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My Cowgirl
Chapter 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Getting There
Chapter 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sighting #1
Chapter 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sighting #2
Chapter 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The "Conversation"
Chapter 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Going Over The "Conversation"
Chapter 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Early in the Morning
Chapter 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lets Go!
Chapter 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not Happy
Chapter 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Conversation #2
Chapter 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Passing Time
Chapter 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Real 'Hours' Later
Chapter 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Call
Chapter 13- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Down Hill
Chapter 14 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Flight
Chapter 15 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In The Morning
Chapter 16 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After Breakfast
Chapter 17 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1st "Date"
Chapter 18 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Meeting Grandma
Chapter 19 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lets Try This Again
Chapter 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Pissed Off
Chapter 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Better???
Chapter 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Honky-Tonkin'
Chapter 23 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Before Bed
Chapter 24 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Making the Deal
Chapter 25 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here We Go
Chapter 26 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Last Morning
Chapter 27 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I know
Chapter 28 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Going Home
Chapter 29 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Home Sweet Home
Chapter 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In The Morning
Chapter 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Whole Story
Chapter 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dinner
Chapter 33 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Molly's Call
Chapter 34 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Going to Bed
Chapter 35 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Second Morning Home
Chapter 36 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - And For That Original "1st Date"
Chapter 37 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lunch
Chapter 38 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Beach
Chapter 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Back To Dickson?
Chapter 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Back to Dickson
Chapter 41 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - My Idea
Chapter 42 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Surprise
Chapter 43 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Are You For Real?
Chapter 44 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Beginning of The End
Top of page!
1 - Getting There
One Sunday, Nick, Sarah, Heather, LJ, Bruce, Caitlyn, Bethany, and I decided to go to the lake. So, I got in my truck to car pool with them. We all were to meet at Caitlyn's house. I got there before everyone (except Cait that is)! We waited for forty-five minutes before we called Nick. "Nick, where the heck are you?" A pause. "Ok?" Another pause. "Ok, see ya. Bye!"
"Where is he?" I asked Cait. "He's ." She paused for a moment. I heard a car pull into the driveway. "...Pulling in the driveway right now." Cait said. "I figured that!"
"Let's go! We're late!" I yelled. We pulled out of the driveway and drove over to the lake. Nick and I went in to register. Since five out of the eight of us are members, we had no trouble getting in.
2 - Sighting #1
As we drove back towards the lake, this girl was gazing at my dark blue 1997 Chevy Silverado 1500 and its combined eight inch lift (not including the 45's I put on a week ago when I bought it) with a full sized cab and a full sized bed!
She was about five-foot-four, but the cowboy boots gave her an extra inch or two. Her brownish-black locks were about mid-back, with a few little waves towards the bottom. Her black cowboy hat went well with her dark hair.
"Yo, LJ! Did you see that fine young girl walking down the street?!" "Well, how you asking, as a guy or as to brag?" I thought a moment. "Um, yes!" LJ, Cait, and I cracked all the way to the campsite.
When we got out, Nick and Bruce already had one tent up. "Yo, Nick, did you see that cowgirl walking down the street?" I yelled as I jumped out of the truck. "No, but why would I look at a cowgirl? I have Sarah!" "You like it in the pooper!" I screamed at him. "Only on Thursdays from Sarah!" Nick screamed back. "Ewe!" Sarah said with that tone she always has when saying 'ewe'!
I popped my tent up within five minutes and started dinner. Hotdogs were on the menu. They cooked (the way we like them, burnt) and we ate them. They were the best burnt hotdogs I've ever made! We all cleaned up and then I went to find that girl.
3 - Sighting #2
I walked down onto the lakeshore. After five long minutes, (you know, the minutes that feel hours? Yea, those ones) I decided to call it a night, since it was getting real dark. Just then, I saw the girl heading towards the lounge. The hat gave her away. So, without even thinking, I followed her, at a safe distance of curse (one or two steps behind her). As we got to the door, I jumped in front of her to open the door. "Thank you." she said as she passed though the door. I just nodded. As she walked to the right-most table in front of the band, I sat down at the bar. "What can I get for you, sir?" "Tom! What are you doing here?" One of my old school friends, Tom Grout, was behind the counter of the bar. "Ok, don't answer that." "Well, I work here." "I said 'don't answer that'! Oh, how's Val?" "She's pregnant with number three. So how's life?" "If I could get the cowgirl over yonder to even flinch a third look at me, life wouldn't be so bad! Hay, do your job and hit me with something good. You know what I like!" "Yup, rum and cold tea!" I walked over to the vacant table behind her.
There was a man at the table with the girl. After sitting there for about a minute, Tom yelled "Rum and tea!" I jumped up and Tom laughed. "Ha, ha! Real funny!" I said as I walked up to get the drink. "Well, it got her to look at you!" I turned around and looked at her and she quickly turned around to face forward. "So, you think I have a chance?" "Maybe, she's only been here the last week and had." he paused. ". Three beers, a heavy drink I like to call 'schoolboy drunk', and a few of what you've got there in your hand!" "What the hell is in that?" "What you got in your hand, or 'schoolboy drunk'?" "The second one!" "Only rum and about seven other hard liquors! I invented it when we were in school, but wrote it down just after I moved back to New Jersey!" Tom stated with confidence. "Don't forget that one!" I told him. "Why?" "If she won't go out with me before the end of the week (or before she leaves), I'm gunna be asking for hundreds of 'em!"
4 - The Conversation
Just then, the girl got up sat next to me at the bar. "Another one of those 'school-drunk' things!" "You got it!" Tom said. Tom started towards the corner to fix the girls drink. I just turned and faced the band. When Tom came back, the girl fumbled with her purse. "Here," I said. "Let me pay for it." "Naw, I've got it." She was still scraping up the bills in her purse. "No. I've got it." I handed Tom a five. "Thanks. No one's ever done something like that for me." Tom winked at me then walked away. "Where do you live?" "I live in Tennessee, just outside Nashville, in Dickson. And you?" "Oh, I live just around the corner." "Oh!" "You say that like it's a good thing." "It is!" "Why's that?" I asked. "I come down here twice a summer for two weeks." "That's awesome. How old are you?" "I'm Twenty-four, and you?" "Twenty-six." I said. "What do you do for a living?" She asked. "I do a bit of everything. Mostly fixing computers, blueprinting; that kind of thing. It's pretty flexible. Why would ask that?" Just then, a man walked up behind her. "Gwen! Come on! Its important!" the man that was at the table with her said in her ear as he walked towards the door. "Why not? But I've got to go. Can I see you tomorrow?" "When and where, and I'll be there." "Noon, site D-8?" "You've got it!" She started to the door, then turned around. "Oh, hold on! I never got your name!" "Justin." "Ok, Justin." "So, where do you want to go?" she asked quickly. "I don't care! You live here, where's a good place to go?" "I know just the spot! See you tomorrow, Gwen!" See ya!"
5 - Going over "The Conversation"
Gwen walked away looking at me every second that she could. "Damn, she's a handful!" Tom said as he walked up. "But I could live with that. Waking up to that B-E-A-U-TIFUL face every morning! That'd be the bestist." "Justin, bestist isn't even a word!" "It is now!" Hit me with the bill. The faster I get to sleep, the faster noon tomorrow comes! The faster noon tomorrow comes, the faster I get to see that prittyful face!" "It's on the house!" Tom said as if I was going to argue over the free drinks. "Thanks Tom. See you tomorrow night!" "See ya!"
6 - Early in the Morning
When I woke up, Nick and Sarah had already cooked breakfast (leftovers [hotdogs])! They, Heather, LJ, Bruce, Caitlyn, and Bethany had already eaten.
