Celebration of Love

By Patricia Gauthier

Melissa Greene and Larry Harmon have been together for two years, more like friends with benefits than an actual couple. Isn't there supposed to more to life than this? Melissa intends to find out, totally unprepared for the results of her research...

*****
RATED 5 STARS !!!!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patricia Gauthier
• Release date: Aug 20, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476408699

Patricia Gauthier

Patricia Gauthier is a retired teacher. She has served the church in teaching, church leadership, church planting and speaking. She holds an MA from Wesleyan University and a MTS from Regent University, School of Divinity. She has published a thesis with Proquest LLC. One Baptism: The Power of Water and the Spirit is her first book written for a wider readership.

Book preview

CELEBRATION OF LOVE

BY: Patricia Gauthier

Copyright 2012 Patricia Gauthier

Copyright Celebration of Passion 2012

Patricia Gauthier

Published by Patricia Gauthier at Smashwords.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

CHAPTER 1

Melissa sat in her office at Celebrations thinking about her baby brother, Jason, and the news he had just delivered. How could her baby brother be thinking of getting married? He’s only twenty six, still a baby and wet behind the ears for cripes sake! Besides, she was the oldest so she was supposed to get married first. She wondered if her future sister in-law was pregnant, she had forgotten to ask Jason, she had been so shocked by the news. They barely knew each other and now they were jumping into marriage, they’d only been dating for a year. Melissa and Larry had been dating for two years themselves and never discussed marriage. Ever. Now she wondered why. She knew they both eventually wanted to get married and have children. Both of them were secure in their careers and made excellent money. Larry was a lawyer with the Sullivan Law Firm and had been for three years, and, as far as she knew, Jake Sullivan was happy with Larry’s job performance. It also worked out well that Larry was Davis Sinclair’s best friend, who just happened to be married to Melissa’s best friend, Trish. Trish had given Melissa forty percent of Celebrations and made her president of the company when she was pregnant with her and Davis’ triplet boys. Not that Melissa hadn’t earned it, she had worked her ass off for seven years and was more than qualified to run the company for Trish. In the two years since Melissa had taken over running the company it had grown tremendously and she took pride in that fact. It didn’t hurt that she was making more money than she have ever dreamed possible, allowing her to live a very comfortable life and still put money aside for retirement.

So why did she feel like there was a huge hole in her life. Something was missing. Melissa understood that life wasn’t always fun and exciting, but was it supposed to be so …boring? Was that what she was feeling, bored? At first it was easy to blame other things and people but in the end she was responsible for her own happiness. If she could just put her finger on what was missing. She wanted to feel completely fulfilled but wasn’t sure that was possible. Was anyone ever completely happy? Trish was but that was because she had the guts to go after what she wanted. Was she jealous of Trish? Damn right she was.

Suddenly she wondered if Larry was happy. That was something they never discussed, were they happy with each other? Did they even love each other? Suddenly it felt like Melissa and Larry were together because it was just easier for both of them. They always knew they had a date for all their social occasions. A standing date every Friday night for dinner at Larry’s, always take-out, and a movie. Good ol’ Larry was steady and solid, a crutch that Melissa maybe took for granted. Sex with Larry was good, nothing to put into a romance novel or anything, but satisfying for both of them. Well that sounded nice and boring, as if it was just a bodily function necessary to perform every once in a while for normal existence and stress management. Wow, talk about being in a funk. She realized she wasn’t exactly a ball of fire in the bedroom either. If Melissa wanted more fire and passion in her love life she needed to do something about it and quit whining. Tonight was their standing Friday night date, but it wasn’t going to be boring any more.

Armed with a purpose she quickly tidied up her desk and grabbed her purse as she fled out of her office. A trip to Victoria’s Secret was on the top of her to do list, along with a trip to the beauty salon for a complete make-over. She intended to be ready, willing and able by the time Larry got home tonight.

When Melissa walked into the lingerie store she couldn’t believe the huge selection and quickly got overwhelmed. A salesperson approached immediately asking if she could help Melissa with something.

May I help you find something? The sales lady asked politely.

Yes, please. I’m looking for something to make my boyfriend’s eyes pop out of his head and another part of his anatomy to salute, if you get my meaning. Do you have anything like that? Melissa laughed as she blushed to a crimson color.

