Melissa on the Line

By Ann M Streetman

Love on Life’s Zip Line chronicles the love stories of a Texas family and their friends.

In Book 1 Melissa Gregory is not looking for a man. Thanks to her mysterious father who is financing the last two years of her daughter’s college, Melissa is back in college focused on finishing her own degree. Jason Davis, a former Marine, introduces himself the first day of their statistics class. He’s facing a challenge that frightens him more than anything he experienced in the Marines.

Their unexpected love story exemplifies the analogy, “Love on life’s zip line is the messiest and most complicated experience of all, but it is oh so worth it.”
In Book 2 the love story of Melissa’s daughter Ashley Gregory unfolds.

The love story of Melissa’s mother Patricia takes twists and turns that affect the whole family in Book 3.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann M Streetman
• Release date: Jun 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310911071

Ann M Streetman

I may have inherited my flair for storytelling from my father. I heard him spin a lot of good tales as I was growing up. Then came my degree in journalism and a lifelong career in many kinds of communication. I served more than 14 years in various management positions (including president and chief paid staff) of Texas Safety Association, which was a not-for-profit statewide educational organization. Along the way, I also served for 9 years as media contractor for Region 6 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (5 states and the Indian Nations via the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Highway Safety Program). My duties there included writing educational materials for Region 6 entities and their partners. These jobs gave me the opportunity to tell stories of organizations and people who made a positive difference in the lives of others. In retirement, I'm still telling stories. My focus now is on uplifting fiction for adults and children's stories. You can learn more about my writing and ask me questions at Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768376.Ann_M_Streetman . Thanks for stopping by today. AS

Book preview

Preface

I have come to understand that life is a zip line. The view below goes by too fast. It is sometimes beautiful, sometimes blurred, and always changing. The ride is exhilarating and scary. Love on life’s zip line is the messiest and most complicated experience of all, but it is oh so worth it.

John Donaldson, 2010

Chapter 1

Melissa checked the room number again before going in. She was early, just as she had planned. She wanted to be there to scope things out before the room was full. She chose a seat in the third row which would allow her to see and hear the instructor. That seat would also let her get out the door pretty fast and on to her new part-time job. She didn’t want to be late on her first day.

Opening her royal blue backpack, she pulled out the statistics textbook, her yellow pad, and inexpensive ballpoint pen. She straightened up and leaned to the left to reach the cell in her jean pocket. She put it on silence/vibrate and placed it next to the notepad.

A tall good-looking guy came in and sat down in the second row just a little to her left. He looked like a non-traditional student which was code for older student, like her. He wore a yellow tee shirt that showcased his hard body. Definitely a hard-body military type. But Beaufort was crawling with them since the Parris Island Marine Corp Base was so close.

It was as if this one felt her checking him out. He turned to look at her. He said, Ma’am, nodding and smiling. I hope you will understand this stuff a lot better than me.

It was his turn to check her out. Maybe we can study together sometime, Ma’am.

Melissa said, Not if you ever call me ‘Ma’am’ again. It makes me feel like an old lady.

You’re not an old lady by a long shot. I didn’t mean to imply anything like that. Forgiven? He flashed a smile that exuded confidence.

Forgiven, Melissa said.

He reached his muscled arm back with outstretched hand. I’m Jason Davies. Just recently left active duty Marines. Trying to get into the groove of civilian life by getting back to college.

Melissa took his hand. She said, I’m Melissa Gregory. I’m getting back to college after a long interruption.

The Marines interrupted my college. What interrupted yours?

I got married and had a baby, but that was a long time ago. The baby is in her sophomore year of college in San Antonio.

Are you from Texas?

Born in Houston.

You’re a long way from Houston. That must be an interesting story.

The instructor walked into the class and Jason, whispered, Let’s talk later.

Melissa liked Jason’s straight forward, no-bullshit manner. He was a little flirty, but definitely not overbearing. They might or might not talk to each other again. She looked around the room. It was at least good to sort of know another non-traditional student in this sea of young faces so recently graduated from high school.

The instructor said, Good afternoon. I am Doug Jordan. He turned and wrote his name on the board. With the last flourish of the n, the chalk scraped against the board, sending shivers up Melissa’s spine. Since she was in kindergarten she could not stand to hear chalk squealing against a board.

She shifted in her seat. She hoped the instructor was not a smart ass intentionally making that obnoxious sound. If he was, it was going to be a long hard semester in here.

