Intimacy Awaits with the Help of a Shiny Red Apple
Intimacy Awaits with the Help of a Shiny Red Apple
And Grandma who will be part of the “Hannah Alfred” team
Ellie’s Story #33:
Recap for those just joining. Ellie is 40, a single mom with a high-functioning autistic child, Alfred. She is single because 17 years ago, the love of her life, David, died as a journalist in the field. Tom is Alfred’s Coach. (Book 1). In this book (#3), Tom and Ellie finally act on a relationship that has been simmering for so long. They must wade through taboos, fears, scars from the past, and their own deep connection in a mid-life coming-of-age story. Grandma, referred to in this chunk, is Ellie’s mom and a wise, capable grandmother.
I was still floating from our dinner two nights ago. Seeing how Tom related to everyone and made them feel heard reminded me of David. Somehow, I had fallen in love with two men with many of the same strengths.
For the first time in seventeen years, I counted myself lucky.
And luck would be my lady on another front. Alfred had told me they were nearing the end of writing the play and would begin casting and practicing next week.
“Dinner with Grandma and Coach turned out to be a major event for us, Mom. We were struggling with how to end the play, but when Grandma shared her story, we knew exactly where we wanted to go.”
“Which is?” I asked.
“We are going to have Grandma come in at the end and talk to the audience. It will be a soliloquy, and I think it will be moving. She is old and has learned a lot. She can share some of what she has learned with our friends.”
“And she has agreed?”
“Yes, but we need to get together and see what she wants to say, and then, if she needs, help her write it.”
Ever the logistics person, I had to ask, “When will you get together?”
Here, Alfred gave me a big smile.
“You won’t believe it, but Grandma invited us to her house for dinner — takeout — and a sleepover. That way, we can work as late as we need without worrying about how we get home.”
“That sounds like a plan. Do you have a date?”
“Mom, of course. I am your son, and I am an autistic kid where details mean everything. We will do this next Saturday night. That way, come Monday, we can start casting and getting production going.”
“Wow, Alfred, you already sound like a director to me…the way you talk. You will have to let us know when the play is actually scheduled. That way, I can give Coach plenty of notice to get it on his calendar.”
“Will do. It makes me happy that Coach wants to come. He really feels a connection to me, and Hannah, and even you.”
That made me smile — “even you.”
When I got to work, I found Penny in a very chatty and upbeat mood. I was guessing that things were progressing well with Louis.
“Ellie, I’ve got stuff to tell you before we buckle down and work.”
“I’m here,” I said. “Talk away.” And she did.
I heard how she and Louis had their coffee date, followed by an evening walk in the park. They had dinner together a few nights later.
“And now we’ve made plans to go see ‘Wicked,’ which is coming to town. It’s one of my very favorite musicals.”
“Mine too.”
“And Ellie, we shared a long kiss, so I think it’s about to get physical.”
I was happy to hear all of this and could only encourage her. I smiled.
“So, Penny, I think you are about to find out you really are a silver dollar.”
With that, Penny gave me a hug.
“Keep being my cheerleader. I need that, Ellie.”
I got through the day, did my work, and was excited to get home and let Tom know that Alfred would be away at Grandma’s next Saturday night. Suddenly, though, I didn’t want to wait until nighttime to tell him, so I texted him while at work to ask whether we could have coffee at Silkie’s.
Luck was still my lady because Tom was on his last client of the day.
This time, I was sitting at our booth when Tom walked in. Seeing him walk in always leaves me with the same impression. He carries so much warmth and confidence in his walk.
“Thanks for squeezing me in, Tom.”
“Ellie, I would always squeeze you in, and I’m not even going to discuss all the other ways I would want to squeeze you.”
That was lame humor, but I gave him a muted smile and a small chuckle.
“So, my news of the day is that Alfred and Hannah are spending Saturday night at my mom’s so that the three of them can work on the end of the play together.”
That news generated the biggest smile yet on Tom’s handsome face.
“You don’t say!”
“I do say!”
“Way to make my day — actually my week.”
We finished our late-day snack — tea and apple pie for me and coffee and a bagel for Tom — and then we did what has become our custom. We took our walk.
Spring was clearly in the air — crocuses and signs of early growth all around. We held hands as we walked the trail, and then, at some point in the middle, Tom stopped and turned toward me.
“Ellie, we have to wait a whole five days to spend the night together! That feels so long.”
He held my face in his hands and then leaned forward to give me the sweetest kiss in what was becoming our long line of kisses. His hands didn’t stay on my face for long, though. They roamed, and the more they roamed, the more I felt that five days was a long, long time.
“Tom, can we actually wait that long? I’m not sure I can.”
It was 4 o’clock, and Alfred would be home at around 5. We decided to head to Tom’s place, even though the time was short.
When we arrived at Tom’s, I noted his baby grand piano and a very clean and well-organized home. While I wanted to take it all in, I wanted Tom more. In what seemed like seconds, we ended up in his bedroom with a passion and speed that was a first for me.
“Ellie, I don’t want to make love now because I want to save the moment for Saturday night when we have the entire night and will enjoy the experience with leisure.”
I think I grumbled when he said that and said something like, “A slam bam sounds kinda good to me, Tom.” This made him laugh, but he also showed me a very good time. We explored and touched and caressed and licked and touched some more. At one point, Tom told me that I wasn’t just beautiful. “You are seriously hot!”
When I looked at my phone, I saw I had to leave.
“Our power hour is up, but you gave me some energy and fantasy points to carry me through the night, Tom.”
He laughed hard at that one. Neither of us wanted to separate, but we knew what we needed to do.
I gave Tom one last big embrace and headed home.
Alfred beat me home and was in his room engaging with Naruto. Even at 16, Alfred still needs Naruto to decompress from an overly intense day. When he finally came out, we chatted.
“Mom, I’m tired and don’t have much left in my tank.”
“No worries, Alfred. You don’t have to talk. You can eat and then go do whatever will help you.”
“Sounds like a game of chess, and I think today will be my lucky day,” Alfred laughed.
“Are you sure about that, Alfred? So far, it’s been a very lucky day for me.”
“Mom, I’m not sure, and I have no statistics to back it up, but it’s fun to talk about beating you. That’s what they call ‘talking smack.’ I’m too tired to ask how your luck showed up today, so we can save it for another time.”
After dinner, we played chess. Alfred won, as he thought he would. I could see that he was getting better, and my game was staying the same.
I wouldn’t be sharing why my day was lucky. That would stay between Tom and me.
After chess and clean-up, I headed to bed. I was tired and wanted to retreat to my thoughts of fantasy and Tom. Before I signed off for the night, I received an email from Tom.
Hey Ellie,
I just want to thank you for making time for me and giving me a gift like none other. I had wondered whether, when we finally started to physically explore each other, would we enjoy ourselves as much as I hoped. I think you know the answer to that. The heat we generated will keep me warm all week — and it’s only our start.
Love you…
"I am an autistic kid where details mean everything." Details mean everything when writing history, and that was why I was attracted to it as a subject and now am an M.A. in it.