Round 8 - Meeting Reuben's Parents
Rueben and I met at the Spice Centre in his town, and we were excited to see each other. We have fun every time we are together, but throughout our dates, we have serious discussions about our future together and how we would combine our lifestyles if we were together. Reuben with his business, me with my sports and every time we agreed that this combination balanced out perfectly for a successful relationship and there were no doubts as to the chemistry between us!
“Hey, Kimmy, I have missed you. I couldn't wait to see you again. I am keen for you to meet my mother and father tonight, but before we do, let’s eat. My shout today, what would you like? Something hot and spicy?” he winked "or sweet and tasty?”
“Definitely hot and spicy.” I grinned and we both laughed. The waiter mumbled under his breath.
“I can see why…” then laughed and gave me a wink.
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We ordered our food, a couple of milkshakes and a fresh green salad.
By the way, did I ever ask you what your parents did?”
“No, but I know you have enough on your plate. What my mum and dad do for a living is not a high priority.”
“I know, but I’d still like to get to know them better. I feel so comfortable around them…and…to produce someone as special as you, they must have some outstanding skills.”
“Reuben, thank you.” I felt the blood rush to my face and I’m sure it turned the same tone as my skirt. “I am looking forward to meeting yours too, although I have a few butterflies.”
“I wouldn’t worry, they will adore you.”
“I hope so. My mum and dad are both in education, Reuben. Mum is a Physical Education teacher, surprise, surprise,” I laughed “…and dad is a high-school teacher that specialises in History and mathematics. They met when they worked in the same school. Dad is crazy about ancient history and takes the students to heaps of fun excursions like the art gallery, the museum, the zoo and on field trips to keep history alive. He loves those kids and they relate well to him.”
“Well, that explains a lot. No wonder they have raised a gorgeous and well-balanced person like you…and I mean that, in every way. No wonder you can fit into any lifestyle.”
"Reuben, you are full of compliments today, thank you."
"I love being with you, Kimmy and can be myself completely. Everything feels natural with you. To me that is important."
Our food was ready and we found a table.
"This food looks delicious. Have you used chopsticks before?”
“Yes, but I don’t seem to manage them quite as well as you.”
“Just takes a bit of practice, like anything. We eat a fair bit of Chinese and Thai stir-fries, so I’m used to using them.”
https://i.imgur.com/Qkje0AK.jpg
While we ate, an announcement came over the loudspeaker. ‘KARAOKE COMPETITION OVER AT THE WATERSIDE WARBLE.’
“You up for it?” I asked raising one eyebrow.
“Absolutely, let’s eat and go!”
We walked across the road and saw different coloured rooms all with karaoke machines in them. We went into the yellow room. “So, what would you like to sing?”
“How about a ballad?” Reuben suggested.
We sang our hearts out and a large audience gathered and applauded.
We had a lot of fun and Reuben went all out. For a minute I stopped and watched him, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the expressions he pulled. I giggled. “Wow! Reuben, I haven’t seen you like this before.” I said.
“Yes…I got a bit carried away there for a minute,” he laughed. “When I’m singing or playing an instrument it always feels free and fun, and I told you, I can always be myself around you.”
“I feel the same when I am with you, Reuben. You know, you have a great voice!”
“So do you, Kimmy. I didn’t know you could sing. We make a great double act.”
“Mum, Greg and I used to sing our times-tables as we jogged around the house,” I said raising my eyebrows. “Dad was always a bit musical too. He taught himself the guitar for a bit so perhaps I share some of those genes. I never see myself as a singer though. Greg plays the guitar as well and he's very good.”
https://i.imgur.com/yJP7i7v.jpg
Once the Karaoke competition was over, (we didn’t win anything), but we didn’t care. We just had a lot of fun and that was what mattered.
“Time for a bit of different culture, Kimmy. Let’s go to the Casbah Gallery there is an art exhibition showing there. You interested in art?”
“I love art, it’s just another way that people express themselves and their art is very personal to them. I like to look at art and try to work out what sort of person painted it before I research the artist. I’m funny like that. People are so interesting to watch.”
When we got there we looked at many paintings.
“So what sort of person painted this one do you think?
“Mm, let me see," I said putting my hand on my hip. "They have a good eye for mixing colours but like to be organised and neat but enjoy adventure I think, because they are mostly geometric shapes all strategically placed, but the way they use a few random curves says to me they also like to take a few risks.”
“Whoa! Deep analysis. If you can read people like that you would be an asset to any business.”
I laughed. “Doesn’t mean I’m correct of course, painting is personal and everyone has their own ideas on what it means to them.”
"Perhaps not, but I can see where you are coming from looking at this painting." Reuben agreed.
We looked at all the paintings and took turns analysing the artists. It was fun but also educational.
“Phew, it’s getting hot in here and getting late. Do you want to come back to my place and have a swim and a spa before we go and meet my parents?” Reuben asked.
“I won’t say no to that.”
“Good, we’ll call into your place and you can grab your bathers and towel. Will…er Melody be there?”
“After the rose ceremony, she decided to move into her own place, but don’t worry she is moving on now. She took a while to get out again, but she is recovering. Even better is, she doesn't hold it against me that I got in and she didn't, so that is why we've stayed friends. We know where we stand with each other.”