"Mud, what time is it?" Nick looked at his watch. "Twenty-of." "Of what?" "Eleven. Must have been a long night." "So, who was it Must?" Heather asked as if I was with someone on the stand. "Two things.!" "Ok, Mr. Must." said Heather. "Thank you. And number two; there was no 'other' last night." No one said a word. "But I'm working on it!" I added. "The cowgirl isn't it?" LJ asked. "Yep!" "What's her name?" Nick asked. "I bet its 'Bertha' or something like that!" Bruce blurted out. "Shut the fff. Front door, Bruce!" "Yea? What you gunna do 'bout it?" I thought real hard. "Exactly!" "I knew it!" Bruce screamed.
"Do you need a girl to talk to her for ya, Justin?" Cait asked. "Nope! I've got a date with her." I put my watch on. "In fifteen minutes!" Nick and LJ looked at each other, grinned and shook their heads.
"Well, got to go! See ya!" "Hay, where are you going?" Nick requested. "I'm going to the 'Glass Beach', Mother, on a date!" I ran off to my truck! When I got there, I turned towards the campsite and everyone was laughing.
7 - Let's Go
So I got in my truck and drove out to the main street. Down towards the lake three side-streets and over to D-8. As I was pulling up, I was hopping that this was not a formal-dress/tux date. Then I noticed that there was no one in that site. "Where is she?" I thought to my self as I got out of my truck. There was a piece of paper knifed to a tree just inside the camp. I looked around as I pulled the knife out of the tree to read the note.
Justin,
I'm sorry that I had to go! My Grandmother had a heart attack! Sorry! Call me!
Home - 345-555-6875 & cell 345-123-8998
Love from my heart,
Gwen Hays
"SHIT!" I paused. "F%*#ing @$$!! &$*#!!! WHY!?!?!? WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME!?!?!? WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!?!?!? WHAT!?!?!?"
8 - Not Happy
"Nick, do you have a minute?" "Yea, sure. What's wrong?" Just." Silence came about the two of us. "What?" "She's gone!" "What?" "Gwen, the cowgirl. She's gone back to Tennessee! F%$^!!" "Yo! Calm down! Damn, just calm down. Come get a drink, it sounds like you need one." "Kay."
Nick walked over to the cooler and through me a beer. I slammed the note down on the table and threw myself down in the chair and chugged it as fast as I could. "Hit me!" Nick threw me another. Again, I chugged it as fast as possible. "I feel better, but throw me one more!" Nick threw me another and that one I drank it slow (-er then the two before that).
"This F*in' sucks!" "Damn! Those three beers were supposed to calm you down! See what you did Nick?!?!?" Bruce screamed. "Yea, Justin! That girl has a family problem! You can't blame her." Cait added. "I know." I said sadly. "Oh Shit!" I ran over to my truck and grabbed my cell phone.
9 - Conversation # 2
"Hello?" "Gwen! Is she ok?" "Who is this? How'd you get my number?" Gwen. It's Justin! You gave it to me on your note!" Oh! Justin! She's not good!" "How are you holding up?" I demanded. "Ok, I guess!?" In the background, I could here the man that was with her the night before. "Gwen, come on!" I heard in the background. "I've got to go." She said. "I'll call you later." "When?" "Later tonight." I told her. "Ok. Bye!" "Bye." I hung up the phone. "Few! At least she isn't a wreck like I am!" I thought.
LJ walked over. "How is she?!?" "I dun no. The guy that I saw last night with her." I stopped "Well?" LJ asked. "Well. I don't think she'll be coming back here any time soon!"
10 - Passing Time
Hours passed (Ok, only forty-five minutes or so had gone by since I was supposed to pick Gwen up, but it seemed like hours) as we sat talking ('we' being Nick, LJ, Sarah and I ) about everything but things that would help me get over Gwen and pass the time! Things like 'Well, my love life is so good!' (Nick to Sarah) and 'I haven't seen or heard from my girlfriend since I started to move things out here three months ago. I wonder if we're still going out!?' (LJ)! That makes me feel so good! I can't get Gwen out of my head!
11 - Real 'Hours' Later
Now, being 8:00, I was at the lounge, downing everything Tom would give me! "Alright, Justin! You're going to have to start paying your tab!" I know! Here, here's thirty!" "You owe.!" Tom thought, then looked at a napkin he had in his hand. "Double that!" "Ok, here's another fifty!" I said as I handed him another fifty dollars! "That should pay for the next few seconds!" I waited for the next round. "Where's the next one?" I asked.
"Yo! John! I'm fresh out of rum! And I'm out of tea, also!" Tom turned. "That was me, wasn't it?" I asked with a smile. Tom and I laughed! "Yea it was! You drank about. a gallon!" "Naw! I didn't drink that much!" "Um, yea, you did!" "Oops!" "That's ok, your having a bad day!" "You're telling me!" "So." Tom was interrupted. "Yo! Justin!" "Mike?" "Yo, boy!" "What the hell you doing here?" I asked. "Nothing much. Just looking for you!" "How'd you find me?" Went to your house and you wernt there. THat means, nine times outa ten anyway, that you are here." Mike looked at Tom. "Tom, is that you?" "Yup." "How's life going? Haven't seen you since before you moved out of New Jersey!" "Yup." "Is that all you can say tonight is 'Yup'?" "Yup." Mike had the "Okay." look on his face.
"So, Justin." Mike turned and watched me down three drinks within thirty seconds. "Yo! Calm down, dude! Save some for everyone else!" "Shut the hell up, Mike! I'm not in the best mood! Come to think of it, I'm in the worst mood I've ever been in!" "Why?" he asked. Tom kept me from murdering Mike. "He lost his girl! She went to see her G-mom who had a heart attack! So cool it!" "Yo, dude! I'm sorry!" Mike walked out.
"I wish I could find her!" I said. "I wish you could find her!" Tom blurted. "Why?" "Two reasons. One, I hate to see you like this! And two, your drinking all the rum and tea!" He laughed as I just sat there!
12 - The Call
"OH SHIT!" What, Justin?" "I have to call her!!" I ran over (staggering in all directions but the one I wanted to go!) trying to get to my truck in the parking lot. "Justin! Sit down! I'll get your phone!" "Thanks Tom!" "Ill be right back, John! I'm going to get my buddy's cell in his truck!" "Okay!" the voice came from the back room. "Thanks again, Tom!" "No problem!"
When he came back in, Nick was with him. "How you doing?" "Did I go out to get my phone?" (I love answering questions with questions!) "No.?" "Then I'm not doing to good!" "Oh! Want to talk to her?" "Oh! I want to do more then talk to her! I want her to be the mother of my six kids!" "Six!?!?" "Yes! Six!" Tom buts in. "Six is a good number!" "Shut up, Tom! Just give me my phone!"
I started out to the deck to call Gwen when Nick asked me for my keys. I pulled them out of my pocket and tossed them in his direction (Which was the total opposite way). Saying to my self "1-2-3, 8-9-9-8." It rang three times and then someone answered, but it was not Gwen! "Hello?" "Umm. Hello? This is Justin. Is Gwen there?" "No. This is her father. She's in with her grandmother. Can she call you back?" This is when I realized that it was the dude that was with her yesterday. "Uh. Yea. 1-2-3, 1-3-7-9!" "Okay! She'll call you when she comes out." "Thank you, Sir. Bye." Good bye."
That was awkward! Besides being drunk out of my mind, I was talking to the father of the girl that I liked. Now, I realized that she's not going out with him (him being her dad and everything)! I felt just a smidgen better (A grain of sand in the universe!)!!!
13 - Down Hill
I called for Nick and asked him to bring me home. "Home, or to the campsite?" "Campsite! Its home for now! See ya, Tom!" "See ya!"
