I smiled incredulously, not quite convinced. I kept feeling that my soul would pay a heavy price."What will you gain from this?" At the end of the day we are not getting married and you will lose money...He denied, interrupting my doubt. Her smile widened, turning the expression terrifying along with a calculating look.—I'll win fucking with you without asking permission at the agency or making an appointment. I'll win when Chelsea keeps her stupid ass on my signature, having no choice but me. There was a gleam of satisfaction in her hazel eyes, before she added, "and I'll make Bradley Dempsey's life hell."Jones's idea was not a noble one. He didn't want to separate Chelsea from Bradley because she wanted something worthwhile for her daughter. Nor because he was doing a favor to someone in particular. All he wanted was to screw over his rival, no matter who he was getting at.His plans were that when Bradley came to see me, I would take pictures of him with me and send them to him
-I will call you."Could you do it when they touch down?" To know you're okay,” I whispered at the end, because I didn't know if he would take it as me wanting to pressure him to explain. Or control his movements. I just worried about him. Before that type of thought did not cross my mind, but since we began to know each other, that instinct woke up in me to want to know if he was well, if he had eaten, if he was upset, etc. Her smile, however, widened before she said, "You'll be the first call I make when I get off the plane," she promised, and the certainty with which she did so helped the butterflies take flight, making me believe that a future was possible. with him, that having a happily ever after wasn't so crazy for someone like me. Will you walk me to the door? He asked hopefully.Right at my door waiting for the elevator, the anxiety that he was leaving began, but it wasn't because I couldn't live without him or I would die if I didn't see him, but because he was actually gi
"I'm not going to deny that," he whispered, falling into my gaze.When our lips met I experienced an explosion in my stomach. It's a combination of you being hungry and jumping out of a parachute at the same time…I've never done it before, but I figured that's what it felt like.The heat was more intense after a few seconds. The moans kicked in after a couple of rounds of stopping, gasping, and continuing. At some point we were on top of her bed past whatever lines Chelsea drew between us. She knew that she was so ready for me when she tried to take off my sweater.However, there was a flash in my mind, like a dim light in the lustful haze, that reminded me that she had been crying in my arms a few minutes ago. It was like a bucket of cold water clearing my thoughts, but her hand was traveling to the fly of my jeans…"Chels," I groaned, torn between my pleasure and doing the right thing, "I'll probably regret this later, but I think we should stop for a minute," I murmured, putting my
As I waited for her to answer the door to take her to the family Sunday, I began to feel anxious because I had not seen her with accessories or jewelry. A rose gold watch and a pair of Cartier earrings were all she wore. We hadn't been out to events together and I didn't pay enough attention the day we met to get an idea if he was wearing that kind of thing.My hands were behind my back, hiding the white paper bag with the Chanel logo on it . I wanted to surprise her."Mr. Dempsey, punctual like a gentleman," he joked as he saw me standing in front of the door. He was wearing black jeans, with a white slouchy mid-shoulder jumper, Black & White ballet flats , and his hair was loose in soft waves. He was focused on checking that he wasn't wearing anything other than the rose gold watch. And since I don't want to cause bad impressions, I'm ready to go,” he added to my silence.Men generally don't see details like what a woman is wearing because we're more concerned with other things abou
Entering the event was different than the other times. The photographers did not hesitate to use the cameras to immortalize my appearance with a woman after many years attending alone. Then we have the looks, which weren't subtle at all. The difference in age was noticeable, that we were both from different firms, and the recognition of our last names. One thing I admired about Chelsea, though, was her ability to walk around holding my hand like none of it affected her. For a moment I was intimidated, but then I thought, 'fuck the gossip', after all, he wouldn't be the first or the last to notice a woman younger than him. She wasn't a prostitute or she had a dubious past. I was surprised when a woman appeared to greet her, saying that she was her old singing teacher. I was shocked when she practically begged for her help, explaining that the vocalist for the event had a mishap, and that she needed a replacement. She struggled until Chelsea relented, though mostly because the woman
So, I had a trip to London scheduled for the end of November. And that was the reason why Bradley was anxious, because he couldn't wait for this trip to check that everything was okay... Although we both knew it wasn't true.Fortunately, I had a couple more episodes that only Bradley witnessed. I think he got a dose of the reality of the situation, that my time was passing and soon there would be nothing left of the Chelsea he loved. That also bummed me out because Bradley was happy with me; we were happy together, but there was a part of him that lived in uncertainty and maybe the pressure was making him duller than he was. As if my illness consumed him. It was when I would get crazy ideas about whether he wasn't being selfish. You know, cutting off his ability to find a woman who could offer him a real future.But then he thought that he had no right to choose for him, that Bradley was solely responsible for deciding if what he was going through was worth it.We had known each other
