Chapter
Twenty Four
The Real
Thing
“Roger, I need to see you this evening,” Belinda
spoke quietly into the telephone.
“What is it Belinda? I have a baseball game at 7:30.
Why don't you meet me at the park. You can go with me and the boys
for a beer after.”
“No, Roger, I need to see you alone, we need to talk.”
“Don't tell me you are getting cold feet. Tell me
what you want to talk about, Belinda, tell me now.”
“Not over the phone, Roger. I'll meet you at your
apartment at 6:00.” She hung up before he could argue with her.
Belinda was having a difficult time concentrating on her
work. She began to think about her relationship with Roger. She met
him at a friend's wedding. She was the only one of her friends who
came without a date or a husband. Roger asked her to dance. He was
a nice enough fellow but very quiet, even reserved. They saw each
other quite often after that. It was strictly a platonic
relationship. Thinking about it now, she realized she had used him
as an escort to parties and wherever it was a couples only get
together. On Valentine's Day he kissed her for the first time as he
slipped a ring on her finger and asked her to marry him.
She was so stunned, she could barely speak. “Roger,”
she said, “I had no idea you were thinking about marriage. All
this time I thought you and I were just friends.”
“We are friends but what better way to start a
marriage. I am very fond of you Belinda.”
Belinda had no recollection of saying she would marry
him but it did make sense. She would be 28 years old on her next
birthday. She didn't feel about Roger the way Jamie felt about Mike,
but maybe that would come in time.
“What a fool I have been!” she said aloud as she
looked up and saw Roger standing in the doorway to her office.
“A fool to accept my proposal or a fool to call off
our wedding?” As usual, Roger showed no emotion.
“Roger, do you love me?” Belinda asked.
“What kind of a question is that? I asked you to
marry me, didn't I?”
“I don't remember you ever telling me you loved me and
I know I never said it to you. Don't you think at least one of us
should have said those words if we were planning to spend the rest of
our lives together?”
“Belinda, you are being ridiculous. We are friends
and companions, we aren't getting any younger, soon you will be too
old to bear children, the kind of love you are talking about only
happens in the movies.”
Belinda took the ring off her finger and handed it to
him. “Roger, I want that kind of love. If I wanted a companion,
I'd buy a dog.”
“I'm sorry you feel that way Belinda, I was going to
tell you the good news on our wedding day, but I will tell you now,
I have accepted a promotion in our Philadelphia office. You may want
to reconsider your decision.”
“You weren't going to tell me this good news until
after we were married and you expected me to be happy about moving?
Roger, I love Camden Corners and I love my family. I would never be
happy about moving to Philadelphia. I do wish you luck and hope you
meet someone who will change your mind about love.”
“Good bye, Belinda.”
“Good bye, Roger.
Her assistant walked into the office. “Is everything
okay, Belinda? Roger just stormed out of here. If I didn't know any
better I'd say he was almost emotional.”
“Mandy, I feel like the weight of the world has been
lifted off my shoulders. The wedding is off. I'll be returning the
lovely gift you gave me yesterday.”
“Halleluiah! Wait until I tell the other girls.
Roger is not the man for you, Belinda. You can do much better than
that cold fish.”
“I agree,” came a deep voice from the doorway. Alex
Kelly was staring directly at Belinda's ring finger and smirking.
“Mr. Kelly, I'm so happy we agree about something.
Mandy, this is Alex Kelly, we may be working on the restaurant
project I was telling you about.”
“Mr. Kelly, I'm delighted to meet you. I'll leave you
two alone,” Mandy walked out of the office closing the door behind
her.
“Mandy, leave the door open please.”
“Mandy, leave the door closed please.”
“Stop issuing orders to my assistant, Mr. Kelly.”
“Don't you think we could dispense with the formality,
Belinda? Please call me Alex. Where are we having dinner tonight?”
“You are the most exasperating man I have ever met.
What makes you think I'd have dinner with you tonight or any night?”
“Because Lester P. Hemingway invited us. He said you
would be choosing the restaurant, so I repeat, where are we having
dinner tonight?”
She picked up a pencil off her desk and threw it in his
direction. “What type of food do you like?”