We went back to the campsite and I sat by the fire. I waited for forty-five to fifty minutes before my phone rang. "Hello?" "Justin! It's not good! She's falling fast!" "Gwen! Just calm down! What's the matter?" "My grand mom! She's not doing well! She's in a comma and they gave her twenty-four hours to live! It's not good!" "Where are you? What city? What hospital?" "Why?" "I'm coming to see you!" "No! Don't! I don't want this on your shoulders! You don't even know me! ." "I will! I want to! I am!" "Only if you want to!" "I do!" "I'm at Stonewall Memorial Hospital, in Dickson." I'm on my way!" "I'll call you when I get to the airport!" "I love you!" "You do?" "Yes! I do! Bye!" "I love you. Bye!"
"Nick! I'm outa here!" "Where you going?" "Tennessee!" "Gwen?" "Yup!" "I'm driving you there!" You're driving to Tennessee?!?!" "NO! To the airport to catch a flight to Tennessee!" "You're in no shape to drive! I'm driving you to the airport!" "That you can do!" "That's the least I can do!" "Ok! But hurry up!"
14 - The Flight
Nick drove to my house and I packed three pairs of jeans, three undershirts, three collared 'hick' shirts, and my other pair of boots. While there, Nick called to find a flight to Dickson. I ran down stairs. "Don't forget Damn-It!" "What?" "Feed my dog, Damn-It!" "Oh! I forgot your dogs named 'Damn-It'!" "When's the flight?"
Of course! The flight was out of Atlantic City in an hour and a half! It takes an hour to get there, thirty minutes to get the ticket and the luggage situated, and fifteen minutes to board the plane! That's fifteen minutes I have to make up!
Well, it took Nick thirty minutes to get there! That's good time! Eighty-five to ninety miles per hour in a sixty-five miles per hour zone! Glad we didn't get pulled over!
Just before I got on the plane, there was a voicemail on my phone. It was Gwen saying that her grand mom was stable now and that they were meeting meat the terminal at three. I boarded the plane at one forty-five. Take off was at two. The plane landed at three twenty-four! Gwen was standing at the gate with a man that looked like a butler! "Baggage is over here!" We got into the car and that's when she gave me the biggest hug I've ever had! "Wow! I've talked to you for less then an hour and your already giving me hugs!?!?" "I just need a hug! She's doing a bit better, but she's not out of the woods yet!" I know. I got your message." "Ok. It's just..." She paused. "My public life sucks! Even my love life sucks!" "I can change that!" She laughed with two little puffs out of her nose. "That'd be the only good thing going on." "If you know what I mean!" I added. This time, she giggled a bit, and then frowned. She started to tear a bit. "It's okay! Everything's gunna be okay!" "No its not! Nothing's going to be 'okay'!" "Except your love life!" I added before she could say more. She smiled through her tears.
When we got to her house, I stayed in the car and curled up in the seat. "Justin!" I sat up and listened. "Come and sleep in the extra bed in my room!" "Are you sure? I'm not going to object, but." "I'm sure." "I'll be there in a second!" I uncoiled my body and started to the house, and then I realized I couldn't get my stuff out of the trunk. "Gwen! You wouldn't happen to have a key to the car, would you?" "Why?" "I need to get the stuff out of the trunk!" "We'll get it in the morning!" "Okay!"
15 - In the Morning
When I woke up, Gwen had already had a shower and was tidying her room. "Good morning." "What time is it?" "Almost seven." Gwen asked, "How was your night?" I paused. "On the hole, it was good. And Yours?" "Besides the obvious, good." "Was there anything that could have made your night better?" Gwen sat down on the loveseat in the corner as I thought a moment. "Nope!" I paused a second time. "Well, there was this one thing. But I won't push the issue now. Not yet." "What's the 'issue'?" "Nothing. It's ok. We'll talk bout it in a few days." "Okay."
Just then, there was a knock at the bedroom door. "Gwen! Are you in there?" Gwen whispered to me, "Say I'm not here! Tell him. I'm in the bathroom." She started across the room. "Where are you gunna be?" I whispered back. "In the bathroom!"
I answered the call that came from the outside. "No! Gwen is in the bathroom, I think. Yes! I hear the toilet flushing!" "Okay! Just tell her breakfast is ready! Oh, you're invited, too!" "Thank you! She'll probably be down before me, though! I need to wake up!"
Now, Gwen in nothing but a bra and panties, walks out into the room. "Thanks! He's a pain in the butt in the morning!" "I don't know. He seems quite cheerful this morning..." I paused. "Did you hear what your dad. is that who that is?" "Yea." "Is that a 'yes' to he's your dad, or to you heard him?" "Yes!" ('Now,' I thought to my self, 'she's the gal for me!') "Okay! Which one of my group have you been talking to?!" "Why? What did I say?" "That's my line!" "What's your line?" "Saying 'yes' to answer a question that has more then one answer! That's my line!" Gwen laughed. "I've been saying that for years now!" "Well, I've been saying that since high school!" "No! Me too!" "Ha! I got you beat! I went to high school before you!" She laughed so hard, I think she started to cry! "Let's go down and eat." "I agree! Food is good for the belly!" I added.
16 - After Breakfast
"We're going to the hospital at noon today. They won't let visitors into ICU until then." Gwens father said. "Okay, Dad. What can we do before then?" "Well, if you want to, you can go to the mall for a while? Then you can meet me at the hospital. Can you drive, Justin?" "I don't know. The state of New Jersey didn't just hand out licenses. If they did, I didn't get one! At least not that way! That's not fair. I had to take a damn test!" "Gwen, I like this guy!" "Dad!" "What?" "Don't worry, Gwen. The relationship between him and me will go way, way down before it gets better!" All three of up busted up laughing.
17 - 1st "Date"
This one was on her turf!
Gwen disappeared! "Mr. Hays." "No! Call me Joe." "Ok, 'Joe'. Where'd she go?" I asked. "I don't know! You should know that by now!" "Know what?" "Girls don't tell us guys anything!" Joe said. "Oh! I know that!" "So! Here are these." He gave me a set of keys. I noticed the bow-tie on them. I looked at him and he smiled when he saw the smile on my face.
I walked to the garage and opened the door. I was expecting a S-10 or a Colorado. I wouldn't have expected to find a 2001 Silverado 2500 4x4, with a combined eight inch lift, & forty inch tires! Gwen came out from behind the truck. just after my jaw shattered on the concrete! "It might be an older truck, but it still rolls over anyone that gets in the way!" I was speechless. "Hello! I'ma talking to you!" I came back from dreamland. "What, uh, yea. Sounds good to me!" "You have no clue what I said, do you?" About half way through the sentence, I zoned out again.
"Well. Jump in!" Gwen said as my jaw was on the ground. "Wha.? Oh yea!" After I got in, Gwen asked, "So, Justin. Where do you want to go?" "I don't know this area. Where do you want to go?" "Not the mall!" "Any where a lake round out yonder?" I questioned. "Over on the other side of town, there's a lake back in the woods." "Has this ever been back there?" I asked again tapping on the dash of the truck. "No. Why?" "There's a first time for everything!" "But the trail is barely inches wide!" "So?" I smiled. "Thats all it needs!" "Let's go!" she said happily.
The trail was just as wide as she said it was! Inches! About 14 or 15 to be exact. The truck handled like a dream! (A good dream, that is!) If I didn't know any better, the truck didn't hit a thing! I do know better, so I know the truck was romping over trees (small ones that is, about 1˝ - 2 inches thick) and rocks, through puddles and through the sand! The whole 1/4 mile back to the lake.
When I finally pulled out of the brushy woods, my jaw dropped. This time to my lap! "Wow!" "Isn't it pretty?" Gwen asked. "Wow!" "I'll take that as a yes! I knew you would like it out here!" "Wow!" that's all I could say is 'wow!'
Being now eight-forty-five, I pulled over to the edge of the trees. Gwen got out and started walking down to the water. I followed to the edge and put my arms around her.