When class was over Melissa hurried to the door. She looked back. Jason was watching her. He smiled and waved, and she returned his wave before walking out into the hall.

She checked her watch. Plenty of time to get to her job.

It was Jason’s last class of the day, and he was in no hurry. He picked up his khaki colored backpack and strolled across campus, watching young men and women walking arm in arm and gazing at each other. The last time he experienced that kind of devotion was high school, when he and Linda were in love forever, or so he had thought. How wrong he was.

That was water way under the bridge which had been re-examined enough. Linda had flat out jilted him, choosing someone else. And, hell, it hadn’t taken her long to decide the other guy was better than him. But, he had stopped fuming over that soon after he joined the Marines.

He had found a life that suited him perfectly. Serving his country wherever he was needed. Enjoying the comradery of his fellow Marines on and off the battlefield. Always sure they had each other’s backs.

He had enjoyed a few pleasant and comfortable relationships with wonderful women. He had taken care not to hurt them. He had been honest and clear with each one: there would be no promises made, so no promises would be broken. They had good enough sex and warm companionship. Usually the episodes ended with a change of assignment. He was needed somewhere else. No drama. The women always knew it was going to happen, just not when.

Leaving campus buildings behind, Jason walked four blocks to his one-bedroom apartment in a complex that looked amazingly like the barracks he’d lived in across the world. The nearby Marine base barracks design seemed to have crept over into this civilian project. Probably the reason he had chosen it.

He bypassed the elevators and walked up to the fourth floor. Nodding at a young man in the hall, he turned the key in his lock and let his backpack slip off his shoulders down to the floor at the end of a well-worn solid green couch.

He went into the bedroom. Stepping out of his khaki long pants, he grabbed a pair of brown shorts from his dresser drawer. He put them on and struggled out of his sticky sweaty shirt. He retrieved his phone from his pants pocket and slipped it into his shorts pocket and went back into the living/kitchen area.

When his cell rang, he brought it from his pocket and saw his mom’s smiling face.

Grabbing a beer from the fridge and sitting down on the couch in one smooth move, he said, Hi, Mom. How are you? He ran the cold bottle across his bare damp chest before taking a sip.

Oh, I’m doing all right, Jase. I have to be all right.

And, how about Dad?

That’s what I’m calling about. We saw the doctor today.

She paused.

And, what did he say? Jason, asked, taking another sip of his beer.

There’s bad news, but some good news, too. The Alzheimer’s disease is worse, for sure. But, the doctor is putting him on a medication that may help. He said it helps some patients, but we just won’t know until we try it.

That does sound like good news. I appreciate your calling to let me know. Do you know how long it may take to see results from the new medication?

Not really.

Let me know when there’s any news on that.

Of course, I will. Jase, how are you settling into civilian life? School and everything.

Before answering, he took another sip of beer, enjoying the tingling cold against his tongue.

Everything’s going to be all right, he said, knowing he was pretty much lying. He didn’t expect to like civilian life. Duty to his family had forced him into it. As for school, he had made good enough grades in high school, but he didn’t like studying.

Well, tell me about it, then, his mom said.

I’ve met all my classes this week. They’re all probably going to be OK, except the one I just got out of is going to be a bitch.

What is it?

Statistics.

His mom laughed. No son of mine is going to fail statistics. You’re not going to ruin my reputation as a math and science teacher now are you?

I’ll try not to, Mom. There’s a woman in my class who might help me. We might study together. She’s an older student, like me. We may stick together against all those young kids in the class. At least, I hope so.

Are you finding some new friends?

I know some guys at the base from way back. I’m going fishing with one of them soon. You must remember Terry. He and I served together in Afghanistan. He’s back here teaching now, and he has a boat. There are good fishing places around here if you have a boat.

His mom said, I remember you talking about Terry. She sighed. And, I remember when you and your dad used to go fishing when we lived in Indiana. Those were good times. The church was small enough to allow him time to do things with you. With both of us.

We did have some good times, Mom.

I miss doing things with your dad. We was always my best friend, not just my husband.

She paused.

Now that you are out of the Marines, maybe you could settle down with a good woman.

Maybe so, Mom, maybe so.

I hear your father calling me, Jase, so I’ve got to go. Take good care of yourself. I love you.

I love you, too, Mom. Keep me posted about Dad.

They disconnected.

Jason wondered how long it would be until he had to give up school and everything else to help his mom. In his gut, he knew his freedom was on borrowed time.