Absolutely, tell me what he likes. Well the saleslady had her there, she had no idea what Larry‘s idea of sexy was.

I’m not sure really, I’ve never bought stuff like this for myself, or him, and I don’t even know where to start. Melissa admitted sheepishly.

Okay. Let’s start with this, what’s his favorite color?

Ummm, I think he’d like something in red or black, something that looks, I don’t know, naughty or something that’s against the rules. Does that make any sense to you? Melissa asked.

Yep. Let’s go to the back of the store and I’ll show you some things. You can try them on back there too.

I’m so nervous, isn’t that just stupid? I am an adult and so is he so I’m just being silly.

When they got to the back of the store Melissa couldn’t believe the large selection they had. She tried on a few things first in the pastel shades but didn’t want anything that could be construed as bridal or virginal, she wanted hot. In the end she ended-up with a whole new wardrobe of matching bras and thongs for everyday and then the racier stuff she thought Larry would like. She even invested in some edible underwear. Tonight she would wear a black lace and satin demi-bra with matching thong, garter belt, and fish net stockings with a pair of fuck me shoes.

At the beauty salon she decided to have her already dark blonde hair highlighted and got a manicure and pedicure, choosing a hot red polish color for both toes and fingers. She loved the highlights and had allowed the stylist to cut her already shoulder length hair a little shorter and into a swingy, fun bob that looked like it would be easy to care for. It made her feel sassy and gave her confidence. It looked a lot better than her old fashioned, poker straight, boring hair style. Now her hair had bounce and shine and felt incredibly silky, she couldn’t stop running her fingers through it. She hoped Larry would feel the same way.

Now all she needed to do was pick up their take-out dinner. One thing about Melissa was she could out eat most men and still keep her slim, athletic build. She supposed it helped that at five feet seven inches she could carry a little more weight than shorter women but she also jogged as often as possible in the park. She wished she had a more curvy figure but at least she had decent breasts, nothing huge mind you but enough, she thought, for a man to hold onto. Her worst feature were her feet, they were big. Larry often teased her about leaving her big foot prints in his snow, claiming people looking for a Yeti had come pounding on his door when they saw her tracks in the snow. At least she was graceful even with the big feet. Everything on Melissa’s body existed on a perfectly straight vertical plain with her full mouth and warm brown eyes acting as punctuation marks for her open, friendly manner.

Melissa decided on Chinese food for dinner and as a last minute impulse, bought a large package of tea lights with holders to place around the family room to set the mood. She rented Fatal Attraction at the video store and raced to Larry’s house. Melissa hoped they were going to be busy long before the bunny was boiled, she hated that part of the movie, being the animal lover that she was. Melissa let herself into Larry’s house with her key and made several trips back and forth to the car, hauling in bag after bag.

Larry’s idea of decorating was still early bachelor pad and he had no intention of upgrading or buying anything matching. The dark burgundy sofa was well worn velvet -like fabric with the seat cushions worn shiny in some spots. Two recliners flanked each side of the sofa, one was stained tan micro fiber and torn in several places which were taped with silver duct tape. The other chair was in better shape and powder blue but not very comfortable. He had a rectangle wooden coffee table that sat in front of the couch and had at one time been light oak. Now the only stain left was on the legs because the top was so worn the stain had been rubbed off. A huge big screen television was mounted on the wall opposite the couch and two mismatched lamps sat on end tables that once had matched the coffee table. Permanent bottle rings stained both coffee tables. The one thing Larry splurged on was a regular cleaning person because he was, for all intents and purposes, a neat person. Cheap, but neat.

The kitchen could be summed up in one word, white. Everything was white with the exception of the old gold refrigerator and the avocado green stove that Melissa refused to use. It was so old the last time she tried to use it the oven door handle came off in her hand. Melissa declared it a death trap and stayed away from it since then. Thank God for microwaves. He didn’t have a kitchen table or dining room, he didn’t need them because he always ate in front of the television in the family room. The living room and bedroom on the first floor were completely empty just like the two unused bedrooms upstairs. Larry’s bedroom had a full sized mattress and box spring that sat on the floor and one large high boy dresser. That too had seen better days and had been his since childhood. Melissa thought if she ever lost her job at Celebrations she’d take up cleaning houses because whoever did Larry’s had it easy.

