Four Hundred Seventy Five

Four Hundred Seventy Five
"Aint shit"! Kenny laughs. "Jonathan wanted to take you out on a date", he laughs.

"A date"?

"Yes... just the two of you, and I wanted to see if Cecily would like to come over. Heather is making pot roast tonight and she wanted to come over and hang, but that damn field trip messed that all up".

"Ummmm..... I don't know", Cecily stammers.

"Alicia, Jonathan needs to tell you something important", Kenny smiles.

"What is it"?

"Nah.... that is what the date is for"!

"The kids are coming home this evening", she says.

"Ok... how about this? Heather and the kids come over and she cooks here. We will all have dinner together. Jonathan can whisk you away for a bit while dinner is cooking. Cecily can help us with making the dinner".

"I would love to help", Cecily smiles.

"Then it's settled"! Kenny claps. "We will be here around six. What time does the hellions get back with Teresa"?

"Around eight", Alicia nods.

"That's perfect. You two will be back by then. We will have the food ready, and then that way we can all eat together, and just chill... and it's a great way to intorduce Cecily to our crazy ass family".

"Sounds great", she smiles.

"Are you sure you're okay with that Cecily"? Alicia looks worried and Cecily gives her a sincere smile.

"Yes. Like I said I already like Heather. And I think I would feel a lot less awkward if she's around... and Kenny... and you two... when I meet everyone else".

"Well that settles it"! Kenny nods. "I will call Jeanette and Jameson and they can bring Avery".

Alicia looks a bit nervous and she grabs my hand. We go into the laundry room.

"I just wanted to take you out someplace", I smile.

"It's rather sudden".

"Well thats part of romance", I laugh. "Being impulsive, and tomorrow is Monday. I just want some time alone with you before we get caught up in the hectic week we are about to have with school and work and... everything. Please say yes".

"Well of course. What should i wear"?

"Hmmm... your usual jeans and stuff. Make sure you bring a coat though", I smile.

"Ok.... are you sure everything is okay"???

"A date with the most beautiful woman I know. Everything couldn't be more perfect.

I will pick you up at 5:30".

"Pick me up"?

"For our date, Alicia".

"You're really gonna treat this as a date/ date"?

"It is, hon".

I kiss her forehead and she and Cecily head upstairs.

"I can help you get ready", Cecily laughs. "This is gonna be so cool".

........

"Are you sure you are gonna be okay for a few hours. I don't want to abandon you you're still adjusting."
"I will be fine Alicia. I promise. Like I said, Heather will be here, and I like her a lot. And Kenny is cool".
"We won't be gone no longer than two hours, but if you need me for anything you call me".
"I will, but I really don't think I will need anything. I really want to explore your bookshelves. If I feel overwhelmed I will just curl up with a book. I can sketch... and I have an awesome tv in my room."
"I can tell Jonathan that we can do this tomorrow night instead."
"Nah... that guy is nuts about you." She sits on my bed and hugs her knees to her chest.
"I'm nuts about him, too," I blush.
"How did you two meet"?
"Well... his father was a client of mine when I had my advertising company. I was supposed to have a meeting with his father, but Jonathan took the meeting in his place."
"Ooooh... interesting," she giggles.
"Yeah. The funny thing was that my ex boyfriend dumped me the day before."
"Whoa! Talk about perfect timing."
"I was feeling pretty dejected that morning for sure."
"Was it like love at first sighs?" she asks.
"I was immediately drawn to him. I mean look at him," I giggle.
"The end of the meeting he shook my hand and it was like I just knew."
"You felt that spark?" she asks.
"Yes. He felt it too I guess..."
"Well then what happened? I'm like really into this story."
"He was a liasion for his father's law firm and we met quite often to go over the campaign. He kept asking me out and I kept refusing."
"How come?"
"I came from an abusive family and... I was messed up. I had problems and I didn't want to bring him into my mess," I sigh.
"What problems?"
"I was addicted to drugs. Really heavily. And emotionally I was a fucking mess. Turns out he was battling demons, too."
"He was an addict too?"
"Yeah, and alcohol."
"So you two wanted to be together but you two were.... wow. Life is so unfair sometimes," she whispers.
"It is indeed."
"So how did you two finally end up together?"
"Well after about 2 months of fighting it we just... we tried dating, but it just didn't work out. I was too messed up with cocaine and Xanax. I didn't want to get clean, and my father was breathing down my neck... and Jonathan and his father... were dealing with a whole lifetime of crap... then Avery's mother revoked Jonathan's visitation and he was so far gone with his own addiction. All of these outside forces kept us apart.
One night, I was in a really dark place. I was depressed and alone. I really reached bottom, and he did too. We ran into eachother in a bar. He took me home and it started to snow. He got snowbound here for 3 days."
"And you two finally got together. I can see why this place holds meaning. It's where you two began."
"We made a promise to eachother to get clean once the snow let up. But our last night together some things happened, and he and I ended up on a bender... he felt so awful. He broke up with me."
"Oh no."
"He left to go to rehab and he got clean. I fell hard and almost killed myself. I went to rehab for 2 months."
"How did you two get back together?"
"He came back to me once his 60 days hit and...."
"Here you are," she smiles.
"We've been through so much, Cecily. I got pregnant with Estella. We had a horrible time with my parents and his ex wife. He almost died trying to protect me, then I almost lost him to cancer. I almost died then I got sick.... lost a baby. I honestly don't know how to navigate a life without him."
"He is your soul mate. He really really loves you, Alicia. And it seems you two always defy the odds. I mean he helped me because he loves you that much. I hope one day I will find someone like that for sure."
I think you will. Without the addiction and crazy family part," laugh.
"So we need to make sure you are extra pretty for your date tonight."