Home Again

               Chapter 1 “Brad…” She trembled as his lips grazed her neck pecking slowly as his hand loosened the latch of her bra with an ease and expertise that tempted her and set her temper to blaze. He chuckled turning her toward him as if he knew her thoughts. He weighed her breast in both hands starring into her lustful eyes as if he couldn’t decide how to continue “Brad!!!” She rasps meaning to yell at him, “Please.” “Please what?” He crushed her against him sliding one finger around the thin fabric holding her thong in place. “Stop torching me and just… just” He slid down her raising one leg on his shoulder. He wasn’t going to… she thought, but oh yes, he was… Bam… Bam… “Melanie!!!” A voice bounded bringing her back to the dark room where she lay still trying to catch her breath. “You’ve only got about an hour to get this show on the road. Dan has already got the bus started and the band is already in route to the gym.”  “Okay I’m up.” She groaned, “Oh Brad” She whimpered. She never gets to finish that dream. Maybe Faith was right she needed a man if the only thing she can dream about is her ex. She rolled over cuddling in the blanket, Oh God Ex Brad, The Bradley Singleton!!! She tossed the comforter up in the air darting to the mirror. Surely, she was going to come face to face him after all these years. God only knew how much the ideal of seeing him after all this time both excited her and scared her to death. Oh my god!!! What am I gonna wear? She thought accessing her bed head, raccoon eyes, and oversized t- shirt that had once belonged to her father a long time ago. I am in so much trouble, she laid her head against the glass. “Bling Bling!!!” Her phone vibrated “it’s your baby callin’ momma, answer your phone.” The small cell danced across the dresser. “Hey baby” She tried to sound enthused, but she was distracted by her reflection. “Did you wake up late?” The young boy accused more than questioned. “What no” She scoffed; He was one smart kid. “Did so” A young girl responded. “Okay so I sleep in. Moms can do that occasionally”  “Papaw said you’d probably miss the show if aunt Faith and Richard didn’t drag you up.” The boy stressed a southern drawl. “Benjamin, what did we talk about?” She scolded. “Do not use slang words consistently and try to act as if I have had an English class. Didn’t; is supposed to be did not and you’d; is pronounced you would.” He acted like a robot. “Pap said there is not anything wrong with it though.” He sulked. “Your grandpa is not your mother.”  “Yes mom, Sorry mom”  “Mommy are we still gonna have date night” The little girl asked. “Absolutely Regina!!! I would not miss it.” “We are gonna watch the show from nana’s because pap said there will be to many people at the festival tonight.” “Your pap is absolutely right about that. Have fun I love you both, but I got to get ready.”  “Okay knock em’ dead momma” The little girl bounded as she seemed to be walking away from the phone. “Mom, can I ask you somethin’… something?” He corrected.  “Anything baby.” “Are you gonna try to talk to our father?” “Ben…” She knew this was coming though she had hoped to avoid it. “It’s complicated, I mean I hope too. It’s just…” “I know, I just don’t won’t… want him to hurt you or get our hopes up that’s all. Regina thinks that your gonna meet up with him and it’s going to be some Cinderella moment like love at first sight. She thinks that he’s gonna come around and were gonna be one big happy family. G said that she overheard you and Nan talking about him living here.”  “I will talk to her okay. I honestly am not sure how this is gonna work out, but you guys will always have me pumpkin.” “I know mom I love you.”  “I love you too baby good night. By the time I get back tonight you should be in bed.” “Night” The phone went dead just in time for her to start to cry. When did her life become so complicated? “Please do not break down on me right now?” A man came bounding through the door. “I’m fine Richard.” She wiped at her puffy eyes, “What’s wrong?” “The normal make up girl; Tracy, Tammy, Tori; something like that isn’t coming.” The older man paced the room constantly tapping his phone. “I cannot find a replacement in an hour which is how long I have to make you gorgeous.” “Um… I’m already gorgeous.” She laughed. “Maybe normally sweet checks, but right now you look like you had one to many rounds with Jose Cuervo!” He clicked his fingers and flopped down on the foot of the bed. “Okay, so I look a little off but it’s not as if I have never fallen asleep in my make-up before or that I haven’t done my own make up before. I can handle it Richard.” She turned on the sink and reached for the plush cloths under the light switch. “Okay Darling!!! If you think so, it is your hometown; your reputation I guess.” He laughed, “I leave you to soap and water then” He closed the door behind him. She strolled back into the main room and glanced around assuring herself she was alone. “How should I act? And What