"Just relax." I said. "She'll be ok." "I hope she'll be ok." "God will take care of her. He always does!" There, a small smile appeared on her face for a split second. Just then, Gwen's cell phone rang. She seemed relieved while she talked to the person on the other side of the line. "Who was it?" I asked. "It was dad. He said he is going to run some errands, then meet us at the hospital." "Oh. Ok." She started to walk down round the lake. "Are you coming, or are you going to wait out here?" Gwen turned to me. "Where you going?" I asked. "Over there. Just to walk. You gunna come?" "Yea!"
18 - Meeting Grandma
After the two and a half hours of walking, sitting and splashing around and in the lake, we got back in the cab of the truck and went to find some lunch.
"The food at the hospital really sucks!" "I know how it is! My mom used to work at one." "What? Was she a nurse or something?" "No. She did medical records." "Oh. Well, the best place is the Coffee Café. It's only down the street from the hospital." "I'm looking for something a little faster then a café." "Why?" "I'm just not in the mood to sit and eat. Plus, not to sound like a suck-up, but I want to get to the hospital before noon." "Ok. To the left and up a block, is a Roy Rodger's?!?" "That's more like it!"
We pulled into the parking lot of the hospital at one-after-twelve. "So much for being early!" "Shut up, Gwen!" We both laughed. Dad said he would meet us at the front door, right?" "That's what I heard." "Well, I don't see him." "Neither do I." I added. We got out and walked inside. "Is ICU open yet?" Gwen asked. "Yes." The lady at the desk said. "Gwen Hays and Justin Dowling." Gwen said to her. "But only immediate family is allowed up." The lady at the desk said. "He's with me." "No one but immediate family is allowed into ICU." I could see the frustrated look an Gwen's face. "Is anyone up there for Mrs. Hays?" Gwen asked madly. "Let me see." The lady looked at the book. "Yes. A Mr. J. Hays!?" "Ok, thank you." Gwen walked away towards the elevators. "Gwen! Are you going to leave me here?" "No! Hold on a second." She walked around the corner, stopped, and then came back towards the door to go outside. She pulled her phone out of her purse. "Dad! Get down here!" She paused as her dad spoke. "Yes!"
Within a minute or two, her dad came out. "Gwen, what's wrong?" "They won't let Justin in because he's 'not immediate family'!" "I'll take care of it. Don't worry." He, Gwen and I walked inside. "I was just upstairs. My daughter and." (I was thinking to my self at this exact moment, "Is he going to say it. I'm her boyfriend? She has already said it, but the father saying it!??! Is that an implication that he 'approves of me' ") ". her boyfriend ." ("Bulls eye! I like this guy." I thought again) ". said that you would not let them up to see my mother! I told the lady that was here five minutes ago that they would be coming and that he had permition to be here!" "I'm sorry! I didn't know!" "So. Can they come with me now?" "Yes! Yes!" "Good!"
19 - Lets Try This Again
We walked up the stairs and I could see the tears coming to Gwen's eyes. I put my arms around her and stopped walking. She started to cry more now. I squeezed her body and she squeezed back. "Gwen. This is a stupid question, but, are you ok?" "No." "Do you need to sit before you go in?" "No." "Are you sure?" She paused. "No." "Ok. Let me see if I can get this right. You're not sure that you don't need to sit before going in. Is that right?" Gwen laughed kinda under her breath. "So am I right? You can tell me I'm wrong, if that's what I am." "You're right." She said laughing a bit louder now. "That's what I thought." "You're funny." "That's what all my." I paused. "All my friends that are girls have told me." "Why did you pause?" "I didn't want you to think I had a girlfriend." "Do you?" she asked quickly. "No!" "I was just asking." Joe came out. "Gwen, grand mom wants to see you." "Do you want me to come with you?" I asked her. "Yes. Please?" "Would I ask if I wouldn't?" I paused. "I'm here for you, babe."
"Hi Grandma." Gwen said. "Hello darling. Who's this?" "This is Justin. My boyfriend." (As she said 'boyfriend' she looked at me like "I need to say this more often! It feels awesome to say that! I haven't said that in forever!" or something to that extent.) "Come over here, son." "Grandma!" Gwen said as I started towards the side of the bed. "Gwen! It's ok. I would expect it." I went over and sat in the chair next to the hospital bed. Gwen sat on my knees. "So, Justin. How old are you?" "I'm twenty-six, maim!" "Good manners, boy." "Grandma! He has a name!" "Yes, yes. Sorry." "Its ok, maim." "So, Justin?" She looked at Gwen as to be sarcastic. "What brought you out here?" I knew that question was coming sometime, I just didn't know when! "Well, I love your granddaughter. I came out here to comfort her when she told me you fell." "Well! How long have you known about me lying here in this darn-flabit bed?" "I've known since, well." I stopped to think. "Since Sunday." "When was Sunday?" "Oh, sorry. Three days ago." "I've been here for three days?!" "Mom!" Joe ran across the room to the other side of the bed and held on to his mom. "Mom! Just relax!" She layed back down and began to ask questions. "How many times have you been here? How did Justin find out I was out for three days before I did?" "Mom! Relax! Hold on a second!" He walked over to Gwen and me. "You have lunch yet?" I answered, "Yes." "Ok." Joe took me aside. Then. can you take Gwen somewhere?" "Where?" "I don't care! Anywhere!" "Why? I'm not trying to be a pain in the ass but I just need some information!" "I know." He answered. "I'm gunna try to get my mom to relax for a while." "Ok." "Here's two hundred. Take her out for a while." "I don't want your money! If I'm gunna take her out, I'm gunna pay!"
Gwen walked up. "What's going on, Justin?" "Gwen, honey. I'm gunna let her rest." "Dad! You don't have to talk to me like I'm twelve! I'm twenty-four!" "Ok. Then find somewhere to go out for dinner!" "FINE!" Gwen stormed out down the stairs. Joe turned to me and jumped down my throat. "She's yours now!"
20 - Pissed Off
"GWEN! Wait!" "I know something's going on!" She stopped. "Babe. Lets go home & we can talk about this there." "Ok."
I drove to her house and before I even stopped, she was out and into the house! "Gwen! Gwen!" I screamed as I went up the steeps towards her room. When I got to her door, it was locked. "Gwen. Please let me in." "Just go away!" "Gwen! Don't be like this!? I love you!" "If you loved me, you wouldn't NOT tell me what you're not telling me!" "Not telling you what?" "Whatever my dad said! He told you something and your not telling me!" "Do you wanna know what he told me!?" "Yea!" "Well, let me in and I'll sit and tell you!"
There was a pause, I heard her come to the door. She opened it and then ran to lie back down on the bed. "Gwen!" I sat on the middle of her bed. "Girl. I love you. He asked if we had been to lunch, I said yea, and then he took me aside and tried to get me to take you to dinner! He even tried to give me money! I told him that if I was to take you, I'd pay with my money! Then I got in the truck with you and came here!" She was crying a bit more now. "So. why did you want me to tell you that? Did you think that he told me something bad about you or something?" She sat up and gave me a big hug. I returned the hug and said, "Its ok. I'm here for you." She sat up and looked at me. "Babe, go take a nice warm shower. It'll make you feel better!" "Ok." She said as she got up and walked into the bathroom.
21 - Better???
She came out about a half hour later. "Feel better, babe?" "A little." "It's almost six-thirty. Do you wanna go out to dinner or eat here?" "On one condition." "What would that be?" I asked. "If I can drive!" "Well." We both laughed.
We got in the truck, her driving, and went to the Diner. After we ate, I asked her if she wanted to go somewhere. "I don't know. Why?" "I don't know. I just don't wanna go home." "Why? Wait! When's your flight?" I laughed. I'm not going 'home', I mean back to your house." "Oh." "I didn't mean that I didn't wanna go back to your house. I meant I didn't wanna go back right now!" "Oh. Ok!" "Unless you want to." "I don't care! There's nothing to do there anyway." "Hold on a second."
