Chapter 6 Summer of Freedom

            The next month flew by. The kids were finishing up the school year getting ready for test. Bree met two new friends who were trying to get her to try out for their softball team. Alex seemed to be doing a lot better at his school, especially with the teacher he got. He was like a completely different child from when he started the school year till now. Both kids were thriving in our self-made paradise.
           I, on the other hand, spent the month trying to figure out who I was now. It was glaringly obvious who I wasn't anymore after the day Jamie asked me out, and other than Bree and Alex mom, I didn't know who I was.
          I remember the teenage girl I use to be before I met Dewayne. Carefree, and independent, always on my own and going where ever the wind took me. Now worried or responsibilities hold me back from jumping at the chance to go on a new adventure.
        That Marie really was a fun person to be around.
         The person I am today, so the polar opposite. Completely passing each other on the street not knowing they were the same. I felt like I had this thick layer of skin that I hide behind at all times now. I stopped dressing up and wearing makeup years ago, and the last time I actually went to a salon Bree was a baby. I didn't have many hobbies other than reading and watching whatever new things the kids had found on the internet. My current movie base and pop culture was limited to cartoons. If it wasn't for my weekly talks with my best friend Shay I'd think I was a child myself.
          I learned to shield my emotions around Dewayne so much I didn't think I could even feel them myself anymore. I had to find them again. I had to find myself again wherever she was buried deep inside. I had to start breaking through that extra skin from the inside. One step at a time.
         Two days before the kids went on their summer break from school I found myself in the little salon the sisters told me was the best in Tennessee. Step one finding my new image. The shop was small just three stations for stylist, two spa chairs in the back for pedicures, a few sinks, and one lone old school dryer in the corner. The wooden floors and chic decor gave the small space a very southern antique, but modern vibe.
          There was a lady about my age sitting in one of the chairs reading a magazine when I walked in. As soon as the twinkling sounded from the door she dropped the magazine and gave me a huge smile. She was gorgeous. Long brown hair that reached her mid shoulders with just the right amount of waves. Her makeup was flawless but not overly done giving her the perfect natural look. She was dressed in a denim dress that hung off the shoulders with a pair of cowboy boots that looked well worn. The phrase 'cute as a button' was never more fitting.
           "Come on in Sugar! You must be Marie? Ms. Winnie called me this morning and told me you might be stopping by and I should treat you like one of the family! She didn't tell me how pretty you were though!"
           I tried to stop the blush from coloring my cheeks. She was just trying to be nice. She couldn't have meant it otherwise she might need her eyes checked. "Yes ma'am that me, and you are?"
           "I'm Megan Weeks, I own this little gem I call Escape. It's been the best escape from reality I could get for the last five years now! But enough about me Ms. Winnie told me so much about you this morning I feel like I already know you! Come sit and tell me what I can do for you!"
           I let out a breath letting some of the nerves go and walked to the seat. Megan wrapped a cape around my neck and got me ready. When she had everything set out she looked at me in the mirror, "What would you like Ms. Marie I can do anything you want!"
          I looked at the girl in the mirror one last time, hair pulled on top of her head no makeup and baggy T-shirt underneath. I gave her a wave goodbye in my mind and made the first step. "Make me a new person please." The squeal Megan released with her megawatt smile should have scared me, but I really couldn't care.
           Three hours, massive amounts of hair loss and color later Megan finally let me she her final result. The person starring back was definitely not me! Gone mad the boring knot on top of my head instead my hair was hanging down to the middle of my back in big curls. The colors Megan ran through my hair made it look like gold flecks when the light caught them just right. She gave me a small fringe hand frame the rest around my face making it seem longer.
           Megan waxed my brows and fixed my makeup also. Natural tones on my cheeks and a soft brown eyeshadow with a little eyeliner and mascara was all she used but it was just the right amount. The ruby red lipstick was not something I would have ever thought to put on myself but I admit I loved it. There was no was this was actually the same Marie that walked in here a few hours ago. Megan must be a miracle worker!
         After several hugs and 'Oh my God Thank You!' Tears from me I was out of there just after lunch and couldn't wait to get to the diner to show the sisters my new self. I couldn't stop taking a peak in my rear view mirror the short drive back. I was afraid the next time I looked the frumpy lady from before would be back in her place. I made it to the diner in five minutes thankfully I didn't distract myself to the point I couldn't drive.
       I walked in the door and did a small spin along with the bell attached to the door. Megan pulled out a royal blue sundress and gold sandals from the store room in the back of the salon. She told me all about the clothes she was about to start selling in the salon trying to make it more into a boutique. She said I just HAD to be her first model and gave me the outfit free of charge.
     Come to think of it she didn't charge me what she should have for my makeover either. I'll send her some more money the first chance I get.
         I stopped in the middle of the small diner with a smile stretching so far across my face it felt like my cheeks were about to rip. Ms. Winnie and Gus were behind the counter talking but stopped as soon as I made my grand entrance. Both started staring and Gus even gave me a whistle. I gave them both a bow not caring who else was around to see me right now. I was on cloud freaking nine!
