No Ordinary Romance (4 page)

“Conceited jerk! You’ll be the last man I
drop my panties for.” She felt the flames of embarrassment in her
face as people stop eating as they caught her last statement. It
didn’t help that Thomas’s was laughing for all he was worth. Connie
grabbed the bill, her coat and purse and left Thomas sitting at the
table.

***

Connie checked the clock on
the wall. Only five minutes had passed since the last time she
checked. The New Year’s Eve party was in full swing and the
champagne was flowing. Of course, Samantha and Allen were running
late.
Not
surprising considering that
Samantha nearly missed her appointment at the courthouse this
morning to marry
Allen.

After a celebratory lunch at the Courtyard,
Connie went to the Hilton to check on Allen’s family and see to
their comfort before tonight's surprise. Samantha wanted to
incorporate them in the brief ceremony, but there was no way she
could do that without ruining Allen’s surprise.

Connie shook her head in amazement at
Samantha’s determination to reunite Allen with his family. Allen’s
father, US Marine, stationed in Viet Nam when he met and married
Allen’s mother. His father lost a leg in combat and was sent
statewide losing all contact with his wife and child.

Allen’s mother went in search of her husband
and left Allen in the care of her aunt who was killed during an
enemy attack. Allen was placed with an orphanage and later adopted
by Americans never to see his mother and father again.

Connie let her gaze rest
upon Allen’s parents. They held hands waiting so patiently to be
reunited with a son they
have not
seen in
nearly thirty years. She wondered how Allen would feel about
Samantha’s surprise. He was a demanding man who liked being in
control, and the stage Samantha set was destined to be fraught with
emotion and tears.

Connie left the reception area in search of
Samantha and Allen. It was close to midnight, and the party
revelers had their noisemakers ring in the New Year. Connie finally
caught a glimpse of them; they were greeting Jenna and Mike when
Samantha made eye contact with her. She nodded at Samantha giving
her the thumbs up sign and went back to the smaller reception room
where she was hiding Allen’s family.

She opened the door only to see the letdown
expressions on their faces. “Don’t worry Samantha is bringing him
over.” She gave them a quick hug and then faded to the rear of the
room to watch the reunion from a distance.

Connie held her breath as Samantha and Allen
stepped into the room. Allen stood there transfixed, he had trouble
comprehending the sight before him. His eyes narrowed at the older
woman and the man standing in the center of the room. They were
surrounded by a younger woman who had two little girls standing in
front of her and a man standing at her side. A taller man who could
have been his twin stood on the other side of the older man.

He eyes went back to the older woman. It had
been thirty years, but he would recognize his mother’s face
anywhere. “Mẹ thân yêu!” He whispered. “Mẹ thân yêu is that you?”
She moved slowly towards him uncertain how she would be
received.

“Con trai.” Hong Hahn whispered to her
beloved son.

Connie felt the tears on her face as Allen
hugged his mother. The whole scene made Connie wish for a mother
who longed for her and spent years trying to find her. The reality
is that Connie’s mother wasn’t a mother in any true sense of the
word. She was an alcoholic, drug addicted whore who left Connie and
her brother in a burning house.

Connie grabbed her purse and stole, quietly
taking her leave. She was unable to keep her emotions intact, and
her tears blinded her way. She left the reception room and ran into
a man spilling a drink on his jacket. “I’m so sorry!” Connie took
some tissues out of her purse and blotted the wetness from the
jacket. When she was through, she looked up to offer another
apology only to be captivated by the most stunning sea green eyes.
“Thomas!”

Of all the people, she had to bump into why
did it have to be Thomas Galvin. He’s arrogant, obnoxious, and a
severe pain in her ass. Unfortunately, for her, his flirty green
eyes and sexual magnetism made her feel all shivery inside.

“Constantina, are you okay?”

She didn’t respond right away as she blotted
the alcohol on his tuxedo trying to hide from him. “I’m sorry about
your suit. Send me the cleaning bill and I’ll take care of it.”

