Fate

Fate
By: Casey Schmidt

Elisabeth dug her toes deeper into the sand and sipped again from the too hot cup of coffee she had poured moments before. She couldn't decide what smelled better, the fragrant aroma of the flavored coffee or the ocean. Maybe it was a combination of both.

In a million years she never thought she would have ever ended up here running a small café/ bookstore on the beach where people could bring their dogs sit and read and have something to drink." The owner of the building was still waiting for the approval on the liquor license that she had convinced him to peruse so they could stay open and have late night reading groups meet with wine and cheese, but for now the islanders seemed happy with the new addition. Many mornings they were sitting on the beach in front of the cafe stoop before she even opened and many staying for hours; seemingly with no jobs to get to.

She was often reminded of the reality that she left back home whenever she looked at her dog Booker, a fitting name for someone who loved books with the passion she did. He was one of the few belonging that she fought for in the divorce. It was supposed to be easier - after all she and Mark had been married for seven years. They always commended themselves on communication and truth, but in the end, it cumulated as many marriages do ending in divorce and debating over who gets what.

In the end, Elisabeth got the dog. The dog and her books were all she ever really wanted, along with her journals. She loved to write about everything in her life, she even wrote about the morning Mark left for the airport. It was a different kind of morning for them. Instead of the usual morning schedule, Elisabeth woke up to Mark playing with her hair. He was staring at her intently and told her how beautiful she was and how much he was going to miss her. Mark was not one for morning sex, but that morning they had made slow passionate love, love as if they were trying to capture a moment that will never be again, but somewhere in the three days he was gone the passion had left for when he arrived home from the funeral his face displayed guilt. Guilt of something he had done that was unforgivable in a marriage.

“I have done something awful Lizzy. I slept with Renee.” Mark said to her trying to avoid eye contact. He couldn’t handle the hurt in his wife’s eyes. Even though he cheated on his wife, he loved her so much still and couldn’t stand to hurt her. Mark wasn’t sure what happened between him and Renee and how he let it happen. He loved his Lizzy.

“I trusted you Mark! You said she was in the past. You said this was out of respect for her mother and that was it. You bastard!” Elisabeth yelled. She was trying to control her tears and not to stutter her words, but it was too late. Tears filled her eyes and were rolling uncontrollably down her face.  Trying not to screech, she took a deep breath and screamed “GET OUT! GET OUT!”

“I am sorry Lizzy; I really thought Renee was in the past. I didn’t mean for this to happen – it just did.” Mark said to her, now his eyes were starting to tear up. “I will stay at a hotel until we sort this out.” Mark said as he closed the door behind him.

The week following Marks confession was the worst for Elisabeth. Finally after trying to convince herself that having her husband back and ignoring the “hurt and miss trust feelings” she was experiencing, she reminded herself of the "non-negotiables" of their marriage, things that once done would be the end of the marriage. Elisabeth came home to a flood of words trying to negotiate one of the non-negotiables, it was with extreme reserve and calm that she went upstairs packed a bag, leashed the dog and walked out the door. Her last words to her husband were, "Non-negotiable means you cannot negotiate, my love."

Nine months later Elisabeth finds herself absorbing the warm sun on her face, even though it was still chilly enough for a light sweater. She thinks back through the last nine months and realizes she is at peace with herself - perhaps for the first time ever. Her parents would be arriving in a few days to stay a week, and she was glad, leaving her family behind was so much harder than leaving her husband, but she needed to be away. She needed to prove to herself that she could do this in her way and so far she has.

In the past nine months she has found a place to live a small, garden apartment about 1/2 mile from the beach where the cafe is. At first the cafe was just looking for waitresses and she gladly took the position happy for the pay and the socialization it brought. Over the months she began bringing more and more of her books into the cafe and shelving them on the walls for people to read as they enjoyed their coffee. The books stayed at the cafe and many had 4 or 5 different bookmarks in them marking the spots of several different readers.

It wasn't until the third month that Esua agreed to let her bring her dog to work "as long as he stays outside." It was a perfect arrangement. Two months later dogs were fully welcome and happily roamed about both inside and out while their owners relaxed and enjoyed themselves. Not one canine squabble had broken out in the entire time she had been there; it was almost as if the dogs were as relaxed in this haven as the humans were.

Some tourists stopped by now and again but mostly it was locals, many of them transplants like her from another place and another time. She enjoyed the company of the natives and the simplicity of life on the island. She often wondered what the future would bring.