“The feisty brunette type. Oh, you said type of food.
Anything as long as it's steak.”
“The Merryweather has the best steak in town. Is that
where you are staying?”
“Ernie made me a reservation there. I haven't checked
in yet but I can always ask for two keys.”
“In case you lose one, I suppose.”
“I never thought of that. Maybe I should give you one
for safe keeping.”
“You do realize I just broke off my engagement. I'm
mourning my broken dreams.”
“They must have been nightmares with the dope I saw
when I walked in the front door. What made you break it off today?
It must have been an hour or so after we had coffee.”
“You'd love it if I said you were the reason.”
“Yes, I would. Am I the reason?”
“Let's just say I had my reasons and leave it at that,
if you don't mind.”
“I mind, but I'll leave it alone. I'll see you later
at The Merryweather. I think maybe I will ask for two keys. Just on
the off chance that I am the reason.”
“Alex, has anyone ever accused you of being an
egomaniac?”
“Just you,” he threw her a kiss as he walked out the
door.
Mandy rushed in the office. “Belinda! He is
beautiful. He is the reason you broke off with Roger, isn't he?”
“He wasn't the reason but he made me realize I wasn't
in love with good old Roger after all,” Belinda said with a smile.
After accepting condolences and then congratulations
from all of her co-workers, Belinda decided to call it a day. She
wanted to tell her family and her bridesmaids about the wedding being
called off. From the mail girl to the head of the firm, everyone
seemed genuinely happy Belinda was not going to be Mrs. Roger Allen.
Her first visit was to her sister. “Jamie, I had no
idea how many people thought Roger was wrong for me. I wonder why
nobody said anything?”
“It's not anything Roger ever did. He was a decent
guy, he just didn't show any feeling. Remember when we went to the
ballgame and they honored the war veterans in song? Even Mike had a
tear running down his cheek, but Roger didn't even blink. He just
kept eating his hot dog. You and I were blubbering like crazy and he
told you to stop the nonsense.”
“I don't remember that. I don't think I paid much
attention to what he said or didn't say. Do you know he never told
me he loved me. He doesn't believe in romantic love. He only wants
companionship. I can't believe I was willing to settle for a
loveless marriage.”
“At least you found out before you made a commitment.
What made you decide against the marriage today? Did something
happen?”
“More like someone happened. You know Dad asked me to
give my opinion on the possibility of renovating the Penderghast
place. Well, Lester's son knew a contractor and had him come to
Camden Corners. Jamie, the man is the most exasperating human being
I have ever met and the most gorgeous hunk I have ever seen. I
realized if I could feel this way about someone after being with him
for three minutes, I must not be in love with the man I was planning
to marry. I knew I had to make a clean break.”
“Tell me about this hunk,” Jamie said catching her
sister's excitement.
“His name is Alex Kelly, you will meet him tonight.
Lester wants us all to meet for dinner at the Merryweather. Jamie,
he suggested I take a key to his room. I can't tell you how tempted
I am to take him up on the offer.”
“Belinda dear, as your older and wiser sister I should
advise you against it, but I won't. You deserve to be appreciated
for the lovely woman you are.”
“Thanks Jamie, you are so good for my ego. Would you
come with me to break the news to Mother and Father?”
Walter and Grace weren't terribly upset to hear of the
breakup. Their daughter's happiness was all that mattered. “I
never did like that guy,” whispered Walter. Grace nodded her head
in agreement.
The Henderson and Hemingway families were given a
private room at The Merryweather. Lester had invited his sons and
their entire families to join the party.
When they were all gathered together, he stood up. “I
would like to make a toast to Lily Henderson who has lifted my
spirits and made me realize my heart is still beating. I don't know
how many years I have left on this earth, but they will be happy
years since I will be spending them with my beautiful Lily.”
“Lester, don't be so melodramatic,” said Lily.
“These young folks are hungry, be quiet and let them eat.”
Everyone at the table laughed. Belinda looked up at
Alex who was sitting next to her. “My grandmother sometimes says
whatever she happens to be thinking at the time.”
“That's a good way to be. Of course, some of us could
get arrested for saying exactly what we are thinking,” said Alex
as he winked at her.
