No Ordinary Romance (18 page)

He felt a spark of love for his sister that
would see him through the rest of the funeral. Connie drove all the
way from Omaha just to support him. He didn't expect her to show
up, but he wasn't surprised that she showed up. As they left the
church, he looked for Connie, but she was nowhere to be found. He
led his grandmother and Aunt Dottie to the family car.

His grandfather would be laid to rest at the
family plot; there must have been over two hundred cars in the
funeral procession heading back to the family farm. Chad was
enjoying the quietness of the family car, his grandmother, Aunt
Dottie, and he all seemed to be somewhere else. Papa was the
boisterous one always making jokes and complimenting his
grandmother on her cooking. His grandmother would disagree, but
Chad decided he would quit his job and come back home. He couldn't
stand the thought of her being alone on the farm.

Chad helped his grandmother and Aunt Dottie
to the gravesite. He sat there numb as his grandfather's casket was
lowered into the ground. He never lost anyone close to him before,
and the magnitude of his grandfather's death was just beginning to
register. If he'd stayed home instead of going off to school,
things would have easier for them. He was so selfish, his
grandparents gave him everything and he'd given them nothing in
return.

"Chad."

Chad looked up when his grandmother called
his name; he was so lost in his thoughts that he missed the
pastor's gravesite prayer. "I'm sorry Grandma, I was just
thinking."

Thelma took hold of Chad's
hand. "Son, I know what you're thinking. Your grandfather was sick,
and you could
not
have done
anything
to prolong his life. You're certainly not going to
drop out of school; you only have a few months before graduation. I
don't want you to come back home out of some misguided notion. Your
Aunt Dottie and Uncle Ben are moving in with me so I won't get lost
in that old spacious house. If I'm not mistaken I believe that you
have some guests waiting to speak to you."

Chad saw Connie, Beth, and her friend
standing outside the gates of the graveyard. Chad helped his
grandmother and aunt over the uneven ground. "Come with me Grandma,
I want you to meet Connie." They made their way to where Connie was
standing with her friends. "Hi Connie thank you for coming, it
means a lot. Let me introduce my grandmother Thelma Roberts."

Chad's grandmother reminded Connie of Rue
McClanahan, she was so stylish, not what she expected from a
farmer's wife. "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Roberts. This is
my friend Samantha Archer and my co-worker Beth Marlin."

"Pleasure to meet you dear, please call me
Thelma, Mrs. Roberts was my mother-in-law. Samantha it's a pleasure
to meet you too. Beth I've heard a lot about you, I think my boy is
kind of sweet on you." She gave Beth a sly wink and laughed at the
embarrassment in Chad's face. "We're heading back to the church to
eat and fellowship with family and friends. You're more than
welcome to join us. I'll wait for you in the car Chad; it's been a
long day."

"I'm going to chat with Connie for a minute;
I'll be right with you Grandma."

"Take your time Chad."

For the first time in two days, Connie put
her relationship with Thomas on the back burner so she could focus
on Chad. Chad looked miserable, he was taking his grandfather's
death hard, and it showed with every fiber of his being. "I just
wanted to come and support you during this trying time."

Chad hugged Connie as if she were a lifeline.
"You didn't have to come to the funeral Connie, but I'm so glad you
did. It's good to see a familiar face; most of the people here are
strangers to me."

"Chad, I don't know if you remember my friend
Samantha."

Chad smiled for the first time since his
grandfather died. "How could I forget the infamous Samantha?"

"Connie! What awful stories have you told
about me?"

"No stories just the truth was enough. Chad
if you need anything let me know. Take as long as you need, the
store has ample coverage, and our new project can wait until you
return."

"I'll be back as soon as I get my grandmother
situated. Whatever I decide, I promise you that I will complete the
design for the Cabbage Patch Foundation. I've got to go,
grandmother seems like a strong person, but she doesn't like large
crowds. I'll talk to you soon Connie, thanks again for your
support. Chad hugged Connie again before walking away.

"Wait Chad." Beth swallowed her pride and
kissed his cheek. "I know how much your grandfather meant to
you."

Chad hugged Beth closed to him, he loved the
feel of her lips on his body. He was going to have to make a
decision about her and quick. "Thanks for coming Beth. I know that
you've been upset with me lately, when I come back to Omaha maybe
we can go out to dinner or something so I can explain myself."

"I'd like that Chad."

Connie noted that Samantha was quiet for the
first time today. "What's wrong you have that look on your
face?"

Samantha watched Chad walk away with a
questioning look in her eyes. "You know there's something about him
that reminds me of you."

Connie looked at Chad's retreating form.
"What do you mean?"

"They way you two stand and move your hands
while you talk is almost uncanny. Don't give me the furrowed brow.
I was just making a casual observation."

Connie watched Chad walk away until he got
into the family car. She used to wonder if she had any siblings
roaming around it was quite possible. She didn't know her father,
and her mother was still knocking around somewhere, both of them
could have had more children. If Connie had siblings out there, she
bet a year's salary that they don't compare to Chad. "Let's go get
something to eat and head back to the hotel."

"You could always go back to the church and
eat with the family."

"I don't want to intrude; Chad needs this
time with his grandmother. If he needs me, he'll give me a
call."

***

When Chad got into the family car and found
his grandmother alone. "Where's Aunt Dottie?"

"She's going to ride over with Uncle Ben.
Connie has a compassionate heart; I don't know too many employers
who would make a three hours trip for an employee. You two have a
lot of similarities, you better tell Connie soon before someone
else put's the pieces together."

"You think we look alike?"

"You're both tall and lean; you have some of
the same features, especially the nose. I'm just surprised that no
one has made a connection sooner."

"I plan to tell her as soon as I go back
home." Silence fell between them as the limo went back to church.
"Grandma did Papa tell you about the letters from my dad?"

