Kissed

  Kissed

  A Cliffside Bay Holiday Short

  Tess Thompson

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  This holiday story is dedicated to all little girls with big dreams. Keep dreaming. Your time will come.

  Copyright Tess Thompson 2019

  Created with Vellum

  1

  Rosa

  * * *

  The first kiss Rosa Marie Soto had from a man in thirty-five years didn’t cause the angels to sing, but the second one sure did.

  On the last day of the year, a week and three days after she’d met him at her son’s wedding, Rosa almost jumped out of her skin when Dominic Perry slipped his hand into hers. After she settled from the shock of his warm, rough hand in hers, she quite enjoyed the sensation. There was something about holding a man’s hand that made a woman feel as if she were cherished, as if she belonged to someone. She hadn’t felt that for a very long time.

  Neither talked as they walked down Main Street under the oaks strung with white lights. The storefronts were dark, other than The Oar, which seemed to pulse like a heartbeat with loud music and people celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. The scent of the ocean mingled with the fir garlands that decorated the storefronts. Ice slickened the sidewalks. A layer of fog made the air thick and cold. Her cheeks stung and her nose had gone numb. Rosa was glad for her thick coat and the warmth of the bulky man beside her.

  She let out a joyful squeak when Dominic squeezed her hand.

  “Dinner was nice, Rosa,” he said. “I haven’t had a home-cooked meal since my wife died. There’s nothing like food cooked in a loving home.”

  “I’m glad you liked it.” She’d slow-cooked the pork all day in anticipation of Dominic’s arrival.

  “I ate too much,” he said. “I hope you won’t think I’m a compulsive overeater.”

  She laughed. “I raised a boy. Rafael was always hungry.” There were many years in the past when she’d worried about how she would feed him or keep a roof over his head. Those cold, hungry, anxious days of single motherhood resided in her memory, having made their mark in ways that could never be undone. However, they made her even more grateful for the life she had now. Without scarcity, one cannot see abundance.

  “This is quite a town you’ve got here,” Dominic said. “It’s as pretty as Lisa said it was.”

  “I’m glad you’re here.” Should she have said that? Was it too needy? Did people say these sorts of things on dates?

  They passed the closed bookstore, decorated with garlands and lights as well as a display window filled with holiday books for every type of reader. The grocery store’s giant wreath that hung above the doors twinkled but inside was dark. Rosa was glad the employees would get the night off to celebrate with their families. When they reached the park where the town’s Christmas tree sparkled, she tugged on his hand. “Let’s stay here for a minute.”

  “Sure thing,” he said.

  They stood side by side and took in the glittering branches. Although she’d seen it many times since the lighting on Thanksgiving Day, she never tired of the sight of the forty-foot tree shimmering with white lights. Rosa pulled her coat tighter and glanced up at Dominic. He wore the red hat she’d made for him, knitting with mad intensity in the days since she’d first set her eyes on him. Dominic’s chocolate eyes twinkled down at her from a rather great distance. The man was over six feet and she was only five two and shrinking by the day.

  “I know it’s a small thing, but this tree makes gives me joy.”

  “I’m feeling joyful myself,” he said. “But it has nothing to do with this tree and all to do with the shining light next to me.”

  “You mean me?” This came out more of a squeak than a question.

  He grinned as he looked down at her. “Yes, Rosa. I mean you.” His voice rumbled from his chest, deep and rich as French roast coffee.

  Her knees wobbled. He was such a man, such a presence. And he’d come to visit her. Dominic Perry, handsome and rich and important, from what she could tell from the articles she’d read about him online, had come to see her, Rosa the Lunch Lady. Or, as some in her circle called her, Mama Soto. She was no one important or rich or even pretty. Yet he’d asked if he could come visit her.

  She bit the inside of her lip, hoping with all her might this was not a dream. Was this the moment he would kiss her?

  Thoughts bounced around her head as fast as one of those balls she used to put in Rafael’s stockings on Christmas morning. She’d given Dominic permission to kiss her when they were in Emerson Pass for her son’s wedding. He’d asked if he might come to see her and she’d given permission for that too. Since then, she’d questioned whether he really would or if it was just a matter of being caught up in the moment. But as she was quickly learning about Dominic, he did what he said he would do.

  A few days after she’d returned from the wedding to Cliffside Bay, Dominic had sent her a text—apparently this was the new dating custom—asking if he could come see her for New Year’s Eve. She wrote back a coy I happen to be free. Or at least she thought it was coy. Who knew how these things came across over text? Her daughter-in-law, Lisa, and her best friend Pepper had advised Rosa to use emojis. These gave hints about the nature of the texts, they told her. This had sounded like a good idea. However, thus far, she hadn’t been able to locate the emoji button and was too embarrassed to ask. She knew that what used to be the pound sign was now called a hashtag, but the emoji phenomenon confused her. Honestly, she wasn’t even sure how to spell emoji. She’d only had a smartphone for a short time. Rafael had insisted she get one when her flip phone had been perfectly fine. Rosa had no idea where her son got his bossiness from.