Melissa hummed as she set out the candles and arranged their dinner plates. She had them ready to pop into the microwave whenever they were ready to eat. She decided to take a quick shower before she put on her lingerie and readied herself for what she expected to be a night of wild, passionate sex. She shivered with anticipation as she stepped out of the shower and slathered herself with the new body lotion and perfume she had bought at the beauty salon. Now all she had to do was wait for her man to come home. She sat on the couch and waited for Larry.

Chapter 2

Melissa waited so long she finally fell asleep in front of the television with the flame thrower still in her hand. She woke only when she felt someone roughly shaking her shoulder. She looked up to see Larry and two of his buddies, staring at her and laughing hysterically. For a moment she had forgotten she was wearing her lingerie. When she did remember she jumped off the couch and ran into Larry’s bedroom. She looked at Larry’s alarm clock on the floor next to his bed and it read eleven o’clock. Larry had stood her up, didn’t call, and hadn’t followed her into the bedroom. She was devastated, humiliated, embarrassed and furious. She heard the now blaring television change channels to some sporting event. Picturing in her mind all of them opening their beer’s and settling in for a late night of male bonding. Melissa dressed quickly, not bothering to take off the garter belt and fish net stockings, and fled down the steps and out the front door. No one noticed she was even gone and no one, Larry included, cared. She got into her car and burst into tears.

Hurt beyond words, Melissa stayed in the car until she was done crying. She drove home and went to bed, not even bothering to take off her clothes. Restlessly she tossed and turned all night. When she did manage to finally sleep, nightmares of what had just happened invaded her sleep. Finally she gave up trying to sleep and put on her running clothes. Though not normally a morning person, she decided a run would help clear her head and think things through.

As she suspected, she didn’t like the answers she was coming up with during her run. She realized that although she was still angry and hurt, she wasn’t devastated. Shouldn’t she be? What she did realize was that she deserved to be treated better. Now Melissa realized she was using Larry as an excuse for not looking for a loving relationship. Knowing she was going to have to change that if she ever expected to find true love and happiness.

What hurt the most was the fact that it wouldn’t matter to Larry one way or the other. He’d just go looking for another Melissa type to take her place, and she guessed he wouldn’t have a hard time finding one. Larry was handsome enough to attract women---a lot of women. With his tall, slim but athletic build, his thick, brown, wavy hair and beautiful deep brown eyes. Having an olive complexion that tanned to a rich golden brown in the summer. His nose was long and slim, with a little bump from where he had broken it as a kid. Lips that were soft and not too full. Melissa knew she would miss his kisses. He was a phenomenal kisser. But what attracted Melissa most to Larry was his sense of humor and quick whit. He was always relaxed. Nothing ever bothered him or got on his nerves, and she couldn’t recall a time that he was stressed out over his job. Melissa admired him for that, wishing she was more like that herself. When Trish had been kidnapped a couple of years ago he had been the rock that everyone clung to, and he did everything he could to help his best friend, Davis, get through it. Being with Larry was effortless. Smooth sailing personified. The problem with that was she didn’t feel loved or cherished by Larry. Painfully Melissa realized that she didn’t really matter to Larry, he could take her or leave her. Melissa opted to leave now, while they could still be friends.

Melissa continued her jog around the pond in the center of the park, gradually feeling better and better about her decision to stop seeing Larry. She didn’t hate him, although she was still pissed. When Melissa came around the bend of the pond she looked down and saw a cute little chipmunk run in front of her. Almost too late she realized he had come to a dead stop right in front of her. Without hesitation she came to an abrupt stop, not wanting to step on the poor little creature. One second later she was on the ground with a shooting pain in her right knee and some man lying on top of her.

She laid there a second, trying to see if the pain would subside. Not only did it stay, when she moved her leg it shot up to her hip as well. Melissa grunted against the pain. This is going to be a bad one. The man that had been on top of her was now kneeling next to her and looking down angrily at her, like this was her fault or something!

Are you hurt? He asked gruffly.

