The Swiss Escape

Questions and Answers

Alex

While Kamryn put Kayla to bed, I did the dishes. Just as I am finishing up the last plate, she comes out of Kayla’s room. “Do you want to talk about it?” Kamryn’s voice is soft

“He called to say he and my parents are coming down to get Lana and that I better stay away from her. That he knows Dennis has enrolled in the school, and he is going to make a formal complaint. I informed him that I’m with someone and have no interest in Lana. That I advised against his enrollment, but she pushed. Then my mother got on the phone. Asking how I could betray my brother.” I shake my head feeling frustrated.

“So, she scolded you for the thing your brother did?” I nod. “I heard you yelling.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know I was that loud. I was listening to the voicemail, and Fritz called over and over. I finally answered and said I couldn’t talk that I was with my girlfriend. That we were about to eat, and I didn’t have time for them. That caused a bigger argument. I shouldn’t have said I didn’t have time for them. But after everything they have done, I think I should be allowed to be angry. Fritz had an affair, got her pregnant, scammed me, then convinced my parents I’m unstable, and to top it off, they invited me to their wedding. My parents called me a bad son because I didn’t go. Four years later, they call accusing me of having a secret relationship with Lana to get back at Fritz. My mother called me a derogatory name, so I told her she was a terrible mother. Then my father got on the phone. That’s when the yelling started.” Kamryn looks at me with sympathy. I hate that she feels sorry for me.

“What happens now?” She asks I can tell she’s worried about me.

Shrugging, I tell her, “I don’t know. I don’t know what my family is planning. If they show up at the school, I can have them removed. I just don’t know if I can do that to them. Even after everything, they are still my parents. Something in me cares about them.”

Kamryn steps towards me and places her hands on my chest. I grab her and pull her closer to me. “Do you want to watch a movie or something? Or we could sit outside and have a glass of wine?” She looks up at me. I can tell she’s worried.

Taking a deep breath before I respond, “I’m good with watching a movie. Would you be disappointed if we have a quiet night? After everything that happened today, I am not in the mood. I know you were looking forward to trying all the things we got today.”

“Alex, we don’t have to have s*x every time you come here. I know it’s an important part of a relationship, but there are other things. Making sure you are okay is more important to me than experimenting with s*x toys. I know you like to bite during intimacy, that you went ice skating as a child, you enjoy hiking and skiing. But I don’t know your favorite band or music, your favorite movie, if you liked superheroes growing up, or if you ever had a pet. I want to know those things too. I enjoy what you do for me physically, but I want you for more than that.” Kamryn looked into my eyes the entire time she spoke. She is right. There are many things we don’t know about each other. I like hearing that she wants more than just a physical relationship.

“Let’s sit on the balcony. It’s a nice evening.” I smile at Kamryn. She turns and grabs a bottle of white wine and two glasses.

She pours both glasses and hands me one. Kamryn grabs a blanket before we walk out to the balcony. We sit on the bench and look out at the buildings.

“Spiderman and the X-men were my favorite superhero comics. I would hide them in my mattress, so my brother wouldn’t make fun of me. What about you? Do you have a favorite superhero?” I look over at Kamryn.

“Inspector Gadget and Ninja Turtles.” I look at her curiously. “My dad and I would watch Saturday morning cartoons together. He would make us each a bowl of cereal, and we would sit in the living room while we ate. My dad would always make it a point that we couldn’t tell my mother we were eating in the living room.” She smiles at the memory. “After they died, things weren’t so great for me. I would often think back to those days and remember that life isn’t all bad.”

“Did you have any family pets?”

“My parents had an orange cat called Pickles.”

I start laughing, “your parents named a cat, Pickles?”

“They let me name it, and one of the words I could say was pickles. So, when they asked about the cat’s name, I said Pickles.” We both laugh, “After that, I never had any pets. I don’t remember which aunt or uncle had a dog. But I would let him sleep in the bed with me, and everyone would get upset. I wanted a dog when Johnny and I got married, but we couldn’t find one that liked him. They always told me dogs could sense if someone were good or bad. I should have listened.”

“But then you wouldn’t have Kayla.” I hate what she went through with her ex, but I know how much she loves Kayla.

“That’s very true. Kayla makes it all worth it. What about you, did you have any pets?”

“Yes, we always had at least one dog. Most of the time, we had two. My mom loves animals. My favorite dog, well the one that was more attached to me, was a collie mix. She had long thick fur. Everything was white, but one eye and a spot on her ear. Her name was Morgan.”

“How long did you have her?”

“Morgan, we got her when I was around seven, she lived for about ten years before I went to university. Which, as terrible as it sounds, was probably for the best. I would have gotten an apartment so that I could keep her. It would have been more expensive than living on campus.”

“I always wanted a dog.” Kamryn shifts a little so she can face me better. “What about music?”

“You will think less of me if I tell you,” I say with a smile.

“No, I won’t. I promise.”