Jamie caught her sister's eye and nodded her head in
approval.
After dinner Alex asked Belinda if she would like to
take a walk by the lake. They excused themselves and made their way
through the sand to the water's edge.
“Alex, you know so much about what's been going on in
my life, tell me something about you.”
“Not much to tell. I was in a relationship quite a
bit like yours. We were friends who made the mistake of dating each
other. After awhile it seemed only natural to talk about marriage.
She wanted different things in life than I did. I was the one who
wanted the white picket fence and a bunch of kids. She liked the
nightlife and didn't want to give it up. We never did have an
official breakup. We simply drifted away from each other. I met her
on the street one day last month. She was sporting a sparkling
diamond and was on the arm of an older dude who looked like he could
give her what she wished for. I'm happy she found what she wanted
and even happier we didn't make the biggest mistake of our lives.”
“I'm glad you didn't have your heart broken.”
Alex took hold of her hand as they walked and she didn't
pull it away. “Tell me, how do you feel about white picket fences?
“I love picket fences, especially white ones.”
“And children?”
“I love children, especially when they come in
bunches,” she laughed.
“Like bananas?”
“Oh, I love bananas too.” They both started
giggling. “This is the silliest conversation I have ever had.”
Alex couldn't hold back any longer he took her in his
arms and kissed her.
Belinda couldn't remember when she had ever been kissed
like that before. Certainly never by Roger. She couldn't break away
from his arms. More to the point, she didn't want to. Something had
been missing in her relationship with Roger. Not only did he never
kiss her with any kind of passion, she never felt passion when she
kissed him back.
Without letting her go, he took hold of her left hand.
“Now will you tell me the reason you aren't wearing that ring
anymore?”
“Because, I met a man who stirred up feelings in me
that I didn't know I had. He made me realize I wasn't in love with
Roger and I never would be.”
“Good answer.” Alex kissed her again. They walked
back to the restaurant arm in arm and were greeted with smiling faces
all around the table.
Alex was tempted to mention the spare key again, but
thought he should give Belinda a little space. He was sure he had
fallen in love with her the moment they met, but she needed some time
to grieve for her broken romance. He hoped it wouldn't take too
long.
The next morning, they met for breakfast. “I have
restored several old houses and have learned a few tricks along the
way. Maybe we could work together on this project and come up with a
plan to present to Lester. He is a pretty sharp old guy. I think he
knows a gem when he finds one.
“I agree Alex, I'd like to hear what you think.”
She only hoped she would be able to concentrate with him standing so
close to her.
“I told my grandmother I would pick her up this
morning. She wants to show Mark Crowley that the old house doesn't
have any ghosts in it. His father, Jack is meeting us there in
twenty minutes.
“I'll meet you there, I'd like to have another look
around. I have a few ideas and I need to see if they will work,”
without thinking, he kissed her. They were acting like an old
married couple already and he didn't even know her twenty four hours
ago.
Lily was just like a child when she took Mark's hand and
they went exploring in the old house. Mark was brave enough to go
into the attic as long as Lily was by his side.
“Dad, you were right. There aren't any ghosts in
here,” a disappointed Mark reported when he and Lily rejoined the
others. “We did find some toys up there though. Old fashioned
stuff. Miss Lily says there was a playroom just for the kids on the
top floor. They weren't very good about picking up their toys, were
they Miss Lily?”
“No they weren't, Mark. We didn't disturb them
because they looked to be so fragile. Maybe we should have the girls
from the antique shop come over and take a look at them. They
probably belong in a museum.”
“Lily, my men won't disturb anything of value when
they start their work. We have found many treasures in the old
places we have restored. Sometimes it's difficult to tell if jewels
or paintings left behind are the real thing.”
“I think I can spot the real thing when I see it and I
think you and my granddaughter are very much the real thing.”
“Grandma, you're thinking out loud again,” Belinda
said in a warning tone.
“Don't be silly, child. I am only telling you what I
see. You and this young fellow are very much in love. You can't
fool me, as I said, I know the real thing when I see it.”
“Are you two goin' to get mushy now?” said Mark with
a pained expression on his face.
“You won't feel that way forever, Mark,” said Alex.
“Not when the real thing comes along.”
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