         Ms. Winnie came around the counter holding her arms out to me. I grabbed her hands and let her stretch them out where she could get a good look at everything. "Oh We honey, you're ready to knock'em dead now ain't ya!" She gave me a flirty wink that had me doubling over in laughter.
        "Ms. Winnie I ain't trying to get no man and you know that so don't go gettin any ideas. But I do feel different! I actually feel like a young woman again instead of Old Mother Hubbard coming out of her shoe for the first time in twenty years. Megan is a miracle worker. I'll never be able to pull this off as good as she did." The doubts I've been trying to keep away try coming back and I can't look at her anymore.
         Without missing a beat she placed her hand under my chin making me look her in the eyes again. "Nonsense my child, Megan just made you see what we've already been seeing since the night you walked in here." She leant forward and gave me a sweet kiss to the cheek and I had to bite my lip to keep the tears from ruining the makeup. "Thank you."  I whispered right before she turned around pulling me closer to the bar.
         Now that the theatrics were over I got a chance to look around and see who all saw my childish moment. Thankfully the diner was empty except for the lone person at the bar Winnie and Gus had been talking to.
        Oh Dear God! Why me! Why didn't you look before you twirled your way inside!
        Sat at the bar was none other than Mr. Hulk, Jamie, checking me out with not a care who sees. I could feel his eyes slowly going down my body leaving a trail of heat behind his gaze. He made it all the way to the gold strapped sandals to the royal blue paint on my toe nails before starting his way back up. I couldn't help but squirm under his scrutiny. Thankfully Ms. Winnie broke the moment for me. "What do you think of our girl Gus, Jamie? Ain't she something?"
       "Second prettiest thing I've seen today, Win." Gus gave her a wink making the old lady actually blush!
       Jamie stood up from his seat and came toward us. My eyes widen in shock when he took that first step toward me and I looked up to see what he was playing at. The serious look in his eyes held me and I couldn't look away. He reached down to the hand that wasn't in Ms. Winnie's and brought it to his lips. He placed a kiss to the back never breaking his stare. I was surprised Ms. Winnie hadn't complained about the extra water suddenly in her hand from my sweating palms.
       "Gorgeous isn't an accurate enough word for your beauty. Webster's Dictionary hasn't invented the word yet for the sight that stands before my eyes. Beautiful Marie."
          My heart went into overdrive trying to beat itself out of my chest. Words Marie, just words! Jamie broke eye contact first leaving me breathless for some reason. I couldn't ponder on it long before Jamie turned to Ms. Winnie and Gus and bid them a good afternoon before he strutted out the door. Not a care in the world that he just knocked me for a loop.
          I couldn't stop thinking about what he said and how he looked at me for the rest of the week. Replaying it all over and over again in my head on a loop. I couldn't stop. Ms. Winnie caught me several times daydreaming. Every time I played it off like I was just up late with the kids but the woman would just give me a knowing smile and go back to what she was doing. It was driving me mad!
         The kids were excited for their first weekend off from school for summer break and begged to go to the beach that weekend. Dewayne never wanted us to leave the house so family outing were always at a minimum in the kids past so I agreed no matter what I was going through. The sisters had told us of a small beach not far outside of town that would be quiet for a family outing.
        We loaded up early Saturday morning and headed the twenty minute drive following the directions the sisters gave us. Bree and Alex were singing loudly to the radio in the backseat already decked out in their swimwear. The giggles and smiles on their faces was almost enough to stop the constant Jamie loop in my head. Almost.
        We made it to the small beach still rather early in the day. A few families were here already but more would probably show up later. There was a construction site a little ways down the beach but plenty of space between it and the other families already set up for us to lay our things out.
        The kids took off. Running like mad toward the water as fast as they could screaming like mad. These were the memories I wish I could have given them before, just getting to be carefree kids, instead of the pain. But I was determined to give them everything now. I sat everything down and smiled at the sight they made. Seeing those smiles gave my heart so much joy.
       I got comfortable, stretching out on the blanket with my book making sure the kids were in seeing distance at all times. We had a small cooler I had drinks and a few snacks in, because I knew once we got here the kids would never agree to leave anytime soon, and a portable speaker I was playing the kids favorite songs on.
       The kids were playing and having a blast. I'm not sure how long we had been here by then. The sun was straight overhead making its rays even hotter. I reached in the bag getting the sunscreen to put more on the kids where they wouldn't burn, but when I looked up I only saw Bree playing in the water. I jumped up and went to Bree asking if she had seen her brother.
     "He was right there playing in the sand momma." She pointed to a spot a little ways down the sand where his bucket and shovel was still in the sand. I ran over to the spot and started looking around frantically. "Alex!" I saw his footprints going further down the beach toward the construction site and started following them. Bree was right behind me screaming his name.
     "Alexander Long! Get back here right this second!" I was starting to get worried when his tracks started going toward the site full of equipment and stacks of lumber. "ALEX!" I could see what looked like a foundation for a house with a lot more heavy equipment around and was on the verge of pulling my hair out.
       "Calm down momma bear, he fine. I was showing the little man the tractor he wanted to see." Jamie said as he came around a stack of lumber with Alex in his arms. Jamie and Alex were both smiling. Jamie not caring that Alex was getting him wet and sandy from his trunks. I ran up to them and grabbed Alex from his arms crushing him to me. "You scared the crap out of me baby. You know you're not supposed to run away!"
