upon hers before she could finish the thought. It was a gentle kiss, but she was glad he had slipped his arm around her, because it was having a powerful effect. She parted her lips and it became more passionate. His arms tightened around her, one encircling her waist, the other supporting her head. She found his thick wavy hair with her fingers and entangled them in it, pulling him in closer. Her world faded in and out – nothing existed but her, and Cal, and this kiss. She never wanted it to end. When it did, Cal pulled her into him and Marnie rested her head on his chest. She could feel his heart beating quickly. Apparently this new development was having the same effect on him as it was on her. When she’d regained her composure, she said, “What are we doing here?”

“Did you want to be somewhere else?”

She smiled. He returned the smile. “You know what I mean. Less than twenty-four hours ago we were casual friends, sitting around Josh’s table, you know…”

“You didn’t want this then?”

“Oh hells yes! But I thought it was a bad idea. Why does it seem like such a good idea now?”

“It’s always been a good idea, Marn – we just never both had it at the same time before.”

She considered this. Cal had been involved with his ex for years. She thought he was good looking then, but never gave it more thought than that. What was the use of pining after somebody else’s man? When they first broke up, the thought had crossed her mind, but she didn’t want to be rebound girl. Then there was the matter of a job and the fact that he didn’t have one. But that hadn’t mattered a few seconds ago, when she was melting like butter in his arms. Maybe it didn’t matter at all. He was a good man. She had just been passionately kissed by a good man. How could that possibly be bad?

“So what now?”

“Now? We catch up with Ted.”

She smiled. “You know what I mean, dufus.” She said, punching him playfully on the arm and trying to lighten the intensity a little bit.

“Seriously, Marn. Now we catch up with Ted. Screw one day at a time, let’s take it one moment at a time.” Marnie brushed the hay from her jeans and Cal added, “I hope we have lots and lots of moments.”

Marnie and Cal headed to the chicken coop hand in hand. This was not lost on Ted, who couldn’t have been happier for his little brother. “Susie’s going to wonder where we’ve been,” he said, as they approached him, “we probably ought to be heading back.” The three of them walked back to the house in companionable silence. Holding Cal’s hand as she walked felt like the most natural thing in the world. Marnie couldn’t believe she hadn’t been doing it forever.

When they got back to the house, they were greeted by the homiest aroma Marnie could imagine. “Have you made?” she drifted off and Susie completed her thought.

“Chicken Pot Pie. I hope you like it.”

“Like it? I haven’t had it since - oh my goodness, I don’t even know when, honestly. My grandma used to make it for me when I was a girl. Honestly, Susie, this just smells like heaven!”

“Well, it’s going to be another fifteen or twenty minutes. You guys want a beer or something?”

“I’ll get ‘em, hon.” Said Ted, patting Susie’s ample behind as he passed her to get to the refrigerator. “Light beer ok?”

“Do we look like pussies?” answered Cal to Marnie’s amusement, Ted’s confusion and Susie’s disapproval. “Sorry. There’s this girl we know… Inside joke. Light beer will be fine. Sorry, Suz.”

Susie shrugged it off and joined them at the table, where Ted had opened a beer for her, too. Ted and Susie used this time as an opportunity to tell Marnie stories about Cal. Their love for him was so evident and so real. “I love this family so much.” she thought, and smiled to herself, resting her head on Cal’s shoulder like she’d been doing it forever.

Dinner was over far too quickly. Marnie had eaten with a gusto that surprised everyone, from such a little girl. Her belly was full of good food, her head was full of good thoughts, and her heart was so full she feared it would burst. When Cal suggested they take off, she balked at first, but conceded that it was indeed time. All good things, and all that. She hugged Cal and Susie and thanked them profusely for the lovely day. They extended a sincere invitation for her to come back anytime. Her equally sincere answer was that she hoped it was very soon.

Marnie's Rung

Fiction Friday

This is the next chapter of the novel (or project, as I continue to insist on calling it) that I wrote for NaNoWriMo. It's sat dormant long enough - time for me to take another look at it - and to give you a peek at it as well.

In case you missed something:

Chapter 1: Josh's Table
Chapter 2: The Vista
Chapter 3: Transition

Chapter 4:
Brunch

Marnie threw the pink box on her mother’s granite countertop and pushed her sunglasses up on her head. “Opting for the natural look today, I see.” Her mother stated, indicating Marnie’s lack of make-up and still damp hair.

“It’s all the rage.”

“Where? In the Bowery? In the Ghet-to?”

“Marnie’s been slumming again?” asked her younger sister, Brittany.

“Again? When did she stop?” added her older sister, Corrine.

“That’s enough, girls.” Mom admonished, but the slight smile teasing at her lips eliminated any hope of severity. “Marnie is – finding herself.”

“Well she sure is looking in nasty places.”

“Yep. Saw your husband in one of ‘em last night, Corri. How’s he feelin’ this morning?”