I walked away a few steeps and pulled out my cell. "Nick!" "Hey Just." "Nick, are you at your computer?" "Yea. Why?" "Where is there a honky-tonk in Tennessee?" "I don't know!" "Well Search!" "Ok! Ok!" We both were silent for a minute. "Umm ." he started. "There's one just on the outskirts of Dickson. Isn't that where you are?" "Yup! Love ya! Thanks!" "No problem!" "OUT!" "Wait!" he interrupted. "When are you coming back?" "I don't know. Haven't thought about it!" "Ok. Out!" "Out!"
I walked back to Gwen. "Girl, have you ever been to a honky-tonk?" "No. Why?" "Good! Cause that's where we're going to night!"
22 - Honky-Tonkin'
We got to the honky-tonk and she sat in the truck. "Come on, Gwen." "I have something to tell you." "What, Babe?" "Well." She paused. "I've never line danced before." "That's ok, its fun and even the experts' mess up! Come on!" She got out of the truck and we walked into the crowd.
We emerged from the crowd about two hours later. We had decided to leave because loud crowds and line dancing just ain't what we really wanted! So we went to the river and we slow danced to George Strait. Then, we laid in the back of the truck and looked at the stars.
"I could do this for hours." She finally said. "Yea. I know what you mean. Just relaxing!" "Yea!"
We had been there for a few hours before we decided to go back to the house.
23 - Before Bed
"I wish I was back in New Jersey." she said as she stole one of my t-shirts. "Why do you wish that?" "Because I'd be away from everything that's going on!" "Oh, like your grand mom." "Yea. I wish she was better!" Gwen laid on the bed. "I wish she was, too!" I added. "You don't even know her!" she said. "Besides just wanting her to be ok, I wish you were ok!" I sat down next to her. "I am ok. What do you mean by that?" she questioned. "I know that something is bothering you, weather it be your grand mom, me, or something else." Very quickly she returned, "Nothing is wrong with you! Its just I want us to be normal." "Now it's my turn. What do you mean by that?" I questioned in the same way she questioned me. "You know, like, having the best time. Going out, having fun! ." "You don't think tonight was fun?" "No! I mean, yes! It was the most fun I've had in forever! It's just that in all the fun, I've been distracted by the grand mom thing." I heard the tone go to an almost cry. "It's ok." She put her head on my lap. "It's ok, Babe! It's ok! Just relax." I rubbed my fingers through her hair. "It's ok, Babe. It's ok."
24 - Making the Deal
It had been a week since I came here to Dickson, and now I got, I think, the best idea I have ever had! ...
When I woke up in the morning, Gwen was still sleeping. I slowly got up and went down stairs. There, in the kitchen, was Joe. He was cooking breakfast.
"Joe, can I talk to you for a minute?" "First, I have to apologize for yesterday." "Its fine, but what I have to tell you is very important!" I said. "Ok. Shoot." "Well, I was talking to Gwen last night when we got home and she needs to get away from all this that is going on. She was crying for an hour and a half last night!" "Oh! Why?" He paused. "Don't answer that!" "Ok. I won't." "What are you going to do?" he asked. "Well, she said she wants to go back to New Jersey for a while. I'll take her in like you have taken me in. She can stay there as long as she wants." I paused. "Or until you say she has to come back." "Well, there is a lot going on in her life. And it probably would be good for her." He paused. "Ok, she can go. On one condition, though." "What would that be?" I asked. "I pay for the flight.?" (If you think I'd turn down a free flight home & Gwen coming to my house for as long as she wants. You're doing WAY too many drugs!) "Well. Ok. But I'm picking the flight!" "Deal." Joe and I shook hands to make the deal final.
I walked up stairs again and into the bedroom. I sat on the edge of Gwen's bed. She started to wake up (not because of me sitting on the bed, she was waking up on her own.). "Good morning, Babe." I said in a soft voice. She opened her eyes and mumbled something to the extent of 'good morning'. "I've got good news and bad." "Wha.?" She asked. "I'll wait until you wake up more." She shot up like a rocket. "I'm awake! I'm awake! Bad news first, though!" "Ok." I said laughing. "Well, bad news first. I'm going home." "NO! You can't! I won't let you! No!" I put my hand over her mouth. "Listen to the good news!" She stopped. "The good news is that you're coming with me!" She jumped up then on top of me wrapping her arms around me (almost as it was one motion) . very, very tightly. "Hello!" I yelped! She was going on and on about something that I couldn't hear because there was no blood going to my brain. "Gwen! Gwen! Calm down! I don't know when, but as soon as I find a flight." She got up and started to rip through her closet. "What are you doing, Baby?" "I'm finding my suitcase!" "Well, I'm going to jump in the shower. I smell!" We both laughed. "Ok." I started towards the bathroom. "Wait! Justin! How much do I pack?" "Well, for one thing, you're a girl, so I'm not allowing you to bring too much." She smiled, and then giggled. "But you can stay as long as you want; unless your dad says you have to come home." "Oh! That's awesome! I'm gunna be ready in a few minutes!" "I'm not going now! Probably late tomorrow or the next day." "Well, the computer is in the room across the hall." "Ok. Now for that shower!"
25 - Here We Go
After I got out of the shower, Gwen had pack just about everything she owned into a suitcase. "Gwen! You don't need that much!" "I know. This isn't everything! I left three shirts and a few pairs of pants." "Another words, a days worth of clothes." She laughed as she started to speak. "No! It's." she paused. "Exactly!" I exclaimed! "Ok. Well. let's go find a flight." "Ok."
I went online and found a flight leaving at ten thirty-five in the evening the next day. Joe gave me his credit card number so I could buy the tickets. I packed the three pairs of jeans, three undershirts, three collared 'hick' shirts, and my other pair of boots I had brought out here into a plastic bag. The rest of the night went by slow as . well. really, really slow things! After an hour of watching TV, the time being about nine-ish, I went to bed. Gwen said she wasn't too far behind.
26 - The Last Morning
The next morning, I woke up at ten fifteen. I laid in bed for what seemed like an hour or so, then I looked at the clock and it said ten twenty. I glanced over to Gwen's bed but she wasn't there. So then I got up and walked down to the kitchen. Joe was there cooking eggs. "Hey, Justin. How's it going this B-E-A-U-T-ful morning?" "Well, do you want me to lie or tell the truth?" "Lying is fine." he said smiling. "Ok then. This day is the best I've ever experienced." "It is, is it?" "Do you still want me to lie?" "Yes." "Again? Yes! It is the best! I wouldn't lie, would I?" Joe started laughing. "Oh! By the way, do you know where Gwen is?" "No. Why?" "She's not in bed, not in the bathroom, and not here!" "Maybe she went for her morning jog." "She jogs.?" "Yes. Well, she did 'til my mother went into the hospital." "Where does she go usually?" "She runs down to the corner store, then left about two or three miles, then turns around and comes home." I saw the keys to the truck on the counter. Pointing to them, I asked, "May I?" Joe turned to look at me, then looked at the keys, then nodded his head. "Thanks Joe!" I said as I grabbed them and took off to the garage.
I jumped into the truck and flew down the street. I saw Mikes Corner Store and whipped a left hand turn and floored it! About a mile from the store, there was Gwen running her little (and nice I might add) butt off! I pulled off the side of the road and came up behind her. She kept running not noticing I was even there. Then, I guess out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that someone was there and whipped around to see who it was. She came up to the window and said, "What the hell are you doing!?" "Looking for you!" I answered "Well don't!" Then she ran away down the street again.
27 - I Know
I sat in the living room for what seemed to be hours before Joe came out and asked what was wrong. "Nothin'. Well, Gwen told me to leave her alone." "You have to realize that she's not having the perfect life. Here, I'll tell you the whole story."
