Reflections - Part Two
"Nothing is wrong. Nothing is wrong," Shawn kept repeating those words until they became rhythmic. Chaz could feel her heart match the beat of his words.
Shawn cupped one of her breasts through the bra, evoking a deep moan from Chaz. He reached around her body to the hooks. In one swift movement they were loose. Slowly, carefully, Shawn slid the bra off of Chaz, watching her face for reaction. She blinked several times but her eyes never left his face.
Shawn leaned to her and covered her right nipple with his mouth. His hand fondled the other breast tenderly. Chaz moaned again. Never before had she felt such pleasure. Nothing mattered at that moment but Shawn and her.
His mouth left her breast and she thought she would cry. Watching him, she saw him remove his briefs and meet her eyes.
"I'm gonna go slow. I don't want to hurt you. Just tell me if you want me to stop."
Mindlessly, Chaz nodded her understanding. Shawn parted her legs and she could feel him entering her. She winced from the uncomfort and searched for his eyes. Finding them she saw tenderness and (dare she hope) love.
Shawn slowly came to a stop when his hips rested on hers. Slowly, he started to move in and out of her. He built up speed as he moved and Chaz could feel she was close to orgasm.
"Faster," she murmured. The pain had lessened, dulled by the pleasure.
Shawn obliged and started pumping faster and faster. Chaz tangled her fingers in his hair and closed her eyes.
With a scream and a moan they climaxed together. Sweat glistened on both of their naked bodies. Shawn rolled beside Chaz, eyes slightly glazed. Chaz caught her breath and looked over at Shawn. "Happy Birthday, baby," she murmured. His eyes focused on her and they both started to laugh. They lay there, silent just holding each other for who knows how long before Shawn finally spoke.
"I don't want to, but I think it's about time to get you back."
"Ohh. I don't wanna go back I wanna stay here."
"I want to stay here too, but your uncle will have my ass if I don't get you back."
"Uncle Vince? He's a teddy bear," Chaz laughed.
"Yeah. A teddy bear with teeth and claws that seems to be very protective of his gorgeous niece."
Shawn brushed a hair back from her face, and groaning, sat up, reaching for his clothes.
"Do you have to get dressed?"
Shawn slipped on his briefs and looked at her. Her brown eyes were filled with mischief and humor. Her lips were curved into a smile. How could she have mesmerized him so much so fast? He didn't know but he was hooked.
"Yeah. I think it'll go a little smoother with Vince if I don't show up buck naked."
Chaz sighed heavily and reluctantly got dressed. She didn't want the feeling ever to end. She had fallen so hard for Shawn and she barely knew him. She'd memorized every beautifully sculpted inch of his form and committed it to memory. Never knew what the future held.
~~~~~
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH HIM? I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SEE HIM AGAIN!!!" Vince's voice echoed in the brightly lit foyer of the mansion.
Chaz winced at the volume of her uncle's voice. Shawn had wanted to walk her to the door and she'd agreed. She wished she hadn't when her uncle had yanked the door open just as she and Shawn were about to kiss. He'd calmly, but firmly asked both of them into the house before letting them have it.
"Uncle Vince..."
"DON'T GIVE ME ANY EXCUSES!"
"Vince, it wasn't her fault. I just.."
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, NOW!" Vince shouted then his voice took on a low growl, "I don't want to say anything I'm going to regret, so leave. I don't want you anywhere near my niece. Do I make myself clear?"
Chaz could feel tears well up in her eyes. Behind her uncle, she saw that both Shane and her Aunt Linda were standing. Linda looked slightly embarrassed of her husband's outburst but Shane...Shane was unreadable.
"With all due respect, I will leave your house but I'm not going to stay away from Chaz," Shawn's hand brushed Chaz's softly.
"LEAVE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE!!" Vince roared, yanking the door open and thrust his arm outward.
"Uncle Vince, let me explain..."
"CHAZITY RENEE WALKER, YOU ARE UNDER MY ROOF NOW. YOU WILL FOLLOW MY RULES OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY!"
"Dad, you don't have to yell," Shane piped in. "Shawn's leaving and I'm gonna walk Chazi up to her room. It's late and we're all tired. Let's talk about this in the morning."
