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John
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Things were going great.
Renee's sisters seemed to like me, Wyatt and Rebecca were chatting each other up, and Tyson's wife even gave in and let him eat the corned beef. We were all enjoying the drinks, atmosphere, and each other's company.
Then Tanner Smyth walked in.
I didn't notice ar first. I was enjoying the feel of Renee' pressed up against my side, her hand in mine as we laughed over Suzanne and Jennifer's worst client ever stories. I saw Wy shout a greeting and stand up out of the corner of my eye, but it wasn't until the three sisters stiffened and stopped talking that I looked up to see what was happening
Tanner, normally self-assured and affable, was standing next to our table with his hands in his pockets and eyeswide as he took in our group.
"Glad you could make it," Wy was saying. "I know Sundays can be busy for you."
Tanner didn't hear him though, his eyes were frozen on Jennifer, while she sat aghast, staring back at hi
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The ride home wasn't frenzied, with groping hands and heated looks. I thought it might be, after the way John's body had reacted to my touch at the pud, but no. Instead, the cab of his truck was filled with anticipation. It was like twenty minutes of foreplay, with barely any touching. Just the soft stroking of his thumb over the top of my hand, the reapid beat of our hearts, and the occasional flash of his dimple when he clenched his teeth. After we parked, I took John's hand and led him up to my appartment. I didn't even spare a glance at my sisters' doors, even though I knew Jennifer was upset about Tanner. I wanted to be there for her, I did, but she had Suzanne, and I'd go to her first thing in the morning. Tonight, was about John. Me and John. I closed the door behind us, locked it, and turned to him. My arms went around his neck as he lowered his face toward mine and brought his hands to clutch my waist, bringing me fluch against him a
Catering with Love John
I woke slowly, feeling more rested and sincerely happy than I'd felt in a really, really long time. Renee's bed was extremely comfortable, so much so that I was thinking of asking her what kind of mattress it was, and where she'd gotten the down comforter, I was currently snuggled under. Renee' wasn't beside me, but I could still feel the warmth of her body and smell the perfume of her hair as I stretched out across the most comfortable bed ever made. Suddenly, I heard footsteps running toward me, before Renee' landed right on top of me with a laugh and started pelting my face with kisses. I happily accepted the assault, then rolled smoothly until Renee' was cradled half underneath me, and I was looking at her gorgeous eyes, which were currently a deep hazel. "Good Morning to you, too," I murmured, then lowered my head to give her a deep, lingering kiss. When I finally came up for air, Renee' brushed her hand through my hair and said, "I made breakfas
Catering with Love Renee'
"Okay, there's an important topic you've been avoiding, and we need to get serious. We 're running out of time," Suzanne was saying from the chaise, where she was currently snuggled up wit ha glass of wine. "Our birthday party." "Ugh," I groaned, throwing my head back and grunting as I hit the cushion besind me. "We're going to be twenty-nine, not nine, Suzanne. Aren't we getting a little old for parties?" I asked. "It's not even a milestone." "every birthday is a milestone," Suzanne said dryly, then looked to where our sister was laying on the floor and added, "Jennifer's got my back on this one." "I don't know," Jen replied, tilting her head back so she was looking at us upside down. "Maybe Renee's right and were getting too old to make such a fuss." "Too old?" Suzanne asked with mock fury, sitting up so abruptly that she almost spilled red wine on my gray sofa. Luckily, she didn't. "We're still in our twenties, for crying out loud. We should be hit
Catering with Love John
This week had, thankfully, gone by quickly. It was a usual week filled with lesson plans, homework, and Amora, so I'd had plenty to do, but now I had the added bonus of yearning for Renee'. Yeah, I said it, and I'm man enough to admit it. I yearned for her. The night we'd spent together was always at the forfront of my mind, distracting me at the most inopportune moments. Flashes of her lips curled up, the feel of her soft skin, the little noises she'd made when I was inside of her, hit me when I was standing in the checkout line of the grocery store, making dinner for Amora and me, or most often, when I was reading aloud to my students. Once again, we'd mostly been communicating between texts and phone calls, which was great, but man, I missed the feel of her in my arms. we needed to move forward with her spending time with Amora, so that I could get more time with her. Which was why I was currently making tacos, rice, beans, and salsa, even though it wasn't Tuesday. It was Amora
Catering with Love Renee'
I knew I shouldn't be so nervous; she was a 9 year old little girl. I'd once been a 9 year old girl, so I knew what it felt like. Still, Amora had made it no secret that she would rather be eating glass than sitting down to a meal with me, and John was trying so hard to pretend that everything was going well, that he was giving my nerves hives. "Renee' and her sisters started their business all on their own and are now so successfull that they're expanding. Isn't that great? Just goes to show you, that if you find something that you love, and put your heart into it, you can make your dreams come true." I caught Amora's eye roll at John's attempt at a life lesson, but luckily, he hadn't. I think that would have been the final straw that made him blow a gasket. My face was beginning to hurt from holding the smile that I'd had plastered on my face since dinner began, but I powered through and maintained my pleasant expression. Oh, John, I know I mentione