She worked hard at the cafe and by the seventh month Esua had made her full time Manager of everything, and he was around only when he wanted to be or on her days off. It was also in the seventh month she met Conner McLearey.
Conner McLearey was her boss from the magazine company she used to work for before leaving home. Conner was vacationing with his girlfriend when they stopped at the café for a quick pick me up before hiking the trail when he spotted a lady who looked very familiar. It was Elisabeth, a lady he used to work with from the magazine company. She was scolding her dog for what looked like he had just gotten into the trash.

“Bad dog Booker. Cheesecake is not healthy for doggies – Bad Dog!” Elisabeth continued to scold.

“It couldn’t be her. Why would she be here and working as a waitress of all things?” Conner whispered to himself so his girlfriend Jennifer would not hear. Elisabeth was promoted to a different section of the magazine and Conner had left to do something else, but they still kept in contact sharing stories regarding new cheesy headlines for the magazines, floor gossip and of course, the playful flirting, but he hadn’t heard from her in months. It was like she disappeared; which was good for Conner since talking to her made his feeling increase for a woman who he would never have. He knew that Elisabeth was the one and hoped one day their paths would cross.

Conner took a mental note of the surroundings of the café and how to get back.  He wanted to come back without Jennifer this time so he can make sure it truly was Elisabeth. That evening Conner returned to the café just before closing time.

“It is Elisabeth. She is still as pretty as I remember.” Conner thought to himself. He couldn’t believe of all the places to run into her, someone that he had almost forgotten and that someone was sitting behind the bar very engaged in her book. Conner remembered her as a brunette, but the island sun must have bleached it to blonde. Either way, she was still sexy. Her hair was up in a loose braid with strands loosely handing around her face blowing gently back and forth from the evening breeze. The bottom half was covered from the bar, but like most of the local men, he noticed her tank top, tight enough outlining all her curves. Conner could feel his stomach turn into knots, his legs weaken and his heart beat faster and faster with every look he made to her. He did not understand why his body was reacting this way, but for a man who is usually in control, he was not in control this time. Elisabeth was and she did not even know it.

Elisabeth was so tuned into her book that she didn’t hear Conner enter the café. It was Booker who brought it to her attention that someone had come in with several low barks.

“We’re closed.” Elisabeth said as she book marked the page and slowly looked up to see who it was. With Booker at the café, she never felt scared. It took her a minute to recognize Conner, but once she did, she hopped off the stool and gave him the biggest hug. Although Conner had been agonizing of what to say to Elisabeth all during the hike with Jennifer, it did not matter because when Elisabeth saw him she would not stop questioning him. He could not get anything out, not even a simple “hello.”

“What the hell are you doing here? How are you? I can’t believe you are here in the café and I am hugging you. It is so nice to see someone I know, someone that reminds me of fun times in past. Sit; tell me what you are up to.”  Elisabeth was so excited to see Conner and before they knew it, they had been talking until wee hours into the morning. Mostly it was Elisabeth who talked. She talked of how Mark went to Oregon for a funeral (an ex girlfriends mothers funeral) and slept with his ex girlfriend Renee, how she tried to forgive him and forget he betrayed her trust and how she one day decided that she had enough and left with her dog, books and a few clothes for the Islands to forget about Mark and start over…a more simple life. She told him how her mother thought she was being reckless with Mark and moving away and about the café and how she became the Manager. Conner just listened. He forgot how much he liked to hear her talk because she was like a kid in a candy store. She was full of life and excitement. She made him laugh. He also forgot about Jennifer until she asked again…why are you here Conner? 

“I am here with my girlfriend Jennifer. I was going to propose to her.” Conner said to her when he realized that he said “was going” instead of staying, “is going.”  Plus, it didn’t help that Elisabeth questioned him on the statement.”
“What do you mean, was going to propose. Is she here? ” Elisabeth asked confused.

“No, Jennifer is not here. She is at the hotel enjoying a late night swim and then to bed. I told her that I needed to take care of something and that I would be back late. Enough of that, Elisabeth, this is totally out of my character, but I love you! The best part of my day was flirting with you at work and it killed me that was as far as it was going to go since you were married and then hit harder when you just disappeared. I waited and waited for my cheesy headline updates that you wrote for the magazine. I know this is a shock for you and defiantly myself, but you are not with Mark anymore and I can be free to express my feelings to you. Don’t you think it is weird that we have come together when we did?”  Conner said to Elisabeth while holding her hands in his. He couldn’t believe that he just said he loved her. This was man who never made irrational decisions. He had dated Jennifer nearly five years before he even thinking about proposing to her and now that was not going to happen. Not even if Elisabeth turned him away.