"I'm with jun...Shane on this one," Shawn said.
Vince sighed. He didn't want to give in, Chaz could tell, but he nodded and reluctantly he left the foyer for his study.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" Chaz said turning to Shawn, tears still in her eyes
"Beautiful, you will see me any damn time you want. Got it?"
"Got it."
Shawn brushed her cheek softly with the back of his hand. "Don't cry angel You wouldn't want to get those beautiful cheeks of yours wet."
Chaz managed a smile and watched as he left. He didn't even kiss me, she thought. Aunt Linda and Shane are here but he doesn't seem like the type to be shy.
With a troubled mind and heavy thoughts, Chaz ascended the stairs for bed
Chaz couldn't sleep. She found herself tossing and turning, tears streaking down her cheeks. Finally she decided just to give up and head down to the kitchen for something to eat.
Looking at her clock, she saw it was nearly 3 but she hadn't eaten much at supper. She had been to excited about the party. Yeah some party. She'd come to the conclusion that Shawn had invited her to take advantage of her ignorance of men and general naivete. Why else would he want her to come?
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she saw the light in Vince's study was still on. What was he still doing awake? Usually he was the first in bed at night and the first to rise in the morning.
Tentatively, Chaz tiptoed to the half open door and knocked softly.
"Come in," the weak reply came.
Chaz pushed the door open and found her uncle on his lush, black leather couch, glasses on, looking through some old photos. Mostly ones of Shane, Stephanie and her when they were younger.
"Come here, Chazity," Vince said softly, patting the couch beside him.
Chaz obliged and sat next to him. "I want to first of all apologize. I shouldn't have yelled. I have a tendency to yell first and ask questions later. But I'm just concerned for your well being, that's what I care about. I don't care if you wanted to stay at the party later. That doesn't bother me. But you should have let Shane stay like he offered."
Chaz blinked softly. "Like he offered?"
"Yes, Shane told me how you and Shawn were talking and that you didn't want to leave with him at midnight. I can understand that. I was young once. Of course that was back before telephones." Vince laughed heartily. "I would have appreciated a phone call. I wouldn't have worried so much had I heard it from you."
Chaz couldn't believe it. Shawn and her had set him up and still he was looking out for her.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Vince," she waited and then, "Did you mean what you said about Shawn?" "Sweetheart, I would rather you didn't see him but I won't do anything to stand in your way. It's obvious he cares for you."
"Really?"
"Chazity, it's as obvious as the nose on his face. He really does see that special something in you that all of us knew about," Vince set the photos aside and opened his arms for a hug.
With a smile, she all but dove into his arms. She had always loved getting hugs from Uncle Vince, from the time she was very young. He had been her only father figure after her own father had left when she was 6. Vince always made her feel like she was special. And he had told her once, he thought of her as more a daughter than a niece anyway.
"Now, what are you doing up so late? You should be sawing logs," Vince said, still hugging her.
"I couldn't sleep. I didn't get much to eat."
"Well, there are some brownies in there that are supposed to be a surprise but I won't tell that we were in them if you won't."
Chaz laughed and pulled back. "Okay. Chocolate sounds good."
With smiles on their faces, Chaz and Vince made their way arm in arm into the kitchen.
~~~~~~
After talking with Vince for nearly an hour over brownies and milk, Chaz went upstairs and fell into a deep sleep. The next thing she knew, there was another body laying in her bed with an arm draped across her stomach.
Opening her eyes, she saw Shawn, staring at her. He smiled brightly when he saw her eyes open.
"Hey, beautiful."
"What are you doing here? Vince is gonna kill you if he finds you up here."
"Vince is out at the moment. We've got the house virtually to ourselves."
"How did you get in here?"
"Through the door. Junior let me in."
"Shane. I've got to talk to Shane. Is he still here?"
Shawn pouted. "You've got me alone, in your bed, and all you can think about is talking to Shane?"
"He saved my ass last night. I need to thank him. Then?I'm yours for the day." Chaz smiled.
"My lady's wish, is my command. But can I get a kiss from my lady first?"
"Hon, I would but?you really wouldn't enjoy it right now. I'm gonna go brush my teeth and get dressed and go talk to Shane."
"Then?" Shawn asked.
