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| >> Campfire Creative >> Assignment >> Writing >> ID #1796053 |   |
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| [Introduction]
** #1796696 Not An Image ** |
 Kitty Can Write  Celeste McGovern was tired, but that was becoming a typical occurrence, lately. Towing along her one-year-old daughter, Eve, on her nightly errands was getting harder and harder. Without enough money to pay for child care, Celeste juggled her job and scooting Eve off to her mother’s house each day for while she worked. She knew that her mother’s patience was wearing thin. She loved watching Eve, but as she had told Celeste right after John had died, ‘I’ve already raised my children. You need to raise your own’. It’s not that her mother wasn’t sympathetic to Celeste and Eve’s circumstance, she had loved her son-in-law very much, but she didn’t believe she would be doing Celeste any service by taking over a role that Celeste really needed to be in. Mother. She needed to be a mother. But when would she find the time? Celeste hated herself each time she thought of Eve as her ‘third job’. Eve wasn’t a job… She was her daughter; a young, beautiful, innocent child who deserved to have a loving family. Celeste loved Eve with everything in her. There were times when Eve would smile and all Celeste would be able to see is John. She looked so much like him… Eve squealed and wailed as Celeste took her out of her car seat and plopped her snugly into her stroller. It was just going to be a quick trip. In to the grocery store to grab a few things for dinner tomorrow and then back home so she could unwind before having to go to bed and start all over again in the morning. Just a quick trip in… Then she would be home. Liam As he waited in the deli section of the grocery store, Danny Cullen looked impatiently at his watch. Wednesday was the busiest evening at the karate school and he was rarely ready by the time classes began. Today was no exception.Finally, he thought as the deli clerk handed him his dinner. Danny paid for his order, hurried out of the store, and jumped into his black '55 Chevy. He bought it earlier in the week, and grinned broadly as he raced the engine. What happened next came as a total surprise to Danny. Whether it was because he was in such a hurry, or not completely familiar with his standard transmission, Danny shifted the car into reverse and released the clutch. Fortunately he was not going very fast as he struck the car parked behind him. What should he do? He would really like to wait for the owner, but who knows how long it would be before they return, and he was already late. Danny reached into the glove compartment, took out a scrap of paper and scribble a quick note. As he put the note under the windshield wiper he noticed that one of the headlights was busted. Danny got back into his car and headed off to the karate school. Kitty Can Write Celeste stumbled under the weight of Eve on her hip and her awkwardly packed grocery bag. She didn't have time to pack neat, she had to get home."No." She muttered. Celeste approached her car, her heart racing. "No. No... No!" Eve cooed and giggled. Staring back at Celeste was a mass of cracked and crumpled headlight. Her day just couldn't get any worse! Of course, she thought. Leave it to some asshole to back into me and then drive off. It's not like I'm a single mother or anything. It's not like I don't have enough bills to pay. It's not like my deductible is as high as they'll allow or anything. It's not... Flip-flopping in the breeze, Celeste saw a note pinned under her wiper blade. "Well," she said to Eve. "At least I feel dumb for assuming it was a hit and run. That's something, right?" Eve blew bubbles with her spit. Celeste tucked Eve in her car seat and then grabbed the note. She laughed when she read the words. Sorry. Call me. 555-6542. "Sure," Celeste cursed the note. "I'll call. You know... when I have a few minutes next month." She rolled her eyes, tucked the note into her pocket and turned on her engine. She'd call when she got home. She didn't care how late it was getting. Liam Ring...Ring...Ring... Danny bowed with respect to his students and dojo, and hurried to his office to answer the telephone. "Empty Hand Dojo, may I help you," he said."Hello. My name is Celeste McGovern... uh... I'm not sure who I want to speak to, but I found a note with your telephone number on my car this evening." "Oh hello... my name is Danny, Danny Cullen. I'm the one who left the note." "You should have waited at the..." "I wanted to wait," Danny interrupted, "but I wasn't certain