"Yes, I liked that about her too."
https://i.imgur.com/eLWMpqo.jpg
Coming up the lift so near to Reuben, the butterflies started again, but not from nervousness, more from excitement.
We arrived at his penthouse and were greeted at the door by his butler holding a piece of cake in one hand and Reubens guitar in the other. She was a lovely elderly lady who obviously loved her job. She handed him his guitar and he proceeded to sing me a serenade.
“That was beautiful, Reuben. Thank you.”
https://i.imgur.com/NNTO1y3.jpg
“Kimmy, meet Anika, she’s been my butler ever since I moved in here. She was mum and dad’s before and a great comfort to me on those days when mum and dad were so busy. She was like my grandmother, so I asked her to work for me when I moved out.”
“Welcome, Miss Kimmy, Reuben has told me a lot about you. It’s lovely to finally meet you. Please accept this cake.”
“You may take the next couple of days off, Anika, go and spend some time with your family.”
“Thank you, Mr Church.”
“Please, I’ve said before, call me Reuben.”
“Yes sir, Reuben. She is cute, Mr Reuben," Anika said as she headed off toward her bedroom.
I giggled. “It was lovely to meet you too, Anika.”
https://i.imgur.com/Q3MgJxs.jpg
“Now that we are alone are you ready for a swim? You can change in Anika’s room. Hurry back.”
“Okay, I won’t be too long.”
We sat on the edge of the pool and I noticed him wearing the same bathers my dad had given him.
“Are those…?”
“Yes, they are the bathers your dad gave me to wear at their place. I like them, they remind me of you,” he winked…“and…they are comfortable.”
https://i.imgur.com/DTAOM3g.jpg
“I’m glad you like them, so how about getting them wet.” I laughed as I pushed Reuben into the pool.
“Hey…” he turned and pulled me into the water as well.
I splashed him and he splashed me, and then we took off swimming.
https://i.imgur.com/TRd3Xxv.jpg
He chased me around the pool. When he finally caught up with me we were laughing and out of breath.
“You’ve been working out, Mr Church.”
“I have to keep up with you somehow, Kimmy.”
We were both breathing heavily but felt invigorated.
https://i.imgur.com/35N3Y4W.jpg
Once we calmed down, we made eye contact, and a serious expression crept over both of our faces. A long pause passed between us before either of us spoke.
“Kimmy…I—"
“Don’t say anything, Reuben, I don’t want you to get into trouble; we are still in the competition. However, I am going to say what I have wanted to say for ages now. I have fallen in love with you, Reuben Church the 3rd and I do want to be with you in every way. There I’ve said it. I had to tell you how I felt, Reuben and if I didn’t say it now, later on, it might be too late.”
https://i.imgur.com/W6cwYqN.jpg
I jumped out of the pool and Reuben followed me. Dusk was descending fast. He turned me to face him and kissed me passionately. An intense desire for this man coursed through my body and I knew for both our sakes, we had to redirect our urges until the competition was finalised.
https://i.imgur.com/OznYsGQ.jpg
I breathed out heavily. “So…where is this spa you promised me?”
Reuben grinned widely at me and whispered in my ear. “Thanks, Kim.”
That was the first time he called me Kim and I knew in his tone that he was more than serious about me, but we also knew we couldn’t go as far as we wanted until this competition was over and it was getting harder not to just let myself go, but I knew it would only make things messy and I wasn’t going to risk losing him or do anything that may jeopardise our chances.
We hopped in the spa and relaxed in each other’s arms for a while.
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We knew now how we felt about each other, but I also realised we had to get through the next few weeks. Reuben still had the other girls to meet with his parents and that did not help me feel at ease.
“You feel tense, Kimmy. Come here let me give you a massage.”
I diverted my feelings to humour and that helped me relax. “Be careful, Reuben,” I laughed. “I just might relax too much and drown.”
“Stop worrying, Kimmy,” he whispered in my ear.
He guessed how I was feeling. We knew each other now so well, that we could read what the other was thinking.
“Mm, that feels so good, Reuben.” I felt my shoulders slump and leaned back on Reuben's warm chest.
“So do you, Kimmy.”
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Nothing more needed to be said, even though the desire to go further was obviously on our minds. A lot of kissing and hugging followed, and we thoroughly enjoyed the closeness.
Things were getting steamy in the spa and even though I didn’t want to, I knew I had to stop before it went too far.
“Er…Reuben, I think we’d better get out and get ready to go and meet your, parents.”
Reuben breathed out heavily, “I think you may be right,” he smiled, “but I don’t want to go to my parents place just yet.”
https://i.imgur.com/PvOH3h9.jpg
We got out and I showered and dressed in the spare bathroom while Reuben got ready in his room. When we were ready, we lay on the outdoor couch for a while and chatted.
“I really feel at home here, with you, Reuben.”
“I know, I feel the same, Kimmy.”
“This is your home, Reuben,” I said, hitting him on his chest and laughing. “You know what I mean.”
“In all seriousness, Kim, I really feel you fit into my life and I think meeting my mum and dad, will show you that.”
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“I really hope so,” I said.
“I know-so, they are going to love you, Kimmy. Just be yourself, that is all you need to do.”
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The moon was rising fast and we hugged each other on the balcony not wanting to let go.
"We should get going, even though I'd love to stay here forever, it's so beautiful up here."
"So are you, Kimmy and you belong here."
https://i.imgur.com/esbrs7Q.jpg
