The Library

Chapter 26

 LIBRARY

“It’s such a beautiful day, for my lunch break I think I’ll take my apple and sit in front of the Library.” I announce to Mr. Bird (Mr. Creepy). “Is that ok or do you need me to finish this categorizing first?” Standing up I spread my fingers over my magenta jersey knit dress to smooth it, and then realize he’s staring at my boobs so, I quickly cross my arms.

“No, I’ll finish up here. You go ahead.”

I walk up the stairs of the gallery and out the side door towards the library. Only 5 hours till I meet Jack for our week end away and I feel a nervous knot start to arise in the pit of my stomach. Jack has got me in a tornado of anxiousness. Is he too good to be true? Taking me for coffee before on Monday, meeting me for dinner on Tuesday, bringing me coffee at work on Wednesday and stopping by Thursday just to kiss me good night, something has to be wrong with him. This just can't be happening. Concentration on anything has been extremely difficult today, to say the least. I’ve never felt this way before, happy, restless, absent minded, giddy and anxious all at once. As I approach the library there are already a handful of people sitting there, eating lunch, feeding the birds and just taking in the sun. It feels great to get out of the stuffy old basement and move. Two young men are grooving on their guitars, playing a real bluesy riff.

“Lib?”

I turn around and there he is looking better than should be legal, in a fine pin striped navy suit, a crisp white shirt and great brown shoes. “Wow you look sharp! Nice shoes and what kind of watch are you wearing today” grabbing his wrist I look down and back up again, playing this game we started, smoothing my hand over his.

“Timex, plain Jane," he laughs. "This is a great color on you.” His arms swarm me in a so welcome embrace.

 “What are you doing here?”

“I was just getting a Jappa Dog for lunch and thought I’d sit here to eat it.”

“Yum! We can have lunch together then! Terrific!”

“There’s a spot right over there, you sit and I’ll get lunch. Did you want one? My treat!”

“Ok, sure.” I answer looking down at my apple.

“I’ll be right back.” He returns with two terimayo hot dogs, “These are my absolute favorite. Here” He hands me one.

“It looks delicious, thank you.” I take a bite trying to be ladylike. I know this is going to be messy. Sauce and seaweed is oozing out of the bun. One more bite and he’s grinning at me from ear to ear.

“What?”

“Don’t move.”

I freeze and he wipes at the corner of my mouth with his index finger, lapping up some sauce, then “open.” He demands. Pushing his finger into my mouth, I close my lips around it and swirl my tongue over his finger. Shit, that’s erotic. He pulls his finger out and stares at me with his mouth open, one eye brow raised.

“Who knew hot dogs could be sexy.” He smiles a full face smile and I blush from head to toe.

“You’re brighter than your dress,” he winks.

Tilting my chin down I take another bite and look up at him through my lashes, feeling very shy and pretty lubricated. He takes a bite and some sauce is on the corner of his mouth.

“You’ve got some…” I motion to the corner of his mouth wiggling my pointing finger, looking into his eyes, “sauce.”

“It’s yours Baby.”

Wow! I lean up, open my mouth and suck at the corner of his mouth. “Mmm, you taste awesome.” I whisper into his mouth. He turns mouth open and kisses me.  We pull apart and suddenly my appetite is gone. I’m lost in a sea of lust.

“Baby, that was nice. Still hungry?” he asks, mischievously.

“Not for food.” I giggle.

“Come with me, Miss.” Hurried he grabs my hand, tosses the rest of my dog into the trash and leads me into the library. Walking past the metal detectors, check-out counter and the magazines he stops just outside the bathroom. “Wait here.” He goes inside the handicapped bathroom and then peeks out, “Come on in Baby.” Oh my god, are we going to do what I think we’re going to do? Excitement building, I quickly glance around and tear inside. He locks the door and we are all mouths and hands. Fondling and kissing, fuck I’ve never done anything like this before it’s so forbidden. I’m ready right now.

“I hope you don’t absolutely need these.” He’s pulling my panties.

“No,” I answer breathlessly. Instantly there ripped away.  I retaliate by undoing his belt, button, hooking my thumbs in both, his pants and boxer’s waist band , then together pushing them down, freeing him.

 “Hook your legs around me.”

“Ok” panting

 “Ready Baby?”

“Yes!”

“This is going to be quick.”

And in one swift move his inside me. “You are ready.” He has an evil grin on his face.

“Oh, Jack. Yes, I want this.”