He looked at me with such enthusiasm that it put me in a big bind.Julio finished and Lucas returned from the camp.Dempsey's son dropped the bombshell that I should come live with them, taking me by surprise and not knowing what to say. I stayed at his house for a couple of days, but from there to living with Dempsey was a giant step.We were happy during the weeks that passed. They were full of love, laughter, family Sundays and funny anecdotes. It seemed crazy, but there was a strange bond between me and Dempsey, like I belonged on her side. I had a feeling that she could float through the air and that nothing would make me fall.To be honest, she also had no problem with the idea of living together; If Alzheimer's taught me anything when I was taking care of Mom, it was that this disease doesn't wait for you to be ready to show up. It steals your dreams, goals and plans. It takes away the possibility of being independent and enjoying freedom.Still, she wasn't sure if Dempsey wa
"I told them the truth," he said with a sigh. Well…not the sex part. At least not Mom or Lucas. But I explained that Claire has a drug problem and that she had signed me responsible. That she would be taking care of Sunny while the state finds a foster family. His muscles tensed as she tightened the screws into the wood. Wow, who knew that seeing a man using tools would be so nice.He turned to see me and smiled sideways, smug when he noticed that I drool. I wrinkled the corner of my mouth in annoyance and turned my attention back to Sunny."Has Claire called you?" I asked doubtfully. If they took my daughter away from me, I'd be at the surrogate parents' door making a racket.-No. I called Social Services and they said that he had entered the rehab center. They don't allow you to have phones. Sunny dropped her interest in the putty and started playing with a toy that made cow sounds and stuff. Should she have pieces left over? Her,” she asked to himself. I looked up at the crib and i
Thomas smiled kindly at first. That big head hadn't changed and I sensed that it was hard for him to trust my girl the first time. She hadn't told them about Alzheimer's. He hoped they wouldn't find out in the near future.The first time I experienced his lapses in my own flesh was precisely the day I turned forty-six. We were in bed talking about who we would leave Sunny with for the week of our honeymoon. After many birthdays where I felt apathetic towards the celebration, oddly enough, Chelsea managed to turn it around and make it the best she's had in a while. Nothing extreme like a party full of guests, but it was a Sunday, so I spent it with my family at home. Something as simple as a cake and a couple of gifts, but to see all the people I loved when I could lose everything, it was extraordinary.My day ended in bed after amazing sex. So there we were discussing whether to leave Sunny with Mom, Dona, or Joyce. When my girl didn't answer I looked at her curiously, thinking that t
They were getting married. The man he loved would marry the woman who effortlessly screamed how perfect she was.I felt like I hated her...He took away the only person who cared about me. The one who never looked at me for what he was: a prostitute. The one who tried to rescue me, but she was too busy being stubborn and stupid to let me love.Now I understood who he was but he no longer looked at me the same way; he was a nuisance in his life. A waste of time. The one who begged for a little sex or attention.I wanted to go back in time to the days where he offered me a better world. In which he wanted to be my friend; in which I could love him... when I had the option to choose.Bradley would have fought for me just as he was fighting for her. She didn't care about the bullshit he spread about Chelsea being a takeover, that she was using a pregnancy to position herself in society; that she was seeking to keep the Dempsey fortune.Being a whore brought me closer to gossip. Men told m
The end of January greeted me with the imminent arrival of my twenty-seventh birthday.On January 24, he would celebrate another year of life.I said that I was not interested in a meeting; if I was lucky they would grant my wish and do nothing at all. It wasn't because I felt any discomfort from the surgery, but because, although I was in a better mood, I didn't think it warranted a celebration.Dempsey went back to work and I went back to the apartment. At first, he loved my independence, but I recognize that he could be a bit of a loner.So, in an attempt to keep my mind busy, I thought I'd take out the baby stuff I bought, and find a place to donate.It was not a good idea. I ended up crying like an idiot in my room.It was the reason I was standing outside Dempsey's office, waiting for a meeting to end to see him.The secretary insisted that I could call him or wait for him in his office, but I didn't want to go that far. It was enough for her to barge into her workday, to dispos
"Don't leave me, baby," I repeated so many times that it made no sense in my head and the words got mixed up, creating an incoherent whirlpool inside me.The doctors stopped moving their hands around her and I knew. She left me. She left.I wanted to vomit...I hit the tempered glass with my right hand, to the point that my knuckles protested in pain, but that pain was preferable to the one inside.I couldn't even explain how fucking suffocating that poison was that moved through my being, infecting everything with a dull, sharp pain."You have to fight dammit!" Don't you dare leave me here! I yelled, until my hand came to life and I walked into that room to yell at him closer.He was angry and in pain and it was his fault. He left me here, in this fucking pain that was unbearable. She was coming from the depths and every second she was gaining more ground, to the degree that she didn't want to feel this. I preferred to die in that accident because I would not be able to resist.They
He told her about how it started; with the loss of memory, memories, faces, subtle things that are not of great importance. He told her that at some point he would become more serious, permanently forgetful. Inevitably, his brain would not be able to add memories and he would become an irritable person, with zero ability to reason. He wouldn't know who she is or those around her. He would reach the point where he would need medical attention because he would not fend for himself.My son asked if it would happen soon. Chelsea replied that she couldn't predict herself. She confessed to him that she had been having significant episodes for a couple of months; like the one at Walmart or that she almost killed her brother because he thought he was kidnapping her. My girl had the audacity to find that funny, in which Lucas and I remained silent, because it was not so funny from this side."I'm sorry," she whispered when she saw that he didn't return the smile. For now I am the same Chelsea.