“
Don’t worry
about it. There's no harm done.” He couldn’t help but notice
Constantina’s distress. He lifted her face and wiped away her tears
with his fingers. “What’s wrong honey? Did someone here say
something to upset you?” He looked around the ballroom for the
guilty culprit. The bastard that made Constantina cry would
pay.

Connie was at a loss for words. For a moment,
she almost believed that Thomas Galvin gave a damn about her
feelings. “It’s nothing Thomas. I want to go home.”

He liked the sound of his name coming from
her full, shapely lips. Usually she called him councilman as if he
were some nasty infectious disease. They’ve had many run-ins the
last year, and they were always on the opposite side of the
bargaining table. A hard position to be in when the woman you
desired above all others thinks your slime. Thomas reined in his
lust as his protective mode took over. He wrapped his arm around
her waist and steered her out of the ballroom.

Connie tried to pull away from his embrace,
but Thomas wouldn’t let her go. “Where are you taking me? I want to
go home!”

“I don’t think so blue eyes, I won't let you
drive home in your condition. That is unless you want me to take
you home. Let’s go have a seat in the lounge it seems to be
thinning out in there.”

Connie didn’t put up much of a fight as she
sat at a table ordering a soft drink. Thomas sat across from her
ordering a soft drink too. “Thomas this really isn’t necessary, I
just had an emotional breakdown, but I’m okay now.”

“I’ve seen you in various situations, and you
always seem to have you emotions in control. What caused this
emotional breakdown tonight?” Please don’t let it be another man,
Thomas thought to himself. Getting Constantina to trust him was an
uphill battle. The last thing he needed was another man in the
picture.

Connie took her time answering Thomas’s
question. It's not as if Thomas is her friend. Every time she
wanted to move forward with the foundation Thomas and the rest of
the city council blocked her way.

She was grateful for the interruption when
the waitress brought their drinks. She took a sip of her drink and
studied him over the rim of the glass. “I saw something so
beautiful tonight. When I realized I would never have that
experience it tore me up inside. There does that make you
happy?”

Something painful happened in her past, and
he hoped that one day she would share it with him. “You’re a
phenomenal woman Constantina. You deserve every beautiful thing
that life has to offer.”

“Thank you Thomas. I almost believe that you
mean what you say. I honestly do need to go home; I have a big day
in Kearney tomorrow.”

Thomas’s eyebrows knitted together, “What’s
in Kearney?”

“I’m cooking dinner for my aunt’s
birthday.”

“Want some company? The ride to Kearney would
be an excellent opportunity for us to be alone.”

Connie laughed aloud, “There’s no way I’m
taking you to see my aunt. It’s an overnight trip, and there
wouldn’t be a place for you to sleep.”

It was good to see Constantina laugh. “I
thought you would share your sleeping accommodations with me. I’m
willing to give it a try.”

“Nice try councilman. I’m staying with my
aunt and your presence would raise a lot of questions.”

“Constantina, you truly do deserve the best
things in life. In fact, I intend to be there to make it happen.
When you get back from Kearney, maybe we can have lunch. I would
like a chance to know you better, and I want to be more than that
dreaded councilman.”

Connie had to leave now, Thomas was weaving a
spell, and if she didn’t clear her head, she would be a goner.
“Thanks for the drink Thomas, but it’s time for me to leave.”

“No problem. I’ll walk you to your car.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

Thomas wasn’t going to pass up the
opportunity to remain in her presence for just a little while
longer. He helped her with her wrap, followed her out of the lounge
and took the back exit of the hotel. He grabbed her hand before
crossing the street. “Where are you parked?”

“The next block.” Connie could feel the
strength in his hand just by the gentle touch. “What made you come
to this particular party tonight? I doubt seriously that you were
on the guest list?”

Thomas raised her hand and kissed her
fingers. “I’ll have you know that I received and engraved
invitation from Samantha Graham herself.”

“What! Samantha sent you a personal
invitation! Why would she do that?”

Thomas turned her hand and kissed the inside
of her wrist. “Well I am a client, but I also think she picked up
on your feelings for me and decided to throw us together.”