       "I'm sorry momma I just wanted to see the tractor and Mr. Jamie said it was ok. He even let me sit on the tractor and pretend I was driving it! Ain't that super cool momma."
        At the mention of his name I give the man in front of me a death stare. I know he's not the reason Alex ran away or why I'm feeling like this but hopefully he will feel some of the guilt. Instead he just gives me that same cocky smirk that's been looping through my brain. "Yeah momma, ain't that cool." I have the urge to gouge that winking eye from his face! I grit my teeth and look in straight in the eye when I answer them both "yep baby, cool."
        Jamie give a short laugh at my reply. He probably thinks the steam coming from my ears at the moment is the funniest thing since Barney. I give Alex a quick kiss on the forehead and set him down on his feet. I grab both Alex and Bree's and getting ready to head back to our stuff. "Thank you for finding him Jamie we're gonna head back to the beach now."
        "Do you mind if I join y'all? We're done for the day and I promised this little guy I'd show him how to build a proper sand house."
        "You mean castle." Bree told Jamie correcting his mistake.
        "Nope, little princess, a sand house, cuz I build houses for people to love. A castle just seems too big for one family don't ya think?" He asked bending down so he was at eye level with the kids.
         "I guess you're right. Will you teach me to build a sand house to? "Bree asked.
        "Anything for you princess."
        With Bree's shouts of approval Alex followed right along with his sister. Then both turned their joy to me and asked in unison, "Please momma can Mr. Jamie come with us! Please!"
        "Yea Momma, Please." The smirk he sent me from his kneeling stance reminded me just how close this man chiseled from my dreams really was to my long forgotten lady bits. Lady bits that were starting to wake up and take notice of the situation. 
         I tried to put a smile on my face were the kids wouldn't think anything was wrong and told them "Sure", before heading back towards our things. Jamie stayed a few steps behind us as we wound our way around the obstacles along the path back. I could feel his eyes on my ass with ever step I took. Reminding me of how little the bathing suit I had on actually covered. I turned my head towards him to see if I was just imagining it but when he noticed I'd caught him he just gave me that smirk and a shrug of the shoulder as in So What?
        Jamie moved beside us as soon as we hit the sand and we walked back in silence. Well Bree and Alex were talking none stop about how cool they were gonna make their house and what rooms they were gonna add. While Jamie and I avoided each other at all cost. To be far that could have just been me but oh well.
        I went back to my spot on the blanket while the kids sat in front of Jamie about ten feet from me and started his lesson on building with sand. I watched him for a while as discretely as I could behind my big sunglasses. I was waiting for Jamie to slip up and show me who he really was with kids. I know that may sound harsh, but the only male my children have been around mostly was a douchbag that didn't deserve the name father.
        I wasn't going to let someone like that into their life again, and the first rise of his lip in aggravation his balls would be mine. But none of that ever came. For hours he sat their playing with Bree and Alex. Talking with them patiently, never getting frustrated with Alex's stuttering and repeating the same thing. Instead they built enough houses for everyone they knew. Then they talked Jamie into playing tag with them. Even getting him to roll up his pants and go in the water with them. They were laughing so hard tears were rolling down their little cheeks.
        I couldn't understand what would make this man take time out of his day to play with my kids but he had my gratitude. The joy he gave my kids, kids he didn't even know, was something I couldn't repay him for. Maybe he's not such a bad guy if I didn't want to smack that smirk off his face sometimes.
       When the afternoon was finally coming to a close both kids came over to me and sprawled out on the blanket looking up at the sky and panting for breathe after there last race with Jamie. "Momma...Guess what...Mr. Jamie...asked us!" Bree was trying to catch her breath but couldn't hide her excitement.
       "What's that baby love?" I can't help the smile that come across my face as I see the joy shining from her eyes. "He asked if he could take all of us to the zoo next weekend! Please momma we've never been to the zoo, and Alex and I promise we will be on our best behavior next week. Please?"
       Alex even gave me his best puppy dog eyes pleading for me to say yes. The man himself finally made it over to the end of the blanket and sat down with his arms around his knees. "I know I should have asked you first, but I forgot about the charity event at the zoo next weekend I have to go to and I got a text reminder about it when we were playing and I told them what it was about. They both said they have never been to a zoo before and I said I'd be more than happy if y'all came with me. My treat I promise."
      If looks could kill he would be six feet under right now! I knew what he was doing. Going through my kids since I've been turning him down for weeks now. I was not going to take this away from Bree and Alex but that didn't mean I had to be happy about it. "I guess we're going to the zoo!" The smug satisfaction that crossed Jamie's face wasn't hard to miss.

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Don't forget to leave a comment! Would it help if I said Please?....Maybe?....Not really?.....Don't care how hard you glare at me....
Doing my best Puss in Boots impression, "Pleaaaasssseee." Look at the eyes, see how big they are, the tear I'm trying to hold back in my gaze. Gilt my friends, I never leave home without it!
Until Next Time,
Callie

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