should I say to him?” She posed for the Mirror, “Hi... too informal...” She shook her head no and paced to the other side of the room, “HEEY,” She bounced up to the mirror, that seems too much like a high school student...” She bit her thumb and paced back to the bed, then she turned and strutted dramatically, “Hello Darling,” She tilted her head back slightly, “How have you been?” She swayed forward extending her hand to glass as if she expected someone to kiss it. “That’s nice if your Cruella Deville.” A giggle came from the door frame, “What are you doing?” She was leaning against the door frame. “Faith! Don’t you knock.” “I’m sorry, I was too busy watching you prance around talking to yourself like an i***t and it distracted me from my manners.” She laid one hand elegantly to her chest, she then brushed her light hair back, “Geeze, Mel the door was open.” Melanie wiped at the red m******e on her lips “Well... you know,” she mumbled around the rag, “It is my room.” “Conjoined rooms! So technically it’s our room. Why are you so on edge anyhow?” “Edge!!! On Edge!!!” She threw her arms in the air, “Are you serious? I am performing for possibly the worst most criticizing bunch of people ever. Then there’s the probability that,” She put both hands over her face, “I should say the complete certainty that he’ll be here. I’ve not seen him since he left me for college, and I left for Nashville. So much has happened since then. I have loved him; lost him; missed him and I don’t know why, Faith, but the idea of him being out there; seeing me scares the dickens out of me. I know he’s not a rich kid and I’m not the trailer trash anymore but...” She smoothed her brown curls. “Oh, so that’s what this is about, Brian, Bobbie or Branson?” Faith flopped on the bed sarcastically. “Brad!” she corrected unimpressed, “His name is Brad! And you know that.” “Who’s Brad?” The older man’s voice questioned. “No one, Richard.” Melanie turned in the direction of the older man. “I will be ready to go at 15.” Melanie barked. “The band is waiting.” He turned and left. Faith jumped up and ran to the door to watch him out, “Never cease to amaze me.” “What?” Melanie asked pulling at her shorts. “How a man his age can look like that in a pair of jeans! MMM, just watch those buns of steel go!” “Faith, he’s like sixty.” Melanie sighed “Can we get back to my crisis please? We will focus on your libido later.” “Right” Faith put her hands-on Mel’s shoulders after kicking the door closed,” You are beautiful, rich, successful, famous and, let’s face it, you're downright gorgeous, you have nothing to be nervous about, but he should.” The two girls gazed at their reflection. “How do I look?” “Hmm...” Faith scanned the plaid button up that went past her daisy dukes, “Let’s try this instead.” She tied it up revealing her naval “and...” She leaned over and grabbed a rose from the vase on the table and stuck it in her hair, “There now we’ll add some boots and a pony, then we’ll call you calamity Jane.” Faith laughed mimicking an even deeper southern drawl. “You’re not funny but I guess this does look better than before.” she watched Faith as she was motioning irritatingly toward her, reviling at her I know I’m right at the moment, “Perhaps you do have a point.” “I know” “Okay, let’s go. I can totally do this.” “Are you ready?” A loud voice bounded through the speakers “Welcome home back to Pikeville for the first time in ten years Melanie Nicole Michael!!!” As the music geared for her entrance, she saw the light spiraling in a thousand strands piercing the night in a rainbow of colors. Confidence radiated through her, she bounced up and down getting pumped up! She had this until the light traced his face; He was here; Just like she thought he’d be, Bradley Wayne Singleton. The man that had haunted her since she first laid on him in her sixth-grade year. He sat talking to his sister in his arrogant and very tall way. He held his head high, his shoulders back and even relaxed and sagging into a chair, he towered over the crowd. This was the man she swore her body, mind, and soul to all those years ago. The very man whom at the very mention of his name still sent chills down her spine and her heart racing like a thoroughbred. She caught her breath as he laughed and sweat began to gather around her palms and the mic. She had done a million shows just like this one and for the first time in a long time she was nervous. Faith found her frozen staring out into space like a statue, “Come on Mel, you got this make him drool and regret the day he let you slip through his fingers.” Faith whispered, passing her as she took her place with the band. “Let’s do this.” The beat picked up and she rushed up the steps on her cue, “Good evening Pikeville!!!” Even the screams couldn’t distract her from the surprised expression his square jaw took at seeing her. She could tell right away he had not known he was there to see her, and she felt empowered; “Eat your heart out Bradley,” she thought…