Our Winter Storm Memory

After the Annual Halloween Party Jon holds every year for the last decade, Jon and I sat down in the seating room to enjoy a few more drinks before bed. Jon perfomed with his band for one song and then he turned the stage over to the party for "Open Mic" on the stage out back and I was dressed as a pirate bar maiden, working  the room making sure the guests were having a good time. Not only did Jon perform like the star he is, I also served the largest spread of food I have ever made and it had to have been a hit because there was nothing left to throw away. Jon and I had been together for a little over a year now and this year’s party was much better than last year’s party was.

"I think tonight went well, don't you my green eyed goddess?" Jon asked me before tiping the drink to his mouth. I didn't have a chance to answer because just then a loud rumble shook the house and it sounded as though the windows were going to break.

 When the rumble was finished I replied, “I believe it did and I am sure glad the weather held out until after the party. It would have been awful had this wind come in during your concert, which by the way everyone loved.” I raddled off just as the lights went out.

 Jon jumped up to start a fire. Almost instantly, I remembered the night we fell in love.
“Yeah, it would have been terrible to have sent the whole town home because of the wind and rain. The equipment would have been ruined had it gotten wet.” Jon replied from the fireplace.

Jon embraced me tightly and I looked deep into his clear blue eyes and whispered breathlessly, “Do you remember the last time the lights went out suddenly like this?”

I could feel the heat radiating from Jon and the fire as Jon closed in. I wasn’t sure which was hotter, Jon’s hard sculpted body or the fire. The red and orange flames cast a very romantic glow over Jon’s handsome face. I fell deeper in love as the storm raged on around outside. The branches cracked loudly as they fell to the ground. We would have a lot of cleaning to do in the morning, but tonight was going to be romantic.

Just before he covered my lips in a melting kiss, he said in his husky bedroom voice, “I think I could use some reminding, could you refresh my memory?”

Then he closed his mouth over mine in deep hungry passionate kiss. I could feel the heat and energy running through my every nerve endings. Just then the thunder crashed and rumbled, but there was no lightening to follow. The thunder must have scared us both because we jumped apart quickly.

“Maybe we could take this up stairs, you know, relaxing and holding each other while you tell me this sweet bedtime story.” Jon suggested with a giggle in his voice.

I loved when we cuddled in bed. I just hated thunderstorms with wind making the house creak.



Once we had settled in to bed, Jon embraced me tightly in the dark and I began to tell my version of how we fell in love. 

“It was October 30, 2009 and I had received a call from a man named Jon Lessen. He needed a full time chief, the duties included cook and clean up after parties, and for him on a daily basis. I really didn’t like being around people but I could cook and the position required cooking not serving. I could do that without any problem.” I started out remembering the day I showed up to the Lessen Manor.

Jon laughed, “Little did you know, you were going to be cooking for 500 your first Friday with me. It was my engagement party. I am glad that didn’t work out though. Karla was not the right woman for me. Anyway go on.”

“I had been working for you for almost eight months and you had only spoken to me when you wanted diner and if there was a party. I don’t want to make you feel guilty so we won’t get into how I felt before that special day.” I said kindly.

“I had been making apple pancakes for breakfast when I heard you upstairs playing a new song. Karla had been out of your life for almost seven months so I knew you weren’t singing about her. At least I hoped you weren’t.” I looked away from Jon before I finished speaking.

I blushed when I said this because I had a crush on him from the moment I saw him.

“I thought I had heard him sing my name, I knew I had to be wrong. I couldn’t have been. ‘Shilauna you’re the one I wanna, won’t you marry me in Tijuana?’ I giggled to myself when I heard you sing those words. I wasn’t sure if it was my name so I didn’t ever bring it up.” I blushed again.

Then it struck me as odd, I hadn’t heard the song since. Then I had to ask, “Whatever happened to that song?”

“I thought the lyrics were cheesy and I haven’t finished the song yet.” Jon stated while he cleared his throat. “Please continue my love. Just to answer the unasked question of yours, yes it was your name. I had fallen deeply in love with you. I just hadn’t gotten up the nerve to ask you.” Jon said kissing the top of my head.

“I had just finished up with your breakfast dishes and was sitting down for lunch before I went to bed. It was about time for my day off and the house cleaner would be coming soon. I could just finish my dishes and head off to bed.”

 (Lucky me, I had the next two days to myself, sarcasm of course.) Being one how doesn’t like being around people having time alone is normally good, but I had fallen in love with Jon and all I wanted to do was spend my day off in his arms and listening to him sing, play the guitar, and talk about what we liked to do when we weren’t working.

“Good day Sir, I am going to retire to my quarters if there is nothing else?” I said sweetly. “I was to be as invisible as I could when you were home, that was one of the rules I stuck to. I knew if I broke that one it would have been my job and I needed this job. I had to be close to the one who held my heart weather you knew it or not.”  I continued.

“No I think that will be all for the day. Have a nice weekend. I will be gone most of the day tomorrow so please make yourself at home,’ I recall saying.” Jon replied, and his voice sounded like velvet. I am so in love with this man.

The wind blew with a sad howl, another branch fell, and we heard it land in the pool. Living in Seattle meant very little snow, although the rain and thunderstorms could be worse when the winter season was in full bloom.

 “I think we need to call the Jake Nelson to come and get the palm tree leaves out of the pool, tomorrow.” Jon suggested as the rain pelted the window.

“I want to say something I have never said before. After you left that afternoon, I sat down in one of the entryway chairs. In an effort to distract myself from the thoughts of you, the guitar wasn't working, I started to read Special Snowflake. When I was about 10 pages in I couldn’t stop thinking about your amazing green eyes, how soft your skin would feel under my touch, what it would feel like to kiss you, and most of all what it would feel like to be your husband.” Jon confessed and my heart melted. I knew it was cold outside, but when he bore his secret I felt warmer than ever before.

