Visions of the Hatteras Dancing in His Head
When Braedon awoke on Sunday morning, he found himself lying next to Catherine and wrapped in silk sheets. As he scanned her bedroom, which was expansive and tastefully decorated in creamy sand and ocean hues, he noticed a large picture window opened to a panoramic view of the bay, which was breathtaking and peaceful.
“This is living,” he thought as he gazed out the window and watched the bay. A sailboat moved along the water and he imagined himself at its helm with Catherine by his side. And his two kids in the back. He’d somehow integrate them into the picture. Just needed a good story. Stories were his life, so surely he’d come up with something reasonable.
“I could get used to this,” he said to himself in his dreamy state, “Not a care in the world.”
Then his thoughts were shaken with a nasty memory of his frumpy wife sweeping around the house. “Poverty sucks. Focus on the boats, Braedon. The boats and the water. This is where you need to be.” He tried to expunge his wife from his thoughts, but couldn’t.
He recalled the excuse he’d used before heading out for his date with Catherine the night before. “Don’t wait up. It’ll be an all-nighter. Sunday morning press release. I’ll catch you guys after church.” She always believed him and never even checked his stories. “Gullible,” he thought.
The clock in the room read 11:15 a.m.
“Can’t believe we slept this long. I thought CEOs were early birds.” He thought. “Then again, we probably didn’t get to sleep until around 4.” 11:16 a.m. “I need to get going. In a nice way. Don’t want to blow it here.”
He put his arms around Catherine and spooned himself against her body. She moved her body in acceptance but didn’t say a word. It had been a long time since he held a woman closely and had physical relations. He hadn’t slept with his wife since well before the twins were born.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning to you, too.”
“Last night was incredible Catherine. I haven’t had such a good time in so many years. Dinner, dancing, and wine with the most beautiful woman in the world was no less than amazing. I felt so alive. Everything was just so perfect. Especially the end. Making love to the most incredible woman in the world was a gift from God. You are so passionate and loving and smart. I think I’ve met my soul mate.”
“I enjoyed the night too, Braedon. Thank you. I haven’t had such a good time in a long time either. You’re a great dance partner.”
From the corner of his eye, Braedon noticed the dog sitting in a chair across the room. It appeared to be a small schnauzer and it was glaring at him, growling. Immediately he decided that he didn’t like the dog.
“Chipper, stop!” Catherine called out. The dog barked and hopped off the chair and leapt onto the bed where it pounced on top of him as it scampered over to its owner.
“Chipper, down!” The dog jumped off the bed. And then jumped back on.
“Note to self,” Braedon thought, “after the wedding, the dog goes.” He went to pet the dog, but it growled and jumped back off the bed.
“Unfortunately, I have work to do today, Braedon, or the day would be ours. Perhaps we can get together again soon?”
“I’d love to, Catherine. My schedule is more open than yours, so just let me know when you’re available and I’ll be there. I can’t imagine myself any place else.” He got up out of bed and got dressed and kissed her goodbye.
“Braedon,” she said with a warm smile, “I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Likewise, beautiful lady.”
Braedon caught a glimpse of the bay again as he left the room and immersed himself once again in his fantasy role captaining a boat. That’s when he spotted the 60-foot Hatteras docked at the mansion’s boat docks to the far right of the window. “I could get used to this,” he said to himself as he left the room and exited the house.
Within a few minutes he was at the helm of his old Toyota Camry, cruising down Bayfront Drive, with visions of the Hatteras dancing in his head.