Can't Stop (Frusciante fan fic)

Part 12-The Past Recedes?

As we drive off, we are temporarily silent as Greg navigates the streets of San Diego, driving off toward Little Italy. It's not a long drive. As we pull into the parking garage, we both break the silence. "Look.." we both said spontaneously and laugh.

"Ellie, I couldn't help but see you looking at the pictures on the wall. They've been there for a long time.. I love those pics and plan to keep all of them. Holly was a wonderful wife and mother, and died long before she was supposed to. But.." He pauses. He slides his hand over mine.

I cut him off, "I hear you, Greg. It's horrible to lose a loved one to cancer. It killed my parents, and I watched them suffer. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." I go on, "I'm so sorry for you and your kids that it got Holly too. I won't forget my parents, and I, too, refuse to get rid of any pictures of them that aren't duplicates. And I will always treasure their pictures with Sophie. I miss them every day. I was in my late 30's though. I can't imagine how it is for your kids.."

Greg and I are both getting teary eyed by now. He takes my hand, and says, "Hey, I'm sure we spend enough time thinking about this. It never leaves you, trust me. So, now that we've got that out of our system, why not enjoy some delicious food and scenery and get to know each other?"

I feel a bit perkier. "Yes, let's Greg. I would like that very much!" I start to unbuckle my seatbelt. He doesn't let go of my hand. "I really, really like you, Ellie. I was looking at you at the soccer practice for at least 5 minutes straight before you turned and said hello to me. I may not know you well yet, but I know an intelligent, fun, really attractive woman when I see one." He grins. 

He lets go of my hand, gets out of his side of the car, and opens my door. He extends his hand, "Shall we?" I take it and we walk through the garage out onto the street, and along the Embarcadero up to the restaurant, still holding hands. I'm impressed when he get there that he's actually made a reservation for 6:45, which pushes us past the line waiting to get in.

We have a wonderful dinner by any stretch of the imagination. We talk about everything and anything (pretty much). Greg has been a single dad for a year since his wife Holly died of ovarian cancer. She fought it bravely for one year, similar to my mom with pancreatic cancer, and went through surgery and chemo before succumbing. I feel ashamed that I ever felt jealous of Holly. The two of them met at work when she was a legal secretary and he was the chief accountant for a law firm in Atlanta, where she is from. Just before her cancer diagnosis, Greg was offered a position in San Diego, and they moved here. And Holly returned to being a full-time stay at home mom.

Greg is an accountant, and I am in the medical profession. Both completely different professions, but very busy with our kids outside of work. I still don't tell him much about my ex, Sophie's father. I have Frutti De Mare in the first time in years and savor every bit of it. When we clean up everything on our plates, and have nothing left over,  the waiter asks if we want desert. Greg says "no thank you, you can bring the check." He smiles, "I have a much better idea." He gives the waiter his credit card while I protest, and I thank him profusely. How did I get so lucky?

After I use the bathroom, we start walking down the Embarcadero arm in arm all the way to the pier. We each only had one glass of red wine with dinner, so neither of us is in the least tipsy. "So, Greg, what was this great idea you had at dinner?"

He grins and says, "Remember when John Frusciante bought you and Sophia ice cream? Well, I may be in competition for your affection, and there's a Ben and Jerry's stand up there. I think we need to go, don't you?" I burst out laughing, "Trust me Greg, John is in L.A. making techno music with another woman, and hopefully, some new music with the Chili Peppers! Sorry to break it to you, but you have no one to compete with!"

"Aw, bummer!" Greg says. "Well, I still think we need ice cream, let's go." He takes me by the hand and I happily follow. It's a beautiful night as always, about 70 degrees out, with the sun setting over Coronado Island to the west. We chat while getting our ice cream and take our time walking back to the car.