Together we move like a well-rehearsed dance. Together, apart, together, apart, with such passion and desperation at the same time. His hands firmly under  the crest of my thighs, moving me back and forth. My arms wrap around  his shoulders giving me leverage to meet him thrust for thrust. He moves so deep inside me but, I feel like I can’t get enough of him. It won’t take long I feel that deep sensation of heaviness way down inside.

“Be quick Baby.”

“OH GOD!” that was all I needed to bring to the edge.

“Shah, hush.” His mouth is on mine. I feel his release and together we shake, clinging to each other.

“Jack,” I can barely speak.

“Shh, we are in a library for God sakes.”

We both let out a snicker and my muscles contract forcing him out.
“Oh!”

 “I’m going to put you down, Sweetie.

“Ok” He lets go of my legs and slides me to the floor, his hands rest on my now bare bottom. I feel his mouth on my forehead, kissing me sweetly. I close my eyes and relish the moment and its entirety.

“Fuck, I still have to go back to work.” Grabbing his hand, I look at his Plain Jane Timex. Ten more minutes of lunch remaining.

Yanking a bunch of paper towels he hands me some and proceeds to wipe himself. Thank god for paper towels.

“Man alive, I can’t believe we just did that.”

“Let’s get you back to work.” He’s pulled everything up and is already doing up his belt. “I’ll walk you back.”

“Ok” I straighten my dress and Jack brushes my hair out of my face.

Together we leave the washroom and stroll nonchalantly to the exit, nobody seems the wiser. Like nothing out of the ordinary took place. Jack is dressed the same, perfect, not a hair out of place or if they were you'd never know. I look the same except for the fact I now have to go to work without under wear and I feel like everyone can tell. Shit. Note to self, be prepared! I let out a giggle as we exit the building.

We walk up the top of the stairs in front of the gallery and he pulls me back, puts his hand on my jaw and kisses me intimately.

“Can I give you a ride after work, should I pick you up?”

“I’d love that, Jack.”

“I’ll be right out front,” he points to a spot directly in front. “Have a great afternoon.”

“Bye” I walk inside and down the stairs to the basement and take my chair at the computer desk.

“How was lunch?” Mr. Bird asks. “You look flushed; I hope you didn’t have to rush.”

“No, I was ok for time. I had a Japadog.” I laugh at the thought secretly inside.

“Mmm. Those are so good!”

“Me too. Delicious.”

Trust Fund

Chapter16

 Trust fund

June 1997

Turning 18 “We’re going to White Spot for dinner on Thursday” I’m emotional, weird. I lived for this day. Literally lived for this day. I’m free. Free from torment, free from sharing, free from bullies. Free to feel happiness.

“Hello,” I answer.

“Miss Susan Whyte.”

“Yes?”

“This is Sharon Duncan from beckon and James Law Offices,” sounding professional. “Mr. Beckon has some business to discuss with you and some papers to sign.  I’d like to book your appointment”

“Papers?

“Yes you are eighteen and you’re required by law to sign for your trust fund. If you are free this week I could book that appointment for you right now.”

“Trust fund?’ Fuck, what is she talking about? Trust fund?

“Yes Miss Whyte.  Would tomorrow work for you? ”

“Yes, I’m free in the morning” my throat starts to constrict and the words scrape my dry throat to make their way out of my mouth. Trust fund what is she talking about? How many Libby Whyte’s live in Vancouver? Trust fund? My though spin out of control. Does she have the right person?

“..Time?” The phone is silent,         “Miss Whyte?”

“Pardon me?” I ask stunned.

“Would ten be a good time?”

“Yes ten is great!” Trust fund? I’m flabbergasted.

“Ten it is then. Our address is 100a-355 Burrard St. Downtown. Thank you. See you tomorrow. Good day Miss Whyte.

“Good bye” I hang up and eminently sit down. Could this be possible?

I wake up early, shower, get dressed in my best dress and leave by 9am. I figure I can grab a coffee on the way there.

I arrive at the Marine building at 9:45am. I been by this building many times before but, never have I had a reason to go in until now. I have to take a moment to study the entrance, it’s grand. 2 revolving doors sit at the bottom of an arched vestibule. Above the door the there is a molding that is cover with plaster seaweed, skate, snails and clam shells. I know by the look of the entrance this is could be life a changing moment. I just feel that this is sometime big. I mean with the life I’ve had so far this has to be big.

“Good morning Miss Whyte.” He’s standing as I walk into his office. “My name is Richard Benson,” he extends his hand. He’s tall, medium build and very grey hair for such a young man. I put him in his early thirties but, I may be a poor judge of age. A flash of wonder skip through my thoughts.  Does he own the company? Does he own this building?  How did he find me? “Please have a seat. I’m in charge of the legal side of your trust. I have some safety nets to discuss and then we’ll get your signature on a few documents. I’m sure you’ll be pleased to to know we can have the money deposited possibly as soon as Thursday.”