"No son, he never told me that he received
any letters from your father. Were the letters in the cigar
box?"

"Yes, there was information about Connie and
her brother David." He didn't go any further; his grandmother
didn't need to know that her son was a murderer as well as a drug
dealer.

"Connie's a strong woman Chad, she can handle
whatever's in those letters from you father." The limo stopped in
front of the church. "Come on son; let's greet your grandfather's
friends. He would have loved seeing all of them again, I was always
so proud of him; he was such a generous man."

"There will never be another man like Papa."
He helped his grandmother out of the car and greeted people as they
went back into the church

***

Connie sat on stage looking out at the
audience as she gave herself a pep talk. She did not mind speaking
at the Annual Domestic Violence Conference sponsored by the Women’s
League. This year's conference was held at the Centurylink Center.
A good thing since today ranks as the biggest turnout she had seen
in the last five years. Her best friend Laura got her involved with
the Women’s League years ago when they met in college.

Through Laura, she met Jenna, Laura’s sister
and her best friend Samantha. It is astounding to her how close
they all were and how damaged they are in their own way. Laura has
been dead for a year now, and Connie honors her memory by
supporting programs that Laura believed in.

Today she was out of sorts; she had been
avoiding Thomas, so she volunteered extra hours for the League’s
disaster action team. The Women’s League provides beverages and
snacks to firefighters and ensures that displaced families have
shelter, food, and clothing. Volunteering kept her busy, which was
so much better than wallowing over Thomas. This past Saturday
Connie and her team were sent to a fire where a child suffered
third degree burns on fifty percent of his body.

The mother miraculously made it out of the
burning house unscathed leaving the child behind. Connie was so
angry she wanted to rip the mother a new ass. The woman was drunk
or high, and the most pitiful sight she had the misfortune to seen
in a long while. Connie was brought out of her musing when she
heard her name called. She got up to speak about the victims in
domestic violence cases that often go unnoticed, the children.

***

Thomas Galvin rarely got the opportunity to
attend the Domestic Violence Conference he was usually tied up at
the office or in a city council meeting. He will never forget the
actions of his violent father and the many times he and his mother
spent the night at grandma’s house. His own wonderful mother Joanie
got the courage to leave his father when Thomas became his father’s
targeted victim.

That was the last time he saw his father. His
mother married again to the type of man she should have married in
the first place. James Galvin was the father of his heart; he
adopted Thomas and loved him as if he were his own son. He died
five years ago of pancreatic cancer, it was a severe blow for him,
his mother, and sisters.

He was pulled out of his daydreams of the
past when he heard the sultry voice of the next speaker. Her
siren’s song was calling out to him and him alone. It had been two
long weeks since Constantina ran away from him thinking the worst.
He continued to call and leave messages for her, but she never
returned his calls.

He attended every event
where he knew she would attend; at the first event, she was angry
at his presence. He attended a community awards ceremony,
and
he couldn't take his eyes off her
.
Thomas
was amused at her frustration.

God he missed her. Constantina’s tall willowy
frame was enclosed in a tailored black suit, with a flame red silk
blouse. Her platinum blonde hair was cut in a fashionable pixie
style. Her violet blue eyes were heavily fringed with dark lashes.
She was very elegant, and her legs, oh God her legs seem to go on
forever. Never in his life had he encountered such a striking
woman, his woman.

He attended the Domestic Violence Conference
not only to see Constantina, but also to give his financial support
for a worthy cause. Right now, the only thing he could think of was
Constantina’s legs wrapped around his waist as he buried himself
into her hot body.

Thomas snapped his mind back to reality if he
didn’t watch himself, he would be sporting a woody right here at
the conference. He could see the headlines now, ‘Councilman and
Lawyer Thomas Galvin Exposes Himself at Domestic Violence
Conference’.

***

Connie finished her speech and took her seat.
She never looked directly into the faces in the audience while
giving a speech. She studied them afterwards after the speech to
gauge their reaction. One man in particular was a little unnerving;
he was in the third row center, and his intense stare was making
her uncomfortable. She did a double take the man was Thomas. Connie
didn't recognize him at first he shaved off his beard and
mustache.

She did not believe for one moment that his
appearance was a coincident. Thomas had been popping up all over
town. Jenna and Samantha had a lot to answer for, and she would pay
them back in kind. Thomas looked good with a shaved face; she never
took the time just to look at him. His hair was dark as night,
green flirty eyes, and his kissable full lips. She didn't want to
think about his kissable lips. She missed having him in her bed,
and he was wearing her down. She supposed that was his intent, to
wear her down until she just gave in.

He chose that moment to smile at her. Oh my
God, he had dimples; she found dimples in a man irresistible.
Painful memories of her childhood came back in full force, a little
boy with dimples smiling at her. She suddenly felt as if she were
suffocating. Fortunately, for her the conference ended shortly
after. Connie already presented her check to the conference
organizers she made her polite farewells and head for the door.

***

Lord, he had to get Constantina alone so they
could talk. Thomas still thinks he should have kidnapped her and
taken her to his home. He should have kissed her silly until she
forgot about the little hick up with the land deal. Long before
their first kiss on New Year’s he knew she would be an
indispensable woman in his life. Thomas had never felt a connection
like this with another woman.

He could tell that her resistance was
faltering. Samantha told him that Constantia was a sucker for
dimples. He shaved his face for her. His plan seemed to work, he
caught her checking him out after her speech. He acknowledged her
perusal by smiling at her. After the conference was over Thomas
searched for her amongst the crowd. He saw her speaking with one of
the conference organizers Jayne Mitchell; she is a good friend of
his mother.

“Hello there Jayne, I’m sorry to interrupt I
just wanted give you my donation.”