when you would return - so I left the note. I promise to make sure that your car is properly repaired." Celeste was relieved by Danny's response and asked, "Well Danny Danny... how do you intend to do that?" Danny smiled and sat down at his desk. "Just one Danny," he chuckled. "The damage didn't look too bad... and I'm pretty handy with tools, but I will need to get some information about your car to get the right parts." "Well, I don't know..." Danny interrupted again, "Perhaps we could meet for lunch tomorrow - on me." Kitty Can Write Why am I here? This guy could be a total psycho, thought Celeste as she looked nervously around the authentic Mexican cafe Danny had suggested for their meeting.Celeste hadn't eaten Mexican in what felt like ages; at least since she and John had started dating. Once they were married, they cooked at home every night. It was a favorite way they spent an evening together. A sharp pain in her chest welled as she thought of John. She wished it was him would would be joining her. Eve was being watched at her mother's house while Celeste waited for Danny. Without ever registering the time, Celeste obsessively checked her watch. Her new habit of being late had her constantly making sure of the time. Her boss had even warned her that he wouldn't be able to cover for her tardiness much longer. Nothing was going her way these days. A tallish man in a dark tee-shirt and jeans entered the cafe. Celeste subconsciously cleared her throat and swallowed hard. This had to be him. "Danny Danny?" She said, hoping her joke from the previous night would catch his attention if it was indeed him. He smiled and joined her at the table. "Just one Danny," he replied. She eyed him over carefully. He looked normal; at least he didn't look homeless, or crazy, or like he wanted to kill her. She extended a hand to him and tried to put on her best I'm not as tired as I look smile. "Celeste. So... How do you want to do this? Should we eat? Should we look at the car? We could get our food to go and look at the car while we eat, too." Making jokes when she was uncomfortable was always a flaw of hers. Liam "It's nice to meet you," Danny began. "I'm sorry it's not under better circumstances." He sensed the apprehensiveness in her smile. "Whatever is most comfortable for you. I'm never busy at this time of day."Danny paused briefly for Celeste to reply, but she just glanced down nervously at her watch, so he added, "I'm thankful that you agreed to meet with me. When something like this happens I know it's more than just the car... it's also very inconvenient as well. So I hoped if we met, you would see that you can trust me to repair the damages." Celeste lowered her brows till they nearly met at the bridge of her nose. "Why should I trust you... I don't even know you," she retorted. Danny just smiled and extended his hand. "Hello Celeste. My name is Danny Danny...." Celeste just looked at him curiously. Then her lips broadened into an attractive toothy smile. "Hello," she said, as she shook his hand. Still smiling, Danny said, "It's not going to be as difficult as you may think. I can get the information about your car from your registration and pick up the parts tomorrow. Then I'll drop by on Sunday and repair the damage... if that's okay with you... do you like Mexican food?" Celeste looked very surprised. "Wait... so now you want me to give you my address?" Danny laughed out loud. "We could meet back here to fix your car if you like. I just thought that would be more convenient for you." A young girl dressed in a colorful skirt and vest approached the table. "Hello, my name is Debby, and I'll be your server today. Are you ready to order?" Danny looked at Celeste and queried, "Are you ready to order?" She replied, "I haven't looked at the menu. What are you having?" "I think I'm gonna have a chef's salad and an unsweetened tea. But please have whatever you'd like." "Umm... no, that sounds good... I'll have the same." As the young girl left the table, Danny told Celeste, " When we finish eating we'll take a look at that car, and make a list of what we'll need. Okay?" Kitty Can Write Celeste stood, her arms crossed in a self-conscious manner as she watched Danny inspect her car in the remaining daylight. They had ended up spending quite a long time getting to know each other, talking about the small things in life and generally just enjoying the afternoon.Danny peered through her windshield and jotted down the VIN number on her dashboard. He inspected the headlight damage from all angles before standing back, mocking her body language by mimicking it with his own. Celeste