Noelle's Rock: A BWWM Holiday Romance (9 page)

Chapter 11

Noelle

Mr. Turkey

There is no turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce for me. I sit in front of the television set with a big bowl of popcorn and a mug of steaming hot chocolate as my eyes focus on
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
. I am missing Beau so badly right now. He promised me that he would come to me as soon as he made it back in town after his last night of performing, which was tonight in another city.

My cell phone rings and brings me out of my musings of Beau. I look at the caller I.D. and smile as Shelby’s picture pops up on the screen.

“Hey, Shelby. Happy Thanksgiving,” I say into the receiver of my phone.

“Happy Thanksgiving, love,” she replies excitedly into the phone. I can hear noise in the background and the distinctive sound of Erick’s voice.

“Erick says Happy Thanksgiving too. He also says that you should have come with us instead of staying by yourself on a holiday that’s meant to be spent with friends and family.”

I grimace slightly at Erick’s words as I think of my mother and father. Both of them have other families now, so I know I won’t be missed at either of their homes. My mother and stepfather are probably on some far away trip, and my father is more than likely enthralled by his wife and the family they have made together.

“Tell Erick that I wish him the same, and tell him I appreciate him inviting me to spend the holiday with his family, but I am feeling kind of drained and need to catch up on my rest.” I didn’t dare tell Shelby that I didn’t want to feel like a third wheel.

“Well, in any case,” Shelby sighs aloud because she knows me like the back of her hand. She doesn’t call me out though as she conveniently changes the subject, “have you heard from your gorgeous rock star today?”

“Hey, I hear you,” Erick says aloud to Shelby in the background.

“Cool it, babe. You know you have no worries. I have eyes only for you, my darling,” Shelby coo’s to pacify Erick.

I laugh aloud at Shelby and Erick. They are so cute together, and I see first-hand how much they love each other.

“You two are adorable.”

“You and Beau are just as adorable, if not more so,” Shelby sighs again into the telephone. “I can’t get out of my head how he carried you away after you fainted,” she giggles.

I join Shelby in laughter. “You know what I can’t get out of my head?”

“What?”

“I keep seeing you ready to battle Beau if he didn’t put me down. It took his security guards to hold you at bay, or you would have beat him to a pulp. The headlines would have read, ‘Little Shelby Munroe takes down the big bad wolf, Beau Barringer,’” I laugh uncontrollably at the thought.

“Humph,” you are damn right. No one takes advantage of my Noelle.”

“Now, get off of this telephone, and go enjoy Erick and his family,” I say, sobering up.

“First, tell me what you are eating for dinner,” she says with suspension in her voice.

I look down at the bowl of popcorn in my lap and the half-filled mug of hot chocolate and smirk. “I will grab me something in a bit. I may order a pepperoni pizza a little later.”

“Shame on you. You have to eat better for my goddaughter or godson. You should have come with us. If I wasn’t two hours away, I would come and haul your ass here,” she huffs.

“I can hear Erick calling you to dinner. We will talk when you come home on Sunday. I’m going to miss going shopping with you on Black Friday tomorrow, though.”

“Me too, but we will make up for it next weekend. I promise,” she says before ending the call.

I look at the television screen and watch the credits roll across. I have missed the ending of
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
. My stomach grumbles loudly, and I pick up the bowl of popcorn when my doorbell suddenly chimes. I untuck my legs from the sofa and place the bowl of popcorn on the table in front of me before walking to the door.

I see a tall woman, with a dark complexion dressed in chef’s apparel, loaded down with bags in her hands. I apprehensively open the door to confront this stranger.

“Hello, you must be Miss Noelle Winter’s?” asks the woman with a friendly voice.

“Yes,” I respond, wondering why she is at my door.

“I am Chef Sandra Ramsey. Mr. Beau Barringer arranged for my services today to fix you a personal Thanksgiving feast. He must really love you considering the amount he paid me to do this of all days,” she says bluntly. “May I come in?” She holds up her bags.

My cell phone begins to ring again. I stand back to allow Chef Sandra in. “Of course, come on in,” I say and close the door behind her.

“The kitchen is through those doors,” I point her in the direction of my small kitchen as I run over to answer my cell phone.