I denied, with my eyes captivated by that wonderful smile that even with all the comments, lingered on his face. He would live exclusively for her.I had never been so sure of accepting a marriage proposal as I was at that moment, yet I was so happy that I barely managed to nod and reply a weak "I do."That smile widened and I was stunned for a few seconds, unable to control the effects he had on me. As Dempsey slid the rock onto my finger, I felt his trembling hand. It was like those movies where your world stops and the bad stuff makes sense.Looking at him, she wore that touch of pride and love in her gray eyes.I would fight my tears as his arms wrapped around me and murmuring how much he loved me.I forgot that his family was there, that the last month was a disaster, that we almost lost this wonderful thing; at the time we were just Mr. Dempsey and Chels. Two beings who loved each other and who defied any kind of circumstances to be together.It was crazy to believe that it woul
December 24: Good Night .He was sedentary. When you pass thirty-five, you prefer to stay at home and spend it with your family. At least, people like me, whose days are so busy that we even forget important dates. No time for extended vacations, getting home after eight, checking emails and paperwork on the weekends.For the holidays my inclination was to sleep, hang out with my family and put the cell phone aside.However, he had a beautiful pregnant wife who wanted to be with her brothers. She preferred to spend it in Lafayette with her family, sitting in front of a campfire. Since she couldn't drink, she would have a delicious non-alcoholic sparkling wine.When I agreed to spend this day with her I didn't consider the discomfort of being with him.I shouldn't care because we were in this private bubble for a couple of days, just being us, finding our way to where we were, taking baby steps into that future together that I could feel; one where I would watch my children grow up and
I had never come to this place.Even though it was December, New Orleans is touristy year-round, so I wasn't surprised to find tourists in a bar at twelve midnight.I was undecided between crawling away or having just a couple of drinks; he would know as the rounds progressed.I should be sleeping… I should be doing a lot of things right now, but none of them would help give me clarity.He was a mature man in his early fifties, this crossroads was left for boys of twenty or even thirty, who could sit and think for a long time about how to solve problems. At my age, I should be worried about Lucas's rebelliousness. That he didn't get a teenager pregnant. What university would he want to go to; what was his preference in a profession. He should be thinking about who would carry on my legacy if he wasn't inclined to run the Dempsey estate.The key word here is " should ".I should be in a bed with a beautiful sleeping wife, to go for a run in the morning and go to work. I should be think
I was sure that part of his argument was true, although I was betting that our situation played a role as well. However, he would play along.Me: That's why I'm a great businessman. You know, from eating greens and vegetables.He sent a smiley face and this was new to us. We weren't one to text her, but maybe this was less personal to her and she had the ability to talk to me.Chelsea: It's more of a personal achievement than broccoli power. Being a great entrepreneur is in you.His comment made me smile sheepishly. I stayed for a while looking at the screen thinking what to answer to that. Chelsea had this thing about leaving me without an answer. Maybe because he wasn't used to compliments. Not the sincere. That kind of praise that doesn't come disguised as nice words in order to have a benefit.Chelsea: Talking to you helps me feel better. Isn't it crazy?He wrote, which warmed my chest.Me: I have the same feeling.I answered. Talking to her put every need in her place.Chelsea: I