  There was the grammar thing too. According to her bossy son, there was only one space after a period now. Why would they do that? Who decided these things? None of the kids knew the answer. “It’s just the way now, Mama,” Rafael had said. Rosa assumed it had something to do with money. Most things did when you examined them carefully enough.

  Why was she thinking about this now? A hunky man was about to kiss her. She needed to learn how to quiet her mind. Maybe she should take one of those mindfulness classes at the community center.

  Dominic’s wide face crinkled as he smiled down at her. “Rosa, what I wouldn’t give to know what was going through that brain of yours.”

  “I was thinking about how there is only one space instead of two after a period now. Don’t you think that’s odd?”

  He threw back his head and laughed. The rich, hearty sound echoed in the quiet night. Lights on the Christmas tree twinkled brighter, as if powered by the larger-than-life man. “I think it’s very odd. I’m sure my English teacher from high school is turning over in her grave.”

  “I’m considering writing the president to lodge a complaint.”

  “We could get a petition going and get all the old people like us to sign it.”

  Laughter bubbled out of her. He made it so easy to laugh. Like the hand holding, shared laughter made her feel as if she belonged with him. Like they had their own special club that no one else could belong to.

  The next thought came in like a frigid gust of wind and snatched the joy right from her chest. This was a moment to be savored. She knew that in the depths of her bones. Women like her didn’t have long with a man like this one, rich, powerful, attractive. Make the most of it. Get that kiss.

  Still holding her hand, he turned to face her. The lights reflected in his dancing eyes. This was it. The moment. The first kiss since her coward of a husband had left her with a tiny baby thirty-five years ago.

  She lifted her face upward
and closed her eyes and waited. When nothing happened, other than her heart pounding so hard in her chest she figured the entire town could hear it, she opened her eyes.

  He wasn’t looking at her now. In fact, his gaze had moved to the ground.

  “Isn’t this the part where you’re supposed to kiss me?” she asked.

  He looked back up at her. “I want to.”

  She prepared to pucker again but stopped when she saw the flatness fall over his face.

  “What is it?” she asked softly.

  “I haven’t kissed anyone but Susannah since I was twenty-five years old.”

  She smiled and patted his arm. “I haven’t kissed anyone for thirty-five years, so I understand. We don’t have to.” Even as she said it, she felt the loss. She fought against sagging with disappointment. She’d wanted that kiss, had stared at his mouth all through dinner, wondering what his lips would feel like on hers.

  “I’d like to, Rosa. Maybe a peck to get us started? If it doesn’t go well, we can try again. Or not.”

  The look of vulnerability on his face made her heart ache. He was afraid to do it wrong. Like her, he was worried that he was not enough. “I think a peck sounds perfect.” She would keep her eyes open this time. In case he chickened out, she’d see it coming.

  His broad chest widened as he took in a breath, then lowered his mouth to hers and gave her a quick kiss, as light as a whisper. When he rose up, he smiled, looking relieved. “I didn’t make you run.”

  “I’m not running,” she said. “I never run, actually, but I’m not running from you.” She lifted her chin. “Do it again, please, only this time like you mean it.”

  She closed her eyes and held her breath. He took both her hands this time. His lips found hers. They were soft, like miniature cushions. The tip of his nose was cold. Such a contrast to the heat from his mouth. She sighed when he paused for a split second before diving deeper, parting her lips with his. He tasted of mint. His leather coat in combination with his cologne was the most pleasant smell. She sighed with pleasure when he dropped her hands to pull her close. They kissed and kissed, as if they had time to make up for.

  And what was that? Angels singing “Ave Maria”?

  He drew back, staring into her eyes. “Do you hear that?”

  “The singing?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  “You can hear it too?” The sweetest voices, surely angels filled the night air.

  He gestured behind them with a nod of his chin. “No, it’s real.”

  She turned around to see a choir of children who had gathered on the lawn to sing. Through the fog, they appeared as if from a heavenly world. Dressed in white, they held plastic candles that lit their delicate faces. Their halos were made of tinsel and pipe cleaners. The pastor’s wife was with them, leading them in song. There was little Jubie in the front row singing her heart out.

  Dominic drew her close and whispered in her ear. “I’m going to take this as a good sign.”

  “The angels have spoken,” she said, more to herself than him as the angels’ voices rose in a lovely crescendo.

  2

  Rosa

  One year later

  * * *

  Rosa was too old for Spanx. Yet here she was stuffing her almost-sixty-year-old self into a body shaper that was surely made for a smaller body than hers. A necessary evil—she understood this, but it didn’t make her feel any less ridiculous as she examined herself in the mirror. The garment reminded her of the girdles her mother used to wear. Hadn’t the women’s movement saved them from wearing such torture devices? Under the garment, which rose to the top of her possibly damaged rib cage, she wore silky black stockings. Everything was squished into shape until she took it all off. She cringed and turned down the light.

  From the other room, the sound of Christmas carols played from the stereo.

  Lisa knocked on her bedroom door. “May I come in?”