"Then?I'm all yours."
"How did I get to be such a lucky man?"
"Right place at the right time is my guess," Chaz quipped, wondering how she could ever doubt Shawn's motives.
"You are so?there aren't enough words in any language to describe you. You amaze me."
Chaz winked at him.
"You know what? I think you should go brush your teeth and forget about getting dressed.. You'll end up naked anyway."
"What are you? Some kind of nympho?"
"Maybe." Shawn's index finger danced over Chaz's cheek and down her arm.
"Are you trying to seduce me, Mr. Hickenbottom?"
"Is it working Miss Walker?"
Chaz smiled and nodded. "You are such a bad influence on me. I don't believe it."
Shawn waggled his eyebrows, "So go brush your teeth so we can?"
"Shawn!" Chaz hissed, giggling, "we're in my uncle's house."
"So. He's not here."
"Don't be so sure, Shawn."
Chaz bristled at the sound of her uncle's voice. Turning her head, she saw both Vince and her cousin, Stephanie standing at the door. Vince looked like he was struggling to keep his temper under control.
"Vince," Shawn leapt from the bed, straightening his khaki shorts, "this isn't what it looks like."
"It looks like you were lying in bed with my niece."
"Okay, it is what it looks like but?We didn't do anything."
"Chazity, could you go with Stephanie to her room? I need to speak with Shawn for a moment."
Chaz opened her mouth to speak but seeing the anger on Vince's face, she shut her mouth and obliged.
"So?" Stephanie bubbled as soon as the two were in her room and the door was closed.
"So, what?"
"Don't make me beg, Chaz. What's going on with you and Shawn?"
"Oh. I don't know. He does seem like a fine young man," Chaz stated in a faux English accent.
"Chazity! Did you and he?you know?do it?"
"Do what?"
Stephanie threw her goose feather pillow at her cousin.
"Stephanie, you don't tell me every detail of your sex life. Why should I tell you mine?"
"First of all?I don't have a sex life. Second, I'm completely jealous that you do. Third?please, I'm dying to know. Did you and Shawn?"
Chaz bit her lip and raised her eyebrows. Stephanie squealed.
"Oh my God you did. I can't believe it. I'm around him for all this time and you come in yesterday and manage to sleep with him. I hate you."
"Oh, Stephie, I hate you too," Chaz giggled.
The girls plopped on Stephanie's pink canopy bed and caught up on old times. Chaz and Stephanie had been best friends all their lives. Neither girl seemed to be able, or willing, to build any friendships with other girls, for one reason or another. But with each other, it was as if they all ready had the foundation with little work.
"So, he took you to a meadow? You didn't do it in, like, a bed?" Stephanie asked.
"Nope. We 'did it' in a meadow."
"You are soo lucky. Guys don't even look twice at me."
"That's because Uncle Vince would rip their eyes out. If he's this protective with his niece, I can only imagine what it's like to be his daughter," Chaz laughed.
"You know, that's true. I am his precious baby girl. Always have been, probably always will be."
A knock interrupted the girls conversation. "May I come in?" Shane's voice was muffled through the door.
"Come on in," Stephanie hollered and Shane walked through the door, a solemn expression on his face.
Chaz beamed brightly at her cousin. "I need to thank you. You really saved my ass last night."
Shane's expression didn't change. His brown eyes were serious, no sign of humor lay in their depths.
Chaz stood and walked to him. "Shane? What's wrong? What is it?"
"I'm sorry, Chazi. I couldn't save your ass this time."
"What do you mean?"
"Dad's on a rampage. He told Shawn that if he steps foot anywhere near you or even talks to you he'll fire him on the spot."
"That's all? Shane, Dad always gets like that every once in a while," Stephanie said.
"No, that's not all. Chazi, I'm so sorry. He talked to your mom and they both think it's best?.God I hate this."
"Think it's best what?" Chaz said.
"They want you to go back to California with your mom. They said that you're too young to be involved with Shawn and it would be best for you to be away from Shawn."
"WHAT?!?! They can't do this! No! I'm not going!" Chaz protested.
"Chazi. I tried to talk to Dad?He's a little unreasonable at the moment."