playfully shoved him, and Danny broke out into a sweet smile. "So?" She said. "What's the damage?" "You said your deductible is $750, right?" "Yeah..." Danny tapped the miniature notepad he held on his open palm. "I think I can fix it for less than that... and since it was my fault, I'll just cover it." Celeste couldn't believe her ears. "Really? Like... for real? Because, even though this was all your fault, you would be my savior!" Danny tucked the notepad in his back pocket. "Ironic, isn't? I can't say enough how sorry I am." Celeste felt a blush wash over her. "So I don't even need to call this in to my insurance company then, do I?" "Nope." Celeste checked her watch. "Shit! I'm so sorry. Story of my life, but I'm late... I was supposed to pick Eve up an hour ago! My mother's going to kill me..." Danny cocked his head. "Eve?" All this time and she hadn't even mentioned her daughter? How hadn't she noticed this? Had she been so caught up in their lunch that she forgot that one big detail. "Yeah... Eve is my daughter." Celeste let the statement hang in the air between them. "She's one." Liam Celeste watched Danny cautiously and tried to measure his reaction. Danny never lost the rhythm of the conversation and blurted out, "Oh, well that's really a disappointment."The smile left Celeste's face and was replaced with a brief moment of anguish. Then her eyes widened, color filled her cheeks and her voice increased in volume as she barked, "Excuse me...? Who the hell do you think you are...? I'll have you know that my daughter is..." Danny squared off facing Celeste and firmly grasped her shoulders as he interrupted, "Whoa.. whoa.. WHOA! No more coffee for you... I just meant that I was having a really good time... and... I didn't want it to end so quickly." Their eyes locked and Celeste's disposition sweetened. The volume in her voice returned to normal as she smiled, "Really?" Now, for the first time, color filled Danny face. He quickly released his hold on her shoulders and nervously wiped his hands on his t-shirt. His breathing quickened and he began to ramble, " Well yeah... I mean.. I like kids.. Well, I don't really know any one year olds.. but I teach a class full of kinder-kickers.. they're great..." It was Celeste's turn to interrupt. "Well, I really better go. I'm sure my mother's getting impatient," she said, as she turned and began walking toward her car. "Wait a minute," Danny said as he pulled the notepad from his pocket. "Give me your telephone number so I can call you... and set up a time for the repairs." Celeste looked back over her shoulder and smiled. "555-5683." Kitty Can Write Celeste lay frustrated in her bed, unable to sleep. Eve had been hell to put down this evening, and she knew it was her fault for staying out with Danny past Eve’s bedtime. She had been overtired, cranky, and cried for an eternity while Celeste cooed and soothed her to sleep. It’s just like they say… You’ve got to be like a duck. Calm on the surface and paddling like crazy underneath. On top of the stress of putting Eve down, Celeste was upset at herself for snapping at Danny. He had turned out to be such a kind man, and in an instant she jumped to a conclusion. Don’t anger the mama bear, she thought. When did I turn in to the Incredible Hulk? He liked kids. He taught kids. She smiled, remembering the pride in his voice when he mentioned his ‘Kinder-Kickers’. Celeste tossed onto her side and sighed. She heard Eve mumble nonsense words in her sleep from the room across the hall. Everything was so quiet. She couldn’t help but feel empty. It was the moments like this where she really realized just how much her life had changed in the last year. In these silent hours, Celeste could finally admit to herself that she was lonely. She missed having time for meals with friends. She missed conversations about things other than diapers, pacifiers, or that report on social media trends that was a week late. Talking to Danny had been so… nice. Strange as it may be how they met, it felt like a blessing in disguise. He hadn’t judged her. He hadn’t looked down at her or thought less of her for any of the secrets that spilled out from her. She had told him about her fear of being fired. She had gushed about the promotion that was on the line that should be hers, but she just couldn’t seem to find the time to complete her portfolio and update her resume. Something always came up. Something with work, something with Eve… The banks were starting to call. She had told him about her fears of losing her home. Had she mentioned John?... She didn’t think so. First she forgets Eve, then John. What