  “Yes, my love. I’m in my underwear so be warned.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Lisa laughed as she slipped into the room and plopped onto the bed. Without makeup and dressed in loose jeans and a red sweater, she looked younger than her thirty-two years. No one would know by her casual appearance that she was quickly becoming one of the most famous and respected actresses in the world. Their Lisa wasn’t one to put on airs. She was a good girl. The best girl. If only there were little babies coming. Soon, she was sure. The way Lisa was around Lily Waller, Rosa felt certain a pregnancy would happen very soon. God be willing, of course. She crossed herself to be on the safe side.

  “Your hair and makeup look fantastic,” Lisa said. “If I do say so myself.”

  Lisa had excellent skills making a person look better than they really were. This came in handy when it came to dating Dominic.

  Dominic. Rosa’s stomach fluttered with excitement.

  “Are you sure you want to wear the boa constrictor undergarment?” Lisa asked. “I hate them.”

  “Pepper said I had too many lumps without them.”

  Lisa lay back against the headboard and hugged a throw pillow. “Pepper shouldn’t say that kind of thing out loud.”

  “I’d rather know the truth. Especially if I’m going out with Dominic. He’s a man who should have a woman without lumps, don’t you think? I mean, he’s used to all the fancy people.” Fancy, rich women who had all their lumps sucked out with a wand by plastic surgeons. She and Ria had seen one done on the reality show about plastic surgeons. Rosa had decided she would keep her lumps, thank you very much.

  “Uncle Dominic’s crazy about you,” Lisa said. “Plus, it’s not like he doesn’t have a few lumps of his own.”

  Rosa smiled, thinking of the slight roundness of his tummy. He was a big man, wide-shouldered and thick. She loved the way he felt against her when they danced. Dominic made her knees wobble like a smitten teenager.

  “Plus, isn’t that squishy garment thing hard to get out of?” A mischievous grin spread over Lisa’s face. “What if you two end up back here for a little under-the-mistletoe time?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. “Lisa Perry Soto.”

  “Are you getting tired of this long-distance thing?” Lisa played with the pillow, turning it around and around in her lap. “What kind of boyfriend only visits once a month? I think he needs to take this to the next level and move out here.”

  “He can’t.” How she wished he would move to Cliffside Bay. Not that she would ever ask him or admit to him how much she wanted him here. She’d promised herself never to be needy around him like she had her first husband. She’d made that man her whole life. When he left, the devastation had nearly killed her. If it hadn’t been for her son, she might have given up right then and there. “He has a very important job.”

  “I thought he was going to retire?” Lisa asked.

  “He wanted to, but they needed him. Something about stock prices.”

  “Money’s such a hinderance sometimes,” Lisa said.

  “We’re friends, that’s all.” Well, friends who kissed. A lot. Oh, she loved kissing him. He never asked to take it to the next level. He respected her religious beliefs. Sometimes she wondered how strong she would be if he ever did push.

  “Where does he stay when comes here?” Lisa asked.

  “The other room. On the couch.”

  “That’s kind of harsh,” Lisa said. “The poor guy.”

  For a year, he’d flown out to see her every last Friday of the month and stayed the weekend. She knew she should be happy with whatever time they had together. However, the more time they spent together, the harder she fell. When he left, she was sad for days.

  “He needs to marry you, that’s what I think.” Lisa pursed her rosebud mouth into a disapproving pout. “Especially if he’s ever going to get you in here.” She patted the bed.

  “Lisa Perry Soto, get your mind out of the gutter.” Rosa giggled and blushed.

  “But you want to, don’t you?” Lisa’s sapphire-blue eyes were fixed
on her.

  “That’s none of your concern.” The way his hand had drifted to her thigh the last time they’d been together had made it quite clear how much she’d like to give in to her desires. Her thoughts had not been pure, that was for certain. Now, a sudden blast of heat coursed through her at the thought of what she’d like him to do to her. She’d thought she was done with hot flashes until she met Dominic. Being next to him was like an endless hot flash. She wanted him. Desperately. Which was ridiculous at her age. She hadn’t thought her lady parts had the capacity to come to life this way. Other than Hugh Jackman—who was taken by a very lovely woman—she hadn’t even found a man attractive. However, Dominic was—as the kids said—smoking hot.

  “Just because a person wants something doesn’t mean one should do it,” Rosa said. “I have Jesus to answer to, you know.”

  Since her husband had left her thirty-five years ago, no man had been allowed inside her bed or her. She’d devoted herself only to Rafael and Jesus. It had always been easy. Until she met Dominic. Suddenly she was filled with longing and lust.

  “Would it be so wrong?” Lisa asked. “I mean, it’s not like you’re a teenager.”

  “I cannot give in to these temptations of the flesh.” Rosa spoke more firmly than she felt, then crossed herself.

  “Unless you were married, right?” Lisa asked.

  “That is correct.” She went to the dresser and applied a vibrant red lipstick. He would never want to marry someone like her. Men like him hired women like her to clean their houses, not become their wives.

  “Dominic could have any woman in the world as his wife,” Rosa said. “I’m not what he’s looking for.”

  “I don’t think Uncle Dominic would fly across the country once a month if he weren’t in love with you. He’s not the type of man to care about anything like social status or money.”