Chestnut Brown And Cinnamon Happiness Read online

  Chestnut Brown and Cinnamon Happiness

  A journey of love

  E.B. Brinson

  Chestnut Brown and

  Cinnamon Happiness

  AuthorHouse™

  1663 Liberty Drive

  Bloomington, IN 47403

  www.authorhouse.com

  Phone: 1-800-839-8640

  © 2012 E.B. Brinson. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

  First published by AuthorHouse 2/10/2011

  ISBN: 978-1-4567-3515-9 (ebk)

  ISBN: 978-1-4567-3516-6 (hc)

  ISBN: 978-1-4567-3517-3 (sc)

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2011902370

  Printed in the United States of America

  Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

  and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

  Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter One

  Work lately has been stressful for Loren. She never thought the vice- president of the company like her, the president is another story. Loren wishes she could believe him when he told her that he is just being hard on her to make her partner. She thinks about all the times the vice-president came into her office and complains about other’s people’s jobs that she is not even over. Loren feels like everything she does is put on review. Her only reliefs are going to a cooking and a dance classes.

  She like going to the classes because he is there, Roberto. There was that mystery to her why he wanted people to call him Roberto when Robert is his real name. He is not even Hispanic, he is white. When Loren first saw him the only words that came to mind was beautiful. She thought he was beautiful in the way that real men are supposed to be. She loves his chestnut brown hair and eyes. His eyes made her want to crave the things she didn’t have before. His hair it was like it was perfection in the making. Normally Loren told herself, that she would like to date him if it wasn’t for one thing, he is also very married.

  She figures the only reason why he takes the classes, because his wife was a chief working in a four star restaurant. Robert Martin (Roberto) is a writer who writes for magazine who get paid to write short stories which the magazine comes out once a month. The magazine was like Reader’s Digest, but locally. On the days that he not working at his short stories he works in Loren’s favorite book store.

  Although Roberto is very good looking she would never try anything on him because she respects the ideal of marriage. It surprises her that Roberto has been her friend for years. Loren not only knows his wife, but they are friends, as well. Sometimes Loren will bring her latest boyfriend to Maria’s restaurant / café.

  Loren especially likes her cooking class because that gives Roberto and her time to talk about their lives and what likes and dislikes are. On days like this one Loren rushes to her cooking class to let off some steam. Normally she arrives early it would be Roberto who arrives happily late. Today Roberto had a different look on his face. He came in all sad. When he arrived in the class his pace was slower. Loren has never seen him this upset before. Normally it seems that Roberto was the one who was cheering her up when she looked like the world just kicked her butt. When he finally got the back of the class room she knew what he reminder her of, a lost puppy. Because the teacher already had started class she would have to wait until they started the actual cooking before asking him what is wrong.

  “Roberto, what is wrong? Did you have a bad day?” When they were a lone in the class and the first time he looks at her for the first time since he arrived at the class.

  “I had bad day. It’s going to be a bad weekend and now my life’s bad. Maria and I just broke up. I was giving no warning or anything.” He looked into her eyes and she could tell that he wanted to cry.

  “Did she give a reason?” Loren said in shock. In the very back of her mind she was happy about this, but she never like to see couples go down the divorce road.

  “She said in a couple of months ago some investors were thinking about moving her restaurant in London. She said that we had a decent marriage, but she wasn’t happy for a long time. She wants to move to London by herself and she wants a divorce. I thought it had to be someone else, but she said it wasn’t. She told me after ten years of marriage that she didn’t want another ten. She told me that’s why we didn’t have children, because she didn’t want to have children with me.” He said almost about to start crying. She could see the tears started to form at the corner of his eye.

  Loren looks into his eyes and saw pain. She couldn’t control her and gave him a hug. She was relieved that they were in the back of the classroom and that no one could see them. She were so moved by his pain that she hugged him. Not wanting to let go of him ve3cause he felt good and she hadn’t been even touch in months. After she hugged him that Roberto gave her a look. She told herself that he looked at her that way because the hug was too long. She knew that he love Maria. They were all friends.

  Robert had been shocked of her sudden sensitive towards him, but he didn’t full understand it himself. He hoped she didn’t take it the wrong way that he didn’t want to let go of her. He would never tell his wife that he had always had a little crush on her. The crush was so tiny that every time he thought her in a different way he could shake it off. Plus he was married and he always heard of married people having crushes on other people. He thought it was normal until he looked into her eyes at the moment. He told himself that he need to stop staring at her before it started to make her uncomfortable, but he couldn’t help it. She was beautiful, but maybe this was all because he was mad at Maria for saying what she did. Loren had asked him was there something that she could do.

