"Then and Now" - Day 3, Chapter 8
#7 of Then and Now
As promised, here's the final chapter of Day 3. Boy, what a long day it's been, eh?
Anyway, I hope all my readers have enjoyed the story up to this point. I'm planning to continue the memory from the Playboy Mansion, and there's going to be some turbulence in that. Promises, promises... ;D
Again, to the new readers, please check up on everything that's happened before you read this chapter. Not much stuff'll make sense if ya don't. From the beginning ---> http://www.sofurry.com/view/375904
- Ven.
Chapter 8
I stood in the kitchen, frying up a steak with much garlic for Leanne. For me there was a bit of bought banana bread and hot chocolate, since I didn't really feel like red meat before bedtime.
The wolf sat on the counter, a little ways from the stove so the oil wouldn't splash on her, but still close enough to poke me with a foot-claw.
"Mm?" I looked up. The moment I turned, Leanne reached out and touched my nose with her hand.
"Booped your nose." She giggled. Confusion kept me rooted to the spot for a few seconds, at the end of which I began to laugh with her.
Those little things that a lover does, even as small as the squeeze of a hand when anxiety takes hold, make you aware that he or she is there for you, whatever the situation. For that time, my doubts were buried deep under the sheer weight of love I felt for Li, my little-... Big wolf. Whether such blind love was a good or bad thing would be decided in time.
Below me, the oven let out a ding, signalling that the fries were ready. I removed the tray and set it aside for the time being, so that the metal would keep the food warm while the steak finished cooking.
It was during the plating up that Li hopped off the counter and hugged me from behind, around the waist. Her muzzle was next to my ear, her breath warm against it.
"Richard," She whispered. "why do you love me?"
This question struck me as a little odd, but I decided to go along with it. When the plate was secure on the counter, my hands found Leanne's tush and gave a squeeze.
"Because of that." I said simply.
"Oh." Surprise and disappointment in her tone. I shifted around to face her, and put a small kiss on her lips.
"Leanne, you're beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. The most amazing wolf I've ever had the chance of meeting." While I spoke, Li smiled more and more. "To add to that, you're smart, interesting, funny and very playful. I love your fur," My hands slipped through her pelt, down on the tummy. "your flame-red hair," Same with the hair, which she thoroughly enjoyed. "and, of course, your eyes. But most of all, I love you."
Silence took over. Leanne gazed into my eyes, as I did into hers. There was a soft, loving smile upon her lupine features, ears perked down ever so slightly, tail waving slowly left and right.
"You always had a way with words, Richard." She whispered. "Could I steal a kiss from my Prince Charming?"
"Always." I agreed. Li leaned in, eyes closing and ears folding down. I met her half way, only to have her pull away suddenly and jump over to the sink, where she bent over it and coughed. Deep, rasping, horrific coughs that left dark phlegm on the silver walls of the washing basin.
I could have recognised that cough anywhere. Tar left by too many cigarettes. But... I hadn't seen Leanne even try to reach for a smoke in my presence. And I'd been with her almost non-stop since she got back. Those two cigs on the first day excluded.
Lover's instincts taking over, I rushed to her side and held her back to make sure she wouldn't topple over. This sudden turn in events filled me with concern, even though this sort of thing was routine for smokers. I became aware of how fragile people are, fur or not. And certain things that they can do only make their lives more prone to crumbling.
Leanne finished coughing and spat out what was left, a shudder passing through her. What made alarm bells blare in my head was the way she clutched her ribcage afterwards, on the right side, down where the ribs ended.
"Damn it... Sorry, Richard..." Li didn't try to hide the shame on her face when she looked up at me again.
"Hey, it happens." I put on the most reassuring smile I could. It worked this time. Leanne smiled as well, straightening up and allowing her paw to fall away from her midsection. I went in for another kiss and found myself being held back by the shoulders.
"Whoa, hold it, bucko. First, I need to get rid of this awful taste in my mouth. Then, steak. And then... I'm going to make sure you know just how much I love you."
So up to the bathroom she went. I placed the plated food into the oven, which was still in the process of cooling down, and unwrapped the banana bread to cut a few slices. I couldn't get that chest-clutch out of my head. It even obscured the questions I had for Leanne.
Another realisation dawned on me. My concern for her was greater than the concern I had for myself. My emotional well-being, I mean. That niggling bit of logic was still in my mind, trying to protect me from another breakdown. But I refused to listen.
I was startled out of my thoughts by the phone, which began ringing like a banshee in the quiet room.
After a quick jog, I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Richard?"
"Yes, who's this?"
"It's Andrew... Do you still remember me, Richard?"
"I couldn't forget."
"Ah, good... Sorry I've taken this long to call. It's been... Difficult."
I nodded, despite the fact that Andy couldn't see me. "I understand." Leanne padded back downstairs, keeping quiet after seeing me on the phone. I waved her over and put Andy on speakerphone.
"Have you got time to talk? I mean, I'm not bothering you or anything?"
"Absolutely not. I always have time for good friends."
