Part 8
AJ found his mother in the kitchen reading the newspaper and sipping a cup of coffee. As he poured himself a cup, he braced himself for the inevitable.
“Been up long?”
“Long enough to go get something to fix for breakfast. Is she awake?”
“You can call her ‘Stormy’ and yeah, she’s getting a shower.”
“I’ll start breakfast then.”
AJ could hear the tone in his mother’s voice but he didn’t want to go down that path with her. He knew she was concerned. God knows, she had reason to be. His track record sucked; a steady stream of girls who were only after his name or money and a stint in rehab.
“How long is ‘Stormy’ going to be here?” asked Denise coolly.
“Until she’s ready to move on.”
AJ prayed she’d let it go but no such luck. “Alex, you do NOT need another woman in your life right now. You JUST got your life back on track.”
“What am I going to do, Mama? Kick her out? She’s scared and alone.”
“She’s survived THIS long without your help. Alex, I know you. You think you have to have a woman in your life all the time to make you complete but every woman you’ve ever dated has only wanted you for one reason…what you could do for them. They all used you and…”
“’Stormy’s’ different.”
“How do you know that? You told me yourself you didn’t know anything about her.”
“I just know. I can’t explain it, Mama. She doesn’t have to say a word. Her eyes and her face say it all.”
Denise shook her head. “You’ve convinced yourself that you love her already.”
“No, Mama, I haven’t, but I could. I want to know everything about her.”
“How do you know she’s not just like….”
“Like Sarah? That’s who you were going to say, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
AJ was beginning to lose his temper. “She’s NOTHING like Sarah. She doesn’t even know who I am.”
“How do you know that?” insisted Denise.
Angrily, AJ slammed his coffee cup down. “I JUST know!!”
At the same time, ‘Stormy’ came through the door but stopped cold, the same scared look in her eyes. She’d seen the gentle side of AJ but this…this anger scared her. She started to back away when AJ heard her bump into the door.
“No, ‘Stormy’….don’t go. It’s okay.” Turning on his mother, he said, “If you’re going to stay, then let it drop. I’m going to talk to her.”
Denise couldn’t protest because AJ was gone in a flash to catch ‘Stormy’ before she could get out of the house.
Halfway through the living room, AJ caught her by the arm but let go of her quickly seeing her cringe. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just want to explain.”
Stormy cowered in front of him, tears streaming.
AJ wanted to hold her, to touch her, make the fear go away forever. He stepped closer so there was barely a whisper between them. Not making any sudden movements, he placed his hands on either side of her face, cradling it, his fingers in her hair. He used his thumbs to wipe the tears away.
Looking into her eyes, he said softly, “I’m not angry with you. It’s my mom…she’s worried that…that I’ll get hurt. It’s sorta complicated and it’ll take some time…but…..”
Stormy cast her eyes towards the door questioningly.
“No, I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay as long as you want….as long as you’re comfortable.”
This time she looked towards the kitchen.
“This isn’t her house…it’s mine. She’ll just have to get over it. ‘Stormy’, please stay with me.”
She put her hands on his looking into his eyes. Sincerity warmed them, making them an even richer brown and she felt safe again. Nodding her head slightly, she told him that she wanted to stay too.
He felt like his heart would explode and he closed the distance quickly to kiss her. His lips brushed briefly over hers before he pulled back.
Smiling, “You clean up pretty good and I don’t think that shirt ever looked that good on me.”
Her eyes danced merrily at his compliment but then she blushed as her stomach rumbled loudly.
Laughing, AJ said, “Dayum!! I thought only Nick sounded like that when he was hungry.”
Stormy looked at him quizzically as if to ask who Nick was.
“Nick’s one of my best friends. I’ll tell you all about him and my other friends later. Let’s go get you something to eat.”
They started to head to the kitchen when Stormy, like a puppy nudging for attention, nudged her way closer to him so that he had to put his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder. AJ looked at her, surprised that she had done this. It was what he had wanted but to have her show him she wanted it too was a big step. Another small sign and hopefully a step closer to finding out the whole story.