About an hour later, Gwen came in and ran upstairs and slammed the door to her room. She started to rip everything out of her suitcase. "Gwen." She jumped and turned around all in one motion. I was sitting on the couch. "What the hell are you still doing here!?" "I heard the whole story. Your father told me." She fell to the bed. Then she put her hands to her face and started to cry. I walked up to her and put my arm around her. She threw my arm off as a soon as they touched her. "What's wrong, Babe?" Still crying, she put her face in my lap. "Nobody was supposed to know that! Just me, him, and my dad! Why!? Why did he go and do something like that!?" "Why do you try to hide this kinda stuff? You don't have to! You know that I love you! You know that I wouldn't hate you for something like that!" She sat up and gave me a big hug. "It's ok, Babe. It's ok." She looked me square in the eye. "So." She paused, and then continued. "You know that my ex boyfriend Fred abused me and my mother died after a drunk driver jumped the curb?" "I know about it all. But it's ok. I don't care about your families past... I do, but it doesn't change the fact that I love you!" "It doesn't?" "No! Why would it?" She just shook her head. "I don't know." "Exactly! I love you! I always will! I'll never stop! Even if you tell me you hate me so much, like the same hate as God has for Satan! I'll still love you! I'll never stop!" She broke down crying again and gave me a big hug.
Just then, Joe came in and saw Gwen crying. "What's wrong, Honey?" She tried to speak, but the tears overcame the speech. I nodded and Joe returned the nod and slowly closed the door behind him.
After dinner, I asked Gwen if she still wanted to come with me. She said yes, but I wasn't so sure. "What's wrong, Babe?" "I don't know. I just don't know what's going to happen while I'm out there." "If anything happens, you can bet on it that we'll be back here before you can say 'Something is terrably wrong!'" I said it in a girly voice. "Ok." she said with a smile and a little bit more confidence. "I promise!" I stated to reassure her. She smiled and said "I love you" in a giggle. "I love you, Babe!"
28 - Going home
Before we left, I called Nick to tell him to pick us up at one thirty-ish, NJ time, (don't forget the one hour time zone change!) at the airport.
It was seven o'clock when we left for the airport. We boarded the plane at ten o'clock and took off at ten forty. We landed at two (an extra hour for the time zone change! I told you to remember damn-it!) and Nick was there waiting for us. "So! This is Gwen?" Nick started. "This would be Gwen. She's gunna be staying with me for a while!" "Ok.?" Nick said in more of a question then a statement. "Long story!" I said. "I'm not that bad! Am I.?" Gwen asked. "Yes! You are!" All three of us looked at each other and started laughing.
29 - Home Sweet Home
Being that we didn't sleep on the plane, the very first thing I did when I got home was curl up in bed and pass out! (DUH! With Gwen beside me!) I woke up at about ten to the dog barking. "SHUT UP, DAMN-IT!!" I heard Gwen's sleepy voice, "What?" "Oh. My dogs name is 'Damn-It'." "What?" She asked again. "I'll explain later. Just relax." "Ok..." She fell back asleep as her head hit the pillow.
30 - In the Morning
It was about eight thirty when I got up to let Damn-It out and get something to eat. I checked my messages and the mail. In the mail pile, there was a package that wasn't postmarked. 'What the hell'? ... Or even better, Who the hell'! I thought. The address on the box was '3136 Rt. 9, 205 E. Main St., Oceanview, NJ'. "That's the campground. Echo Farms, I think?" I thought to myself. "Who moved in there?" I opened the package and inside was a million notes. "They look familiar." I thought again. I opened one up and read it.
Molly ~
I love you so much! I'll always be here for you, Baby! When you're finishedbeing mad, call me! You know the number! I love you! Even if you don't love me! I wish you the best of luck while you're at your aunt's house! I love you! I hope you know that Ill love you forever & ever!
Love From The Depths Of My Soul,
Justin
"How the hell did I get this...?" I said to myself out loud. Just then, the phone rang.
"Hello?" "Justin! Turn to channel 2!" "Mike? Why? Who's on the local channel?" "Just do it!" "Hold on!" I turned on my TV & changed the channel to 2. "Do ya see her?" "Who is that?" Then it hit me! The package. The person on TV. "When did she get here?" "The day after you left! Isn't it great! She said she wants you back!" "Oh shit!" "What's wrong? Don't you want her back?" "I'll call you later! Bye!" I hung up the phone.
"What the hell am I gunna do? I can't see her! She wants me back the second I fall so deeply in love with someone else!" I thought. "What am I to do? I can't help but love Gwen! But on the other hand, Molly is the only girl I could ever see spending forever with! well... until now..."
"Justin! Are you alright?" Gwen asked as she walked into the living room. "Yea." I said as I lifted my head out of my hands. "Are you sure? You don't look well." "I'll be fine." I stopped for a second. "I have a question for you." "Go ahead. What's up?" "Where do you see us in a few years? I know it's a kinda random question this early in our weird, messed up relationship. But I just want to know what you thought of us." "Well..." She stopped. "I don't know. Why?" "I just wanted to know." "Does it have to do with her?" Gwen pointed to the TV. I couldn't lie to her. I patted the couch next to me. She sat down and I told her the whole story.
31 - The Whole Story
"Well, the day I left for Dickson, this package showed up." I pointed to the package. "It's got every note I ever wrote to Molly, my ex-girlfriend." "How long ago?" "About seven or eight years ago." "Then what's the problem." "The woman they were interviewing on the TV was her. She just released a CD. It's not how long it took her to get to the top, though; it's who she knew that got her there." "Who, babe?" "It was Adam Gibson." "I know him! He's the president of Capitol Records, the most famous country record company!" "Yea! And the husband of a very good friend of mine in high school!" "Ok. What's wrong with that?" "Well, she just announced that she's come back home to find me. She said that she still loves me." "That's the problem." She frowned and put her face in her hands. "What are you gunna do?" "I don't know yet! I really don't know! That's what I was thinking of when you came in." "So you don't know if your gunna drop me for her?" "That's not what I meant! I don't know if I'm gunna talk to her or not." She thought a moment. "If I was her, I'd want you to tell me if you were seeing someone else." "You would?" "Yea, I would." "Then I will!"
I got up and called, but there was no answer. I left a message for her to call me back.
32 - Dinner
About three, I got an idea. "Let's go out to dinner, babe." "Ok. Where is there a nice place to eat?" "Down the street is a good place. It's called Dino's. "Ok. I'll get ready!" "Can you be ready by four thirty?" We both laughed.
We went to dinner and while waiting for our order, Gwen saw some one she reconized. "Jim?" "Gwen? Is that you? How have you been?" "Good, you?" "I've been ok. Wait! Why are you out here?" "Oh! This is Justin. Hes a friend of mine. Hes letting me stay with him." "How is Grandmom?" "She's ok I guess." "You guess?" "Yea... She off and on. You know how she can get." "Yea, well... Nice seeing you Gwen." He turned to me. "And nice meeting you, Justin." "And Nice meeting you." I shook his hand, then he walked away. "Who was that?" "Oh, thats my cousin Eric. Hes on my Dads side... you know, my dad's brother's son?" "I know what a cousin is, baby!" We laughed a bit as the waitress served our food.
33 - Molly's Call
We got home about ten and Gwen went straight to sleep in one of my t-shirts. About an hour and a half later, I got a call from Molly.
"Justin! I know it's been almost eight or nine years, but I just realized that there is no one out there for me but you! And I want to..." I interrupted her. "Molly!" "What, Baby?" "A few things. Now listen to me before you go flipping out on me." "Ok! Anything for you, my love!" "Ok. Here it goes. When you decided that you wanted Paul, I flipped! You remember! I wanted it to work out between us so much that I practically stalked you for a year and a half! I wrote you note after note! Then, you turned around and cussed me out! All I wanted was you! Then, the hardest part was trying to walk away. Now! Eight years later, you come back and think everything's gunna be perfectly fine? I don't think so! Don't get me wrong! I will always love you! But not the way you think I will!" She started to talk, and then stopped. "So..." She paused. "You don't love me anymore?" "Not the way that you think I do. I'll always love you! But there's a difference between my love for you now, and the way it was eight years ago!" "So." Again she paused. "There is no 'us' anymore?" "There might be. Maybe later, but definitely not anytime soon." "Oh. Ok. Good bye, Justin." "Good bye, Molly."