I let out a sigh. “My mother always wanted a girl. When she got me, she was disappointed. I had to fulfill my mother’s dreams; she made me take piano lessons and violin lessons. Though those were not as bad as the ballroom dancing classes, she forced me to take.”

“You know how to ballroom dance?” Kamryn looks at me like she’s impressed. I nod. “And you can play the violin?” Again, I nod. “And the piano?” I nod. “That’s cool. I always wanted to learn an instrument. I remember my dad helping me with the guitar. I picked it up again when I was fourteen. But was told I wasn’t good enough, so I quit.” I look at Kamryn. Her life was hard. I hope I can make it better. “My mother did have me in dance classes, they weren’t ballroom dancing, but I did do ballet and contemporary. I was even on the dance team in high school. What kind of music do you listen too?”

“I don’t listen to much, after being forced to play so much burned me out on music. I can also tell if a wrong note gets played or someone is off-pitch. It makes all my muscles spasm. So, I hate live music, but it’s almost impossible not to hear it. What about you?”

“Currently, I listen to Baby Shark, Wheels on the Bus, and the big hit Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”

“I see you are into the major hits,” we both laugh.

Kamryn shivers, so I pull her into my lap. She rests her head on the crook of my neck. “I should have told you about Lana. It was wrong for me not too. Next time I will talk to you about it, but let’s not do it at school. Does that sound fair?”

“Yes. I shouldn’t be so insecure. You didn’t deserve the cheap shots I took at you.”

“I did the same thing. And if we switched places, I would be insecure too. I logically know the woman I loved was not the true Lana. When I look at her, I feel the desperation and betrayal that happened. I didn’t tell you about the calls because I didn’t want to call her back. It was my hope she would take the hint. Then she showed up at school. I told her to leave, or I would call and have her escorted off the property. When we saw her waiting at my car, I was angry. She asked if you and Kayla were my new family. I said you were. Then she begged to talk. I listened to her until I realized that I messed up by not taking care of you. Lana showed up again today. It almost feels like she can sense I am happy. She said leaving me was a mistake, and her son should be mine. I asked Lana to leave multiple times. She explained that life with my brother and parents was bad. That she wanted to restart a life here, and the first step is enrolling her son in school. I tried to explain that it was a bad idea with our history. Lana gave me a sob story about how I’m the only one she can rely on, and I fell for it. I let her son enroll under the condition she stays away from you and Kayla. And that I didn’t want to see her. Considering she already approached you, I doubt she will follow those requirements.” Kamryn doesn’t say anything. I’m a little worried she is going to be upset.

Finally, she says something. “You can’t control her actions. Only yours. You know her game.”

“I know it well. That’s why I am so angry at myself. There was a moment I wondered if Lana changed. If she was the woman I fell for, but then I thought of you. I will always have love for the Lana that she displayed to me. But I am in love with you. I’m sure it’s similar for you and Kayla’s father.”

“If she asks for you to get back together with her, would you?” I can hear the fear in Kamryn’s voice.

“I won’t lie to you, Schatzi, I thought about it for a moment. Lana said she wanted me back. That her leaving me was the biggest mistake she ever made. Suppose she said those words to me a year ago. I wouldn’t have thought twice about taking her back. But not now, not when I get you. Tonight was rough for me. But sitting out here with you. It’s one of the best moments of my life.” I take her hand. “I am not good with romance or words but know that I love you, and I would do anything for you.”

Kamryn looks up and smiles at me. “If you introduce me to your parents, to prove you’re in a relationship with someone else, will they leave you alone? If you prove you’re not interested in Lana, will they understand?”

I kiss the top of her head and tighten my arms around her. “I like you too much for that. I have no desire to see them or talk with them. I don’t care what they think or say. I’d rather protect you and Kayla from them. But I appreciate your offer.”

“I’m sorry they mistreat you. You don’t deserve it.”

“I wasn’t the best teenager. My parents and I got into a fight once, so I burned all the pictures of me. It was a rebellious move. I never got into trouble with the law or at school, but I didn’t live up to their expectations.”

“What were their expectations of you?”

I let out a sigh. “My parents wanted me to be successful. They wanted me to study engineering instead of education. I took English and French instead of Hungarian like my mother wanted. My mother made me ballroom dance competitively; I hated it. So, when I was about fourteen. I purposely did bad so she would stop forcing me. That is what started the fight that lead to me burning all my childhood pictures.”

“Wow. That sounds intense. No one had any expectations of me.” She yawns, “sorry. Would it be okay if we head to bed?”

“Yes, that sounds great.” We get up and go inside. Kamryn starts picking up the toys and does some light cleaning. I help her as best I can, but I feel more in the way than helpful. We finally head to Kamryn’s room. Once I shut the door, Kamryn starts to remove her clothes. “I know I asked for a quiet night, but now that I look at you. Maybe I am not so out of the mood after all.”

She looks over and smiles at me. “Are you sure? I understand if you don’t want to.”

I look at her and grab her. “But you started to take off your clothes. You’re irresistible.” I pull Kamryn to the bed and show her how much I care for her.