Read Until the End of Time Online
Authors: Melanie Schuster
Until the End of Time (13 page)
Standing in the card section of Target, Renee wanted to slap herself silly. She and Yolanda had been working on these issues for so long, and she was about to lose it in Target because she had bought a few CDs for a nice man. She found herself repeating some of Yolanda’s words of wisdom to keep her in the moment.
“
It’s her life, not yours. Every story does not have a sad ending, or a happy one. You write your own ending. Each situation is different. You deserve happiness,” she murmured. And out of the blue came another thought. “Andrew would never, ever hurt me,” she said aloud. It was absurd to be having startling flashes of insight in a discount store, but there you have it. It doesn’t matter when the knowledge comes as long as it gets there.
It’s her life, not yours. Every story does not have a sad ending, or a happy one. You write your own ending. Each situation is different. You deserve happiness,” she murmured. And out of the blue came another thought. “Andrew would never, ever hurt me,” she said aloud. It was absurd to be having startling flashes of insight in a discount store, but there you have it. It doesn’t matter when the knowledge comes as long as it gets there.
***
The combination welcome home and birthday party qualified as a complete success except for the grating presence of Dana Pierson, at least that was Andrew’s opinion. The woman was fast on her way to becoming a pest. In a burst of prescience, Andrew had cornered his younger brother Adam and asked him to perform a huge favor. The two men were in the side yard of the huge house occupied by their brother Andre and his wife Tina.
“
Adam, please keep this woman off me today. No matter what you have to do, stay between the two of us, okay? Use all of your so-called charm and keep her occupied,” Andrew pleaded.
Adam, please keep this woman off me today. No matter what you have to do, stay between the two of us, okay? Use all of your so-called charm and keep her occupied,” Andrew pleaded.
Adam was vastly amused. He was the next- to- youngest Cochran brother, and derived the standard amount of entertainment from his brother’s romantic life. Although Andrew didn’t currently have a romantic life that Adam knew of, so he didn’t see what the big deal was.
“
Okay, so she’s this reporter who you won’t see too much of anyway since she lives in California. So what’s the problem?” he asked. “I’m not saying I won’t do it, I just want to know why I am being forced to prostitute myself in this manner,” he finished grandly.
Okay, so she’s this reporter who you won’t see too much of anyway since she lives in California. So what’s the problem?” he asked. “I’m not saying I won’t do it, I just want to know why I am being forced to prostitute myself in this manner,” he finished grandly.
It was a mark of how serious Andrew was that he didn’t even pay attention to the prostitute comment. He was totally honest with Adam. “It’s because I don’t want her up in my face making Renee uncomfortable. They didn’t take to each other too well for one thing, and Dana has the wrong idea about me for another. I have no interest in her at all.”
Adam was so surprised to speak for a moment. “You…and
Renee
? Renee Kemp? The same Renee that you have been fighting with for years?
That
Renee?”
Renee
? Renee Kemp? The same Renee that you have been fighting with for years?
That
Renee?”
Andrew nodded his head. “Yes, that Renee. And I’d appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut. We’re just kind of keeping it between us for right now.”
Adam didn’t want to disabuse his brother of the notion that he had a secret, but Adam had suspected for years that there was potentially more to the Renee and Andrew story than either one of them let on. Grown people didn’t spend so much time picking at each other unless there were some other emotions there. Looking at the smile on his brother’s face, Adam was truly glad they had started to act on the fact. But that didn’t stop him from a little familial blackmail. “I don’t know, Bunchy, that’s a mighty big secret to keep. I mean, this is some fascinating news, bro. If word of this got out, it’d make for some good gossip for weeks and weeks,” he mused. Andrew squinted at Adam with little liking. “I might’ve known you couldn’t be trusted. What do you want, you opportunist?”
Adam pretended to think for a moment. Then, as if it had just occurred to him, he snapped his fingers and said brightly, “The use of your car. One week for blocking Dana, and one week for keeping my mouth shut.” Andrew groaned, because he knew it would mean that he would be driving Adam’s Range Rover for two weeks. As an architect and builder, Adam needed something roomy to carry around loads of necessary effluvia. As a Cochran, he needed to do it with style. Unfortunately, the style and beauty of the SUV was lost in the fact that it rode as though it was on the plains of the Serengeti where it belonged. Andrew hated the damned thing. He was about to start bargaining anew when Donnie, their youngest brother, joined them.
Adam seized the advantage by jumping in with both feet. “Donnie, guess what? Andrew is letting me use his car for two weeks. Isn’t that nice of him?” he asked in a voice of pure innocence.