Yes, thanks to you. What the hell were you doing following so close behind me that you couldn’t stop in time? You know this is a big park, plenty of room for everyone, and now my knee’s screwed-up thanks to you. Melissa was pissed and made no attempt to hide it.

Sorry but you stopped without warning.

I didn’t know there was a hand signal to warn you I was stopping. Melissa sucked in a sharp breath when the pain shot through her leg once again.

I was trying to relax and let my mind wander, that’s what I do when I jog, so it didn’t register that you had stopped until it was too late. Let’s see if you can get up and put any weight on that leg. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about and she wondered how many other people he had done this to. When she stood up on her left leg she kept her right leg bent, afraid to find out how bad the pain would be. She was really a baby when it came to stuff like this and she had a very low threshold of pain. The guy stood there staring at her, waiting for her to step down on it and see what was what.

Okay, put some of your weight on it. Gently at first. He said impatiently. Today would be a good time. He added.

Bastard. I’m afraid it’s going to hurt and, silly me, I don’t like pain. Call it a quirk. If you want to leave then just go, I’ll be fine. Melissa spat out. She could see he was seriously considering it and, in a way, she hoped he would. She knew she was a baby but she didn’t want him to know.

Melissa touched her toe to the ground, testing her knee gently, and ,before she could flatten her foot on the ground, the pain shot through her. She steadied herself on the tree next to her and held her breath until the pain subsided. She couldn’t put any weight on it at all. Angry that she would have to call someone to come and help her to the emergency room. No way could she drive herself with an injured right leg. She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket as she hopped unsteadily on her left leg. Wanting desperately to find a bench to sit on.

So you can’t put any weight on it at all? He asked. She had forgotten all about jogger-man.

No. I’ll have to call someone to come help me. It’ll be fine, you don’t need to stay. Melissa looked down at her phone to the list of phone numbers. Normally she would have called Larry, but that was out of the question, so now who? Trish? Nope, she’s pregnant with another set of triplets. Davis? He was out of town until tomorrow. Sylvia? Maybe. Melissa knew she was at work today in the child care center. Oh, the hell with it, she’ll just call 911. Just as the decision had been made Melissa felt herself being swept off her foot by jogger-man as he started to carry her toward a bench.

That’s okay, you can put me down, I’m just calling 911 so, yeah, this will do, right here. Melissa said as he passed the park bench she had indicated.

Hello. I’m talking to you. What do you think you’re doing? Put me down, you’ll kill yourself if you keep carrying me like this. I’m slim but no feather weight. When he didn’t answer right away she bent her face right in front of his so he couldn’t see where he was going. That stopped him. She found herself looking into beautiful blue eyes with dark, thick lashes.

I’m taking you to the hospital, now move your head so I can see where I’m going before I drop you. And you’re right, you’re no feather weight.

Charmer. You really know how to sweet talk a girl. I hope you don’t plan on having any more children for a while. Melissa joked but jogger-man didn’t laugh.

Nope. Don’t have any now either.

Somehow Melissa wasn’t surprised by that news flash. Jogger-man approached a black BMW and set Melissa on the hood as he reached into his pocket and took out his keys. He opened the passenger door and hoisted her in, dumping her like a sack of potatoes into the passenger seat. He gathered her legs and swung them around quickly slamming the door shut.

After a brief and harrowing drive he pulled into the drive way of the hospital on what Melissa was sure were two wheels. The guy drove like a maniac. Do you always drive like this?

I don’t know what you’re talking about so, yeah, I guess I always drive like this. I usually get there in one piece so you don’t have to worry. He assured her.

I’ve seen the damage you can do without a car so I think I’m pretty on track here. She inhaled quickly when a shot of pain ran through her leg. Damn that hurt.

He pulled in front of the emergency room doors just as someone came out with a wheelchair. Jogger-man opened her door, reached in and grabbed her under the arms and schlepped her into the waiting wheelchair, again like a sack of potato’s. As the attendant wheeled her into triage jogger-man got back into his car and sped off. She figured she would never see him again especially since she wouldn’t be jogging again for quite a while.

