This is a new work in progress, The Manifesting Love Club. Four friends. All single. Some looking for love. Some not. Join these ladies as they take their friendship into a new direction, to manifest love.
Earlier, Heather introduced her idea of affirmations to manifest love. When her path crosses a handsome fellow – wearing a clown nose in public – she couldn’t be less interested. Even if he is the brother of a work associate across the hall. But he’s persistent, although a little hesitant when Heather brings up her date idea – yoga on the beach.
This week we’re writing to the prompt ‘fan.’
Return to TUESDAY TALES to read the rest of the story snippets.
Not as much conversation filled the car on the drive back to Heather’s. A huge, dark void had appeared between the two of them. Heather knew where her fears and insecurities came from. She’d only had one serious relationship since her cancer scare and when he found out about how the treatments had left her, he walked out without a backward glance. “I can’t be with someone that’s not a whole woman,” was his leaving retort. The first few months after that she’d been an emotional wreck. Since then, she’d done a lot of internal work and now lived in a good emotional place. But now, as she stood on the brink of meeting another possible rejection, dread crept into her soul and tightened up her heart with fear.
She didn’t know what Brian was thinking. He was quiet and more solemn than she’d ever seen him. She didn’t know if she’d already damaged their budding relationship by not being up front about her concerns.
When they pulled in the driveway, Brian turned off the motor and turned towards her. “I’m not sure what’s going on. There’s definitely something between us right now. And I’m not sure what. I don’t want to leave and have this hanging between us. I’d like to come in and talk about it…see what’s wrong…know if I’ve done anything to upset you…”
“It’s not you…”
A wry smile crept across his face. “Yeah…that’s what they always say. ‘It’s not you. It’s me.’ Am I wrong?”
Heather laughed softly. “Yep, that’s it. I’ve heard that line a time or two myself. But in this case, it’s nothing like that. Although it truly is me. My own demons that I’m wrestling with. And we do need to talk about something…as hard as it will be for me. I’m not a fan of sweeping difficult situations under the carpet. They don’t disappear there. Only fester.” She took a deep breath and grasped his hand, squeezing it tight. “Come in for a drink and a chat?”
He pulled the keys from the ignition. “Let’s go, Joe.”
Inside, Heather flipped on the kitchen lights, filling the room with a brightness she wasn’t sure she wanted right then. “Coffee? Or wine?”
“I have a feeling this is a glass of wine conversation.”
She pulled two sparkling wine glasses from the cupboard and retrieved a partial bottle of Chablis from the refrigerator. After filling the glasses she handed one to Brian. “Let’s go in the living room. It’s cozier in there.” She led the way to the darkened room, lit only by the small light on the foyer table. She sat on the sofa and looked up when she saw Brian hesitating, uncertain, between the sofa and loveseat.
Heather patted the sofa, beside her. “I told you about my battle with cancer?”
“Yes…” He pursed his lips, looking confused. “It hasn’t returned, has it?”
“No. No.” She quickly shook her head to emphasis her denial. “No, I’m healthy as a horse now. And I intend to remain that way. But there’s one thing…” She trailed off, uncertain how to proceed.
Brian took her hand and clasped it between his large palms. He simply looked her in the eyes, without comment, waiting for her to continue.
Heather plunged in before she lost her nerve. “I don’t remember how detailed I got with my story. It was breast cancer. The treatments weren’t successful. We had to go a step further. If I wanted to live…” She paused and took a deep breath. “To live longer, I had to continue without my…” With her free hand she motioned across her chest.
Brian’s face remained calm, his expression not changing a whit. “Okay. So what’s the bad news?”
“That’s it.”
“So…what…I’m supposed to stop seeing you because of it?”
“It’s happened before.”
He lifted a hand and ran a finger down the length of her nose. “Then he was a fool. If he couldn’t see what a jewel he missed out on, just because of a little missing flesh.”
A slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “I thought this was something you needed to know ahead of time. You know…not something you’d want to find out in the heat of the moment…like…surprise!”
“Well, darlin’, then on this you’ve seriously misjudged me. Although…” His eyes twinkled with his current thought and they dropped to survey her cleavage. “You sure have everyone fooled. You know, the ‘girls’ here look awfully real.”
“Padding. It’s amazing what bras can do nowadays. Get up. Brush my hair. Put in my contacts. Put on the girls. We’re ready to go.”
A serious look replaced the jesting joviality that usually filled his face. The laughter in his eyes dimmed as he looked deep within her eyes, holding her gaze with an intense, magnetic stare. He cupped her face in the palms of his hands and spoke slowly and deliberately. “I’m glad you shared with me. I suppose you’re right, knowing ahead of time might avoid a potentially awkward moment later on. But just to clarify…I’m spending time with you because I like being around you. I love your heart, your spirit and your gentle soul. I have fun with you. I enjoy our time together. I like seeing how you look at the world and how you always – almost always – look on the bright side and see the positive side in every situation.”
Heather started to open her mouth to speak. He gently placed a finger across her lips. “Please, let me finish. But as to this…” He slowly slid his hand lower, tracing one finger down her cheek, down her neck and slowly trailed it lower, towards where the black lacy bra peeked from the scooped neckline. “You, my dear, look scrumptious. Just how you are. And as to what’s underneath here – or not underneath here as the case may be – I don’t really care. I don’t care if you’re hiding a tail under that sexy, flowing skirt you have on. Or if you have a third arm or leg you keep tucked away.”
Heather giggled at the thought of that.
He grinned and added, “Although, that might be a little weird, but I’d learn to deal with it.” His fingertips brushed across the edge of the top’s neckline, tracing it from one side to the other.”
A soft moan slid between Heather’s lips as a rush of warmth flooded her body. Any thought she wanted to mention vanished into the Netherlands.
Brian swallowed and moistened his lips, trying hard to retain his own composure. “I just want to be with you, wherever I can, whenever I can. Even if it means doing yoga on the beach with you. Even if I have to leave off my clown nose in public. And I don’t give a flying flip about any of the equipment either of us is hiding under our clothes. Because when we come together…” He bent his head and whispered his next words with a hot breath in her ear. “When we move to the next step, I will cherish and adore each inch of your body with a kiss. I’ll be thankful that you survived your battle so that you’re here now for me to love in any way I can.”
The chance to start life all over with the help of a stranger.
“Yoga on the beach.”
Chrys N. Jay 