*mild sexual reference
Disclaimer: I do not plan to gain financially from this story. The characters are not my own, I just like to use them for my own enjoyment from time to time. When you find out who the story is mainly about, you’ll understand the title. Besides, there have been similar occurrences in my own family, LOL. And now, presenting…….
Keeping It All in the Family
by Karen C.
The lovely, dark-haired woman breathed a sigh of relief and pleasure as the Boeing 747 bound for Cancun, Mexico took off with a flourish from New York’s Kennedy Airport. Diana glanced fondly at her new husband, who was so tired from the previous day’s activities that he had fallen asleep with his head on her shoulder almost as soon as they had boarded the plane. His dark, wavy hair was all that she could see, and she could barely hear his soft, contented breathing. She leaned back, closed her violet eyes, and soon drifted off.
What Di hadn’t seen was the smile on Brian’s face. He couldn’t believe how the past six months had absolutely flown by, and now here he was, newly married to a woman he’d known practically all his life, jetting off on his honeymoon to Mexico. He was so thankful that Diana had reappeared in his life exactly when he’d needed her. It was a dark and stormy night, he recalled…..
"…and when the spinal cord of a child suffers excessive trauma…" the words had been drifting in and out of Brian’s mind all day, ever since he’d heard them in the seminar he’d attended that morning. Four sessions later, he was finally going home, to the loft he shared in Greenwich Village with his college roommate, Sean. But he was unable to get that phrase out of his mind. It had finally dawned on him, watching the power point presentations and reading actual case studies, what he wanted his medical specialty to be: pediatrics. There were so many children who needed good, capable doctors to help through the rough spots. Especially if they’re anything like Bobby used to be, he thought with a sigh. But it just isn’t fair. Children have so much more to deal with these days than we did. They shouldn’t have to worry about a good doctor taking care of them, too.
He hurried along the quiet, faintly lit street. The wind had picked up a bit and the streets themselves were practically deserted. Brian saw a flash of lightning in the distance, then heard the inevitable rumble of thunder that followed. Tonight, after a long day of hearing about spinal injuries, cardiac trauma, and other assorted ailments, he was more than ready to just go home and fall into bed. I think the storm’s got other plans for me, though. I think I’ll just duck into that coffeehouse on the corner and see if I can wait it out where it’s warm and dry. With that thought, he opened the door to the inviting little café and stepped inside.
Brian sat down with a thud. He hadn’t realized how truly exhausted he was. The cute, perky waitress flirted with him briefly as she tried to take his order, but he wasn’t in the mood. He mumbled something about a mocha latte and continued to stare out the window. He was actually thinking about asking if he could sleep under the table tonight so he wouldn’t be late for his shift at the hospital in the morning when it happened:
"Brian? Brian Belden? It is you!" a female voice called excitedly.
He turned around slowly and saw a face he hadn’t seen in almost two years. "Diana? What in the world are you doing here? It’s great to see you! How have you been? Come sit down!" The words tripped on each other trying to escape his mouth, and Di smiled at him gently as she ambled over to join him.
"You look so tired, Brian. Are you all right? How’s med school going?" He does look tired, but still the same Brian. Drop dead gorgeous! He was always so nice to me, even when the others thought I was just a big dope. And he’s always made me feel so comfortable around him. Still, I wonder….. Di shook her head clear and focused on Brian’s description of his duties at Lenox Hill Hospital.
"What about you, Di? How’s art history?" As Di gave Brian the update on her graduation from NYU and subsequent hiring at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, his mind raced. It’s like I’ve never seen her before. She’s still beautiful, of course, but I can’t believe I never noticed how nice she is. And underneath that charade she played for my brother, she’s very intelligent.
Even after Mart and Di’s breakup right after she’d graduated from high school, Brian and Trixie both had made it clear to Di that she was still more than welcome around the Belden household. Still, Di had naturally felt awkward and although she kept in touch with Trixie, she hadn’t been around Crabapple Farm much.
"When was the last time we saw each other, Di? Was it at Dan and Sarah’s wedding? That was almost two years ago. I can’t believe it’s been so long!" Too long…..definitely too long, thought Brian, hiding a smile.
They had fallen into such an easy conversation that the words seemed to just spill out of both of them, and the outside world seemed to disappear. Di expressed mixed emotions when she learned that Trixie’s agency was still a success, and that Jim was getting married around Christmastime, less than a full year away. "Those two," sighed Di. "When are they going to wake up and realize how right they are for each other?"
"Well, Di, sometimes people have to grow up a little before they truly know what they want," replied Brian mischievously.
"Are you speaking of anyone in particular, Dr. Belden?" Di teased.
Before Brian could answer, the lights flickered, then went out completely. Di gave a gasp of surprise. "I’d completely forgotten it was about to storm. I guess I got a little carried away," she laughed nervously. Oh God, I know he thinks I’m the biggest dork! How can I let him know I want to finish this conversation elsewhere without seeming like a total loon?
"Well, Di, I just live around the corner. Do you want to come up and see if the storm’s knocked out my power also? Of course, my roommate’s out of town so we would be unchaperoned…." Brian’s voice trailed off mysteriously, and he grinned at Di. Does she think I’m an idiot? What if she thinks I’m like Mart? Oh well, I can’t take it back now.
"I’d love that, Brian. Thanks for asking." Di blushed and smiled at Brian shyly. He reached over, took her hand in his, and they walked out of the coffeehouse, completely forgetting the check.
Brian sat up abruptly, remembering that tiny little detail after all this time. "Di? Diana? Baby, wake up!"
Diana opened her eyes and stared at Brian groggily. "Yes? Did you forget something, silly? Don’t worry, I’m sure Mart will take care of it. He’s fine with everything now, doesn’t hold a grudge, and besides, things are getting pretty serious with him and Linnie. I fully expect to hear their wedding bells ringing shortly." She kissed him lightly on the forehead.
"No, I just remembered…the night we re-met at the coffeehouse! We left without paying our bill!"
"Leave it to you to remember that now, Brian. You’re too funny. Relax…the bad old coffeehouse police have no legal jurisdiction in Cancun. They won’t be able to find us at the ruins of Tulum, snorkeling at Xel-Ha, on the trimaran to Isla Mujeres….."
Brian chuckled and returned her kiss. "I was just thinking…..probably one of the few irrational acts of my life has led to the one that makes the most sense."
"And what would that be?" Di inquired with a knowing grin.
"Marrying you and living proverbially happily ever after," Brian answered. "Meet me in the bathroom in five minutes and we’ll take care of our initiation."
Di looked puzzled. "What initiation?"
"Have you ever heard of the Mile High Club?"
The End