We pull up at his house in a few minutes and on his doorstep, I said, "Thank you Greg for a lovely evening. We should do this again sometime..On me, of course." He puts his finger on my lips to hush me. "No, thank YOU Ellie." He bends down to kiss me on the mouth. I kiss his warm lips back and we both lean into the long kiss, enjoying it. I run my hands down his back as he pulls me closer, but refrain from grabbing his butt. After a couple minutes, I realize we are making out pretty heavily in front of his house, and I am late to pick up Sophie.

We pull ourselves away from each other reluctantly and smile. I would have hoped the kids would have gone to bed as we instructed Chelsea, but no, I hear laughter and see the living room light on. We find Sophie, Maeve, Will, and Chelsea all on the floor, playing what looks to be UNO.

"Hi, Mom!" Sophie calls out. "Look, I taught everyone how to play UNO. No one has gotten to 500 points yet. Can we finish?" Chelsea looks at us, "I'm so sorry Mr. Billings, Sophie showed us all how to play and I totally lost track of time! I know they should be in bed, but.."

"You don't have to explain, Chelsea, I totally get it!" I sigh. "Miss Sophia here is very persuasive and forgets about boundaries." Greg is trying not to smile but failing miserably.

"So, who won? Or should I say, who is winning?" Greg asks. "Well, I know how to play the game and they are just learning, so of course I am winning, but maybe next time.." Sophia smiles and winks at her comrades.

"OK, no more UNO for any of you! We're going home, Sophia, it is way past your bedtime! (It actually isn't as she is impossible to get in bed and I know she sneaks under the night light to read once her door is closed, but no matter.) Let's go." I turn to Greg, "thank you so much for dinner. We know where to find each other so we'll be in touch soon, right?" 

"Of course," he smiles, and kisses me on the cheek as we have 3 children and a teen watching us. "Thank you for taking care of Sophie, Chelsea. Goodnight, Maeve and Will! Sleep well." They wave and start picking up the cards off the floor. Sophie should be helping them, but she should also be in bed. 

We take off in the car to our place, which is less than half a mile away. "Did you have a nice date, Mama?" Sophie asks. I'm moved that she asked instead of babbling about UNO and Chelsea right away. "Yes, I did Sophie. I had really good pasta and seafood! Did you have fun with Chelsea and Will and Maeve?" Her face lights up, "Yeah! I can't wait to do it again. We'll have to start the UNO game over, but I understand." 

We pull up in our assigned space and walk upstairs into the apartment. "Hey, Mom?" Sophie asks seriously. "Yes, what is it?" I ask in return. "I really like Greg," she says, shyly, which is completely unlike her. "Well that's great Sophie, he's a really good person, I like him too. And yes, you'll get to see more of him and Will and Maeve soon too." 

"Yeah, cool.." Sophie replys. She pauses. "I still miss John though." I smile and am about to say that I miss him too, but he's far away and busy. She cuts me off, "and I was thinking tonight that I would like to see my dad again if you don't mind."

That last part took me by surprise. I don't know what to say, but blurt out "yes, affirmative to both Sophia dear. We'll talk about this more in the morning." "Affirmative?! What the heck does that mean Mom? Have you been watching Star Trek again?" she giggles. I laugh, "Sophie, you know I haven't watched Star Trek in a long time (my former sexting buddy Kevin got me into it for awhile and she would watch sometimes)." Now go brush your teeth and go to bed." She hugs me then runs down the hall to her room. 

I'm, of course, very conflicted with emotions, which are as follows: a) I just went on a lovely date with someone I really liked and connected with, who behaved like a gentleman instead of a horny 18 year old, b) How the hell am I going to arrange for Sophia to see her biological father without exposing her to his girlfriend's emotional abuse and his neglect? It sounds like she is ready to forgive, and therefore, the better person of the two of us.  And, c)I wish John was here so I could talk about all this with him. Even though we spent just a few days together and I had to delete his phone number as discussed earlier, I feel a strange connection with him that goes beyond sex that I just can't shake.