You are my sun, my moon and all of my stars. – E. E. Cummings“I never saw it moving. My kids did a field trip here and both times the tour guide said that the mechanism was unrepairable.” She said remembering those days. “My youngest didn’t get to come here. His was the first class to go to university planetarium.”“You’ll have to bring them by.”She nodded. “It’s really quite beautiful.”“Yeah.” He accepted a water bottle from Emily. “Thanks.”“Do you need anything else, sir?”“I’m good. Helen?”For the first time, she looked at him and saw his intent gaze on her. Not used to anyone looking at her like that she blushed and shook her head no. Emily disappeared and Reese reached out and touched Helen’s cheek. It was a simple caress with his knuckle. But again, she blushed. “You have three children, grown I’m assuming.” She nodded slightly and he moved his hand to toy with her hair. “And yet, a simple touch makes you blush. Makes me wonder what you would do if you knew what I was thi
Experience is the hardest type of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterwards. – Oscar WildeHank had come home and told Jolene that they were going to his patrol partner’s house Sunday afternoon. She sent a text to the family chat and told them that she would miss Sunday dinner. Her mom had told her to enjoy herself. Jaxon replied that Bunny was putting the guys in charge of cooking. JD replied with an eye roll emoji. Jolene wore a pair of jeans that Hank liked and a pink and gray sweater that he had picked out. She didn’t like pink like her mom did, but he liked seeing her in it. Her shoes were black wedges because Hank thought that a lady should always wear some type of heels. It never occurred to her that her wardrobe had slowly become dictated by her husband. Automatically, Jolene pulled up part of her hair leaving the majority of it down. She really wanted to cut it short but Hank loved playing with it. Her makeup was heavier than what she liked, but she di
Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see. – Mark TwainMonday morning Helen arrived at work and everyone was still buzzing about Friday night. While she was on her lunch break, Katherine popped her head into the break room. “There’s a delivery for you.”“Me?” Helen asked confused. At her insistence, Helen followed the other woman back up to the front. Sitting on the reception desk was a large bouquet of pink roses. “Eighteen.” Tina declared. “We counted.” Erica explained. “Twice.” Tina confirmed and Erica nodded while making a V with her fingers. “And they’re for me?”“You’re the only Helen here.” Katherine said pointing at the card.Helen took the florist card out of the envelope nervously. In the same elegant writing that was on her gift certificate she read the simple note.‘Thinking about you and can’t wait for tonight. Reese.’The women gushed, except Donna. She was quite jealous. Why did he want that old bag when she had been throwing herself at
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. – Dr. SeussJaxon was surprised when his mother said that she had a date. JD was shocked and wanted to know everything about the man. The only name that she gave was Reese but not if it was first or last. It did not surprise anyone when JD showed up at Ty and Bunny’s house Monday night. Having seen their father without the innocent eyes of a child, he did not want her to go back to him. But he also was not sure if he wanted her dating again. “Bunny, what would you do if your mom started dating a man you didn’t know?” JD asked sitting on the couch with her as Jaxon and Ty cooked dinner. “Which one?” she asked pausing the video game. “What?” he asked confused. Laughing gently, she turned and faced him. “My mom’s are lesbians. My birth mother was married to my father but after he died, she came out of the closet and her girlfriend moved in. I could see her dating another man. But Bridget? Nope. She kicked
One small crack doesn’t mean you are broken, it means you were put to the test and didn’t fall apart. – Linda PoindexterMonday morning, Jolene woke up bruised and sore. She knew somewhere in the back of her mind that she needed to leave. She’d heard the stories all of her life. It would only get worse. She could talk to Bunny. She was a counselor at the Family Advocacy Center. Had just finished her thesis for her doctorate in psychology. Bunny would know… Did Bunny already know? Did her family know? Were they ashamed of her? If she left, would her family be supportive? Or would they tell her to go back? Just like the preacher had.“God makes a family. He doesn’t want you to leave your husband. He doesn’t want you to get divorced.”She could still hear his condemning words. Could still feel the shame at wanting to quit. Feel his hands on her as he prayed for her to learn to trust and listen to her husband. Her heart pointed out that she loved him. And he loved her. Most of the tim
Don’t let the concept of change scare you as much as the concept of remaining unhappy. – Timber HawkeyeReese laughed to himself when he was seated at the table he had been at with Tru a week or so ago. And of course, the maître de told them that their server would be Andrews. “I have the utmost of discretion. She will hear nothing from me, sir.” Andrews whispered to Reese when Helen excused herself to the bathroom. Reese just smiled and let him think whatever the man wanted. When Helen returned, Reese stood up and helped her into her chair. “I was here a few weeks ago on a blind date that one of my sisters set up.” Reese grinned as he sat back down across from her. “Ironically, with an ex that she didn’t know about. We had the same waiter and debated if his name was Andrews because there were two of them.”“Were there?” Helen asked with a grin. “Sadly, no.” He replied solemnly and then grinned. “Tru and I had a good laugh.”“How come it didn’t work out between you two?” Helen ask
She was brave and strong and broken all at once. – Anna FunderReese and Helen talked all through dinner. He told her about growing up with parents who couldn’t seem to make up their minds on spouses. And being the only boy among all of the kids. She carefully sidestepped questions about her. Until the dam broke and it all came out. “My mom died in childbirth with my little brother, he died a few days later. Dad never could look at me without seeing her. He married a woman so that I had a mom. Coralynn did not like me. The older I got, the more I looked like my mom and the more dad stayed away. The more he stayed away, the meaner Coralynn got.”“By meaner, do you mean abusive?” Reese asked gently and she nodded. “I didn’t realize it at the time. I just thought that I was bad.” Helen looked at her plate as tears filled her eyes. Reese moved his chair around the small table until he was next to her. Placing an arm around her shoulders, he gently pulled her into him. Helen leaned int
You’ve outgrown the old you. You’re uncomfortable because your old life doesn’t fit anymore. – Leighann HeilReese pulled into the driveway and was glad to see that Dean was back home. He parked in his spot and went to open the door for Helen. She was nervous and he could tell. They walked to his front door with his hand at the small of her back.He punched in the code to his door and pushed it open. Sitting on his couch, watching another slasher movie, was Dean. “Hey, Uncle O- Miss Helen!” Dean squealed as she ran over and hugged the woman. “Hi, did you have fun at the dance?” Helen asked hugging her back. “I did. I had a blast. The idiot that dumped me had a miserable time. All the single chaperones and teachers spent all night hitting on Uncle Owen.” She smiled up at her uncle. “I so approve.”“I’m glad I have the approval of my sixteen year old niece.” Reese said hugging the teen. “And we’ll discuss it later, go to bed.”“OK, but-.”“Dean.” Reese warned. “Right. Thick thighs,