Lucky for Melissa the emergency room wasn’t very crowded so early in the morning, so she didn’t have to wait long to see the doctor and get the ball rolling for the x-rays she knew were coming. Surprisingly, they skipped straight to the MRI and Melissa was quickly put back in her curtained cubicle to wait. She didn’t understand why they insisted on putting in an I.V., it was her knee after all, not dehydration, and it was bugging the hell out of her. Finally the emergency room doctor came into her cubicle with jogger-man in tow, and he had the nerve to have a cup of hot coffee in his hand. Jogger-man moved in front of the emergency room doctor and proceeded to look at Melissa’s knee. She expected the emergency doctor to push his way forward but instead he just stood there watching jogger man and not saying anything.

Jogger-man looked into Melissa‘s eyes and started to explain, You blew out your knee and you’re going to need surgery to repair it. It’ll be arthroscopic so you’ll have small incisions here and here he said, as he pointed to either side of her knee. The nurse will give you my card and you can call my office after ten on Monday to find out when the surgery is scheduled. In the meantime we’re going to wrap it securely for you and let you go home. You’ll be on crutches for awhile both before and after surgery and obviously no driving. Do you have any questions? Jogger-man asked.

First, I didn’t blow out my knee, you blew out my knee. Second, who are you and how do you know all this? Third, you must be crazy to think I’d let anyone do surgery on me. Now do you have any questions? She crossed her arms over her chest as best she could with an I.V. in her arm and stared him in the eyes.

My name is Brady O’Brien and I’m an orthopaedic surgeon here at the hospital. Your knee won’t get better without the surgery, but if you want a second opinion you’re welcome to it. I’ll have the nurse give you some referral information. You can have someone else do the surgery, but I’m the best there is, so it’s up to you. He said smugly as he whirled out of the curtains towards the nursing station. The emergency room doctor looked at Melissa and said simply.

He’s not kidding, he is the best there is, problem is he knows it, but you didn’t hear it from me. I’m sending a nurse in to wrap your knee and give you a pair of crutches, then you’ll be free to go. Is there someone I can call for you? At least he had some bedside manner.

Yeah. Could you call me a cab? You can also let Dr. O’Brien know that he can have his staff schedule the surgery. Lucky for me I’ll be knocked out and won’t have to deal with him.

The nurse came in and wrapped her leg as gently as she could and gave her Dr. O’Brien’s card and a prescription for some pain medication. The nurse assured her that she had already called the cab for Melissa. She removed Melissa’s I.V. and put her in a wheelchair to wait by the doors for her cab. Suddenly she felt her chair being whirled around toward a different set of doors. She could tell by the driving that it was Dr. O’Brien.

What are you doing now? Melissa asked impatiently. I need to wait for my cab. Take me back right now or I’ll miss it.

I’m driving you home. He said shortly.

No, really, you don’t have to, I’ll be fine. Melissa tried to reassure him as she tried to stop the wheelchair with her hands. Now Melissa had reached her rope’s end and she yelled. Stop! Now! As she burst into tears, uncontrollably sobbing into her hands and not caring who saw or what they thought. After a couple of minutes she felt someone tap her hands. When she looked through her fingers she saw they were offering her several tissues. She gratefully took the tissues and wiped her eyes and blew her nose. When she looked up Brady was crouched down in front of her and rubbing her arm gently. Melissa didn’t say anything as she tried to regain her composure.

I’m sorry. I’ve been a real bastard toward you and it’s not your fault. I got my final divorce papers today and I took it out on you. I thought if I took a run I would feel better, but you know how that turned-out. Not a good day for either one of us. He said sincerely and much more kindly.

I was running today to get over breaking up with my boyfriend and you see how well that worked out for me. Melissa confided.

Maybe we could start all over again. I’d like to introduce myself, my name is Brady O’Brien. He offered his hand to Melissa to shake.

Nice to meet you, I’m Melissa Greene. She smiled and took his hand to shake. He gave her hand a small caress before releasing it.

Nice to meet you Melissa. You’re shivering, here take this. Brady removed his hoodie and put it around Melissa’s shoulders, holding it for her as she slipped her arms into the sleeves.

Thanks, I didn’t even realize I was cold until you mentioned, it but I’m freezing.

Could be a little bit of shock from the injury, I’ll put the heat on in the car for you on the way home. Will you let me drive you home, please?

Melissa smiled for the