Elisabeth was stunned and unable to speak. She felt Conner’s hand cup the nape of her neck, he moved closer to her and his lips slightly touch hers and something in her body came to life, something that she had been waiting for after Mark, who knows, maybe even before Mark. She loved Mark and was content in their love making, but when Conner kissed her, it was a different feeling. She felt the connection between her and Conner at work, but never thought about going any further and caulked it up to a simple crush or whatever married people have. Elisabeth kissed Conner back before pushing back from his chest.

“What about Jennifer.” Elisabeth asked trying and distracted Conner long enough to catch a breath but most importantly clear her thoughts. What was she doing? She was still legally married to Mark and he was about to propose to his girlfriend…”

It was too late; Conner picked up Elisabeth and placed her on the bar, separated her legs with his body and kissed her long and hard. He gazed into her eyes; he deliberately rocked his hips forward so she could feel him, all of him. Hard and hot, he throbbed, pressing through the thin silk of her skirt. Elisabeth wrapped her legs around Conner’s waist as if she was accepting his invitation. Elisabeth had taken up reading smut books since the separation from Mark to fill the sexual desires she felt now and again. Those were nights she was glad she moved far away from Mark so she would not tempted to do something stupid as most separated/divorced couples do when they are lonely. She never was one to have a one night stand, so Elisabeth would stay up all night reading and then finishing the book on her breaks at the café.

“Elisabeth, I love you!” Conner repeated. Although the words came out so easy, the back of his thoughts were asking “why”. Why does she turn him on so much? She never has implied any kind of feelings for him other than some good-humor flirting.  Was it because he couldn’t have her and now that he could, he was going to take advantage of the situation. He had never done anything this rash, especially when dating another woman. He knew he was going to hurt someone that he loved, but Elisabeth is his love and he wanted to show her right there and now. His words were true, he loved her. 
Elisabeth rubbed her hands through Conner’s hair saying nothing, and she didn’t have to. Conner new she wanted him as bad as he wanted her. He kissed her slowly, brushing his lips lightly back and forth creating a delicious sensual friction, until hers parted. With the second kiss, he made it deeper, even more intimate and the third so possessively that is made her dizzy. He placed his mouth so completely over hers that she could hardly breathe. Conner continued kissing her jaw and then lightly licking down her neck to the top of her breast. Elisabeth could hardly stand his touch anymore. She pulled him closer with her legs that remained locked around his waist.

Searching into Elisabeth’s eyes for any kind of emotion other than passion, he gently slipped her tank top over her head only leaving her bra between her and his kisses. With one quick snip, the bra landed on the floor and he bared her breast to his hungry gaze. He had actually thought of this moment, but never thought he would get to enjoy it with Elisabeth. He wasn’t going to stop, he wanted her, he wanted to taste her to feel her and more importantly, for her to feel him. Conner lowered his body and captured a nipple in his mouth, she whimpered with pleasure. When he buried his face between her breasts, slipping her skirt down her hips before landing silently on the café floor, she pressed against him, hard.

With one hard look, Elisabeth slowly unbuttoned his shirt trying not to fumble over the buttons from being so nervous and totally out of practice. This was not the kind of sex she had with Mark, not even when they were drunk. With each button followed by a kiss until the last button, and then with just her finger tips, she slowly removed his shirt. With a gentle kiss on Conner’s lips she worked her way to his belt and then his zipper.

“Um, I know this is an awful time to say or even stop, but your zipper is stuck.” Elisabeth panted the words. There was a low laugh from Conner as he unzipped his pants and pushed them to the ground.
With the khaki shorts out of the way, Elisabeth moved her hand to Conner’s manhood and softly cupped him; thus sending him over board and causing him to move passionately on top of her. He scattered light kisses across her tummy, nipping and nibbling, then lowering himself pressed his hot tongue to her flesh, lapping at her most private heat, she nearly screamed with such pleasure. 

In the mist of Conner and Elisabeth’s love making, the morning sun was beginning to rise and they both new their time was almost over. They locked eyes with each other as they became one. Moving in rhythm, they never looked away from one another for they did not know what to expect next.

“Elisabeth, what are you doing here so early? Today is your day off.” Esua asked her as she was walking from the backroom with her book back in hand and Booker trailing beside her. 

“Oh, I fell asleep reading a book.” Elisabeth answered quickly. She had been known to fall asleep from time to time at the café when reading. She loved the café; it was her home away from home. Her favorite things were at the café, her books, her dog, coffee, friendly faces, fun conversations and now to top it off, love making. “See you tomorrow.” Elisabeth said as she rushed out the door to take a cab to her apartment.