"Well so am I damn it! I'm 17 years old. I'm not some little kid they can ship back and forth at whim. I need to have a talk with your father. I can't believe they would do something like this and then send you in to do their dirty work."
Chaz stormed past Shane into the hallway. She was determined to find her uncle and talk to him. Why does this surprise me she wondered silently. Vince had always had the tendency to make decisions on the spot. What surprised her was the severity of his decision. Wouldn't forbidding Shawn to come near her be enough? Why did he have to ship her back to California?
Chaz ran into her uncle and Shawn at the door. Shawn gave her the saddest look she'd ever seen. Sorrow and pain dwelled in those blue-green eyes.
"Chaz, I wanted to apologize," he murmured.
"Apologize? For what?" Chaz couldn't believe the words she was hearing.
"I took advantage of you and that was wrong of me. I'm sorry," Shawn could literally feel his heart breaking as he spoke the words he knew would devastate. He had no other choice.
"Shawn? You didn't take advantage of me?why would you think that?"
"Shawn, you were leaving," Vince said, firmly.
"Yeah, I'm going," Shawn mumbled. With one last look at Chaz, Shawn walked out the door and out of Chaz's life. He would always and forever think of Chaz as the one who broke the Heart Break Kid's own heart.
Shawn's actions took the wind out of Chaz. She'd come down to give her uncle a piece of her mind and now she didn't think she could manage a sentence if she tried. Shawn didn't even attempt to fight for her.
"Chazity.." Vince started.
"Damn you," Chaz hissed angrily, sprinting up the stairs and into the room she'd barely spent one night in. Both Shane and Stephanie were in there on the bed.
"Chazi," Shane muttered softly.
"He didn't even fight for me," Chaz managed before breaking down into hysterics.
Shane rushed to Chaz and enveloped her in a protective hug. Stephanie came beside Chaz and joined the hug. Though the hug was warm and Chaz could feel the love of her cousins, somehow there was a place inside her that had grown cold. Perhaps it would never be warm again. "Sweetie, I'm sure he wanted to," Stephanie added, tears welling in her own eyes. How could her father do this? Wasn't as obvious to him as it was to her that Chaz was in love?
"Yeah, you know how Dad can be," Shane said. He could have killed both Shawn and his father at that moment. How could they hurt Chazi like that?
Chazi shook her head solemnly. If Shawn didn't want to fight for her, she wasn't going to cry over him. Vince had acted rashly but maybe he was right. Maybe she was too young to deal with men. Maybe she should just become a nun and get it over with.
She packed her things and left that very day. Little did she know at the time, that nine months later she would have a baby?Shawn's baby.
~~~~~~
"MOMMY!" Meg's shouting snapped Chaz out of her reminiscence, making her wonder how long she'd tried to get her attention. Meg wasn't much for raising her voice.
"What is it baby?"
"I need help with my bag. It's not big enough. Pooh won't fit."
Chaz sighed. Knowing Meg, she would be trying to fit everything in her room in the small pink duffel bag. With a slight smile, Chaz went to join her daughter in her room.
Chapter 6
After convincing Meg that she wouldn't need her whole Barbie collection and that eventually, during the weekend she would have to change clothes, they were off. When the plans were actually underway and both were on the plane heading to Connecticut, Chaz began having second thoughts. Did she really want to go? Had she forgiven Vince?
She hadn't had a chance to forgive her mother; she had been killed in an accident 3 weeks after Chaz returned to California, without even knowing Chaz was pregnant. Chaz had spent most of her pregnancy with her paternal grandfather that lived just outside of Death Valley. Chaz hated living with Grandfather. He took every chance he could to berate her. Calling her slut and whore, just hoping to get a rise out of her. Whenever, Chaz did snap back, her words were met with a fist. Chaz learned early on to ignore her grandfather's words, for fear one of his blows would cause her to miscarry.
Chaz waited as patiently as was possible until her 18th birthday and moved out on her own. It had been hard. Not too many places wanted to hire an eighteen year old high school drop out who was 7 months pregnant. Luckily for her, she had a few friends who were willing to let her sleep on their couches during the rough times.