  “When she finally leaves for London, I think I need someone to talk to. I know this is a little strange, but can I call you. Or would it be too weird because you are Maria’s friend?

  “No, it wouldn’t be weird. You don’t even have to ask. We are friends.”

  The class went by slowly and they talked some more. The conversation was more than nice and she convinced herself to stop thinking of him as single. She thought about dating him, but she couldn’t be the rebound person. Loren really didn’t want to mess up their friendship. She told herself to think of him like that in six months to a year when he is almost healed with his heart.

  After class they went for coffee. She was happy that her t
rying to cheer him up was working. In leaving the café she told him that if he needed to talk she was available.

  She was still in shock when she pulled into her driveway. When opening the door to her apartment she heard the answering machine beeping. Because she opened the door after the machine took the message she thought it was Roberto. She pushed the red button on the machine and a voice that she didn’t expect to come on was Maria. She said on the message that she wanted to talk to Loren tomorrow morning. Loren didn’t want this to be something she felt she would be in between in. But still what she needed to put her thoughts about Roberto in check.

  Loren picked up the phone and dialed Maria cell-phone number. Maria picked up after the second ring. She knew it was her and she was happy Loren called her. Loren told her that she would meet her tomorrow morning since it was Friday and she didn’t have to be into work until late.

  The next morning Loren met Maria at her restaurant. Maria Juanita Martin was waiting by the door for her. She let Loren into the empty place. After Loren came in she lock the door behind Loren because she was there at 8:00 and the restaurant café open at eleven. She led her to the same table they first met. Maria wanted to tell Loren the truth in why she wanted the divorce from Robert.

  “Loren, I wanted to talk to you before I leave for London in two days. Give me just a minute I have our breakfast cooking. You can come and help me get out of the kitchen.” She said with a certain type of sadness.

  Because Maria was waiting for Lorne she had everything cooking slowly. They both heard a timer go off when Loren came in there. Loren smelled the French bread before she went into the kitchen. Loren could tell she just cut the fruit because she saw the mess on the table. The kitchen smell like fruit air fresheners and wished that she could bottle that smell that was in that kitchen. Maria had the plate ready except for the cheese she had to get out of the refrigerator. She waited for Loren to sit down before she started to speak.

  “Loren, I am going to die. The doctor gives me six months to a year to live. I know you know about what I said to Roberto. I told him that I didn’t want to have kids which wasn’t true. The truth is that I can’t have children. The doctor found cancer around my ovaries shortly after we moved here. I never told Roberto because it would have broken his heart. He always wanted two boys and one girl. The doctor wanted to seek treatment for it. But I said no. I really didn’t want Robert to know. I asked him if there was any type of pills I could take instead.”

  “So the doctor told about a new treatment that would require different experimental medication, but I would have to start having going to the center four days out of the week to check on the treatment. So to cover the fact that I was going to the doctor I told Roberto to take up some classes. I research the classes and saw dancing classes and cooking classes on the days I had to go to the doctor. I would have cover for the fact I would be getting home late at night. So I decided to extend the hours at the restaurant, so if I came late he would be worried. Or worst think I was cheating on him. My husband thought it would be fun because he loves to dance he was just wasn’t really good at it. He told me that fact that I cook really great and all he cook was fried foods was intimidating to him. So he starting cooking and your name came up.”

  “Roberto would tell me how you and him had two classes and what was the chance of that. So I told him to invite you to dinner at this restaurant, but he told me if asked he felt like it would be cheating. So after one of the classes I waited for you which was stupid it in the end. Missing that one day change everything. That was day I invited you. The doctor forgot to tell me that if I miss one treatment that it might cause to speed up the cancer. The first time I saw you even I knew you were Robert needs. I saw this beautiful cinnamon brown skin woman with some of the prettiest eyes I seen. I saw your long hair and could tell it was all yours. Hell, even I was a little attracted to you. You wasn’t mean, you were nice. My husband has always been attracted to you I could tell. A wife can always tell.”

  “Why did you invite me if you thought I was attractive? And what do you mean when you said that I what Roberto needed?” Loren said being more surprise by every minute.

  “You are not Roberto needed. The whole idea of Roberto is going to die with me. You are what Robert needed. He hasn’t been himself since I married him. I know you the difference. Did you know he made people start calling him that to appease my parents? They didn’t want me to marry someone who wasn’t Hispanic. So my father told him that as long as he was married to me he would be Roberto. I think it is time that he went back to being Robert. He doesn’t need to see me like this. Did you know I was going see if you trying to get into my husband’s pants when the doctor told me it might be a possibility that I would have five more years left, I wanted something else for him. You looked like a good choice and you became a good friend as well. I was so afraid that you wouldn’t like him because he was white until I got to know you. Then when you started dating Thomas I was relieve.”