“I put down the book and headed to your apartment. I had to be close to you, when you were not in the main house I felt as thou a part of me was missing. I felt lost and alone.” Jon continued as he ran his hand through my tawny hair.

Then he asked, “Did you change shampoos? Your hair feels softer.”  Jon’s question brought up another memory.

“No, I haven’t changed shampoos for about a month or so. Let us get back to blackout story though. I remember it had been almost 20 minutes since I had left your presents when I could smell your aftershave. I could smell Old Spice, I should know, I got it for you the first Christmas I worked for you. I didn’t put my name on it, I just signed it ‘From Santa’, and I thought for sure you knew who it came from.” I commented flashing back to my story.

“I walked out the front door and headed for the garage when I felt a pain in my chest, I feeling as though my heart were being torn from my chest. I wanted to cry and the weather seemed to reflect my emotions.” I confessed remembering how the wind that day whipped my uniform around my legs, the rain began, even though the son was still shining over half the town I could see the rain coming, and I could hear it hitting the sidewalk.

I thought to myself then voiced aloud, “I want to be his girl, I want to be his wife, I want to have his children, and I want most of all to be his muse.” I cried to the clouds as they quickly rolled in. “I just wish I could tell him and not lose my job if he doesn’t feel the same. 

“Living in basement quarters really didn’t bother me because I could get away when you had parties, but I didn’t want to be away from you that night.” I made another confession.

Once inside the garage I could hear the rain beating a rhythm on the roof that was so calming I wanted to change into my nightgown, snuggle in to my warm 400 count Egyptian cotton sheets with my goose down comforter, and sleep until fully rested.

I headed for my bedroom, grabbed my nightgown, headed for the bathroom, and ran a warm bubble bath. After relaxing in the warm water, reading my new cookbook, I climbed into bed for the rest of the afternoon.

 I woke up at 7:30 that evening and I could still hear the rain on the garage roof. The advantage of living under the garage is the rain is harder to hear unless it is a bad storm such as ones such as tonights. I changed into my relaxing clothes and headed for the sofa. “I wanted to learn how to make Tri-Tip Steak, which I know is your favorite meal.” I said turning to Jon with a smile.

I was sitting there reading, I hadn’t put in my contacts because it was my day off. I had done my makeup at least. That was when I heard the garage door shut. I could hear your foot steps as you approached the stairs, then you called down the stairs, “Shilauna do you mind if I come down and hang out with you? The house just feels so empty and with the rain it feels cold too.” I mimicked his voice as best I could. He always laughed when I tried to sound like him and this time was no different.

“And you responded with a barely auditable ‘Mmmm’, I almost didn’t hear you over the rain on the roof.” Jon reminisced, “I wasn’t sure if that was a yes or no. I started down the stairs and saw you reading with your glasses on and I thought you looked so sexy, and smart, two things I had already seen in you.” Jon confessed. All of these confessions and I hope we are still together. I really hope he doesn’t have any that could break my heart.

“Can I heat up some spaghetti for you? It will only take a minute or two.” Jon mimicked me this time and I responded with a snort. He could get really close to my voice when he had a few too many drinks.

“You followed me and it was a little creepy, I had never had the pleasure of you following me, although, I do love to follow you.” I winked at Jon as I threw my arm over his chest, rested my head on his shoulder.”

“I wasn’t trying to scare you. I am sorry for that.” Jon is so kind. His love for me is truly genuine. “I wanted to talk to you while you made diner.” He continued.

“While I finished heating up the spaghetti you decided to play Yes, Ma’am I do, I was so excited to have you playing my guitar in my living room, weather I was your Cook or not. It was just plain cool. I know it sounds cheesy, but it was how I felt and still feel when you play for me.” I tried to recover my dignity. Could you imagine a rainy night and having Eddie Rabbit singing a love song to you or whoever it is that you like? It was just HOT!

The next thing I knew, we were watching Four Weddings and a Funeral, one of my favorite movies, come to find out it is one of Jon’s too.

“We started talking about movies and T.V. shows that we both like, and then moved to books. We had so much in common, and I was excited thinking we might be able to have something going on here, I asked if you wanted to cuddle with me.” I wasn’t sure where that night was going to go but I hoped it would be a happy ending.

“The food is getting cold, did you want to eat? I am not really that hungry now.” I could remember it as thou it was yesterday.

“No I am not all that hungry now either. Do you mind if I kiss you? I want to feel you lips under mine. I bet they are very soft.” Jon is very charismatic and he knew how to flirt.

“I thought about the food smelling bad or sticking to the plate as it cooled, and decided it didn’t matter, dream date here.” I sounded as though I were still in high school even though I was 27.

“Soon we were locked in a very hot passionate kiss, and my tummy began to tingle and I melted in to your amazing body. I am still not sure how you make me melt like that.” I revealed another deep secret.

“The next thing I knew we were up off the sofa and heading for the bedroom.” Jon tried to sound like I was the one who seduced him. “You put something in my breakfast to make me need you.” Like I am some kind of witch. Okay.

“If I remember correctly you were the one who stood up first.” I reminded him.

“I tried to turn on the lights but the power went out. Would you like to hold each other? Or should I go?” Jon was a little nervous.

“Jon I want to be more than your cook, I want to be your lady and maybe someday be your wife.” I recounted.

“I still feel that way you know.” I stated with true patience in my voice. Knowing that the love of my life is a hopeless romantic I try not to push the marriage issue.

“When we were done the lights came back on, do you remember what you said?” Jon asked me.

“Your eyes are sparkling.” I recounted.

“I love you Shilauna Moore.” Jon whispered.

“I love you Jon Lesser.” I whispered.