There was a time, as she neared the end of her term, that Chaz considered giving Meg up for adoption. Surely there were loving parents out there that would be more than happy to adopt Meg. But the further along Chaz went, the more she felt connected to Meg. Meg was and forever would be her daughter. She may not have had much but she would do her damnedest to provide for Meg. When Meg was born, there was no doubt in Chaz's mind what she would be named. Megan Michaela Walker. Megan had always been a name Chaz had picked out for a daughter. And Michaela in honor of her father, for as much as Chaz condemned him for what he did to her, she worshiped him for helping her to create her daughter.
Meg wasn't a fussy baby and most who knew her adored her. She would lay for hours in someone's arms without so much as a peep. Chaz had found work as a waitress in a seedy bar that kept her away nights. The first months nearly killed Chaz. She adored Meg. Everything she did was perfection. Never in Chaz's mind, had Meg caused her a moment's trouble. The only trouble was leaving her.
The bar was shut down soon after Chaz began working there but the owner of the building had told her of his plans for opening another bar there, a classier joint, as he put it and asked her if she would be interested in working there. Chaz agreed, ecstatic that she hadn't had to call her uncle for money. That was one thing she swore she'd never do.
Snake Eyes opened its doors the day before Chaz's 20th birthday. At Snake Eyes, Chaz earned enough money to rent a modest apartment for her and Meg and live comfortably. Although she hadn't planned on working as a waitress, Chaz soon settled into the idea. As Meg got older, Chaz loved the fact that she could spend days with her and tuck her in bed before she left for work. Chaz made friends with her next door neighbor, Mrs. Hitchcock, a retired schoolteacher of all things and Mrs. Hitchcock would look after Meg through the nights for close to nothing.
All in all, Chaz thought she did an excellent job with Meg. She'd busted her butt and it had paid off. Meg was a happy and healthy 5 year-old. Chaz's only regret was that she hadn't told Shawn about her. She had even gone so far as to call Stephanie and as for his number. Of course she hadn't divulged her reason for wanting his number. Chaz had lost her nerve at the last minute. She hated that she couldn't tell him this. Who was she to keep him from his child? But even that reasoning hadn't encouraged her enough to call him and so he never knew. When Meg asked where her father was, Chaz didn't lie to her, technically. She told Meg that her father couldn't be with them but he loved her very much.. Chaz told herself that Shawn would love Meg, there was no doubt of that in her mind, had he known about her.
By the time the plane taxied on the runway, Chaz was a bundle of nerves. She managed to remain calm on the outside as her insides felt as if a cannonball was ricocheting off all of her vital organs and settled in her stomach.
She helped Meg gather the bags and nearly walked by a man wearing dark glasses, holding a sign with her name on it. Telling the man who she was, she got a smile from him and he took the bags out to a huge black stretch limo.
"Mommy, it's a rich people car," Meg said, blue-green eyes wide as saucers.
Chaz laughed softly. "Yeah. Uncle Vince is a rich people."
Meg grabbed Chaz's hand. "Does Uncle Vince have a castle?"
"A castle?" Chaz and Meg settled in the back of the limo and the driver drove toward their destination.
"Yeah. Rich people live in castles Mommy," Meg said, giving her mother a 'don't you know anything' look.
"Well, he lives in a really big house but it's not really a castle."
The two made small talk until they reached the house. Meg's eyes widened when she saw the house.
"Mommy, you fibbed. It's a castle. Uncle Vince lives in a castle."
Chaz laughed and waited for the driver to open her door. She stepped out when he did and noticed several cars in the wide, u-shaped driveway.
"Is there a party today?" Chaz asked.
"No ma'am. Just a business meeting. Mr. McMahon said to let yourself in and make yourself at home."
"Okay. Come on Meg." Chaz took her daughter's hands and led her up the marble staircase with the driver and their bags not far behind. Chaz was struck by how little things had changed around the house. Nothing seemed different from when she'd been there.
"Mommy, I'm hungry. Do you think Uncle Vince has anything to eat?"
"I'm sure, Uncle Vince has something to eat."
Chaz pushed the door open forcefully and felt it hit something. Something that hissed as soon as it happened.
"Oh, sh...oot," Chaz said remembering Meg was right there, "Are you o..."
Chaz lost all control of her vocal skills when she saw who she had hit. "Chaz?" Shawn asked softly, holding his forehead.
