Chapter 3

I was dumbstruck, this guy, was so much more than anyone had ever been before. I felt a connection and wondered if I was going insane. I felt like I’d poured my soul out to this complete stranger and that he had done the same with me. I didn’t know how to respond. I sat with my fingers on the keyboard unable to move.

 

A few minutes later.

Y0urM1n3 “P.S. Also WOW! ;-)”

Suddenly the bravado I usually had with someone on these chats had gone. I felt shy, exposed. I could only respond with …

LuvNHugs “**Blushes**”

I wanted to run away, close the chat and be done.

Y0urM1n3 “We’ll have to finish our picnic sometime. You’re a very gifted writer.”

LuvNHugs “Thank you, so are you, that was… intense… yes I think we need a breather before finishing that picnic :-) "

Y0urM1n3 “Yes, I think intense is a good description, I hope we can chat again.”

LuvNHugs “Me too”

I couldn’t though, because at the same time, I didn’t want it to end.

LuvNHugs “If you don’t mind me asking, where are you from? I’m in New York”.

There was a pause and I wondered if he had gone. Then he answered…

Y0urM1n3 “Also in NY, sorry for the delay, I’m at work.”

I laughed out loud, he did THAT at work??

LuvNHugs “WOW, I do hope you have a private office”

Y0urM1n3 “Oh it’s amazing what I can get up to here in this corner suite. Benefits of being the boss.”

Well, I’d figured he was smart and educated from his writing, but, if he was being truthful, he was also doing OK for himself. He was probably lying though, but I would go with it.

LuvNHugs “Sounds exciting, I’m studying at Columbia, English Language and Literature. I graduate next year,”

I didn’t know why I was telling him this, I just needed to hold onto this feeling of someone actually liking me and me not freaking out.

 

There was another pause, I could see the dots indicating he was typing then they’d stop, and start again. Eventually…

Y0urM1n3 “You write like you are older. Do you mind that I am older?”

I chuckled as I answered

LuvNHugs “Not at all, I don’t connect well with others my age. If you don’t mind me asking, how old are we talking?”

It didn’t really matter, it wasn’t like we were a real life thing, but I was curious all the same.

Y0urM1n3 “So you must be 20 right? Then let’s almost double it, I’m 38 next month.”

I didn’t see that as old at all, unlike most my age, their parents might be around 40 - 45, mine were 65. I was a very unexpected surprise.

LuvNHugs “Older maybe, but not old. A lot more experience I guess ;-)”

 

Y0urM1n3 “Definitely not old, but yes, experienced, in a lot of things. How about you Angel?”

 

LuvNHugs “I think I like Angel :-) Oh well, not very experienced in most things, I had a rather

sheltered upbringing.”

 

Y0urM1n3 “Your writing says it wasn’t totally sheltered **grin** "

 

LuvNHugs “Oh you’d be surprised!”

I was sure he would be surprised to learn I’d never even been kissed. He didn’t need to know that though. My writing was pure fantasy.

Y0urM1n3 “I like your surprises Angel, but I have to go. Can we talk soon?”

 

LuvNHugs “Sure, just ping me when you see me online in your friends list”

 

Y0urM1n3 “I will, but don’t forget Angel, you’re mine now! ;-)”

And with that he logged off leaving me wondering what exactly he meant by that. Surely he was just teasing.

 

I had to shower and change after that experience and spent the rest of the afternoon in the Library working on my assignment.

 

Once home I called my parents, as I usually did twice a week. My mom was excited as she always was when there was an event to look forward to.

“Oh Eve, you must come home for spring break, the Cartridges are hosting a garden party, Max has just announced his retirement. Everyone will be there, I know they’ll be asking about you.” she sounded almost giddy and I couldn’t help smile. I loved my parents deeply, they had been my world for most of my life and I liked to believe they had guided me to be a good person, even if that was at the cost of learning how to be like others my age.

 

Max and Amy Cartridge were my parents best friends and next door neighbors in my hometown of Rye, NY. Max, the father had built his business from a small construction firm to one of the biggest architectural and construction companies in New York City. They had 2 children, Rob, their eldest had been set up to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sarah, his younger sister by 5 years was an interior designer and I remembered when I was young, and she was home from college, while our parents sat out drinking and chatting in their summer house. Sarah, who was assigned to babysit me, used blankets and cushions and fabrics from god knows where to create a special den where she entertained me with magical stories and dancing to her favorite songs. I also remembered Rob, when he was home from Grad school, finding us, pretending to be a big bad wolf as he chased me around the house and garden as I gleefully screamed. He must have been in his mid 20s then but I idolized him, he always took time to say Hi to me when he saw me, which meant the world to a little girl in a grown ups world. He wore suits to work and I thought he looked so beautiful, his thick black hair always smartly combed back and his blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. He was my first crush and I was heartbroken when at the age of 12 I learned he was engaged and later married.

 

“I planned to come home anyway Mom…” I told her, “…I had no other plans.”

 

“Well I’m glad you’ll be home sweetheart, I thought maybe… well I know kids your age like to take trips for Spring Break, are you not going somewhere with your friends?”

 

I wrinkled my nose, glad she couldn’t see my face as I outright lied to her. “Not this year Mom, I think everyone is going home, I guess we might take a trip in the summer, Miami maybe.”

 

I had heard some of the girls in my Lit class talking about a Miami break, but I didn’t ever have the heart to tell my mom how hard it was for me to make friends.

 

“Oh that would be great for you!” she enthused “So, your father is thinking of following Max’s example.”

 

“Daddy is retiring?” this was news to me, he was obsessed with his work, he was a lawyer, senior partner at a large NYC law firm.

 

My surprise must have been audible and Mom chuckled. “Yes I know right! I never thought I’d see the day, and he hasn’t fully decided yet but I guess it’d be nice for us to have more time together, to travel, now you’re out on your own two feet more or less.”

 

I nodded, fully aware that my sudden appearance in their life had set back their plans significantly. Having your first child at the age of 45 would have been quite a shock, they had been married for 20 years, were settled in their careers and planned to retire at 55 and spend their golden years traveling the world. Instead they had my school and college education to pay for and while we were far from hard up, I knew their priorities had totally shifted because of me and their desire to leave me a legacy and I loved them for never once making me feel bad about it.

 

I told Mom I would be home in just over a week and soon after we ended the call. I fell back on my bed and sighed, it would be nice to be back home, but I also knew it would lead to the inevitable conversations about boyfriends and I dreaded that more than anything.