“Hello,” I say in a rushed voice without checking to see whose calling.

“Hey, baby,” Beau’s baritone voice speaks through the phone’s receiver, sending chills down my spine.

“Beau!” I gasp in surprise.

“Has your surprise arrived yet?

“I can’t believe you did something so extravagant. No one has ever done anything this grand for me before,” I say, still in shock.

“I wanted to do something special for you since I can’t be there with you for our first official holiday as a couple.”

I still can’t get use to the idea that Beau and I are a couple. I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I am not dreaming.

“I miss you, sweetheart,” Beau says. His voice brings me out of my musings.

“I miss you too,” I say softly.

“How much do you miss me, Noelle?”

“I miss you more than you will ever know. I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself, and then I hear your voice. I am no longer feeling so alone now,” I admit.

“Damn, baby. I hate that I am so far away from you. Tell me what I can do to make it better.”

“You calling me and you sending Chef Sandra here is more than enough. I still can’t help but wish that you were here in the flesh,” I say, twisting a soft curl around my finger tip.

“You make me want to ditch my responsibilities and high jack a flight out of here tonight. Just ask me and I will do it for you. All you have to do is give me the word.”

“Would you really do that for me?”

“In a heartbeat, baby. I will do anything for you and that’s a promise.”

I can feel tears in my eyes. Happy tears of the love that I feel from Beau. Happy tears of the love that I feel from him. I can smell the delicious smells of Thanksgiving permeating throughout my apartment as the aromas seep through from the kitchen.

“Come back to me safe and in one piece, my rock star.”

“Always, my angel. Always,” Beau replies. “I really need to get a move on, even though I don’t want to let you go. Throw me a kiss.”

“Muah.” I blow him a kiss through the receiver of the cell phone.

“Mmm, so sweet,” Beau says in a gruff voice. “Enjoy your meal, sweetheart.”

“I will, and I will think of you with every bite,” I promise before ending the call.

The herb-roasted turkey breast with apple cider gravy; the cornbread stuffing; the bacon-wrapped green beans sprinkled with crispy fried onions; and the mini, buttermilk, chocolate tarts composed one of the most scrumptious meals I have ever eaten. With every bite of the delicious morsels, I think of Beau.

I thank Chef Sandra for preparing my meal before she takes her leave. I note that she even leaves the kitchen spotless. A smile plants itself on my mouth for the rest of the evening and into the night.

I walk into the bathroom and rush through my shower because I can hardly keep my eyes open. I yawn deeply as I slip a night gown over my head before sliding between the sheets of my bed. I wonder if Beau is still on stage performing. If so, I know he is bringing much delight to his many fans. I stifle another yawn before I drift off to sleep, with Beau settled deep within my thoughts and in my heart.

Chapter 12

Noelle

Bah, Humbug

It’s Black Friday, and a mob of people run around snatching items off of shelves like there is no tomorrow. It is only one day after Thanksgiving, and it has already been forgotten, along with the leftover stuffing. I should have come out earlier instead of waiting until noon to get some shopping done. Then again, maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference from the look of things.

The Christmas music follows me from store to store. Christmas trees are fully displayed with beautiful lights, and garlands are strung up in great supply, making the shopping mall one gigantic winter wonderland scene. Someone bumps into me, which causes me to bump into someone else.

“Excuse me.” The words barely past my lips before the woman in front of me turns to glare in my direction.

“Watch where you are going,” she says in a not-so-friendly tone.

“It wasn’t my fault, ma’am. Someone pushed me into you,” I reply looking behind me, but whoever pushed me is long gone.

The mean lady peers over my shoulder and gives me a pinched-face expression. I glare back at her before she rolls her eyes and marches onward without saying another word. “Scrooge!” I say to her back but not loud enough for her to hear me.

I shrug off the attitude from the disgruntled shopper and continue to peruse the items throughout the stores. Hmm, shall I get a live tree this year? I ponder the question in my head before walking towards Shelby’s and my favorite shoe store. Well, one of our favorite shoe stores.

Now why did I come out in this mess?  I guess I just needed to get out and do something to keep from missing Beau. I silently answer my own question truthfully.

