Chapter 04
Alex Moves In
Later that afternoon, after she had made a tension, tear, and yelling filled phone call to her father, Alex and I gathered her personal belongings from her parent's home. I helped her with the larger things, but Alex wanted to load her personal things her self. While Alex loaded her personal belongings into my pick-up truck, Mrs. Boyd and I sat sipping coffee at her kitchen table. We had a friendly chat about what was going on. Mrs. Boyd then said. "You will take good care of Alex, won't you, Jim?"
"Yes, Mrs. Boyd. I will. I know it has only been a few days, but I have fallen in love with your daughter. I promise to take good care of her. She doesn't know it yet, but if she wants to, she will still be able to go to college this fall."
Mrs. Boyd then kissed my cheek, and said. "Jim, I'm glad Alex has found someone like you to care for her. She has had such a hard time during her teen years. By the way, how did you two meet? I mean no offense, but you are somewhat older than Alex."
I couldn't help but chuckle at Mrs. Boyd's question. With a wide grin, I replied. "Mrs. Boyd, I'm thirty-years-old, and I met Alex while I was at work. The circumstances of that meeting are somewhat embarrassing for both of us. I think any more information than that should probably come from Alex. I am sure she will tell you someday."
"OK, Jim. Just one more request, if you don't mind. It appears as if we will be seeing a lot of each other in the future. My given name is June. Would you please call me June?"
"I'll be happy to, June." About that time, Alex had finished loading her things into my truck and came in to join her mother and I. "I'm ready to go, Jim."
"All right, Honey." I replied. June and I stood up from the table and I gave her my card. "June, here's my, I mean our, phone number. Feel free to call anytime you like. We will be in touch. I promise we will let you know if there is anything new happening.
June then hugged both Alex and I. She kissed our cheeks and said. "May God bless you both."
Alex and I then drove home. Alex was much happier on the way home. She giggled almost every time she said something about going to her new home. It seemed as if a large weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "I am so happy to be going home with you, Jim. I am looking forward to my new life as your girlfriend."
"So am I, Baby. So am I."
That night we had much more than hot sex. We made slow, gentle, and passionate love. We caressed and explored each other's bodies with easy tenderness and care.
Over the next couple of months, Alex and I grew closer and our love for each other deepened. Then on a Saturday evening we attended another dinner/dance at my civic club.
Alex was absolutely stunning. Her hair was perfect with not a hair out of place. Her hazel eyes sparkled. Her loose fitting skirt came to just above her knees and waved in the breeze as she moved. Her blouse offered a tastefully brief but enticing glimpse of her cleavage. Though Alex seemed to exude sex appeal, she conducted herself like a lady all evening.
Throughout the night several of my friends asked me the same question. "When are you going to ask her to marry you?"
I just smiled in response.
As the evening came to an end and the band played their last song, I danced Alex toward the clubhouse podium. When the music ended, I escorted her up onto the small stage. Almost as if on cue, everyone within earshot stopped whatever they were doing and gave their undivided attention to Alex and me.
I took her hands and looked into Alex's eyes. "Alex, you have been my girlfriend long enough. I think it's time we changed our relationship."
Poor Alex looked like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming truck. "Did I do something wrong, Jim?"
I then reached into my pocket and knelt in front of the most beautiful girl in the place.
Her mouth fell open.
I took her hand, looked up into her eyes, and said. "Alex Honey, you have done nothing wrong. As a matter of fact, you have done everything right. I hadn't felt really alive since my wife died. When you came into my life, I began to live again. I can't describe how it fills me with happiness to just be with you. I feel so full of life when you are near me." I released her hand, opened the small jewelry box I had been carrying all night. With both hands, I held it up to her. "I want to share this happiness with you now and forever. Alex Boyd, will you marry me?"
Alex stood looking down at me and covered her gaping mouth with shaking hands. Tears filled her eyes. With still shaking hands, my beautiful girlfriend reached out and took the jewelry box and the diamond ring it held from me. With a voice just above a whisper, Alex replied. "Yes, I will." Then she shouted while jumping in place. "YES JIM, I WILL MARRY YOU!"
I then stood, took the ring from its box, and slipped it onto the third finger of her left hand.
After looking at the ring on her finger for several seconds, Alex threw herself at me and proceeded to smother me with kisses.
Our friends gathered closer around us to offer their good wishes. They cleared away as the band played one more song just for Alex and me. Our friends cheered and applauded us as we held each other tight and danced alone. When the song ended, we made our way toward the door. Again, our friends surrounded us and continued to offer us their good wishes. They offered congratulations to me and jokingly, I hope, condolences to Alex.
When we finally reached our car it was a little past midnight. Alex laid a lip lock on me that was born of a hunger deep within her being. Before scooting over and putting on her seat belt, Alex whispered in my ear. "I love you so much, Jim. When we get home, I'm going to go wild and screw your brains out so you will never forget this night." She grinned from ear to ear and said. "Oh yeah, I need to call Mom."
"Alex Honey, it's after midnight. Do you really think you should call your mother at this time of night?" I asked.
"Hell yes! We promised to let her know if there was anything new didn't we? Besides, the worst we can do is wake up my father. Who the hell cares?" Alex then dialed her mother's number.