Donnie looked from brother to brother and immediately surmised that something was afoot. “What’s he got on you, man? You should have come to me. I’d have only kept it for a week.”
Andrew shook his head in despair and started around the corner of the house. “Just do what I asked you to do and there won’t be any trouble.” Adam just laughed his butt off, to Donnie’s mystification. And due to everyone’s best efforts, there were very few rough spots. It was a most congenial group that convened in the beautifully arranged backyard setting. It was mostly immediate family. Andrew’s father, Big Benny Cochran, a legend in urban broadcasting, was there with his lovely fiancée, Martha. Of course there were Bennie and Clay, and the other Cochran twins, Alan and Andre and their wives and children. Renee rounded out the group, with Donnie and Adam. Donnie had a date, Aneesah. Other than that, the only person without a family connection was Dana. She was not the least bit shy about it, either. Renee didn’t revise her Safari Barbie assessment of Miss Dana one iota when she showed up in an animal print short set and the variety of laced sandal that used to be in vogue some years before. They were apparently making a comeback.
Renee, on the other hand, was cool and lovely in a constructed sundress that bared her shoulders and back while revealing only a hint of cleavage. It was an unusual shade of jade green, and the tight bodice flowed smoothly down to her hips before flaring out into a full skirt that was almost ankle length. The straps met behind her neck in a bow that was as feminine as it was sexy. Andrew tortured himself all afternoon by imagining the bow coming loose in his hand. She also had on a pair of little mules with French heels, the kind that accentuated her ankles and drove Andrew mad. And she smelled divine, as usual. Renee was looking luscious enough to distract Andrew from the food, which was quite a feat. He was a dedicated omnivore as was the rest of his family. He would eat any and everything, although that was not difficult with the array of appetizing dishes that were served. There was grilled chicken and smoked brisket, as well as fresh green beans cooked southern style with onions and new potatoes. There was also potato salad and coleslaw as well as fruit salad and sliced tomatoes. Andrew was particularly partial to the fried corn and coleslaw, both of which he knew Renee had made. He said as much to her, surprising her with his knowledge of her cooking. “Yours just tastes different, that’s all. Nobody makes it quite the way you do,” he said honestly.
Renee was touched that he had noticed. She was a good country cook when she got in the kitchen, which wasn’t often. The look of gratitude and satisfaction on Andrew’s face gave her the notion that cooking more often might not be a bad habit to cultivate.
Dana did her best to monopolize Andrew’s attention, but she was failing miserably. Not only was Adam running interference as promised, but Andrew had eyes only for Renee. At every opportunity he was cornering her in the kitchen or the sun porch or some other secluded place trying to kiss her. It was silly; sweet and overheated in the way of a teenaged romance. Renee kept laughing and pushing him away, but every time his hands or lips connected with her body she would fairly sizzle. Thank goodness, no one seemed to notice their frequent absences except the eagle-eyed Dana.
If Adam had been truly interested in Dana, he would have found her distraction to be annoying. Adam was as tall and handsome as the rest of his brothers, and downright sexy with his hair in a long ponytail. He was arguably the most creative of the Cochrans and certainly the most avant-garde in appearance. But Dana was not interested. She had apparently set her cap for Andrew and was not about to take no for an answer. She finally managed to break away from Adam and insinuate herself into a position at the table where Renee and Andrew were playing cards with Aneesah and Donnie.
Donnie made the forgivable but regrettable mistake of asking Dana what she did for a living, and Dana was happy to regale them with tale after tale of her glamorous life. Renee gritted her teeth silently and tried to ignore the woman. But Dana wasn’t having it. After having told every Dana Pierson Girl Reporter story she could come up with, she turned to Renee and asked her what she did for a living. Renee looked at her through her dark glasses, which she had hastily put on so that her disdain would not be visible. Dana knew perfectly well that she owned Urban Oasis—she had heard Bennie telling her so the previous day. What was she trying to prove? After Renee referenced the spa, she got her answer.
Dana leaned forward and conspiratorially touched Andrew’s arm. “Well you two are just polar opposites, aren’t you? I mean, Andrew rebuilds people’s faces and gives them a whole new life, and you give them a temporary illusion of beauty. Isn’t that ironic?” she trilled. Renee could feel a slow burning starting in her chest and it had nothing to do with indigestion. Out and out rudeness was a difficult thing to deal with. On the one hand, she didn’t want to whack the woman in front of witnesses. On the other hand, she wasn’t good at the kind of polished retort that Bennie would use. Bennie could rip a person’s legs off verbally and they would smile and say thank you when she was done. She, on the other hand, would leave them crumpled and bleeding. Renee had just opened her mouth to reply when Sandra came over to tell them that the cake was being brought out.
