Mending (2 page)

August, 2010

The
Past
  ~
 
Gabby

Gabby’s
wavy hair hung just below her shoulders and her face was dewy from being on the beach earlier.  Her speckled hazel eyes were droopy from fatigue and she was dressed in the khaki linen
capri
pants and a white t-shirt she had worn earlier in the evening before dinner.  She had just come home from her first date with Bradley Banks.  Com
ing into her childhood home
,
which was now
Sam
’s primary residence since she had started
med
ical
scho
ol, she closed the door, leaning her back against it
.  She closed her eyes and pursed her lips shaking her head.  She felt hopeful and happy for the firs
t time since the summer of 2008
when Ian and her childhood friend, Lindsey, had broken her heart.

But, at the same time
,
she was terrified.  She had no idea how in the world she and Bradley could make a relationship work.  They were in two totally different places in their lives.  Gabby was going into her sophomore year at Columbia College in South Carolina, while Bradley was nearly ten years older than her and had an established career as the CEO of a prominent commercial architectural firm in Atlanta, Georgia.  Just like every other friendship or relationship in her life, they were socially unequal.  But, as if that weren’t enough of a complication, there was the whole long distance relationship thing to consider, too.

She had met Bradley months earlier at a wedding for her sister’s childhood best friend, Cade Williams.  There had been fireworks from the moment they saw each other, but Gabby had resisted him thinking th
at he had a girlfriend.  She
felt humiliated when she found out it w
as his sister.  Bradley was
so smug at the reception, almost acting as if he could easily have Gabby.  It had been a roller coaster of emotions because on the one hand Gabby was extremely attracted to h
im.  However, on the other hand,
she was terrified of being hurt.  She knew her social inadequacies were also one more reason why they were probably not compatible.  Gabby ran away from him when he agreed that she probably couldn’t give him what he needed because he didn’t do relationships
.  He
was more of a one night stand or a
casual
relationship type of guy.  She had spent the summer
unsuccessfully trying
to erase him from her memory.  Earlier that day
,
when she had come home to Charleston from Columbia to see Sam, she had been surprised to see him on the beach looking for her. She was surprised at how much she had longed for and missed his touch.  He talked her into going out for the evening and that is what had led up to this very moment. 

Gabby was taking deep breaths and trying hard to not jump up and down with elation.  Yes, she was scared, but she also couldn’t help but shake the feeling that Bradley was different.  Regardless of their mutual romantic feelings towards each other, he had agreed for them to get to know each other as friends first after learning what Gabby had been through in the only other serious relationship she had ever had.
  Besides, there were other reasons for
Gabby’s
lack of trust.  She had unresolved issues from her childhood.  She had lost her mother at such a young age.  She, herself, wasn’t even sure if she was emotionally ready for a serious
romantic
relationship.

Gabby was thankful there would be no sexual expectations for this part of their relationship.  Yes, he had said he could handle that she was a virgin.  Yes, he had sa
id that he could wait with her.  I
n fact he promised that even though they were going to start as friends that he would be exclusive to just her from this day forward
.  S
he was
n’t sure she could trust him.  But, i
f they were just friends that would take away some of
Gabby’s
fear of his ability to commit and hopefully lessen the hurt if he turned out unable to keep his third leg in his pants, like Ian.  

After Gabby had regained her composure taking several cleansing breaths, she walked to her room in the small cottage beach home and b
egan to change into her pajamas:
a black pair of yoga pants and a fitted black tank top.  She gently brushed away the tangles the breeze from the beach had left in her long wavy chestnut hair while talking to Bradley.  She climbed into her twin sized bed
and quickly dozed off to sleep.  She was
exhausted from the myriad of emotions she had experienced in a single day. 

Gabby woke to the smell of fresh brewed Dunkin’ Donuts medium roast coffee in the kitchen and knew that Sam
must already be awake.  T
hat was the only coffee either sister would drink.  Excited about spending the day with Sam, sh
e smiled as stretched yawning
.  She grabbed a rubber band and quickly pulled her frizzed hair back into a ponytail.  Hesitating as she glanc
ed in the mirror on her dresser
as she walked out of the room
,
she patted her cheeks and exhaled at the bags under her eye
s from her long night.  Looking
at the alarm clock
,
she realized it was only eight in the morning
.  H
er
aching
body reminded her that she had only had several hours of sleep.  Rubbing her large round eyes, she yawned once
more as she entered the kitchen.  She stretched
her arms out sighing.

Sam was sitting at the small kitchen table with her messy
short brown pixie haircut.  Unlike Gabby, she was very petite.  She was already dressed in a white V-neck t-shirt, running shorts and tennis shoes.  The year before, Gabby had gotten Sam into running.  Gabby had missed a lot when she lost her friendship to Lindsey after she caught her with Ian.  She especially missed having someone to go for a run with in the mornings.  When she got to college, although Sam had not been a big exerciser, she was thankful for the extra time
with her.  She enjoyed having an exercise buddy
.  It had proven to be a great stress reliever for both sisters.  It w
as just another
way they bonded.  They would run
with their iPod’s in their ears
, side-by-
side without saying a word. 