Connie snatched her hand out of his grasp,
took her car keys from her purse, and marched towards her car. “I
don’t have any feelings for you!”

Thomas was quick on her heels determined that
she wouldn’t get the last word. He pressed his body against hers as
she tried to open the car door. “I think you do Constantina. For
the past year, you’ve been avoiding me. Tell me baby, why are you
afraid? He turned her around crowding her into the car as he kissed
her. She opened her mouth giving him the opportunity he needed to
taste her. “You have nothing to fear from me, we’re going to be
good together.”

Connie wanted to wrap her arms around his
neck and lose herself in Thomas’s kiss, but her common sense raised
its head. She pushed him away as she collected herself. “I’m not
afraid of anything.”

“You’re afraid of how you feel about me. I
tried to give you time to know me by the traditional methods, but
you ignored all of my lures. I’m putting you on notice Constantina,
you will be mine and sooner than you think. This thing between us
isn’t going to go away, and I won’t let you ignore me any
longer.”

“Do your best Thomas you won’t win.” Connie
got into the car and drove off leaving him in the parking lot
looking after her.

He had to say one thing about Constantina
she's a fighter. She wouldn't win this war. His future happiness
depended on the outcome being in his favor. “You can run
Constantina, but I refuse to let you hide any longer.” He walked a
couple more blocks to his own car, happier than he’d been in a long
time. He began whistling as he planned the downfall of his new
love.

***

Connie was still reeling from Thomas’s kiss.
She had to calm down before she had a wreck. The next time she saw
Samantha she was going to kick her ass. She took the North Freeway
and turned left on Sorensen Parkway. Another five minutes heading
west and she was home. She lived a mile from a major hospital in a
quiet neighborhood.

Momma Lettie and her husband Henry purchased
the house when she became pregnant with their son, Henry Jr. Connie
loved the split-level house she inherited when Momma Lettie passed
away. The state tried to sell it from under her, but her Aunt Mabel
stepped in. She became her legal guardian and moved in with Connie
preserving her home.

She smiled while thinking about her aunt. Her
birthday's tomorrow and Connie was driving to the assisted living
facility in Kearney to spend a couple of days with her. Aunt Mabel
was celebrating 85 years of life, a wonderful milestone for a
wonderful woman.

Connie probably should have sold her house. A
three-bedroom house with a full basement was a lot of room for one
person. The house was a link to her momma that she wouldn't lose.
She felt a wave of sadness over come her, every time she turned
around, she was losing someone. Her circle of family and friends
was so small, when she had a loss the recovery process took
longer.

Momma Lettie treated her better than her own
mother did. Originally, Momma Lettie took her in as a foster child
when Connie was ten and later adopted her. Connie didn’t know how
she did it especially in the 1990’s conservative Nebraska. It was
almost unheard of for a Caucasian child to be placed with an
African American family.

Her momma had been a social worker twenty
years before Connie came into her life. Connie figured that her
momma probably called in some favors when her adoption came up for
review. She remembered the day she arrived, Momma Lettie’s house
was like something out of a home & gardening magazine. The
purple, pink, and white, Lilac trees lined the driveway. The
flowerbed in front of the house hosted an array of flowers: Red
Tulips, Marigolds, Peonies, and Violets. None of the other foster
homes she’d been in had been this immaculate.

Connie remembered the first time Momma Lettie
took her shopping at Younker’s and JC Penney’s stores. It was an
all day adventure, and she was overwhelmed with bags of clothes and
shoes piled up in the back seat. Momma Lettie seemed to be a
pleasant woman, but Connie had problems trusting people. People
bought things before hoping to win her over. She could hear her
momma's singsong voice saying she was just providing the bare
necessities that all children need to attend church and school.

Connie remembered the first time Momma Lettie
took her to church; she’d never seen so many black people in one
place before. She clung to Momma Lettie even burying her face in
her shoulder as people greeted Momma Lettie. Her momma never let go
of her hand. She made Connie feel at ease, she said, “honey they’re
just curious about my blue eyed child with platinum hair. Once they
get used to you, you’ll fit right in.”