“Money?  What money?” I ask timidly as my jaw drops to the floor, I’m stunned. How?  Why? From Who?

“A trust was started for you when you were 8 and there are two very important conditions but, now that you are 18 you can receive the first part of your allotment. The second condition is that you must be 22 before you receive your second entitled sum.” My brows furrow and I give him a puzzled look. I’m sure he can read my facial expressions. “Brace yourself Miss Whyte; this may be shocking to you.” Oh dear god what?  I grab hold of my chair and with butterflies banging around in my stomach I prepare for the unknown. The terms are $500, 00.00 now at eighteen and $1.5 million at 22 years of age.”

“2.5 million! What? Are you sure you have the right person!?You’re not kidding right? There isn’t a camera on me is there?” laughing, I feel giddy and nervous at the same time.

“No Miss Whyte this is all above board. This was put in place ten years ago. I’ve been waiting to meet you. I’ve have been very curious about you.”

“Who put this in place? A long lost relative?” I ask with longing to be connected to someone.

“Someone who wishes to stay anonymous.” He’s answers professionally and without a smile. Who could it be? No clues, no answers, and no connections but, I flying high as I leave his office.

       Gliding out the front door my feet still are not touching the ground. I’m floating on pure adrenalin. The sun is shining brightly, the birds are singing and people are smiling as they pass by me.

Can they see I’m rich? Do they all know? “Yahoo!” I yell as I jump in the air. I practically run to the bus stop and wait to catch the 51 bus home. The bus stops and the doors open. I climb aboard smiling at the bus driver, “Good day!” Slipping my coins into the receptacle I scoot to the back of the bus, find an empty seat and sit down. Then as the bus accelerates an odd thought pops into a recess of my brain. Who wants to be anonymous? Why do they want to be a secret to me? What kind of commitment does this sum of money have on me?

As the bus jerks forward I try and concentrate on the good the money holds for me and the boys I live with, Stewart and Christian. What we will be able to do now.

“Hello, any one home?” I knock as I enter the basement suite. Christian and Stewart moved right out of high school, 21/2 months ago. They’re inseparable now. It makes me happy to see them this way, together. They are so, romantic. Stewart is forever buying Christian white roses. They cook together. They whisper sweet nothings in each other’s ears.  When they talk they look each other directly into each other’s eyes, I want that too. I want to fall hopelessly in love. I need to know one day I’ll meet my Prince Charming, my bigger than life hero.

“I have a surprise

Building together

Chapter15

Building together

I awake to a brilliant sunny morning. The birds are singing, the sun is shining and bang, bang, bang. I stretch out my arm and feel the coolness of the cotton sheets. I turn my head to Drew’s side of the bed. I’m alone, he isn’t beside me. I lift my head and look around. I am alone. I kick off the comforter and tumble out of bed, in search of Drew.  Bang, Bang, Bang. I throw the robe on and head down the stairs. What is that banging? I walk through the kitchen and I can see the back yard in the daylight. Spectacular! A huge pool sits in the middle of the yard, its dark like a lake and there are rocks placed around it sporadically. Very natural and a water fall enters it, at the far end, in the north corner. Lupines bloom at the south wall, in a sea of purple. Black brick surrounds the pool, spreading out to create a large resting area on the north side of the pool, a perfect spot for 4 lounge chairs. And leads to a platform at the very back of the yard. Bang. Bang. Bang. I can see him, Drew; he’s hammering on the platform. Our eyes meet.

“Hey, good morning baby. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No. What are you doing?”

“I’m building a pool house. This is generally how I spend my time up here finishing this building.”

He starts to walk over to me and I admire his long sinewy body such a mountain of strength. Watching him walk towards me I can not fathom his draw to me, he’s perfect, a mass of soft wavey mahogany hair, searing blue eyes and a ripple of muscle from his head to his toes and he wants me, shy little old me.  Damaged goods. Walking to him, I have to remind myself not to drool. We meet in the middle and he kisses me. A brooding self-doubt washes over me,  “I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.” I half smile at him.
“That’s ok, I don’t mind.” He chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief? Then he hugs me in a great bear hug. “I had a great time yesterday.”

“You did?”

“Yes, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I answer quiet as a whisper. “Do you want to help?” He looks down at me.

“What? With buiding  the pool house?

Smiling I give him an excited nod.