"Shawn?"
"Mommy?" Meg asked, uncertain.
Shawn's eyes widened. He turned his attention to Meg.
"Well, hello there, angel face. What's your name?"
"Meg," she said, softly sidestepping closer to Chaz.
"Meg? That's a pretty name."
"My mommy picked it."
"Oh did she? Your mommy's a very smart woman."
"Yep. And she's pretty and she doesn't have a boyfriend."
"Megan!" Chaz said, "I'm sure he doesn't care about that."
"Chazi? Is that Chazi's voice I hear?" the unmistakable sound of Shane's voice called from behind Shawn.
"Hey," Chaz grinned and sashayed past Shawn with Meg. Shawn thought he was gonna hit the floor. Chaz's smile still did things to his heart. She was looking good too. What did she have to be? 23? 24? He couldn't remember but she looked so gorgeous. Her hair wasn't quite as long as it used to be. It hit just below her shoulders and she had more curves...Motherhood had definitely agreed with her..but there was something in her eyes. Sadness? Wistfullness? Shawn chastised himself. It had been a long time. Too long he had...
"Shawn?" the voice behind him made his blood run cold. Shame on you, he scolded, she's your wife.
"Rebecca. Hey, I was just going to come get you."
Chaz didn't know who this woman was, but she sure knew Shawn. She strode past Shane, Meg and her and all but threw herself at him. She was tall. She was...not horrible looking but there was something about her. A coldness that Chaz didn't like.
"Shawn," she started once she got her tongue out of his mouth, "aren't you going to introduce me?"
"Sure I was," Shawn looked sheepish. Chaz noticed he didn't meet her eyes like before.
"Chaz, this is Rebecca...my wife."
Chaz felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. His wife? He was married? How was it possible?
"Mommy?" Meg's voice broke through Chaz's troubled thoughts. Chaz looked down at her daughter. Anything to avoid the sight of her and him.
"What is it?"
Meg tugged down on Chaz's arm. Obviously the girl had something to tell her secretly. Chaz knelt down, putting her ear close to her daughter's mouth.
"I'm hungry and now I have to go potty."
Chaz felt herself smile despite the feelings she was sorting through. "Gotcha babe. Well," Chaz stood and turned toward Shawn and Rebecca, " it was really nice to see you again and it was nice to meet you, but I have other matters to take care of."
Chaz took her daughter's hand and briskly walked her toward the upstairs bathroom. Shawn watched as she left. He was married now he shouldn't be having feelings for another woman. Especially such strong, undeniable feelings.
Chaz waited outside the bathroom for Meg. She could handle this. It wasn't as if she'd actually ever thought her and Shawn would get back together. The thing that troubled her was the first emotions that had surfaced the moment she'd seen Shawn again.
No, she snapped to herself, he was a married man. Even if his wife seemed awful clingy for them to be a happy couple. And the way he'd looked at her wasn't her imagination.
"No," she said under her breath, "I will not be waiting around for a married man. I refuse to put Meg and myself through that."
"Do you always talk to yourself?" a voice from the top of the staircase asked.
Snapping her head toward it, she saw a man in a black polo shirt and black slacks. The color made his long, blond hair stand out even more. He was gorgeous. Built like a God, his biceps were huge and he even had the regal, Roman nose.
"Yeah, I do," Chaz smiled, she would show Shawn...even if he wasn't here. She would show him.
"You do?"
"Yeah. It's a good conversation starter."
The man laughed softly. "Well, I guess. I was just concerned with your mental well being."
"Oh, don't. It's tattered and torn but I think a shred or two is still in tact."
"That's good. I'm Jean Paul, by the way."
"By the way? That's a funny last name."
"Levesque."
"Okay. Now I'm worrying about your mental well being."
He laughed.
"So do I call you..what? Jean Paul? Jean?"
"Just call me Paul. What do I call you?"
"Chaz."
"Just Chaz? I give you my whole freakin' name and all I get is Chaz?"
"Yep."
"You are one cruel girl, ya know that?"
Chaz nodded and she heard her daughter was finishing up. This was the true test. She'd flirted with several guys before that had turned tail the second they'd seen Meg, the spineless cowards.
