Leather & Lace

Chapter 6: The Pond

“Mr. Galbreth,” I began before he interrupted me and asked me to call him, Richard. I restarted, “Richard, I have questions about how the money is allocated, and if I would have enough to survive on without selling the house.“ He looked at me somewhat puzzled and said , “you just inherited $3.5 million, of course you have enough to survive.” I giggled slightly, and said “no, I mean, is it in an account, is it in a trust, is it in an envelope somewhere? My question began to make a little more sense to him, and he informed me, “it is all in a trust, but we set it up somewhat differently. You do not have to have anyone to see over the trust because you are 25. You also don’t have to ask permission to get money.” “So, I don’t have to sell my house right now to have cash in hand correct?“ He shook his head yes and said, “that is correct.“ It was in that moment I decided to hold onto the house a little bit longer. Of course, I knew it was a little too big for me, but who knows maybe one day it might not be too big.

It was only around midday and I knew I had a couple more hours before I had to go pick up three men that Bones was sending out to take some of my stuff. so I decided to drive home, pick up Bo, and go swimming at the pond for a little bit. of course, when I walked through the door, I always loyal pup met me and was excited to see me. So I hyped him up and ask him if he wanted to go for a swim. I hurried up and changed into one of my bikinis, not quite caring that it was a little bit more revealing since not many people knew about this pond, grab my towel and flip-flops, and head it on out with Bo.

I drove for about 10 to 15 minutes, which was all the farther it was away from the house, and parked and a little gravel area where most people leave their cars. I walked out onto the pier with Bo at my side and jumped in. Bo follow suit and jumped in next. Although, even though he weighs about 10 pounds less than I do, I think his splash was quite bigger than mine. We swim around for a little bit, I heard the sound of Dylan‘s voice once again.

Babe, I’ve been trying to call you, but I couldn’t get a hold of you so I figured you might be out here,” he said. I glared at him knowing he knew he was in the wrong for calling me, babe or baby or whatever pet name he could think of. “Don’t you think not getting a hold of me was your sign to maybe let me be at peace alone?“ Of course he took that as a rhetorical question and didn’t even bother to give me an answer before removing his shirt and shoes on the pier, and jumping in. He swam over towards me, and I swim to get out. I walked up on the shore and then onto the pier grab my towel and Bo’s and started drying him off. Dylan pulled himself up out of the water directly onto the pier and asked me what I was doing. Again, I just cleared at him. And they stood up straighter, he realized what I was wearing, and I could see the frustration in his eyes.“What the hell are you wearing?“ I replied with a sarcastic smile, “this thing here is what we like to call a bikini. That’s what girls wear when they jump into a body of water. Some women where one piece pieces and somewhere two pieces…” but I couldn’t finish before he interrupted me saying, “I know that smart ass, but it looks like you’re lacking the bathing suit. Anyone could see you out here,” he said. I shook my head and reminded him that this is a spot. Most people do not come. I continue to dry myself off and then wrap my towel around my body and tucked it in to itself to give it a firm grip around me. His eyes trailed down my body, but didn’t make it any lower than my breast. I turned to walk away from him, but he caught my wrist and a soft yet firm grip.

“When do you go get the men,” Dylan asked as he was staring at me. “Dammit Dylan! I have told you a million times, what I do is no longer your business. You and I are not a couple anymore. We are not going to be a couple again. If you can’t understand that, then we’re not even going to be able to be friends. I have even encouraged you to go find someone else to be with.,” I exclaimed. There was a sadness in his eyes, and he apologized. But this was a cycle that we always go through, and this time I wasn’t going to feel bad. He looked over at me, even with his head lowered, and said, “I only wanna be with you. I love you and I miss you.“ I shook my head and told him, “too bad you didn’t feel that way when we were together. If you hadn’t cheated, we wouldn’t be in this situation. I forgive you, but I will not give you the chance to do it to me again. So please, for the last time, I need you to understand that all we will ever be his friends. But if you continue to push, we won’t even be that.” Something in him seemed like it finally registered. He apologized and offered to help me pack and leave before I needed to go pick up the boys. But, who didn’t feel right, and I think him, but I politely declined. He kissed the top of my head, told me he would always love me, and asked me to call him when I got to Washington. Then he walked off without another word.

I started to walk towards my car and Bo followed along. I opened up the back hatch of the passport and he jumped right in. I close the door and walked up to the driver side, and got in. When I turned on the car, the time registered 445. I had a 15 minute drive home and still had to go shower so I didn’t smell like pond fish when I picked up the boys. I didn’t race Home, but I got to the house right before 5 PM. The Savannah Hilton head International Airport is roughly 20 minutes and the other direction from my house. I knew I had long enough to shower, throw my hair in a ponytail, and get dressed before I need to pick them up.

My shower was quicker than expected, and my hair didn’t give me too much of a fight. So luckily, I had enough time to put on a little bit of mascara so I didn’t look naked. Redheads understand this, no matter what color our hair our eyelashes are never really visible.