Briar Rose Fantasy

Didn’t finish my word count today.  I blame election night.  Maybe tomorrow, I will be able to concentrate.  It’s taken five minutes just to write the last few sentences, I’m still distracted!

To read my story in order, click here for a compilation of all the posts.

David reassured her quickly, “We can talk about whatever you like.”

David was not used to feeling so gauche around women, but Betti was just one those women who could have any man tied up in knots.  Her ash blonde hair, her willowy frame, the haunted look in her eyes, every detail served to increase his feelings of protectiveness.

He gathered his things and escorted Betti to a nearby coffee house.  She ordered steamed milk with a shot of vanilla, somehow appropriate.  David picked up his Americano and Betti’s drink and brought them to the table she was holding for them.

They shared an awkward silence for a few moments.  From somewhere, David found his cool and was able to relax.  He chuckled at the awkwardness between them.  His chuckle brought a puzzled look to Betti Jo’s face.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Me.  I’m not usually this nervous around my students,” he said with a killer bright smile.

Betti Jo was struck, probably for the first time, at how handsome her professor was.  His blue eyes crinkled with laughter, a tanned hand flipped back his ash brown hair, while his grin emphasized his chiseled, square-jawed features.  He looked like Hollywood’s version of the boy next door all grown up.  Betti Jo smiled back at the absurdity of their situation.  There was no reason to be nervous.  It felt so good to have anything to smile about, Betti Jo just felt grateful to him.

“We are being silly, aren’t we?  You really have a strong passion for the oceans and stuff, don’t you?”

“Yeah and stuff,” he smiled and continued, “I’ve always been fascinated by the oceans.  It’s surprising since I grew up around here, so far from the any ocean.  I made it a priority when I chose where I would go to university, that the school have a killer oceanography program.  I ended up at the University of Miami, taking summers off to crew aboard science vessels exploring the reefs, or the Everglades.”

As he spoke, Betti Jo’s long dormant dreams of seeing the world began to flutter alive so subtly that she hardly recognized them.  She could picture the blue-eyed kid in flip flops and swim shorts standing on the deck of a boat squinting out over the ocean.

Realizing she was about to be late for her next class, Betti Jo quickly got up smiling shyly at David, and ran out of the coffee house with a wave and a promise to meet up some other time.

David had been interested in the beautiful girl with the haunted eyes ever since he had learned she had graduated from Stanley High School.  He had hoped for an opening to speak with her and learn more about her graduating class, particularly what she knew about the tragedy following her graduation.

The next few months, David and Betti met several times for coffee after class.  David learned very little about Betti during that time, much to his frustration.

“Hey, David,” Betti called as she approached their usual table.  He had her steamed milk already waiting for her.

She smiled at the gesture.  It was nice to have a friend again who paid attention.  The gesture was especially gratifying since she had become so reserved and private.

“Hi, Betti, how are your finals coming along?” David replied.

“Fine,” she said dismissively, “I have one more to go tomorrow.”

She shrugged uncaringly, “School is just a way to pass the time for me.  It’s not like there’s much to distract me in Wilson.”

Betti Jo was too busy playing with her steamed milk to notice the sudden tightening in David’s features.

“Small town?”

“Hmm? Oh yeah, it’s pretty tiny.  Not too many people my age living there to be honest,” she responded not realizing this was the most she had revealed about herself in quite a long time.

“Well, then I won’t have to worry about any mixed feelings grading your final,” he said teasingly.

“You wouldn’t even notice.  I know how you grade your stuff,” she said smilingly.

“No, you’re right, my double blind method keeps me out of trouble,” he said magnanimously.

“Oh, yes, thank you, oh wise teacher, for your kind words,” she said mockingly.

They continued bantering for the rest of the afternoon, until Betti Jo reluctantly stood up to leave.  David watched her go, outwardly smiling, inwardly his world was on fire.  Wilson!  Had he finally found his way in to Wilson?  He had never met anyone like Betti before.  He was fascinated by the mystery she presented.  Beautiful, intelligent, private, she never gossiped, but she seemed lonely, haunted, and so sad.

Chapter Three

“Momma?” Betti Jo called out.

“I’m out back, Betti Jo,” Annabel called back.

“Betti Jo?”

“Oh, hi, Dad,” Betti Jo said in a low voice, “What is it?”

“You’re back late.  Was there anything the matter?” Henry asked.

“Dad, I was just visiting with a friend after my last exam, no big deal,” she said in exasperation.

“You have been spending quite a bit of time with this friend,” he responded.

“Dad, what are you getting at?”

By this point, Annabel had come in from the back porch where the laundry was.  She stopped in the doorway as she noticed the tension building between her husband and her daughter.

“I’m just worried about you, Betti Jo.  I just don’t want to see you hurt again,” he said somberly.

“Dad, for the last time, Michael never touched me.  He was a perfect gentleman.  He res-pec-ted me,” she said enunciating each syllable.

“Henry, leave it be,” Annabel finally interjected.

“Momma,” Betti Jo said in slight shame.  She had not realized her mother had been standing there.

“Annabel-“ Henry began.

“I said let it be,” she looked pointedly at him.

Henry looked as if he wanted to argue, but at Annabel’s raised brows, the tension eased from his face.  He sighed and walked out to the front porch.

“Momma-“

“You don’t have to say a word.  I believed you that night, and I’ve never you doubted you since.  Now who is this friend your father is so up in arms about?” Annabel said in a no nonsense voice.

“His name is David Paxton.  He’s my oceanography professor.  We tend to talk over coffee, that’s all, Momma,” she said in a tired voice.

“Honey, I trust you, you don’t have to explain a thing to me.  I just want you to know you can always talk to me,” she said in her worried mother voice.