 “Ok, you should probably put some pants on though, or I can guarantee we won’t get much building done,” he winks. “Coffee’s on. “He says grinning. “You’ll find some jeans in the walk in closet upstairs and a shirt too, maybe, unless you want to get a tan.” Letting me go, he smiles all the way to his eyes, showing all his dazzling teeth. Dreamy.

“Oh, if you want you can use my tooth brush, I know where your mouth has been,” winking, he turns and gets back to work.

I run up to the bedroom and sift through his drawers in the closet to find the same grey sweats he’s wearing and a white faded rolling stones t-shirt. Holding them to my nose I can smell his scent. Sliding on the sweats, no underwear, and slipping the t-shirt over my head, no bra, it’s like I’m cocooned in Jack. My secret connection. I moisten with the thought. Man, Libby you better get control of this, girl.

Grabbing a coffee for me and one for Drew, I head outside. I’m thrilled to being here, doing this with him.

“Here,” I hand my man his coffee, black. Just the way he likes it. “What can I do?”

“Thank you.” His hand swoops around my waist and he looks at me. “I like my shirt on you.” His coffee hand brushes my nipple through the shirt. His mischievous smile almost reaches his ears.

I gasp shocked. Feeling a spark start to come alive inside.

“Can you wield a hammer?”

“What?” I’m a swirl of thoughts but, the word hammer brings me back to earth, “I think, yes, I can. Just before my Dad died we were building a tree house together. I had my own hammer and everything. We never got to finish but, it was fun, I remember.”

Drew looks down, forlorn.

“Don’t look at me like that. Once in a while I get a little glimpse of our lives together. I don’t remember much but, sometimes a clear memory pops up and I can almost see them. If I wasn’t here, you couldn’t have triggered that memory. Thank you for that.”

“Do you remember much about them? Here,” he hands me a hammer.

“Thank you. No. I wish I had a picture of them. I don’t remember what they looked like. Sometimes I close my eyes and try and concentrate trying to make a picture of them in my mind but, I just can’t. If I could have anything in the world it would be to have them sitting at a big table with me eating Christmas dinner. I know we used to have great Christmases.”

“If I could I’d get you that,” his voice is soft and his hand brushes against my cheek. “You deserve anything your heart desires, baby.”

We work on the house together for about an hour and it feels really good. Hammering

“Here, let me show you. Like this,” he hold my hand on the hammer and put a block of wood under it and together we pry the nail out, “leverage. Now just use your fingers to space the nails like this.” He puts his hand flat on the plank holding the nail in his fingers “tap gently to start, then three good taps should nail it.”  I do as he explains and in two hits, I put the nail in.  “Good girl. You got it.” I feel him kiss my temple. I have immense warmth of pride wash over me and I revel in it. I’m useful, needed by this man. Even though our work together is brief, this small connection between us gives me a different taste of romance. Fervor swells in my heart and I feel home here. I could work with him like this forever. 

 “We’ll finish up here, I’ll put the tools away, and we’ll shower and then go.” Reaching down to my hand, he helps me stand, “Then we have to head back into town, I have to deal with an offer this afternoon”

“Awwww, do we have to? I love it here.”

“Sorry.” Brushing a strand of hair from my face he says hopefully, “we could come back sometime and work on the pool house some more.”

“I’d love to!”

“Ok Picconi it’s a date. “He gives me a lopsided grin. “You are very surprising.”

“I thought you were loaded, why don’t you have people doing this for you?” Twisting my head sideways, my questioning eyes looking into his.

“Because  first of all I love to construct with my bare hands and secondly, I feel hard work always brings me back to my roots,  Gandhi’s 7 virtues to danger, wealth without work.”

“Business without ethics” I quote as well.

“How right you are, Miss Whyte! If you haven’t earned it, you won’t respect it.” smacking me on the arm, smiling.

“Please don’t tell me you’re after my money!” Smirking he says with a cheeky tone.

“I’m loaded too! I don’t need your money!”

“You are!?”

“Don’t let looks deceive you! I am totally wealthy….and I work too, very hard! No danger there,” I innocently add, giving him a quick, surprised shrug.
“I had no idea.”

“Just because I don’t have a castle at whistler, a 4o, ooo square foot apartment 15 cars and 27 bikes a yacht and enough shoes to fill BC place, and four times as many watches, doesn’t mean I’m destitute. Financially I’m ok. ” Giving him a cheeky giggle, I grab his shoulders and kiss him square on the lips. “Should I be asking are you after my money?”

“Me!!?” with an open mouth, his eye brows shoot the sky as if I just said the most outrageous thing ever.