34 - Going to Bed
By the time I got off the phone, it was ten forty-five. I climbed into bed and Gwen woke up. "Where were you, babe?" "I was in the living room talking to Molly." "She called? What did she say? What did you say?" "I told her that there was nothing between us any more." I stated. "There is no more Justin and Molly, or Justin and Gwen?" "No more Justin and Molly." "Good, because I love you." "I love you, Gwen." I kissed her cheek, laid down and wrapped my arms around her and fell asleep.
35 - The Second Morning Home
When I got up and Gwen was sitting on the couch sipping coffee. "What's wrong, babe?" "I was just thinking about you and Molly." "Why? What does that have to do with us?" Then, it hit me. "I just." She stopped. "I love you, Gwen." I sat next to her. "Nothing will keep me from loving you!" I added. "I know! I know! I just don't want you and her to become friends again." She put her cup down on the coffee table. "If you and her become friends, then you might remember why you loved her! I don't want that because." She stopped again. "Because what?" I asked. "Because I love you! A lot! And I can't help but love you! And if you left." I interrupted her. "Remember what I said? I said that nothing would keep me from you!" "But that's what scares me! The 'nothing' part! It's not 'no one', its 'nothing'!" "You know what I mean!" I tackled her down on the couch. "I win!" We started tickling each other and laughing. "Noooo!" "Yes! Ha! You loose!" I screamed. "But I never win!" "That's because I'm so good!" We continued to laugh.
36 - And For That Original "1st Date"
"Justin." "Yes, babe." Refering to our first date that didnt happen, Gwen asked, "Can we go to that place that you were gunna take me to?" "Yea! I don't see why not." "I just want to get out of the house." "It's ok. I don't wanna be in this house all day either."
We walked into the garage and she came to a dead stop. "That's a hott truck! What it that? An eight inch lift? Forty-five inch tires?" She thought a moment. "Wait! I know that truck! That's the truck I saw coming into Outdoor World!" "Yup! That would be the truck!" "I love it!" "She's the best truck I've ever owned!" We got into my truck nd started to Cape May Point.
37 - Lunch
We arrived in Cape May at about twelve thirty. "Babe, do you want some lunch before we go too far?" "Yea. That sounds good." "Ok. I know just the spot." "And it happens to be.?" I interrupted her. ".A very good place." "Ok. If that's what you wanna call it!" "And if that happens to be what I wanna call it?" "Then ok!" We both laughed.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Ebbitt Room at the Virginia Hotel and we both slid out of my truck. "I know the owner." "You know the owner of this?" The hotel was a century year old bed and breakfast that looked like it was built yesterday. It stood three stories and was in the middle of historic Cape May. "Yea! He was one of my best friends in high school."
We went inside and were seated. "Chris! What's up son?" "Nothing, it's just a hell of a lot of work keeping this place in business!" "Oh! This is Gwen." "Hello." A waitress came up and Chris introduced her. "Justin, this is Megan. She's our newest waitress. She just moved here from Ohio. Anyway, she'll be your waitress this afternoon." She looked puzzled by the way I looked at her. "What can I get you to drink?" "I'll have a Pepsi." Gwen started. "And for you, Sir?" Isn't she so polite?!" Chris jumped in. "Megan. I'd like a Guinness." "Ok. I'll be right back." She walked into the kitchen. "Holler if you need anything, Justin." "Got ya!" I said as he walked away.
"I know her." "What? How would you know her, Justin? She just moved here from Ohio!" Morgan walked back out with our drinks. "Thank you." Gwen and I both stated as she placed the drinks in front of us. "I'll be back in a few minutes to take your order."
"So how do you know her?" "I think she was my cousin's ex-girlfriend. But it can't be her because they would never leave Ohio." "Ok. I'll ask again. How would you know her?" "I went out there in highschool and met her. She wanted to hang out with me, but I couldn't because I had to go back to New Jersey." "Why would she want to hang out with you?" "Because I'm hott! That's why!" We started to laugh when Megan walked up.
"Are you ready to order?" "Yes, but may I ask you a question or two first?" "Ok. Go ahead." "Ok." I started. "What part of Ohio? Small town names are ok, I know Ohio well." "I lived in Waterloo." "Ok." I said. "Do you know a Jacob Dowling?" "Yes, I do. How would you know, though?" "Ok, another one. Do you remember his cousin that you randomly wanted to hang out with like ten years ago?" "Yes." She said as more of a question then a statement. "Well, that would be me." "Justin?" "As I said, that would be me." "Wow!" "This is my girlfriend, Gwen." Megan turned to Gwen. "Hello, Gwen. Nice to meet you." "Hello, Megan. Nice to meet you, too." Megan turned to me. "How have you been?" "I've been good, and you?" "I've been good." "When did you move out here?" I asked her. "I moved about year ago. I couldn't get Jacob to move out here with me, though." "You wanted Jacob to move out here with you?" "Yea. We were going out and he wouldn't come out here. He was almost ready to propose to me." "You two wanted to get married? You were ready to kill him last time I heard!" Megan laughed. "Well, that's before he confessed his love to me. Childish, I know. But I could tell it came from his heart. That was what." she paused. "Almost three years ago. But he didn't want to come out here to New Jersey." "Why didn't he come?" Gwen asked getting into the conversation. "He didn't know if he still had family out here, and he also wanted to stay out there with his parents." "What's wrong with his parents?" I asked very concerned. "Oh! Nothing is wrong. He just didn't want to move to far away." "How are his parents, anyway?" "They're doing well. They are having trouble with the cold weather out there, but other then that, every things fine. But I have to get going back to work. Nice talking to you again, Justin." "Nice talking to you, Megan." Megan walked back into the kitchen.
38 - The Beach
I was trying to find Megan before we left, but she was nowhere to be found. I left my address on the table and walked around to the front counter to pay. Gwen went out to the truck to wait while I paid. I walked out to the truck and got in. "Where did Megan go?" "I don't know! She wasn't there and the casher said that she ran out very quickly." "Ok." "I think that we should get going since its two o'clock!" Gwen said. "I agree!"
I pulled up in the parking spot at the point of Cape May County. I got out and opened the passenger door for Gwen. We walked onto the beach and sat down in the stones. "This is beautiful!" Gwen said as she sifted through the Cape May diamonds. "Isn't it?" "It is! But answer me one question." "Shoot." "Why did you think I would like it here?" "I guess you want the truth?" "Yes. That would be nice." "I brought you here because everyone likes it here! And why wouldn't they? It's so awesome!" "I see your point!"
"It is so beautiful. I wish I could live here year round." "Be careful what you wish for." "Why? It's so nice here!" "When your not paying for car insurance." "What?" "I'm paying twice what I'd be paying somewhere else!" "That's because you have this big humungous truck!" I interrupted her. "And because insurance rates are through the roof! Ok. For instance, how much is your dad paying for his truck?" "About." she thought a moment. ".twelve hundred and fifty a year." "Ok. I'm paying fourteen hundred flat! That's a lot more then your dad's truck! His is a 2001 and mine is a 1997! That means mine should be cheaper anyway." "I love you." she said. "I love you!" I returned.
39 - Back to Dickson?
It had been only four weeks since Gwen and I had met, but I was starting to fall deeper and deeper in love with her.