Maybe I will stop by my favorite Chinese restaurant and get me an order of egg rolls and some egg drop soup to go with it when I finish shopping. I wait my turn in line to pay for this pair of boots that Shelby was admiring the last time we were together. I want to get them for her Christmas gift, along with her favorite fragrance.

I have absolutely no idea what I will get Beau for Christmas. I smile from the inside out every time I think of Beau. I feel like a high school girl with her first crush. After paying for my purchases, I stop off at a maternity department store called Mommy’s Maternity. I need to get a starter set of maternity clothes so I can get prepared for my changing body shape.

My hand splays over my belly as I think about the tiny life growing inside of me, as I take the escalator to the second level in the mall. My stomach grumbles aloud. I look at the time on my thin, wristband watch. It is almost three thirty in the afternoon and a whole seven hours since I ate breakfast.

I am starving, but I join a group of people watching skaters that are skating on an ice rink located in the center of the second level. I smile as a figure in a white polar bear suit spins around with one leg high in the air.

There are other people dressed up as cartoon characters, bringing the animated characters alive for the kids. I walk closer to the skating rink to get a better look at the performance. I smile and lose myself in the show until someone bumps into me again from behind.

A familiar voice apologizes instantly. My spine stiffens before I turn around and look up into the face of my ex-boyfriend, Victor Wallace. Victor looks down at me with a surprised expression of his own before he quickly looks around, as if he is searching for someone. He looks at me again without saying another word. There is a funny-looking expression on his face that I can’t quite figure out.

“Hey, honey.” A woman comes up to stand beside Victor with a little boy, around one year old, in her arms.  “Here, Victor. Take V.J. He is getting heavy. I told you we should have brought his stroller in,” she says.

My eyes go from Victor to this beautiful woman, who seems to be older than he is. It takes her a minute to notice me watching her. Victor reaches for V.J., who willingly goes to him.

“Dada,” says the little boy, who I now see is a replica of Victor, all the way up to his curly hair.

“Did I interrupt something?” The woman asks, looking between Victor and me.

“No, not at all,” Victor replies as he tries to take control of the awkward moment.

My emotions begin to boil over as I try to comprehend the couple before me with the small child that looks so much like my ex-boyfriend. I hope my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I know they are not when the appalling truth is hitting me smack-dab in my face.

“Samantha, this is Noelle Winters, an old friend. Noelle, this is Samantha Lambert…my girlfriend,” he says slowly.

“Your girlfriend,” I say in shock as I feel my cheeks begin to flush. “How long have you and Samantha been dating?” I inquire as I feel sudden anger build up inside my entire body. I can feel my fingernails digging into the palm of my hand as I grip the shopping bags a little too tightly.

“We have been together off and on for a little over a year, right honey?” Samantha looks at Victor for confirmation.

Victor looks like he would willingly sink down into the earth if it would open up and swallow him whole. He looks at me with pleading eyes, as if begging me not to bring up our past. I cannot believe that he has reduced the years we have shared down to me being an “old friend.” I can’t even wrap my brain around why he is acting this way and why he is disregarding the fact that I may, or may not, still be pregnant with his unwanted baby.

“I see,” I finally say before Victor shuts me up by speaking to his girlfriend.

“Sammy, will you take V.J. to get pictures with Santa Claus? I will be over to join you in a few minutes,” he promises.

“It was nice to meet you, Noelle,” Samantha reaches for V.J. again and takes off to go do Victor’s bidding.

I watch a shapely Samantha walk away, without returning her sentiment, with their son in her arms. I finally turn towards Victor with anger as well as hurt brimming from my eyes.

“Before you say anything, I can explain,” Victor says in a hurry.

I look up into the face of my boyfriend since college and wonder why I never figured him for a sleaze-ball before now. Here I am, a twenty-five-year-old woman, and I was deceived by his philandering ways. How could I be so stupid?

“Is she the reason you asked me to get an abortion?” I ask, getting straight to the only point that really matters.

Victor can’t hold my gaze as he looks down at the floor and begins to fidget.