was next? She tossed to her other side in frustration with herself. Even still, a small piece of her heart anxiously awaited Danny’s call. Liam It was finally Sunday morning. Danny had been counting the hours since he called Celeste yesterday to get directions. It's still early, he thought, I should probably wait one more hour. "I'm not waiting." Danny was surprised by the sound of his voice.Within thirty minutes he had arrived at Celeste's home, sat down and began removing the damaged headlight. He heard the front door of the house close and looked up to see Celeste pushing a stroller down the sidewalk towards him. "Wow, you start early," she said. "I was hoping to go to the store and be back before you got here." Danny smiled. Patting his hand on the driveway he said, "Sit down here a second. I want you to do something." Danny postured himself as an example, seated erect with his legs crossed and his hands in his lap. "Like this." Celeste thought this was a very strange request but willingly sat down next to Danny and mimicked his posture. "Now breathe very slowly and rhythmically. Concentrate on filling your lungs completely and emptying them completely," he said. After repeating the technique several times Celeste said, "That is very soothing - will this help me to relax?" Danny started laughing. "Hell, I don't know... I just really like watching you breathe like that." She playfully punched his arm. "Stop... you're terrible." Danny leaned across Celeste, supporting himself with his hand on her thigh, and pulled the stroller closer to them. "So, this must be Eve." He sat back up but conveniently left his hand rest on her thigh. "Hello Eve. Does momma know how to drive a clutch?" Eve shifted her attention from Danny and looked directly at Celeste, "brbrbrbrbr," she said. Danny and Celeste began to laugh in unison. Danny reached in his pocket and pulled out his car keys. "Here, if you need to go somewhere, you can take my car." "I couldn't do that... I'd be too nervous." Danny laughed. "You realize... you're talking to the guy that hit your car... right?" Celeste gave Danny a peck on the cheek and stood up. "Thanks. I'll be right back... let me get Eve's car seat." "Just leave her here... we'll be fine... I wanted to ask her some questions about you anyway." Celeste got in the Chevy and started it. She paused for a minute and watched Danny talking with Eve as he worked. She smiled, put the car in gear and drove away. Kitty Can Write As Celeste pulled up to her house, dinner ingredients in hand, her pulse quickened. In the driveway was Eve's stroller, but Eve was nowhere to be found. Not only was Eve missing, but there was no sign of Danny. She threw the car in park and made a break for her house."Eve! Danny?!" As she burst through her door, she heard giggling and instantly relaxed. She set the groceries on the floor and jogged back to the nursery. Danny looked perplexed by a tiny diaper and a squirming Eve. She couldn't help but laugh. "Celeste!" He said, a bit shocked to see her back so soon. "I, uh... Eve had a bit of an accident. And I'm pretty sure I put the first two on her backwards..." Celeste broke out into a gut-hearty laugh. She laughed until her sides ached and Danny just stared back at her, blushing. Eve burbled and chewed on her fingers. Finally, Danny cracked a smile and chuckled. "I hope you don't mind that I just let myself in." Celeste caught her breath. "Not at all. I'm glad you felt like you could take on a stinky diaper. There's hope for you yet!" Danny finished fastening the diaper and scooped Eve up. Eve patted at his cheeks and stretched toward a framed image nearby. "Da," she cooed. "Da! Da! Da da da da da!" Celeste's eyes shot to the picture of her and John with a tiny newborn Eve that sat atop the changing table. Danny's eyes followed hers. Danny looked at the image. He looked back at Celeste. "That's John." Celeste felt her heart ache. "She was Eve's father." Danny stood quietly, reading Celeste's face carefully. "Did he leave?" Eve tugged on Danny's earlobe. "Dada! Da! Da!" Celeste walked over and took Eve from him. "No. He passed away. About nine months ago." She pushed tears back. "Eve was about three months." Danny reached out and gently touched Celeste's arm. "I'm so sorry." "You know... I didn't even see it until now, but you look like him." Danny didn't know what to say. "It's probably why I felt so comfortable with you." Danny saw the emotions in Celeste's eyes, but was unable to break the silence. What does one say in a situation like this? Celeste forced a smile through her tears. "Are you going to say something, or are you