"Gwen." "Yes baby?" "Its been two weeks since you've even talked to your father. Why don't we go back for a few days and visit him?" "What's that for?" "What's what for?" I asked back. "Why do you want me to go back home?" "I think we should go visit home for a few days, then we can come back here. I just don't want your father to be to worried about you and I don't want you to loose contact with all your family." "Ok. When will we go and when will we be back?" "We can leave whenever and be back two or three days later." "Ok. I'll go." "Baby. I'm not forcing you to go... I was just suggesting." I paused. "What's wrong, Baby?" "I don't know. I just don't want to go back and my grand mother be gone." I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug. "I'm here for you, Baby. Just try not to think about it. You should retire for the night." "Ok." She gave me a death-grip hug and went upstairs for the night.
I got on the phone and called her father.
"Hello?" "Joe. This is Justin." "Hey, Justin. What's up?" "I've got a question for you." "Shoot." he stated. "When was the last time Gwen was away from home this long?" "Why? Is everything alright?" "It's not what you think. Its probably the exact opposite. She's so content on never talking to you again; and that scares me!" "She goes through stages like that. You should suggest coming to visit for a few days." "I did; and she kinda ignored the chance. I had to ask a few times before she said ok. And that was the next question. Would we be able to come back out there for two or three days?" "Yea. That's no problem." "Good. Plus, I need to talk with you, but I don't think it's such a good idea to do it over the phone." "Ok." "We'll be out within a day or two." "That's fine." he replied. "Thanks, Joe." "See you soon. Good bye." "Good bye." I finished.
I went directly on line after I got off the phone with Joe. The only flight was at two thirty on Saturday; which happened to be the next day. I went to sleep knowing that we had a flight.
40 - Back to Dickson
In the morning (about nine thirty), we woke up and started for Atlantic City. The flight went pretty quick. Joe picked us up and I jumped in the back before Gwen could. "Mike has called for you, Gwen." Joe started after about ten or fifteen minutes after we got into the car. "When?" Gwen answered with a question. "Which time? He's called about a million times." "Do you have your cell, Dad?" "Yea. Its in the console." He pointed in front of the middle seat.
"Hello. This is Gwen. Is Mike there?" There was a pause. "Ok, can you tell him that I'm back in town for a few days." Another pause. "Yes. He can call my house. Thank you. Good bye."
"Who's Mike, Baby?" "A very good friend of mine. Grew up next door 'til last year. Then he moved to Nashville." "Oh. I take it he's back in town, also?" "Yup."
When we got home, Mike had called and Gwen went up to her room to talk to him. I talked to Joe.
"Joe, Can I ask you something?" "Yea, What's up?" "You know Gwen better then I do. What do you think is wrong?" "I just think she's in the hardest spot." "Can you elaborate?" Joe laughed. "She probably misses her friends here, but doesn't want to loose you or anyone else for that matter. She's trying to hold on to the one she loves, but she's also trying to hold on to the little family she still has." I interrupted him. "Then why doesn't she want to talk to you?" "I don't know." "Ok." "I have an idea for you, Son." Joe said. "Go ahead. I'm all ears, Joe." "Take her out to dinner. And when I say 'dinner', I mean limo, tux, dress kinda dinner." "Ok. If that's that, I must ask you something." "Shoot!"
41 - Joe's Idea
It was about two when I got done talking to Joe. Then, I called the limo service, then THE EATERY. After that, I went into the living room to talk to Gwen. "Baby, are you doing anything tonight?" "I don't know. Maybe dinner, then hang out for a wile. Why?" I paused as if I was thinking of something to do. My eyes lit up. "I've got this all figured out, Babe. Go upstairs and take a shower. I'll be up to get you in fifteen to twenty minutes. Be ready." "Ok?" she questioned. "Just do it! It'll be a surprise." She started up the steeps. "Oh, Baby..." "Yes, Justin?" "Put something nice on." She continued up the steps.
She was in the bathroom when I walked upstairs. I quickly put on a nice black pants, a nice white dress shirt, my belt, and my dressy boots and went up stairs to get Gwen.
"Are you ready, Baby?" I asked from outside the closed bathroom door. "Give me a second." She said. She opened the door and my jaw hit the ground. She was wearing a tight, skin colored dress, which almost touched the floor. "Holy..." is all I could say. "Do you like it?" I couldn't say a thing. She giggled a bit and said, "I'll take that as a yes." She paused. I was still staring at her in that beautiful dress. "Damn! Your hott!" She giggled again and asked, "What are we doing?" I gathered myself and answered. "We're going to a nice restaurant, but..." I stopped. "Are you ready?" I continued. "Yes, Baby. I'm ready." She answered.
42 - The Surprise
I took Gwen's arm and walked her down stairs. Joe nodded after I mouthed "thanks" to him. I still couldn't take my eyes off Gwen in that dress. We walked out the front door and to the limo which was parked on the side of the street. I opened the door and shut it behind her. I walked around and got in.
"Which restaurant are we going to, Baby?" "A nice restaurant your dad told me about. It's about a half hour away." "Ok?" she said in more of a question then a statement. "Here, Baby." I handed her a wine glass and poured her some. "What? How much of this are you paying for?" "All of it." "No!" "Yup! What ever you want for dinner, also! It's all on me." "How much?" "What?" I asked. "How much are you paying?" "Nope!" "Tell me!" she demanded. "Nope."
We pulled into the parking lot and I got out. I walked over to the drivers' door and told him we would be about two hours. Then I walked to the door and helped Gwen out.
"What's the occasion?" "Do I need an occasion to take you out to a nice dinner?" "I guess not." She smiled. "But I still want to know how much you've paid for the limo!" "I shall never tell!" I said with a funny tone.
We walked inside and were seated at a table set for two in the back. A waitress came up to us and chilled a bottle of red wine. "Hello. My name is Susan and I'll be your waitress for tonight. Can I get you anything right now?" She looked at me. "I'm fine. Gwen, would you like something?" I asked. "Not right now, thank you." "Ok then. I'll be back to take your orders in a few minutes." Susan walked away to another table.
"So. What would you like for dinner?" I asked. "I haven't had any of this stuff in forever. Lasagna, a New York strip steak!" "Have whatever you want! Don't worry about anything." I reminded. "I think I'll have the Lasagna." She decided finally. "Then I'll have the steak with the mushroom sauce. Then we'll share. Deal?" I asked. "Deal." she said.
After about three minutes, Susan came back and took our orders. About twenty minutes after that, she came back with our dinner. "Enjoy. I'll be around; if you need anything, just call out." "Know what? I think I'll tale you up on that drink." I stated. "What would you like?" she asked. "May I have a Guinness?" "Ok, I'll be right back with it." Gwen took the oppertunity to order a drink also. "May I have a Guinness also?" "Sure." Susan said just before she walked away.
43 - Are You For Real?
I could tell Gwen was almost ready to leave.
"Gwen." "Yes, Baby." "I love you." "I love you!" "No! That's not what I meant. I meant that I really love you. Like." I paused. "Like.?" She asked. "Like, I want to be with you!" "I love you, and I want to be with you!" "Baby! I don't think you understand." I had been waiting for this moment since I've known Gwen. "Baby. What I really meant was..." I paused. She gave me the 'What the...?' look. "I'll make it official. Gwendolyn Joy, I love you and I want you to go out with me. What do ya say? Will you go out with me?" She had a huge smile on her face. "Yes! I will!"
44 - The Beginning of The End
Well, I'm not going into much detail of what happened that night, but then again, you should know!
We got home about 10ish and 'relaxed' for a wile. ('Relaxing' consists of normal long-term relationship stuff... another words... making out on the couch!) After a few hours of 'relaxing', we went upstairs (about three thirty in the morning it was) to 'sleep'. (No details of what 'sleeping' means.) We were 'sleeping' for a long time! Like, when the phone rang at seven, we didnt even answer the phone. I knew it was Nick, cause when we did finish... at eight, I looked to see if it was anyone important (It wasn't... It was Nick!) before falling asleep with Gwen in my arms.
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