Stranger Things Have Happened, I Know

Ch 43

Chapter 43

                The second half of our vacation had been just as much fun as the first. I was so rattled by how my day with Chris had left me feeling that I tried to avoid being left alone with him for the rest of the trip. I was afraid to give him the chance to finish the sentence he had started on the balcony. He didn’t seem to mind and I wondered if he was feeling rattled, too. We all returned from Laguna tanned, relaxed and ready to resume our lives.

The semester was coming to an end at the Junior College. I had prepared and presented the curriculum for the class I was hoping to teach in the fall and The Board had loved it. They enthusiastically added it to the course requirements and made me a full fledged professor. I was so excited, this was the perfect job for me. I’d have summers off to travel with the band on their festival circuit, as well as school vacations and holidays.

                “We need to celebrate,” Dave said when I’d told him. “We will have everyone over, you can invite your friends and co-workers from the college!”

                “Oh, that sounds awesome,” I said. I had been making a few friends at school, other younger professors and a few other girls that worked in the Health and Medical Studies department. It would be nice to get everyone together for a party at the house.

                The day of the BBQ finally came. Cara had suggested that I hire a party planner to help me with the logistics. Even thought I wanted it to be a simple gathering, with a few kegs, a small bar, hamburgers, hot dogs and BBQ chicken, Grant, my flamboyant party planner, was a huge help. Around 6ish, Ali and Taylor showed up. Shortly there after, Chris arrived, without Cara.

                “Dash and Eamon are sick,” he said, frowning. “Cara’s home with them. I probably won’t be able to stay too long,” he explained.

                “Aww, those poor babies!” I said, saddened. “I was looking forward to seeing Cara.”

                “What? I’m not good enough?” he asked, poking me in the ribs.

                “You know you’re my buddy, buddy,” I said, hugging him. “I’m just bummed Cara’s got to miss the fun.”

The rest of the guests started to roll in around 7PM. A few of Dave’s friends, a few of my friends and our extended Foo-mily. Everyone mingled and was having a great time. Dave and I made the rounds and I introduced him to people from work, who were all super excited to meet him. I watched him shake my new friend’s hands and marveled, as I always did, at how gracious and down to earth he was. He even insisted on doing all the grilling for our party.

                “I love you so much,” I whispered in his ear as we made our way back up to the patio to freshen up our drinks.

                “I love you and I am so proud of you,” he said, giving me a squeeze. “Now go have fun with your friends. The guys and I are going to start grilling!” he slapped my ass as I walked away and I shot him a playful look over my shoulder.

                From time to time, Dave would set up a huge banquet tent on his tennis courts, which was really neat. Since no one played tennis, this gave us a whole extra space to hang out in. There were ping pong tables, a “Foosball” table that someone had given Dave with the little men on the rods all painted to look like the members of the band, several card tables and camping chairs. When I made my way down there, a few people were engaged in a heated ping-pong game and I joined the group watching them. Deanna, one of the girls who worked in the office came over and hugged me.