By the end of this chapter, Linda and Dennis are going to have to face a big decision. What will Dennis do? Will he still go to Albany? It's going to be very difficult for them. Let's see what happens...
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After camp, I followed Linda home; it was Friday and her kids were with her ex, the scumbag. She couldn't stop him from seeing his kids without taking him to court, something she was reluctant to do, unless she had an indication he was hurting the children. When we got to her building, I told her to go up to her apartment and I went to the supermarket a block away to get some things, including for dinner that night. I bought a nice steak, a couple of baking potatoes, some fresh broccoli, and a few other things she told me she needed. And a bottle of wine at the liquor store a few stores down (in NY you can only by liquor and wine in liquor stores). When I got to her place, Linda had already showered and was in a comfortable robe.
I poured her a glass of wine while I put up the potatoes, then I took a shower and joined her on the couch. Linda leaned her head against my chest and had herself a good cry. I didn't say a word, I just let her cry herself out while I kept my arm tight around her. I didn't try to kiss her or make a sexually suggestive move. I was just a loving boyfriend that evening.
We ate a pretty quiet dinner. When we were done, I wouldn't let her help me clean up, I told her to just give me ten minutes and I'd be with her. We brought the rest of the wine into the living room and again cuddled together.
After a little while as we watched some television, Linda turned her head and kissed my cheek. "Thank you, Dennis, for making tonight easy on me. You haven't pushed me to talk, you haven't pushed me to do anything. You made us a nice dinner and cleaned up. You knew exactly how to treat me tonight. I can't believe you're only 19."
"Almost 20" I responded with a wry smile. "I guess I just felt you needed a little peace, but also a little affection. You can tell me I should go home tonight, Babe. I won't be offended. Or, if you want me to stay, we don't have to have sex. I can hold you and make you feel safe. We don't need to do anything more than that."
Linda looked upwards, into my eyes, and she stroked my chest and teased my chest hair. "I want you to stay, Baby. But I think sex is not in the cards, not tonight. We can take that day by day. Are you sure you're all right with that?" She searched my eyes.
"Honey, the most important thing to me is to spend time with you. As long as you want me to. The rest is not important for now. I love you, Linda. So very much." I kissed her forehead, just affectionately.
"I love you too, Baby. You make me feel loved and safe. Not many men have done that for me before, aside from my father. How about that, you're over ten years younger than I am, and I think you're the most mature and loving man I've ever known. It's a strange world sometimes."
"I'm not complaining. I'm as happy as I've ever been. So let the world be strange. We found each other at an unusual time for both of us. And it seems like we're both very happy about it."
We got into bed early that night, and, as Linda asked, there was no sex, but there was a lot of affection, and it was great. I spooned her and then held her to my chest. We didn't talk a lot, we just enjoyed being together. The rest of the weekend was the same. Saturday we saw a concert in Flushing Meadow Park, Sunday we went to a Mets game, and we just had fun in everything we did. There was no sex that weekend. She just wasn't up to it. I didn't mind. Sex was missing but love was very present at all times.
Sunday, as I was getting ready to go before Dave brought her kids home, Linda came up behind me while I was packing my bag. She wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed me tight. "You were wonderful this weekend. You were so good to me, Dennis. I promise I'll make this up to you. My very special man. I love you."
I turned around and held her, and we shared some very sweet kisses. "Wouldn't I have been a real bastard if I pushed you for sex when you weren't feeling in the mood? That not only wouldn't have been any fun, but it would have felt like I was being as cruel to you as your ex. We can wait, Babe. When you're ready."
"We don't have that long to wait, Dennis. Camp is over next week, then we're going away. And then before you know it, you'll be going away. The sweetest man I've ever known." Those tears were forming again.
"We still have time, Honey. We'll do the best we can. It's all we can do. I love you."
"And I love you. You'd better get going. I don't want you running into Dave."
"I don't either. I might decide to throttle him." I was kidding. Well, mostly. There was a small chance. Instead I picked up my bag and we said a long, romantic goodbye at the door. I left wishing I could have stayed that Sunday night. Hell, I wanted to stay every night.
When I got home, after having a rare dinner with my family and answering questions about what Linda and I did that weekend, I pulled my father aside and told him about how Linda's ex assaulted her. He first of all was worried about her health, then he worried for her safety.