Elisabeth waited until she got home to read the note Conner slipped into her pocked before leaving. She knew it probably wasn’t good news. When Conner left her with a hug and kiss on the cheek she pretty much assumed that Conner was gone. They both got what they wanted from it and that was it. The thrill of the “what ifs, and can’t haves” were over. She fed Booker and went to a long hot shower. It would probably be awhile if ever again until another night like that came along and as much as she wanted to savor it, she had to bathe. After dressing, she looked at the folded note on her night stand and decided not to open it. “I think I would like to remember last night and this morning how it was…peer pleasure.” Elisabeth thought to herself before dozing off.

“Hi sweetie.” Mary, Elisabeth’s mom said to her as she reached for a hug.

“I can’t believe you are finally here. Where is dad?” Elisabeth asked with excitement. She never thought her parents would come to see her. They did not agree with Elisabeth’s decision to move to the islands; they thought she was being careless with her life. But their daughter was stubborn and was going to do whatever she set her mind to do.

“Your father is getting the luggage.” Mary answered.

“Dad, I have missed you. Thank you for coming.” Elisabeth greeted her dad while helping stuff the luggage in the taxi. “Are you guy’s hungry? I know a great little café.” Elisabeth continued. Conversations started to fly as the taxi made its way to the café where Elisabeth worked.

“So, have you spoken to Mark since you have been here?” Mary started the conversation with a sensitive question that Elisabeth was able to avoid over the phone. “He has called many times looking for you.” Mary continued.

“He knows where I am. He sent the divorce papers awhile back. I think he is with Renee now – good riddens.” Elisabeth finally answered. “Our divorce was finalized last month. I talked with him over the phone twice since and emailed a few times since I have been here, but we are officially over – seven years down the crapper.” Elisabeth continued, but this time her answers were more direct and bitter sounding. Henry, Elisabeth’s dad could tell that his daughter was getting annoyed with her mother’s questions and decided to change the direction of the conversation.

“Are we going to the café you have been working at? Henry started to ask, but before Henry could continue with the light conversation, Mary interrupted as usual, “Have you met anyone?” Elisabeth rolled her eyes and tried to lighten the mood with her answer, “I have met a great deal of people here. Being a waitress has given me the opportunity to not only meet people, but learn their culture.” Elisabeth knew that was not the answer Mary was looking for and she loathed the fact that Elisabeth was a waitress. They had paid good money for her to get a degree in journalism. 

“We're here.” Elisabeth said as she hurried out of the taxi. She loved her mother and new she meant well, but being in confined areas was not what she needed to start off their weeklong trip. 

“Mom, dad, I want you to meet Conner McLearey.” Elisabeth introduced Conner as he walked out the café to greet them. Looking at Conner walk towards them, she thought to herself, I have the sexiest man alive.

Conner was confused when he left Elisabeth the morning after he made love to her. He had never taken a woman as he did Elisabeth that night and was scared of the aftermath….the rejection. In the note (the note that was never read) all he put was “see you when I see you. I love you. Conner”, leaving the door open to fate. When he got to the room Jennifer had been on the phone calling everyone looking for him. Regretful that he was going to hurt someone who was special to him, Conner looked knowing that she wasn’t the one and told Jennifer  “good-bye” and she left by herself on the next flight back home.
Elisabeth couldn’t wait to introduce him to her parents; she knew they would hit it off from the start. Well, maybe her dad and Conner, nobody hit it off with her mother.

After the introductions, Elisabeth took her parents in to meet Esua and to give a quick tour. It wasn’t anytime at all before Mary started with the questions.

“So, Conner, what are your intentions with my daughter? You know she just officially got divorced from a long marriage. How long have you known Elisabeth? What do you do for a living and will you be able to support my daughter?” Mary interrogated as she applied fresh lipstick.  Henry looked down at the table embarrassed of his wife’s questioning antics and then looked to Conner giving him the “I am sorry, but if you want to be part of Elisabeth’s life, you have to deal with Mary as we all have to look.”

Conner looked at Henry with a smile that quietly said “challenge accepted” and then looked over to Elisabeth to blew her a kiss, but before she could stop whatever Conner’s rebuttal was going to be, because he had such a  dry sense of humor – one that her mother would defiantly not understand, he said loud and proud.

“I plan to make love to your daughter for the rest of her life. Fate brought us here and I am not going to let anything get in the way Mrs. O’Brian.”

**Do you believe in fate? Do you believe in true love? Is the one you are with true? For Elisabeth, she found true love after her first love. Do you think it was consequential that she was unable to get pregnant with Mark? Just a few questions to take with you from my story**
The End