  “How do you know that your husband even like black women? I mean I might not even be his type.” Loren was trying to make sense out of this.

  “His type, are you joking? You play poker and bowl. You can write poetry that can make me cry. You are not overly sensitive, but not too solid that you can’t cry. You have a type of light when you walk into the room that everyone can see and it’s not just your beauty. He worries about the guys that you see and say that he thinks none of them are good enough for you. The only guy that he thought came close was Thomas and he was worried that you would marry him. He was afraid that Thomas wouldn’t let you see him anymore if you were married. He so surprised that you really wasn’t into him, but I knew.”

  Maria went on to say how she knew that Loren was secretly falling in love with Robert and she knew that Robert was falling for Loren. And Loren had Maria blessing to date her husband after she was dead. They talked for another hour or so then Loren left and went back home. Before she left the restaurant Loren agreed that she would take Maria to the airport.

  Chapter Two

  Loren was awaken by to the sound of knocking on her door. It was Roberto with a bag because it was so late that she tired that she couldn’t talk just move aside so that he could come in. It was three in the morning. If he was going to be able to talk her, she would need a heavy dose of coffee. He stood in my den looking at her as she gone to start a couple of coffee. Without even thinking Loren went into her hallway where she kept all her bed sheets, covers, and extra pillows and got him just that. She went into the kitchen and poured the dark coffee of happiness slid down her throat with ease. She didn’t speak until the last drop was drunk.

  “What are you doing here?” She said why he was here so late or so early.

  “Loren, I am sorry about that all my friends are out of town on trips or on business meetings and no one would be back until Sunday. You are the only one I could think of that is not out of town. Can I stay here for a couple of hours? I promise I will get a hotel in the morning. Ok.” He looked so sad and worried.

  “Answer me one thing. How did you know where I lived? Oh, I forgot you pick me up from my apartment building that one time.”

  “Did I just creped you out? I didn’t mean to. You are the only friend I have right now. I know you are friends with my wife. All I am going to do is sleep on that couch right there if you let me.” Roberto just waited for Loren answer and looking like he could barely stand up.

  “Yes, of course you can stay that why I got the pillows and covers out. That couch turns into a bed. No one has ever slept in it. Do you need anything to drink before you go to sleep?”

  “No, I am fine.” With that she made his bed and went into her bedroom. She never had a man in her apartment. By time she reaches her bedroom she was wide awake. Loren cut off the light and lay in her bedroom waiting her body to start going where it left off which was sleeping. After two hours had past Loren was stil
l awake, but now was getting thirst. So she went to the kitchen which was past the den. She quickly got some apple juice and drunk it real fast. She started to go back to her bedroom, but she couldn’t. She felt like she had no idea what she was doing. She walked towards him and had to see how he looked while he was a slept. He slept with a content smile on his face. She wondered if she slept like that. She put the covers over his body, but one of his hands wouldn’t go under the covers. So she lifted his hand and put the covers under him. She was amazed that he was at her apartment and how it somehow opens her heart. Without thinking she went and kissed his forehead his hand released hers and she went to bedroom. She fell into her bed and went to sleep peaceful.

  Loren was wakening by one of her CD’s playing in the apartment. Normally she would turn on a morning mix CD, but it was already playing. When she finally got out bed to aroma of coffee and warm bread in the air. She put on her robe and went to get some coffee. Roberto was in the kitchen cooking some food. Loren could get use to waking up and having a man cooking for her. She was confused why he was cooking for her still all she did was give him a place to sleep for the night.

  “Good you are awake. I hope you don’t mind, but I decided to cook us breakfast. I know how much you like coffee so I made you some.” He said with a smile.

  “No, I don’t mind, but it is a little too much.”

  “It’s not too much. You let me stay in your apartment even through I know you never had a man up here before. And I am happy that you have on a robe. Come and sit at the table. You do you normally answer the door with a t-shirt and panties on?”

  “No, I don’t. Oh, man. I was so tired.” She can’t believe that she did that. He started to smile at the image of her he saw last night. He knew by her putting her head down that she was embarrassed. He remembered he was trying to keep his eyes on her face which was hard. When she started to walk to get the covers he almost fell over because he had never seen a body as smooth as beautiful as hers. And when she put the covers over him all he wanted to do was touch her. He had tried to sleep, but seeing her body kept him awake. When she kissed his forehead he had to let go of her because he was tempted to kiss her. He wasn’t even a free man and he was already looking which disturbed him.