“Answer me, Victor. I deserve at least that much.” I breathe in deeply as I try to fight back the pressure building behind my eyelids. I’ll be damned if I let one tear fall in front of Victor’s cheating ass.

“Noelle, my situation with Samantha is very complicated. She is married but has filed for a divorce. Since I met her, her marriage has had nothing but problems. She works with me at Mead Biotech, and we started out as friends. I felt sorry for her, and I was just a friend, someone she could tell her problems to. We grew closer, and we only slept together that one time in the beginning…I promise you,” he stresses as he tries to appeal to my senses.

“Victor, how you two got together is irrelevant to me at the moment. You still haven’t answered my question. Is Samantha the reason you want me to have an abortion?” I ground out between clenched teeth. Victor’s answer means everything to me. His answer will tell me how I will proceed with our, or should I say
my
, baby’s future.

Victor lets out a harsh breath as he looks into my eyes. His handsome face and his muscular physique no longer appeal to me. He is no longer the man I thought he was. He is weak, and I don’t have any respect for this man who I thought was my friend and boyfriend.

“Yes, Samantha and Victor Jr. are a big part of it. I love you, Noelle, but I am no longer in love with you like I used to be. When Samantha told me she was pregnant, something shifted inside of me. The feelings I used to have for you shifted to her. I don’t mean to hurt you Noelle, and none of this is your fault. All of the blame lies with me where it belongs.”

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this before? Why did you string me along for almost a year after you found out she was pregnant? You are as wrong as two left shoes for the way you’ve handled this, and on top of that, you introduced me as an ‘old friend.’ How dare you, Victor?” I point a finger at his chest with each word.

He puts my hand in his. ”I am sorry. I don’t know what else I can say. I was, and I am, wrong. You deserve so much better than this fucked up situation.”

“You agreeing with me doesn’t make it any better. You admitting to loving someone else doesn’t make it any better either.”

I so wish Beau was here so I could talk things over with him. I need his strength to settle the emotions that are running like wildfire deep in my soul. The festive feelings and delight of the holiday season have dimmed and leave me feeling dull as well as lifeless.

Victor still holds my hand in his. I tug it away angrily. I look up at him again with disgust in my eyes. He is no longer my friend or my boyfriend but a stranger left in the shell of a human body that I once loved and centered my world around. Wasted years…Good riddance too.

“Go to your girlfriend and child, Victor. I wish you well,” I dig down deep to get those words out.

“What about the baby?” he asks as he looks down at me with uncertainty in his eyes.

I note that he doesn’t say
our
baby. He says “the baby” like it is a thing and not flesh and blood.

“My baby and I will be just fine. You don’t have to worry about a thing, just go on with your life and forget we ever met or shared a past,” I instruct him.

I can see the relief spread across Victor’s once handsome face. It is strange how something I once saw beauty in can change right before my very eyes. I can no longer stand to be in Victor’s sight.

“If after the baby is born you need me to sign any papers giving up my legal right, I am down with that,” he says. ”Just let me know. I still have the same cell number.”

Victor just goes down another notch in the respect department. Then again, he has made it easier for me to never have him in my life again.

“That’s great,” I finally mutter in a sad voice. “Goodbye,” I say, turning quickly away to save face.

I don’t want him to see the lone tear that falls from my left eye. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, the tear forces its way out anyway. I have lost all appetite for the Chinese food I craved earlier. All I want to do is to get out of this busy mall in one piece before this dam of tears bursts.

“Noelle,” Victor calls out as I walk away.

I don’t dare turn around. I keep walking with a straight spine and my head held high. That is until I made it inside my car. Now I am sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks like a waterfall. I cry not for me but for my innocent, un-born child. I cry because his or her sperm donor doesn’t want any part of his her life, just like my parents don’t want any part of mine.

“You will never be a burden on me, little one,” I speak aloud to my baby as my hands rest protectively across my stomach. “I am going to be the best mother that I know how to be, and I will love you more than anyone ever can,” I add before wiping my tears away.

I reach inside of my handbag for a tissue and clean my nose as well. I breathe in deeply and draw on unknown strength with each breath that I take as I get my emotions under control. Turning the key in the ignition and merging into the late afternoon traffic, I drive towards the safe haven of my home.