Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Three

The Sweetheart’s Box, a Cantrell: The Early Years, Part Three Update

 

All was quiet, the lights off but for the entry way, by the time Erik returned. Immediately, Brianna came out of her room, walked down the hallway and upon her return, said, “Why are you so dang late? And don’t you dare say the Show ran long. We all watched it. She’s been waiting up all evening just to talk to you. Give her the courtesy of a conversation.” With a nod of her head, she said, “She’s just down the hall in the alcove.”  Taking two steps back his hands raised, palms toward his sister, I may have labeled the wrong person Dragon Lady, ow.

 

“Mother, may I change my clothes, at least?”

“Just be quick about it. Don’t make things worse than they already are.” Shaking her head Brianna disappeared into her room. “Men,” he heard her exclaim.

 

Properly admonished, Erik quickly changed out of his suit, into more casual clothing. He walked down the corridor, past the Snack/Beverage bar. Seeing Kayleigh sitting there, wrenched his stomach. Pain mingled with his still strong feelings for her. He felt another song coming on but brushed it aside. She was just too important, right now. I love you, Kay-Kay. He took the armchair, folded his hands in his lap and gazed at her. 

 

Battered and bruised, emotionally, all he wished to do was to roll back to Friday, if he could. As he redid the scenario is his mind, the words she said to him just before he left for the Show would have come tumbling out of her mouth as she hugged his neck. All would be well. However, he did not own a starship that could greatly accelerate as it warped around the sun, rolling back time. He sat, waiting, instead. The silence was deafening.

 

  Clearing his throat, he began, being mindful to keep his voice low, so as not to awaken anyone. The corner was reasonably private. “We’ve talked about what we both want out of life,” he said. Kayleigh nodded. “I got the definite impression we wanted many of the same things. So, I gotta know, or we can’t go forward. It’s as simple as that. You see, I told you how I feel based on those conversations having an inkling you felt the same way about me. Instead, you greeted me with silence. Your actions bely your words. So, I have to ask. Was any of it real?”

 

“Erik, please . . .” Kayleigh began to sob, her delicate face awash in her tears.

 

“Do you really love me, as you say now, or am I just a trophy for you? A status symbol, as it were.” Then he let out a heavy sigh. “I had thought, since we met ever so briefly as children, you would see me for me and not what others may imagine I am. I’m just not interested in that kind of shallow affection. I can get that from any number of my fangirls, and you know it.”

 

“Some of the fanboys, too.” Kayleigh whispered hoarsely. She scrubbed the tears from her face, and said, "I hurt you and I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean to, not even for a minute,” she said, at long last, doing her best to squelch the endless stream of her pain. “Your plans scare me. You make your lists and mark things off as you achieve them. Are you really that mechanical? The lyrics in your songs say otherwise. You’re very deep. I don’t know . . . The love I feel for you is very real, since I was eleven.”

 

Glancing down at his folded hands, he said, “The only grandfather I have ever known is an admiral in Starfleet Command. He taught me the value of setting goals, writing them down, and to work hard to accomplish them. So far, it’s brought me a modicum of success.”

 

“But what about love?”

 

Erik lifted his head to gaze directly into her eyes. “Oh, that one comes directly from the heart. On the cerebral side, I’m also learning it’s not only volatile it’s also uncertain and fragile. It can be killed. Please don’t murder what’s left of what I feel for you.”

 

Shaking her head in denial, she said, “I didn’t realize I’d pushed you to the brink, I’m so sorry,” At this, Kayleigh stood up, took him by the hand and led him toward the now empty study/game room. “Share my Romance Box?”

“Uh, I thought we both agreed to wait until marriage . . .”

“We did, Silly. I’m talking about chocolates. I’m told you have a penchant for chocolate, particularly in truffle form.”

“You were told right. I do,”

Taking out the box, Kayleigh offered it to him. “Oh, I get it. I’ve seen this in movies,” he said, taking one out to feed to her.”

 

“You’re turn,” she said, “now open wide.”

 

“Oops, Erik, you’re not supposed to let it drop like that.” Kayleigh frowned.

“I didn’t, you have to get it into my mouth, at least.”

“I love you so much,” she said, kissing him on the cheek. “I still need to know, what do we do now?”

“Do?” Erik looked perplexed for a moment, “Well, I can’t ask you to go steady, if that’s what you mean.”

“What, why not? You want me to see others?”

 

“That’s not at all what I said. You father is vehemently opposed to our going steady, is all. And that’s a problem.” Give me a minute to work on it.

 

Kayleigh groaned, “I am sick to death of his incessant meddling. I won’t be controlled. I won’t. This is my life. Do your parents tell you what and how to do it, for just about everything?

 

“No, actually, my mother is on the bohemian side, a free spirit, if you will. She very much wants us to become who we are, if that makes any kind of sense to you.”

“Oh, so you never had the urge to run away and stay away forever?"

“Not until Friday night. I just could never sort out where to go. People know my face.”

“Oh, Erik, I really did hurt you. I’m so very sorry. Forgive me?”

 

“Of course, come here. I love you so much,” he said, pulling her into a warm hug.

“I’m proud of us for working through this thing, together and quite on our own,” Kayleigh said. “I could get used to this independence thing.”

“Yeah, that’s a healthy relationship. I think we’re going to be okay.”

“I love you.”

“Me, too. Good night. Classes begin in the morning.”

 

Kayleigh was quick to pick up the little paper cups the truffles sat in. She tossed them into the incinerator trash can, so none would be the wiser. No rumor mill, here, nor so much as a snippet of evidence. Not on my Watch.

 

All for now. Thanks for reading!