The door opened and Meg bounced out. "Now I'm hungry again. Oh...hello."
"Well, hello yourself."
"Mommy, can we get something to eat?"
Chaz's eyes scanned Paul's face. He was obviously surprised, but then a smile crossed his handsome face.
"I know for a fact Vince has some goodies in this house. I'm sure that there's some chocolate cake, if you'd be interested."
"Chocolate cake? I love chocolate cake," Meg said.
"Well, let's go get some." Paul held his hand out.
"Can we Mommy?"
"Yeah can we Mommy?" Paul winked.
Chaz felt herself smiling. How could she be smiling so soon after hearing...Well, she decided then and there to forget about the happy couple. Paul seemed like a nice guy and it wasn't like they were going to do anything but eat cake. What could that hurt?
With a nod, she took Meg's hand who in turn took Paul's hand. They headed off toward the kitchen. Paul stopped short when he saw him at the bottom of the stairs.
"Shawn. Hey, man, I was just escorting these two breathtaking ladies to the kitchen," Paul said.
Shawn could feel jealousy rising in him. There was his best friend in the world with the only girl who could do things to his heart (not to mention other parts of his anatomy) with little more than a smile.
He couldn't explain it. He was a married man. Happy too, or so he'd thought before he saw this vision of the past and the future that could have been had he fought. He'd kicked himself everyday for not fighting for her.
"Oh," Shawn managed lightly.
"Yeah. I'm hungry," Meg chirped. She broke away and galloped the rest of the way down the stairs to where Shawn stood, "You can come with us too I'm sure Uncle Vince has enough food."
Shawn laughed softly. He'd always liked kids but knowing she was Chaz's kid, made Meg all the more adorable to him.
"I don't know. I've been known to eat an awful lot of food."
"So have I. 'specially the sandwiches I have Mommy make for me."
"Oh really?" Shawn mused.
"Yeah. Peanut butter and cheese. Sometimes with pickles sometimes without."
"You make that for your kid?" Paul asked, with a smile, "Poor thing."
"Hey they're good," Shawn and Meg said in unison.
Chaz nearly hit the floor. They liked the same kind of sandwiches and now they were talking alike? Someone was really testing her sanity this weekend.
"So, is it okay if I come with you guys?" Shawn asked turning his eyes on Chaz
"Please, Mommy." Meg said her eyes an echo of Shawn's.
"Y-yeah. If you want to. Where'd...Rebecca go?" "Hopefully she's taking cover," Paul said under his breath, "I heard it's supposed to rain today. Wouldn't want her to melt."
"Paul, look, Rebecca's not a witch. She just takes a little getting used to. And she took off," Shawn said.
"Whatever you say man."
"Could you pick me up?" Meg asked Shawn.
"Meg. I'm sure Shawn doesn't want to carry you around," Chaz said.
"Hey, it's not a problem. I can't do much with my back the way it is but I do believe I can carry this beautiful young lady to the kitchen for some sandwiches," Shawn said. He scooped Meg up and balanced her on his right forearm.
The four made their way to the kitchen. Shawn made sandwiches for Meg and himself while Paul cut into the cake. The two men insisted that it was fine. Vince was out on business anyway. They sat around the small table in the kitchen over looking the pool through a sliding glass door.
Chaz could see Meg and Shawn had an instant connection. Maybe she should just tell him. No! It wasn't the time. Shawn had Rebecca. He was happy and she didn't want to disrupt the life he'd built. She should have done it before Meg was born.
"So, how have you been?" Shawn said so suddenly it surprised Chaz.
Lonely. Lost. Unbelievably sad. Chaz's heart answered the simple question honestly but her mouth simply said, "I've been good."
"I'm glad," Shawn said. You liar, he thought. You wanted her to say she's been miserable without you so you could sweep her off her feet again.
"So any plans for you and Rebecca to have kids?" Chaz asked, cheerfully. Just get a feel for things. There's nothing wrong with that.
"Little Miss Nitro Girl? Please," Paul said.
"Actually, no. Rebecca doesn't think that she wants to have kids." Shawn said, gently.
"And you?" Chaz asked.
"Well...I can't have kids. Don't have the equipment if you know what I mean?"
Continued