Making New Friends
2008 Words
Making New Friends
Shawn had picked up the guys at the airport. They planned on spending the weekend with him and Leigh. During the drive home, Paul said, “So, why all the mystery. Who is the girl?”
Jace, “Yeah. I mean you are smiling ear to ear so I’m assuming it is serious.”
“Well, let’s just say I have been waiting a long time for her, and now she is all mine,” Shawn said smiling.
Paul was studying his friend for a minute. “Do we know her?”
Shawn smiled and said, “Yes you have met before.”
Jace chirped in, “Oh bloody hell, please tell me its not Courtney? If it is, I’m flying back home!”
Paul laughed, “Nah, I saw groceries in the trunk, and we all know she doesn’t cook. So, Shawn, blonde, red head, or brunette?”
Shawn laughed, “You two will see her in about ten minutes.” Then Shawn added, “Honey blonde by the way, green eyes, and a beautiful smile.”
Paul smiled and looked at Jace who was also smiling.
They soon pulled into the driveway.
Jace and Paul got out of the car and looked at the cottage and the view. Jace said, “So you own all of this out to the bluff? It’s beautiful.”
Shawn opened the trunk and grabbed their bags, “Yeah, I still have a lot of plans, but that will happen as soon as I get my girl settled. She is here with me for two weeks then she flies back home to the states to give notice to her boss.”
Paul flipped his head around, “Ok this sounds very serious. When did this all happen? You are killing me here.”
Shawn motions for them to follow him into the house. As he walks through the door he yells, “Woman of the house, I bring you the lads!” and then starts laughing.
Paul and Jace both turn their heads to see a lovely young woman walk down the stairs in a pair of boots, dressed in a casual pair of jeans, with a creamy off the shoulder cashmere sweater, and long honey blonde hair loosely curled and falling around her shoulders.
Leigh softly whispers, “Hello Paul and Jace. How have you been?”
Then it hits Jace, “Wait, I do know you but I’m having trouble pulling it out of my head at the moment.”
Paul says, “Oh I remember, I was hoping he would break your heart so I could date you.” Then he laughs and strides over and unexpectantly pulls her into a hug and kisses her on the cheek. “Nice to see you again Leigh, what the hell took you so long?”
Jace immediately does the same, “Damn, I don’t believe it. Wow you look the same.” He also pulls her into an embrace. Leigh laughs and whispers in Jace’s ear, “My secret is duct tape and silly putty for my face.”
“Um, excuse me, no more hugging my girlfriend,” Shawn states with some annoyance.
They all start to laugh, and Leigh walks over to Shawn and wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him on the lips and says, “Stop pouting dear and bring in the groceries while I show them to their rooms.”
He smiles and walks out the door.
Walking down the hall, she says, “Jace, your room is the last one on the right and Paul you are right next to him. There is a shared fireplace between the two rooms to take off the chill at night. The bathroom is right next to Paul’s room. I have put fresh linens on your beds and extra towels in the bathroom for you both. If you need anything else, please let me know. I’m going to start dinner while you make yourselves at home.”
Leigh’s POV
To say that I was nervous was an understatement. First all, these guys were like musical gods to me, secondly, they were Shawn’s closet friends, and lastly, I really wanted them to like me and trust me.
After showing the guys to their room, I made my way out to the kitchen to unpack the groceries. Shawn came up right behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist and gently kissed me on the neck giving me shivers up and down my spine. Oh, this man, the things he did to me with just a simple kiss. I said, “Well, they didn’t run away from me, do you think they will accept me?”
“You worry to much baby girl. How could they not. Do you need me to help you with anything?”
“Nope, just get the guys some refreshments and make sure they are comfortable.”
As Shawn checked on the guys, I went about making dinner. I sautéed the pork chops and chopped up some apples, then added an onion soup mix with brown sugar and some water. Bringing the pan to a boil, I then turned it down to a simmer. The baby potatoes were ready in no time, and I added fresh parsley and butter with dash of salt and pepper. I had then made the fresh green beans and added the sliced almonds.
Everything was just about ready when Jace came into the kitchen to ask me if I needed any help with things.
“Well, dinner is almost ready, but I could use a hand setting the table if you don’t mind?”
Jace smiled, “It would be a pleasure. What are you making? It smells amazing?”
“It’s a surprise I say smiling back at him.”
