Well grab the beverage of your choice, some chocolate cake, popcorn, crisps… Then we’ll begin.
Anyway where did I leave off?… After we had left our small bubble of love and tranquility of the hotel room, we went back to where Jess lives. There I fell in love all over again. I met Tecumseh, or Cumzi to his buddies (Jesse’s dog). Now he was still a little upset from losing his mum (Tracy), so I never pushed the issue, just sat on the floor till he came to me, which he did, within minutes. He’s a beautiful little dog, very affectionate and, of course, how could i resist. I found I was a little nervy to begin with. The first few days I had to adjust to the house that was to be my new home of three months. Jesse took me out for dinner that night at the Red Lobster. We sat holding hands. I looked into Jesse’s dark brown eyes and fell even more in love with every passing moment in his company. I’ve never laughed so much in my lifetime. After the months of going through hell, here I was happy. First time I had heard myself really laugh I didn’t even recognise the sound of my own laughter at first. I’d forgotten about laughter after months of courts, solicitors, locking doors and avoiding my ex. I was with this gorgeous man holding hands, staring into his soft eyes. Could this really be me? Was I in some cruel dream that would be snatched away any minute?
But, no… it was really happening to little old me. We enjoyed days eating out, just being in each others company, getting to know each other. I introduced Jesse to tea drinking. Seemed only fair after he got me hooked on Tim Horton’s coffee. I’m so so in love with Tim Horton’s after thirty years as a stanch tea drinker. LOL One night while he worked in his office, I sat watching Game of Thrones on a TV he has there. He had never seen it or shown any inclination there of. Jess looked up occasionally. We didn’t go out every night and on one occasion he sat and actually watched an episode with me. We cuddled up on the sofa, Cumzi curled up on the back watching us with amusement, wondering why we licked faces so much. ‘Was I that grubby?’
After that one episode Jess was hooked. We sat that night eating our way through a large bag of potato chips (crisps), drinking root beer (something else I discovered and adored just by accident, love that stuff folks). But there we sat the whole night and we binge watched Game of Thrones. Before we knew it morning was upon us. We fell into a pattern of Jess working mornings… I’d sit in the office with him, reading, watching TV or drawing… I’d let sketching go by the wayside until then. Jess gave me a sketchpad of his and pencils. My work’s nowhere as beautiful as the work Jess produces but I enjoyed it.
One night while curled up on the sofa Jess disappeared into his office saying “one minute“. I thought ‘okay‘ and sat back watching the rest of the film. Next thing I know he walked in looking slightly nervous, grin on his face. I thought he’s up to something but let it go. He said “I had wanted to wait till a more romantic setting for this but… “. Imagine my surprise as there he was down on one knee before me, in his hand one tiny little ring box open, light from a lamp reflecting on the stone in the prettiest ring. Everything after that was a blur. I remember saying ‘yes‘. Of course I did. I adored this man kneeling down by my legs. He was the culmination of a lifelong dream. His beautiful face shining up at me, my heart filled with endless love and he held me too him. Folks, things like this I’ve read of in romance books. They didn’t happen to such as I, surely. This person who had never known one day of love in her whole life, not a kind word even. My mind was awhirl and I was so in love, nothing else mattered. He was mine and I was his. That was already the case I felt on my part, but damn this man!… he had broken through every barrier I’d put up for much needed protection. I had been in a marriage for thirty five years and here’s the shock, I hadn’t even loved the man I was with. Jess had knocked down my walls and here I sat, this pain in my chest, a real pain as physical as any, but it was my heart expanding to fill with more love. It scared the hell out of me how much I loved him.
That night I sat curled up against my love looking from time to time at and twisting the ring that had sealed the deal, made our contract, binded our love, totalled up our accounts. Jess looked down on me (he’s taller by the way ) and asked ‘did I like my ring’. I smiled. Oh how I loved that ring. It was but a token of our love but it was my most precious thing next to his heart. It could have been a tap washer for all I cared. (No, Jes,s you can’t take it back and trade it in my love). But here nestled perfectly on my third finger this gift from my wonderful man… my love.
Around this time my love informs me he wants us to have photos taken professionally. OMG!!!!!! I hate hate hate my picture taken, but if he insists I’d follow him anywhere. (Often did. Remind me to tell you of this later) So this was settled. I dreaded it but it made my man happy. Who was I to deny him anything! Also around this time I’d broken a tooth right in half. Now another huge phobia of mine was the dentist. I couldn’t even say the word. I had panic attacks if my friends or family went. I’m serious! It all stemmed from hearing my mum scream out while in the dentist’s chair when I was a very young child. She came out, blood dripping from her mouth. I swore then as a three-year-old child I was never going behind one of those white doors where I heard that horrendous drilling sound and my mum screaming from. And I never did either. I had reached my age suffering badly with toothache for weeks, infections… anything rather than go. But Jess went one day. As I said already, I followed him everywhere. Imagine the amazement as I followed him in. Now before, I’d cross the road rather than go near a dentist. Here I sat in the waiting room on a beautiful sunny day, no fear, just holding his hand and laughing. We could have been anywhere. It held no more fear. I held my man’s hand. I was safe. I was shocked when, like a lamb, I followed him in while he lay comfortably on the dentist chair. He seemed happy, relaxed, so I sat in a chair there answering a million questions about England and our traditions. Other dental nurses came in. It seemed I was most entertaining, this strange tea-drinking fiancee from a far off continent… but through his treatment I was fine. Even the drill evoked no more fear. As we left Jess booked another appointment and while there booked one for me. (Oh my!)
I had gone over there with one small hand case… barely enough clothes to wear in a few days. Jess had bought me some beautiful clothes way before I had gone over, so he told me to bring the bare minimum I’d need. This I did but I had to keep doing laundry as I was running out of underwear (knickers). Jess told me one weekend he was taking me to a shop called Victoria’s Secret. Ooooooookay… I hadn’t a clue. As you know already, I’m not girly in the slightest. So we get to this shop, folks, full of the most delicious collection of lace and silky things. I’m holding his hand thinking ‘have you got the right person here?’ As an assistant approached I got nervous, fidgety. She asked could she help. Jess immediately assessed my agitation, my nerves (we know each other so well by now), and took over. “Yes, my fiancee (God how I love the sound of him saying that) needs panties.” (He avoided saying ‘knickers‘. The way he says it has me in hysterics! Don’t ask. I’m so glad he didn’t say it though, I’d have been in tears.) I was asked my size. It was converted to US sizes and I was shown bins full of drawers, panties, KNICKERS!!!! Apparently that week they were on offer… six for half price… so I bought some and it was love, their shorts are so blooming comfy. We left, Jess holding my hand and my Victoria’s Secret bag. What a man, folks!
To be continued…
My American Man In Purple Lace Corsets 