going to make this awful moment even more awkward?" Liam Danny stepped intimately close to Celeste. He didn't say a word; he just put his arms around her and Eve, and gently coaxed her head onto his shoulder as she sobbed. Her tears flowed freely as she also held him.After a moment, Eve became impatient with the tight quarters and inactivity. She began to squirm and make sounds that indicated her dissatisfaction. Celeste raised her head and gazed into Danny's eyes but didn't release her embrace. He brought his left hand up to the side of her face and stroked the wetness from her cheek with his thumb. "I guess I should finish fixing your headlight," he said. "I guess so...," she replied, and the moment ended. Danny was just finishing up the repairs when Celeste came outside with some unsweetened iced tea. "Where's Eve?" he asked. "I just fixed her some formula and put her down for a nap," she responded as she sat down next to him. Danny began putting his tools into his toolbox. "I'm not John." "I know... I didn't mean to..." Danny stopped what he was doing and looked into her eyes as he interrupted. "You know Celeste, I'm ashamed of myself." "What?" "I'm selfish. All that I've been thinking of is my desires for you... I nearly missed what an incredibly strong woman you really are." "What are you saying?" Danny scooted himself closer to Celeste and continued, "I've listened to you, and I've watched you dealing with your pressures... and I've seen you smile in spite of them. You are a remarkable woman... and I want you and I need you." Celeste smiled and lightly chuckle, "Well... you don't waste any time do you...?" "Oohh... I should be so lucky... keep that thought, please!... You see..." Over the next several minutes Danny explained to her that for the last three years he has been setting money aside to expand his business. He needs to open a second karate school to increase his profitability, but he has been putting it off because he hasn't found a reliable marketing consultant that he was comfortable could do the job. He outlined a plan that would allow Celeste to be more autonomous. She could set her own work schedule. She can have an office at the karate school and bring Eve along, and she could work from home if necessary as well. So, she can spend as much time with Eve as she needed. Lastly, he addressed the issue of her salary. It turns out she would be earning more than if she were employed full time at her current job. "There are a couple of downsides," he concluded. "First, you will need to quit your other job... and second, you'll be spending more time with me." "I don't know what to say... I'm not sure..." "Well... something to think about it... I'm willing to go with your first idea." Just then Eve announced, in no uncertain terms, that she wanted her mother to check something out for her. Celeste got up and hurried into the house to see what it was. Kitty Can Write Celeste had let days stretch into weeks. She thought often of Danny's offer throughout her days and they discussed the options for a business partnership together nearly weekly. Celeste found herself looking for reasons to see Danny. His company was something she longed for. Eve had even started to bond to Danny as they spent time together.After she stopped home and picked up Eve, Celeste drove straight to Danny's dojo. She smiled, watching Danny finish up with his Kinder Kicker class, bowing and dismissing the youngsters dressed in their tiny white gees. "Hey!" Danny greeted her when he caught sight of Celeste and Eve standing by his office. "Dee!" Called Eve. "Dee! Dee Nee!" She stretched her arms out to him and he scooped her up from Celeste's arms. Celeste leaned against the door frame as Danny when about tasks in his office. "So what brings you here?" Danny asked, Eve perched on one hip. Celeste let a gigantic grin take over her face. She couldn't hide her excitement anymore. "I quit." Danny didn't process what she said. "Oh. Ok that's..." He paused. "You did? Really?" Celeste nodded. "Does that mean...?" She walked to Danny's side. "I'm here for an interview. I can start anytime." Danny laughed. "I'm not going to interview you, Celeste. You have the job. You want it, it's yours!" Celeste, caught up in emotion leaned in close to Danny, kissing him. The two stood, silenced by shock and surprise. It has just felt... right. "So," Celeste said, quietly. "How do you feel about office romance?" © Copyright 2011 Kitty Can Write, Liam, (known as GROUP). All rights reserved. GROUP has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work. |
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