“Alan couldn’t make it this morning because he was out late meeting with clients.” Corrine said, looking down, then up, then off into the distance. Looking everywhere but at anyone. Marnie decided not to push – she hadn’t meant to stir things up, necessarily, she just wanted to take the attention off of herself. So. More trouble in paradise. How interesting.

Corrine and Alan had met in college and had gotten married a month after graduation. They were the perfect couple, everyone said so. Their wedding was two years in the making and it was the social event of the season. It had been magazine perfect. Corrine kept a perfect home and worked easy hours managing a stylish boutique. Alan quickly worked his way through the ranks of a major corporation. After two years of marriage and a cruise around the world, they decided it was time for children. Two beautiful little clones of them followed, first Evan and twenty-six months later, Elizabeth. A gardener cared for the lawn, a housekeeper cared for the house and a nanny cared for the kids. Alan cared for his young secretary and more than one stripper at the Hi-Clas Gentlemen’s Club. Corrine cared for vodka and valium. It was so cliché Marnie had a hard time believing it was true, but there it was.

Marnie’s mom set out a tray of Bloody Mary’s along with a pitcher for the inevitable refills. Marnie clicked her glass with Brittany’s. “Cheers.”

“First of the day.”

Hair of the dog always went down well. Her mom might not make a decent cup of coffee, but she could whip up a kick-ass Bloody Mary. The four women relaxed, if only for a moment.

“Hey Corri”, Brittany said, breaking the temporary silence, “Where are the E’s?”

“Evan and Elizabeth are playing the Wii in the game room.”

“I’m gonna go say howdy – how long till brunch, Mom?”

“It should really only be about five more minutes. Tell them to finish their game and join us.”

“Your wish is my command.” Brittany said, bowing with a flourish as she left the room.

As Brittany left, Corrine turned to Marnie and asked softly, “You didn’t really see Alan at one of those horrid places last night, did you?”

“Ok, couple things: Those places are not horrid. The people who patronize them are not horrid. I did not run into your husband. Who, for the record, I think IS horrid.”

If Marnie was expecting a fight, she didn’t get one. Corrine sighed. “I know what he does, Marnie. I know who he is. I’m not an idiot. But what am I supposed to do? I like our life.” Marnie raised her eyebrows at this but didn’t say a word. After a brief pause, Corrine continued, “And there’s the kids, you know? And scandal. God, I don’t want to be involved in a scandal.”

“His behavior is scandalous, Cor. It’s only a matter of time.”

“I know. It’s my greatest fear.”

“Now what are you girls conspiring about?” asked their mother upon re-entering the room. “You haven’t picked up some sort of disease, Marnie, have you? Oh God, you’re not pregnant?”

“I am both diseased and pregnant, Mom. I don’t know who the father is – probably one of the bikers from that night I was initiated into the gang. I’m going to keep it. I’m naming it after you.”

“The bastard child of a hundred criminals” Corrine added nudging Marnie and smiling for the first time since she’d arrived.

“Oh, for God’s sake. Seriously – what were you talking about?”

“It was between us, Mom. Don’t worry about it. Is there anything we can do to help get brunch on the table?”

“I think Lupe has everything under control. Go on in and fix yourself a plate.”

Lupe had been the Hammond’s housekeeper since the day they got married. She was only five years younger than Mrs. Hammond and in reality they had become companions, some might even say friends and confidants in all the years they’d been together. They maintained all aspects of decorum when anyone was around, but it was pretty much common knowledge that when her morning chores were done, Lupe relaxed next to Mrs. Hammond in matching lounge chairs in the den where they shared a cocktail or two and their stories. They were employer and employee, but they were also friends.

The Hammond’s brunches were a weekly tradition and had been for as long as any of them could remember. Mrs. Hammond would make her signature Bloody Marys and Lupe would set out a spread. There were always fruits, bagels and spreads. There were usually waffles and or French toast. There was always a variety of breakfast meats. Sometimes Lupe would make pastries, and sometimes one of the girls would pick some up on the way there, as Marnie had on this morning. There was always fresh-squeezed orange juice. The E’s, Evan and Elizabeth, loved helping with this process.

Brunch was the one time each week when all of the Hammond’s came together. It was the way they kept close. They shared news here. If one of the girls brought a beau to brunch, it was her way of saying, “this one is important”. The girls would sometimes balk at having to be at their parents’ house on a Sunday morning, but they were always glad they’d come when it was all said and done.

One Sunday, shortly after her twenty-first birthday and, as such, her public graduation from orange juice to Bloody Marys, Brittany had announced, close to tears, “I love this family so much!” She was, of course, teased mercilessly for this, and it became a sort of sarcastic family motto. Birthday cards were signed in this manner, it was often their parting greeting – it started as mocking, but it eventually morphed into something more. It became one of those inside things that define a group. It became one of those things that could break an awkward silence – one of those things that was guaranteed to make everyone who was in on it smile whenever it was uttered.