Catering with Love John
By the time I got to the restaurant, I was practically skipping. It was Renee's birthday, the first major event that we were celebrating together, and I may be hiding the best gift ever in my back pocket.I'd never been that great at gift giving. Kayla never really collected anthing, or made a big deal about presents. It wasn't until Amora got old enough to start unwrapping gifts and began to light up over every little thing that I became the gift-giving guru.And, I'd really outdone myself this time...I'd enlisted Suzanne and Jennifer's help, an based off of their feedback, Renee's mind was about to be blown.I grinned as I approached the table at the Thai restaurant that Renee had chosen, and was pleased to note that she'd left the chair next to her open for me. I bent to kiss her softly on the forehead before taking my seat and saying hi to Suzanne and Jennifer."Sorry for being a few minutes late. I was waylaid dropping off Amora."After her reaction to being invited to Renee's
Catering with Love Renee'
"Are you ready to order?" I looked up to see the waiter standing patiently next me. Our drinks were in front of us, and it had been five minutes since John had left to take his call. I looked toward the door he'd exited, hoping to see him walking back in, but he didn't. "Just a few more minutes, please," I replied, then looked at my sisters and said, "I'm going to check on John." When I opened the door and stepped outside, I saw him standing on the curb staring off into space, his phone in his hand by his side. "Hey," I began, causing John to flinch and turn his head toward my voice. "Is everything okay with Amora?" "Uh...Yeah," he replied, running his empty hand through his hair and letting out a deep sigh before turning fully toward me. John lifted his hand holding his phone and said, "That was Mick, my PI." "Oh." I looked down at the phone, which now only showed a blank screen, and asked, "Did he find her?" John's face was pained when he replied, "Yes." Not sure what to say
Catering with Love John
My heart was pounding, stomach cramping, and I felt a little light-headed as I followed the gPS to where Kayla had been hiding for the past year. As I eased up to the curb, I noticed Mick getting out of a beat up old Army Jeep. As his large body lumbered toward me, my gaze kept darting to the large house to the right of us. There was nothing homey or cozy about it; no, it was nothing like the home we'd built together. This one was flashy. "She's in there," Mich assured me as he approached. "I saw her come back about 20 min ago and she hasn't reemerged." I nodded, unable to find my voice quite yet. "I'll wait out here, unless you need me to come with you," Mick stated, his eyebrow raised. I wasn't sure if that eyebrow was him daring me not to be a wuss, or him simply waiting for my reply, but I took a deep breath and dug deep. "No, I've got it," I replied, clutching the manila folder that held my key to freedom. Mick leaned agains
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Catering with Love Epilogue - Renee
It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.Stone with dark stuttrs, white pillars, bright-green trees and lush, red bushes. Graceland Mansion was eerything I'd imagined, and more. And that wa just the outside.It had taken us longer to get here than we'd initially thought. Trying to plan around John's school schedule, and dealing with the rapid growth of Three Sister's Catering when we added elegant children's parties and landed one of our biggest clients to date, had made it difficult.But now, six months later, we were finally in Memphis, and I wa currently trying to teach Amora about the wonder that is Elvis."He's the King of Rock 'n' Roll for a reason," I was explaining as we walked to the Meditation Garden. "He still holds the record for the most Top 40 hits, he was in 31 movies, made over 150 albums and singles, and has been inducted into 5 halls of fame.""You should totally work here," Amora said in between licks of her hand-dipped ice
Catering with Love John
Another Monday, another workday, another day where I was just passing through life. Not really living it, instead floating from minute to minute, waiting for the day to end.I'd been in such a funk that I was starting to get on my own nerves, and as I walked through my classroom, making sure my students were focused on their own quizzes and not peeking at anyone else's, I vowed to sort my shit out that evening.Maybe I'll ask the guys to go out for a drink.As if I'd conjured him, I saw Wy's face pop up in my window to my door. I held up a finger to indicate I couldn't talk not, but would get back to him later. Raqther than nod in response as usual, he got this big goofy grin, gave me two thumbs up, and pushed my door open.What the ...?I stopped in the middle of my room when Renee' stepped through the door he's just opened, a piece of loose-leaf paper clutched in her hands.I drank in the sight of her and like a man drowning. THe soft bill
Catering with Love Renee’
I was going through the motions.I’ve been working on auto pilot since John walked out of my apartment. Waking up, shower, shuffle downstairs, cook, bake, clean, sleep, repeat. Luckily, we were full staffed and Claire has become my right hand, so we hadn't missed any deadlines, and when I made chicken and dumplings instead of chicken pot pie, Claire had fixed things in time for the event.Susanne had come to me only second after John left, saying her twin vibes had been tingling and she’s known that I needed her. Soon after, Jennifer had shown up, and the two of them have been my shadows ever since. Even going so far as to sleep in my apartment each night.I felt heartbreak when my dad left, but nothing like what I feeling with the absence of John in my life. Never pain so acute. And the worse part was that I knew I'd caused John the same amount of pain. Even if I felt like I was doing it for the right reasons, I still hated the thought of him hurtin