Jace then looks a bit thoughtfully at me and says, “Where have you been the last ten years Leigh?”
Nervously I bit my lower lip, then looking back at him I said, “Actually, I’m sure you and Paul both have that same question, so I thought I could explain over dinner.”
“Fair enough,” he smiled back at me.
Stepping over to check on dinner, I motioned for Jace to get the others.
They all came eagerly to the table, and I placed all the food, along with the fresh bread that Shawn got from the bakery on the table.
Paul dug into his dinner and with a pleasant smile on his lips said, “Now I know why you keep her. This meal tastes amazing.” Jace said, “So you put apples in with this too?” I said yes, “Old family recipe. I was worried you wouldn’t like my cooking.”
“So, that sister of yours, still happily married? I’m just trying to keep my bases loaded,” Paul said laughing.
Shawn reaches over and placed his hand over mine for a minute, “This is delicious, just when I think you can’t surprise me, you do.”
I take a deep breath and then say, “Well, shall we talk about the elephant in the room?” They all look at me and I laughed out of nervousness.
“I’m sure by now you both are curious as to what happened ten years ago and why after all this time I finally show up in Shawn’s life. Knowing that you would want to make sure I don’t hurt your friend, allow me to explain a bit.”
“When I went to Shawn at Serenity Springs it was because I was needed there to help him get over the worst part of trying to become sober. I’m not sure if Shawn explained that I am a fifth-generation healer. I use herbs and natural elements to help aid in sickness and addiction. Did Shawn ever explain to you why he wears that amethyst cross around his neck?”
Paul and Jace both look at each other for moment then shook their heads no.
“Well, that stone has been in my family for generations and dates to at least the late 1690s or early 1700s. The amethyst stone is derived from the Greek work ametusthos which means, “not intoxicated”. For centuries, it has been believed that it is useful in prevention of drunkenness and overindulgence. The Chinese believed it was a powerful tool in clearing away negative energy and drives away the hazards of everyday life. I had the stone set into the cross so I could wear it around my neck. When I first came to Shawn, I gave it him, to protect him and help him towards sobriety. And when I left, I asked him to never take it off.”
“I was married when Shawn and I met to a man who was not very kind to me. He was very abusive both mentally and physically. We didn’t plan to fall in love with each other, but as they say, s**t happens. Shawn was in a bad place, and I couldn’t bring my baggage into his life when he wasn’t ready to deal with his own demons. Could you imagine if the tabloids got ahold of that mess? We decided it would be best to part ways and if things were meant to be we would be together in the future. I knew I left him in good hands with Lilly and you guys as he had already gotten over the hump and the rest was up to him.”
“My marriage is now over, and I am divorced, and we have found our way back to each other, and I am never leaving again unless he wants me too.”
Jace looked over to Shawn, “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“I didn’t want to talk about her, because being without her was killing me inside and I knew what she was going through, but she wouldn’t let me help her.”
Paul, “Leigh, what did he do to you?”
Shawn looked over at Paul and said, “Don’t.”
I squeezed Shawn’s hand reassuringly. “It’s ok. I can talk about it now. He cheated on my relentlessly, caused a miscarriage to which I can never have children, mentally abused me and cut me to which I have scars.”
Paul and Jace just looked at me. Jace said, “That bloody bastard.”
I smiled, “Its ok. Better you understand that I didn’t leave your friend high and dry and just lay the cards out on the table, so you understand me more. Now that it is out in the open, we can all move on and never talk about it again. Deal?”
Paul sits straight, “Well, glad that is over with, I thought he was becoming a bloody monk with no real woman in his life.”
We all laughed.
“Now, who is ready for dessert? Homemade berry pie that I made this afternoon?”
In unison, I heard “Me!!!”
Paul and Jace moved into the living room and Shawn helped me clear the table and cut the pie as I got coffee around. “Leigh, you didn’t have to tell him all of that.”
“Well, I said I didn’t tell them I was a witch, but they needed to know some of the truth. They don’t know me, but I want to them too. I trust them with what I told them both so they can learn to trust me.”
Closing the distance between us he enclosed me with his arms and kissed the top of my head. “You are an amazing woman, Leigh Reese. I will love no other but you.” And with that he kissed me until Jace yelled, “Hey get room, and where is my pie.”
We both laughed and went in to join our friends at the fireplace.
- Writer
