The Saintwood Series

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

A summer fling

Carrington

I stayed at the rental house and took summer courses with the Frazier boys preoccupied and school letting out for the summer. It also gave me a chance to spend time alone with Gloria.

I awoke to the shower running and got out of bed. I strutted into the bathroom, opened the shower curtain, stepped into the tub, and closed the curtain. I wrapped my arms around Gloria, pulled her to me, and kissed her neck.

A soft moan escaped her lips as I moved my lips along her neckline, roaming my hands over Gloria’s body, feeling the soft, delicate features of her. I maneuvered between her legs and slid into her as a moan escaped her lips.

Gloria held onto me as I thrust into her, enjoying her. I waited until she found her release before I pulled out and released it into the tub. I hated finishing this way because it was anticlimactic to me, but I didn’t bring protection.

Gloria washed up and turned to me as I washed my body. “When we agreed to this, I didn’t think we would stay in.”

“There’s nothing wrong with staying in.” I gave her a mischievous glance.

Gloria rolled her eyes and shook her head as I chuckled. I rinsed off, wrapped my arms around her, and pulled her to me.

“I know you want to go out, but if anyone sees us together, it won’t bode well for us.”

“I know.” Gloria sighed.

I leaned in and kissed her before getting out of the shower. I dried off and strolled into the bedroom to dress. Gloria wanted to go out like any couple, but people enjoy gossiping. The people here are worse than a gossip columnist.

Couldn’t they find other things to do than poke around in other people’s affairs? It was as if I had several Christines around me. The one quality I disliked about my sister would make her more enjoyable if she dropped that characteristic.

Gloria walked into the bedroom and dressed as I admired her body. Damn, she had a beautiful body.

We finished dressing, then left. Gloria had to work, and I had class. I figured we could play cards tonight.

After class, I visited Kate since Gloria was at work. I strolled to the bakery to find it bustling with customers. It was nice that the business was doing well, and customers kept Kate busy, providing her enjoyment out of it. That made me happy.

I sat at a table, waiting until customers cleared out of the bakery. Someone placed a glass of iced tea in front of me, then joined me. Kate smiled.

“Busy?” I smirked.

Kate arched a brow at me, then shook her head as I chuckled. “It's good when you find your passion, and people enjoy it.”

That’s what I noticed about my sister. It contented Kate with doing what she loves. Kate enjoyed baking and had no use for the family business, preferring to speak to people, and this business provided it.

“I’m surprised you stayed this summer.”

I shrugged.

Kate gave me a knowing glance. My sister is astute to situations, and she is in tune with mine. “Carri, I won’t lecture you, but if you play with fire, you will get burned.”

Lying to my sister is the worst thing you can do. She sees through bullshit quickly, and it never ends well if you do. It’s best to be honest, and suffer the consequences rather than lie.

“It’s fine, Kate. I’m happy.” I sipped my drink.

“There comes a time when you realize that happiness doesn’t come from another person but yourself.”

I didn’t understand what she meant, but I would find out later. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You can’t tell me that you’re happy alone.” I arched my brow.

Kate rolled her eyes. “I don’t need a man to make me happy. I’m happy with the bakery because it keeps me busy, and I meet people.”

“It devastated you when William died, but I doubt he would like you to close yourself off to love.”

Kate shook her head and sighed. “I didn’t close myself off to love, but I don’t need to find someone else. That is the difference between others and myself. I enjoyed my time with William, but sometimes things work out as they should.”

There was no somber tone or disappointment. Kate wasn’t like most people who gave up on love when something didn’t work with another person or died. My sister was secure with being alone because she wasn’t lonely.

“William died.”

“Because William wanted to serve in the military and died doing what he loved. I don’t fault William for his choice, supporting it. Carri, we make decisions that affect us, and it’s whether we can live with that choice.”

My sister wasn’t an unreasonable person, but she knew our actions could have consequences.

“Don’t wake up one day and realize you lost the moon while counting the stars.”

I didn’t understand what she meant. Gloria was my moon, and I wasn’t looking for the stars.

I finished my visit with Kate, then left. I strolled to the coffeehouse as Kate’s words plagued my mind. I didn’t understand what she meant because I was missing the concept. It wouldn’t be until years later that Kate’s advice would make sense to me.

Sometimes, it’s not the person who you think is the moon, but someone different. That person will show why things work out for the best.

*****

After we got back to the house, we ate, then played cards. What did we play? A game of Old Maid, and I kept sticking Gloria with the Old Maid and pissed her off.

“Knock it off, Carri!”

I chuckled. “I can’t help it if you’re terrible at this game.”

Gloria glared at me.

“It’s a kid’s game, which you should know how to play it.”

“Yeah, if you didn’t cheat.”

I feigned offense to her accusation. “I don’t cheat.”

Gloria gave me a strange face.

I contemplated it. “Ignore that.”

She giggled.

That’s ironic if I ever heard it.

I set the cards down and crawled over to Gloria, then captured her lips with mine. Our kissing turned passionate as we lost our clothes. I put on protection and made love to her on the living room floor. Most people don’t consider that romantic, but when in Rome.

Any time I can make love to Gloria, I did. We were like two jackrabbits going at it everywhere. We couldn’t get enough of each other, and it showed. One day, we would return to our rendezvous at the motel when Christine and Elliot showed up.

Joseph graduated this year, so he wasn’t returning. He got a computer degree and began doing things with computers that he shouldn’t do. My family’s crimes didn’t stay in one area as they expanded. If Joseph didn’t end up in prison for his dirty deeds, it would surprise me.

My family wasn’t innocent at all, and I fell into that category, along with them. The big problem was my crime resulted in the most significant way, leaving me with a present. I wouldn’t find out until later what that gift was. But it would change everything.