Catering with Love John
ZombieThat was my new persona...a dead man walking.I have never, not when I was a teenager, not when my wife said that she was leaving, felt the way that I did when Renee' said my love wasn’t enough.Suddenly the literatureI taught, the poems I'd read, the songs I heard on the radio, all took all new meanings. Hurtful, heartbreaking, painful meaning.I’m not sure how I drove home, made it through the night and the rest of the week. I know I'd gone to work, because I had papers to grade, and I knew I'd taken care of Amora. Helped her with her homework, made her meals...although I couldn’t eat. I didn’t have the appetite for it. And I knew I hadn’t slept.No, I'd spent the last four nights, staring at the ceiling, fighting the urge to call her and beg her to change her mind, my time with Renee' playing on a loop like some awful romantic comedy.The first time I saw her walk out of the kitchen, the day I
Catering with Love Renee’
"What do you mean?" John asked, his face conveying his confusion.I looked pointedly from him and Amora and whispered, "Now is not the time..."John looked down and his daughter, who was watching me with a shocked expression and then brought his gaze back to mine and stated "I’ll be back."I watch numbly as he grasped Amora, and started walking her way from my door and down the hall. I noticed Amora still watching me as I quietly shut the door, crossed to my chaise, and resumed the position I have been in.FetalSobs irrupt again, as decades-old sorrow filled me, compounded by the fresh pain I was feeling now.It felt like only moments before rapid knocking sounds sounded at the door, like gunfire at to my heart, and I rose, my stomach sinking at the thought of what I was about to do.What I had to do...I open the door without looking without waiting to acknowledge who was there and spent on my he
Catering with Love John
There was a war of emotions happening within me. A fight between annoyance and relief.It was annoying that Kayla had re-entered my life only to gather her things, but a total relief that she wasn't contesting the divorce and it was still going through on schedule. I needed that part of my life to be in the past, needed to move forward, needed to be able to focus on the fall with Renee'.So. I was cruising down Main Street, feeling pretty good, even if I did have another meeting with Kayla looming.I pulled up to the curb in front of Three Sisters and was hopping out of the truck, eager to get back inside and see my girls, when Renee' came rushing around from the back of the building, crying and visibly shaking as she called out for Amora.My heart leapt out of my chest as fear coursed through me."Renee'!" I shouted, jogging over to her on the sidewalk.Her head was turning quickly from side to side as she searched the street, and she
Catering with Love Renee'
We'd finished eating in silence after John left, my Beef and Broccoli tasteless, so I barely ate at all.After we cleaned up, I took Amora into the back. I gave her a brief tour, making sure she knew where the bathroom was, showing her our office, the kitchen, and the different walk-ins. I thought breifly about taking her up into my apartment, so she could hang out and watch TV or something, then figured it was too far and maybe for my first time watching her, I should keep her close.So, we were in the kitchen and I was explaining the flowers I was making, the type of cake it would go on, and telling Amora about the party the next day. If thre was ever a person who looked or acted more bored, I'd never met them. Still, I kept trying."You can make flowers with frosting, fondant, gum paste...""He's never going to fall in love with you, or marry you, you know," Amora broke in, her tone full of anger.I looked uo from what I was doing, put my tools
Catering with Love John
I parked outside the lawyer's office and walked slowly in, giving myself time to try and calm down. To breathe.Mr. Hurlyey had said it wasn't bad, but the worry that had formed on my drive over was that Kayla was going after Amora. I remembered that she'd said just a few days ago, and I knew my lawyer would categorize such a thing in the bad category, but still, that's where my mind had wandered and stayed for the duration of my trip.No way am I letting that happen, I promised myself as I opened the door and went into th waiting room. I turned my phone to silent, then crossed to the receptionist to let her know who I was and why I was there, then went to sit down. Before my butt could hit the chair though, my lawyer stepped out, and I knew he must have been waiting for me."John," he called, giving me a welcoming smile, which eased my worry a tiny bit.He wouldn't be smiling if my world was about to fall down around me, right?W
Catering with Love Renee'
He said we'll be there soon, and I doubted he meant Tyson or Wyatt, or even Tanner, although I would have been less nervous with any of them...yes, even Tanner...than I was about his 9 year old daughter that obviously hated me."It'll be fine, Renee'," I assured myself out loud as I worked on the flowers for the various cakes that would be served at the anniversary party. Not 50 of them, thank goodness, although that would be cool, but each table would have their own cake centerpiece that would be a miniature version of the actual anniversary cake.that meant I had a lot of flowers to make. Calla Lilies, which were the flowers she'd had in her wedding bouquet.Still, when John had offered to bring food, I'd jumped at the chance to see him."Talking to yourself again?" Suzanne asked as she walked in, her trustyclipboard in hand."Of course," I replied with a smile, then gave my sister a once over and whistled. "Wow, you look great.'