Saved by a pound cake
, was all Renee could think. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she had opened her mouth little Miss Safari Barbie would’ve been as dead as if she had been attacked by a jungle predator.
Saved by a pound cake
, was all Renee could think. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that if she had opened her mouth little Miss Safari Barbie would’ve been as dead as if she had been attacked by a jungle predator.
After blowing out the token two candles on the cake and opening presents, Andrew was ready to call it a day. He loved his family dearly and was truly pleased with the party, but he wanted to be alone with Renee. He waited until he saw her heading into the kitchen with an empty pitcher and followed her.
“
Meet me at my house in about an hour? Please?” He breathed into her ear as he kissed her along her neck.
Meet me at my house in about an hour? Please?” He breathed into her ear as he kissed her along her neck.
All the tension of the Dana incident eased away as she felt his soft lips on her nape. “Well,” she pretended to think about it. “I guess I could manage to stop by in a while.” She lowered her lashes and smiled.
“
An hour?” he repeated, kissing her temple.
An hour?” he repeated, kissing her temple.
“
Half-hour,” she whispered. “Maybe 15 minutes if you keep doing that.” And once again they were kissing wildly, this time observed by three inquisitive sets of eyes.
Half-hour,” she whispered. “Maybe 15 minutes if you keep doing that.” And once again they were kissing wildly, this time observed by three inquisitive sets of eyes.
Lillian turned to her brothers with a look of satisfaction. “I tol’ you. They
were
kissin’. They’re in love but it’s a
secret
.”
were
kissin’. They’re in love but it’s a
secret
.”
Chapter Seven
Out of the mouths of babes often come the most profound truths. Renee wasn’t ready to give her relationship with Andrew a name, but it was certainly fulfilling. What had transpired the day of the party at his duplex was the true beginning of whatever was going on between them. Renee had arrived at Andrew’s home bearing another gift, this time a homemade pound cake. Andrew was particularly passionate about pound cake in general and Renee’s in specific. When she made the cake for the party she had made another one just for him. She presented it to him with a flourish and a bottle of champagne for them to enjoy later.
Andrew was moved by the sweet gesture, but then again, he’d been moved by the entire day. He told Renee that it was the nicest birthday that he could remember, and it was because she was celebrating it with him. The simple words put a huge smile on her face, one that she didn’t try to disguise. Maybe it was because of their long history or because of all her hard work with Yolanda, but Renee was finding it very easy to connect with Andrew. They went to sit out on the deck that he had built in the back of the duplex.
The huge deck offered a lot of privacy since there was a high partition between the two back doors. So each tenant had an opportunity to relax and enjoy a portion of the nicely kept backyard without worrying about disturbing or being disturbed by a neighbor. Andrew seldom used the yard due to his over-committed schedule, so this was a rare treat for him. Plus, his tenant was out of town, which made it all the nicer. It was just he and Renee with his new CDs playing softly and the sweet summer evening surrounding them. They were sitting side by side in a huge Adirondack style recliner that was extremely comfortable as well as intimate. Andrew was playing with Renee’s hand, enjoying the feel of her long, cool fingers entwined with his.
“
I want to ask you a question about something that’s probably none of my business,” he said. “In fact, I know it’s not my business but I want to know the answer anyway. Is that offensive?”
I want to ask you a question about something that’s probably none of my business,” he said. “In fact, I know it’s not my business but I want to know the answer anyway. Is that offensive?”
Renee was feeling so mellow that she just shrugged. “Go ahead and ask. If I don’t want to tell you, I won’t,” was all she said.
Andrew plunged ahead. “Okay, then, I got the impression that you weren’t comfortable around Dana. You know me well enough to know that I would have no lasting interest in someone like that, so it’s kind of hard for me to believe that you were jealous, flattering though that may be.” He paused to wince, since Renee elbowed him sharply just about then.
“
What I want to know, Renee, is what was going on in that convoluted little mind of yours regarding Dana?” Andrew asked curiously. Renee sighed briefly. Normally she would have told him that he was full of it and refused to answer such a demeaning question, but for some reason she was willing to discuss it with him.
What I want to know, Renee, is what was going on in that convoluted little mind of yours regarding Dana?” Andrew asked curiously. Renee sighed briefly. Normally she would have told him that he was full of it and refused to answer such a demeaning question, but for some reason she was willing to discuss it with him.
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