Brittany and the E’s came running up the stairs. Mrs. Hammond fixed them with a look, and they all slowed the pace, rolling their eyes at each other. The Hammonds were nothing if not champion eye-rollers. Three generations of eye-rollers and counting. They grabbed plates from the buffet, made their choices, and sat together at the big table – heads together, conspiring. Brittany loved her niece and nephew and wished she had children of her own. Her love life had been, to date, an unmitigated disaster, so that wasn’t looking likely any time soon. She would meet a new man, get very excited about him – often inviting him to brunch prematurely – and – before the initial excitement even had a chance to wear off and settle into something more permanent, he’d be gone. She was about ready to give up on the whole thing – and she would, too, if she didn’t want kids so damn much.

Marnie loved the E’s, too, but she was in no hurry to have any of her own. Her life was just too much fun right now. There was no place for kids in it. Maybe someday there would be, but not right now. Right now was just too full and too fun.

Marnie and Corrine joined Brittany and the E’s at the table. They were soon followed by Mr. and Mrs. Hammond. The topic of conversation jumped easily from how the E’s were doing in school, to business, to the state of the world, to pop culture to the single girls’ love lives to the upcoming holidays.

“How many shall I tell Lupe to expect for Thanksgiving?”

“We’ll be here.” Said Corrine.

“Alan, too?”

“Yes, Alan, too, of course.” Corrine managed to smile at her children and smirk at her mother at the same time.

“I wouldn’t miss it” said Brittany, fist bumping each of the E’s and exchanging meaningful glances with them.

“That looks like trouble! I might be a plus-one.” Marnie said, surprising even herself. The table became silent as all eyes turned to Marnie. “I love this family so much!” she tried, feebly. She wasn’t terribly surprised when it didn’t work.

“Do tell!” said Brittany, her eyes alight with the prospect of hot gossip.

“There’s nothing to tell, it’s just – I have a friend and – I don’t think he has anywhere else to go – and…” Why was she doing this? One night of drinking, dancing, and a peck on the cheek and she was going to impose her whole clan on him? Oh, this was a mistake. A very bad mistake. A mistake that hadn’t even been made yet and could maybe still be easily averted. “I’m just kidding – gosh – it’s easy to get a rise out of you people – your lives must be dreadfully boring. I’ll be here. Just me. Sheesh. I love this family so much.”

Mr. Hammond and the E’s went right back to enjoying their brunch. The women made light conversation, but kept glancing sideways at Marnie – like she might reveal something monumental in the way she spread cream cheese on her bagel or something. Marnie was more than aware of the scrutinization and speculation that was going on around her and she kept her eyes pretty firmly glued to her food. “Idiot” she said to herself. She had brought it on, fair and square. And when the women in her family were given a bone, they rarely abandoned it. And she had just offered herself up to them wrapped in a big red bow. It was at this moment that Marnie’s cell rang. Cal. A smile crossed her face unchecked before she left the room to take the call. That smile was missed by no-one. Even the E’s noticed, although they weren’t quite sure what to do with the information.

Marnie snuck into the kitchen, where Lupe had already started on the dishes.

“Hey!”

“Hey.”

“I’m surprised you called – what’s up?”

“Should I not have? Am I interrupting something?”

“Brunch with the ‘rents. I needed a little break anyway.”

“Cool.”

“Cool”

Lupe rolled her eyes at this point. She had inherited the family trait by proximity.

“Hey, the reason I called – I was going to ride out to my brother’s farm this afternoon for a little bit. It’s a pretty day, and I thought, if you wanted, maybe…”

“You want me to ride to your brother’s place with you today?”

“Well, you know, it’s a pretty day for a ride. But if you’re busy…”

“We’re just finishing up. How soon did you want to leave?”

“So you want to go?”

“Sure. I just need to get home and find a warmer jacket. You know. So you can wear yours for a change.”

Lupe raised her eyebrows and shot Marnie a look. Marnie stuck her tongue out at her playfully. Lupe shook her head and went back to her work, mumbling under her breath about “proper young ladies”.

“See you in forty minutes, then?”

“Cool.”

“Marn?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t know where you live.”

“You just want to meet me somewhere?”

“I can pick you up.”

“Ok.” Marnie took a deep breath and gave him her address. “See you in forty.”

“Yep.”

Marnie shrugged at Lupe and returned to the dining room. “I’ve gotta take off.” She said, slipping into her jacket, “Thanks, Mom, everything was great as usual.”

“See you next week, darling” her mother said, offering her cheek up for a kiss. “Bring that new young man of yours, why don’t you?”

Marnie waved her off then turned back at the door. All eyes were on her and the eyes of her mother and her sisters were twinkling. She’d given them something to talk about. “I love this family so much!” she called out as she closed the door behind her.

Cal was right. It was a beautiful day.