Sam’s large brown eyes glanced up when she saw motion in the doorway.  She was sitting at the table with her cup of coffee rea
ding The Charleston Gazette. 
“Hey, sleepy head.
  What time did
you finally crawl in last night?” A
small half smile forming as she emphasized the finally part.

Gabby was very nonchalant, shrugging her shoulders
and walking to the coffee maker.  She picked up the
mug that Sam had l
eft out on the counter for her. 
“Well, we got home at around 11:30, but I changed and we just went to the beach for a little bit.
” She glanced back to Sam with a shy smile and then started to pour her
coffe
.  “
I think it was around one-
ish
when I finally got home from the beach.”

Sam rolled her eyes exasperated
.
“Well?”

Gabby could feel Sam’s gaze
burning a hole through her head.  Gabby peeked quickly back to her sister.  “Well, what?” she said as she
resumed making her coffee.

“Oh, c’mon, Gabby
.
 
Details.
  Spill the beans.” Sam folded the paper and put it down, leaning up with her elbows on the table.  Gabby turned from making her coffee with a huge grin on her face
.  S
he pulled the chair across from where Sam was sitting and sat down.  “Oh, well that speaks volumes,” Sam teased her little sister.

“Oh Sam.
  It was so incredible.  He had planned everything, thoug
ht of everything.  I’m not
gonna
lie, I’m terrified.  But he was so charming,
such a gentleman.
”  Gabby paused.  “
And, I just can’t shake this feeling I have when I’m around him.  The chemistry, the electricity I feel when he’s close to me or touches me makes me feel more alive than
I’ve ever felt,” Gabby gushed.  She smiled while shaking her head, eyes clasped shut
. 

Sam couldn’t contain he
r elation that it had gone well.
“So, where did he take you shopping?”

“Saks.
  H
e’s completely over the top.  But, I thou
ght it was sweet.”  Gabby sipped her coffee. “
Get
this,
dude knew what size I was.
”
She
rolled her eyes as she let out an exasperated smile.  “He got me to get this dress that I would have never bought on my own, but I felt so sexy wearing it and these heels, they were killer.  I did
n’t even look at the price tags.  N
o telling how much he spent in the fifteen minutes we were in that store.”

“So, did you kiss him?” Sam quizzed her sister.

“Well, just cut right down to the ch
ase, Sam.  Geez,” Gabby
spatted
, “Yes, I kissed him.” Her
cheeks reddened as she dropped her head, closing her eyes grinning.

“Is that all you did?”
Sam got up to fix herself another cup of coffee.

Gabby’s
head
shot up and her eyes were wide. 
“Oh Sam.
Good grief.”

Sam glanced back as she poured the cream and
Splenda
into her mug. 
“C’mon, I want to know, spill the beans already!”

“Well
, we kissed once and then he um…
” Gabby shifted in her seat and she could
feel herself starting to blush.
“He fed me coconut cake o
n the swings at the harbor…uh…with my eyes closed,
” Gabby whispered recalling the moment as she closed her eyes.

“Oh. My. Gosh, Gabby.  He’s totally into you.
”  Sam made her way back to her chair sitting down with one leg crossed under her.  “
I mean, I already
knew that, but that’s just hot.  H
e clearly thought that out, don’t
ya
think?”

“Oh, I think he tho
ught it all out alright. 
I must admit that was one of the most romantic things anyone has ever done for me.  He makes me feel so special, but I don’t get it.  I don’t understand why he wants me.  He could have anyone.”
Gabby’s
lips formed a hard line.

Sam tilted her head. 
“Gabby, I don’t know why it’s so hard for you
to see that you are a rare gem. 
The complete package.
  A
ny man would only be so lucky to have you.

“Whatever.”

“I am not just saying that because you’re my little sister.  I can’t tell you how many guys last year had
crushes
on you, but you showed zero interest in them.”

Gabby shrugged her shoulders and put her head down fidgeting with her cup.

“I’m serious, Gabby.
” Sam held her mug with both hands and brought it to her mouth taking a sip.  “
But anyway, what did you do at the beach?”

“Just talked.
  He was sweet.  He carried our shoes and my bag, I mean what man does that,” Gabby giggled.

“Oh Gabby.
  He’s smitten.
” Sam leaned in and smiled.

Gabby glanc
ed up and inhaled sharply.
“He asked about Ian.”

“Oh really, how did he know about Ian?”

“Well, I just told him I had baggage.  He pretty much figured out it was from anothe
r guy.  I told him everything.”  Gabby shook her head.  “
Sam, you’re the only person I’ve ever been able to talk to about that.  I mean, it was so easy, too.  And it was cute, he was so mad.  I hope he never meets Ian, because I think he might just ha
ve a throw down with him.
”
Gabby’s
eyes lit up.