He didn’t know how he would measure up. He didn’t know how to be a caretaker or even a caretaker’s helper. He had lived through some tough assignments in the Marines, but he had always gone in with the assurance of being well equipped and well trained. This family assignment was a different story, and he didn’t know the ending.

His mind wandered to Melissa from statistics class. She had a lean attractive build with long dark hair and hazel eyes. Not really his type, but pleasant. Definitely worth pursuing as a study partner and friend.

Chapter 2

Melissa looked at her watch. She was glad that her shift was almost over. She liked it here well enough. Her supervisor and co-workers were OK, but stocking was a damn boring job. She just needed the paycheck. When she worked in retail years ago she had worked her way up to buyer.

Melissa reached into her basket and pulled out a packet of men’s white socks. She stood on tiptoes, straining to reach the peg where they belonged.

Here, let me help you with that. A strong hand took the packet of socks away from her and put it in its place.

Thanks, she said.

Turning around, she was surprised to see her classmate Jason something-or-other standing there smiling at her.

He held out his hand. Jason Davis from our statistics class.

She shook it. Of course, Melissa Gregory.

He said, We didn’t get to finish our conversation before class started yesterday. Maybe we can when you get off work this afternoon.

Melissa looked at her watch. She said, My shift is over in 10 minutes.

How about I finish my shopping and wait for you just outside the front door? We could grab some pizza and beer.

Melissa said, That would work.

Good. See you in a few.

Smiling, she watched him walk down the aisle and turn left. He looked fit enough to still be on active duty. But of course, he said he had just recently left active duty.

A few minutes later Melissa and Jason sat across from each other at the most popular pizza joint on campus or anywhere around town. She looked around, enjoying the aroma of all her favorite pizzas. The things she could eat every day, if she didn’t care how big her belly might get.

When Jason stood up and twisted to the side to wave at a friend across the room, Melissa studied his profile. She liked his strong jaw and not-too-big straight nose outlined by dark brown military style hair. He was clean shaven. No stubble that some younger men seemed to think was sexy.

The waiter placed a margarita pizza between them.

Jason raised his beer. Cheers. Here’s to passing statistics.

Melissa raised her Coke can. Cheers, she said.

Jason took a big bite of pizza and watched Melissa carefully fold over her slice and take a small bite.

Melissa felt a little embarrassed when she looked up and found him staring at her, a hint of amusement in his friendly brown eyes.

What? she said.

He flashed Melissa that confident smile. You can tell a lot about a person by the way she eats pizza, he said. I’ll bet there is not one dish or one shoe out of place in your apartment.

Melissa said, OK. You’ve got me pegged. I’m a neatness freak. Always have been.

Nothing wrong with being neat. I’m neat, too, because my drill sergeant hammered it into me a long time ago. It would have been a lot easier if I had come by it naturally.

Unfortunately, my neatness borders on obsession.

So what is a woman from Houston doing in South Carolina?

Melissa laughed. That’s a fair question. The deal is I have a friend Diane who teaches here at the college. Diane and my mom talked me into coming here to go back to school instead of staying in Texas. It’s well known among my family and friends that I am an overprotective mother. My mom got wind of Diane teaching here and wanting me to come, and she said I ought to give my daughter Ashley a break. My mom lives in Dallas. She said she could be in San Antonio in a flash if Ashley needed any help. Of course, she was right. When I agreed to it, they all rushed me out of Dodge before I could change my mind.

Jason studied her. He reached for another piece of pizza, and said, Ready for another one?

Not yet, thanks. She took another sip of Coke.

You see, Ashley’s father died when she was 10. They were very close. He was the person she always counted on. He was a firefighter, and he died saving a whole family. They made it, but he didn’t. Ashley was devastated. I put her in therapy for a year. In retrospect, I should have been in therapy, too. Maybe I wouldn’t have developed this knee-jerk overprotectiveness that is not good for Ashley.

Jason reached across the table and squeezed her hand. You’ve been through hell with your family problems. I’m sorry. I hope being here will be good for you and good for your daughter. Maybe you both need a break.

Thanks, I hope so. I’ll have another piece now. He served her.

So I’ve been baring my soul to my statistics classmate. It’s your turn, Melissa said.

Jason said, My biggest problem is still ahead of me. I was happy in the Marines. I was in for 22 years and had hoped to make it to 25 years, but my Dad has Alzheimer’s disease, and it’s just a matter of time before I’ll have to go home to help.

Where is home?

"My dad is a retired Presbyterian minister. I was born in