"Heh... Lisa and I always loved you like our own, you know? You have a heart of gold." He chuckled. "I even recorded that documentary about you. Remember it? You came close to knocking out the cameraman when he got in your way in the ER."
"Ah... Yes, I remember."
A female voice came on the line, a little bit quiet, as if speaking from the background. It was Lisa, no doubt. "That's not why you called, Andy."
"Oh... Yes... Richard, I wanted to apologise. I don't know what drove my little girl to do such a stupid thing, to break the heart of a man who loved her above all else. She came home afterwards, saying that she needed to talk. Lisa asked her where you were. She answered with 'I left him for his own good.'"
I glanced at Leanne. She looked away. Meanwhile, Andrew's voice was beginning to crack.
"After she said that... I just... I flipped out. I shouted at her. I see myself doing that every night, and it hurts me. I haven't been able to apologise - she changed her number, you see. And tracking her down is nigh impossible. I want... I want to talk to my baby girl... So much... I mi-... I miss her..."
There was silence after that. For a few minutes, I thought the line had gone dead. Then, Lisa came back. There was obvious pain in her tone too, but at least she was more composed.
"Sorry about that. Andy needs some time alone. Richard, would you like to come over to us for a few nights? I'd really like to talk to you, and Brandon is going to be here. We can pay for the plane tickets-"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I can make the travel arrangements myself, Lisa."
"Are you sure?"
"Ah, yes. I'm in Hollywood now, remember?" I chuckled. It got a giggle from the wolfess on the other side.
"You and your jokes, Richard... So when can we expect you?"
"I can make it tomorrow, late night will be most likely."
"Really? Gosh... Of course! The sooner the better!"
I wasn't really expecting such enthusiasm from her, but I didn't complain when it came through. "Are you sure about this, though? I don't want to reopen old wounds." What I meant by that was Andy's breakdown. If my presence meant that he couldn't be himself, coming over wasn't worth the pain I'd cause him.
"Yes. Andrew says he wants to see you as well. Please, come visit, Richard."
"I will, Lisa. Thank you."
"Thank you too. See you soon, okay?"
"Absolutely."
"Bye."
"Ta-ta."
Once the phone was off, I looked at Leanne. She was looking back at me, her green eyes ashamed and afraid.
"I won't ask you. Not now. After we spend some time with your parents and come back here, then we can settle things."
The wolf sighed with deep relief, eyes closed. I took the opportunity to approach and embrace her. She was surprised - the shock made quite obvious by the sudden stiffening of muscles. When the realisation set in that I was the one doing the hugging, Li relaxed.
"Look... I'm sure that what happened hurt you as much as it hurt me."
A grave nod was my response, tears beginning to well in Leanne's eyes.
"But you're back. That's all that matters, that I have you in my arms again. I love you, Leanne, and nothing could ever change that."
That was it. Li threw her arms around me, hugging as tight as she could. "I missed you so much!" She wailed. "Every single day! I cried myself to sleep because I broke your heart!"
I put one arm around her back, and the other hand on her head, then swayed slowly left and right.
"Shh... Hush, little wolfy, don't you cry... Richie's here to make you feel alright..."
Tears started flowing, hot and bitter, down my cheeks. The rhyme was something I sung to her whenever something bad happened back in college. It always cheered her up, mainly because my voice is not accustomed to singing, so anything along those lines comes out like a dying mule.
I felt Leanne's claws dig into my back, clinging to my shirt as if it were a life buoy.
"I... N-never wanted to... To hurt you." She sniffed. "I th-thought that I was... Doing the right thing... I-"
Her words of sorrow were stopped by another kiss from me. Lips encased by mine, her whines changed to mumbles, which then changed to moans. The death-grip on my back loosened up, those paws opting instead for pulling me in tighter against Li's body.
I didn't want to hear her reason just yet. It would put a dampener on both of us for a good while, I imagined, so it was better to let it out as soon as there were no plans to be destroyed by it.
In the end, I was the one to break the kiss. But not the hug. Leanne and I were almost nose-to-nose, and she spoke again. This time, it was a calm tone, but still one of sadness.
"When I saw you come into your office, all I wanted to do was jump on you, and kiss you and hug you... But then, I realised that you didn't recognise me."
I put my hand on her cheek. She leaned into it.
"I could have left. I could have gone off to find a garage to work in. The only reason I stayed in that diner was because I wanted to be with you. You and only you, Richard."
Another tear descended my face. It was wiped away by the wolf's finger.
"I wanted to do the same thing... As soon as I remembered you... But my anger held me back. I'm sorry I had to put you through that, Li."
"Me too... I'm... I'm just happy things are back the way they were."
After a few minutes of standing there, smiling at one another wordlessly, I heard Li's belly rumble.
"Alright," I chuckled. "first food, then we cuddle 'till we sleep. Agreed?"
"Yes. Definitely. Absolutely. Whatever lands me in your arms tonight."
I nuzzled her nose. She did it back.
After dinner, we walked up to my room hand-in-paw. A quick undressing, followed by affectionate cuddling, at the end of which we fell asleep in a shared embrace.