Strawberry Wine (14 page)

Alli filled her prescription at the drug store, grateful to find the pharmacy area deserted, with the exception of an old man sleeping near the blood pressure machine.

She stuffed the thin plastic cases into the lunch bag with her condoms and pamphlets, and headed home.

Grabbing a bottle of water on her way upstairs, Alli didn’t stop to make idle conversation with her gran. She went straight to her room to investigate her new prescription.

The pills were held in an oval compact. There were twenty one tiny round pink pills in a circle. Seven little green pills made up an inner circle. Alli pushed on the plastic covering a pink pill and it popped out the foil on the other side.

Feeling very much like a grown woman, Alli put the pill on her tongue and washed it down with a swig from her water bottle. “There.” She said to herself in the mirror.

And now what?
Asked her conscience.
Does that pill magically make you eighteen?

I do not feel the least bit guilty about being prepared. Even Margot says it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Justify it however you want, it still doesn’t change the fact that you have entered into a relationship with a man under false pretenses.

Alli flounced away from the mirror, unable to argue with her conscience, but not willing to concede any wrong doing.

Putting the compact back into the lunch bag, she stuffed the whole lot into a gym bag and put the gym bag on the top shelf of her closet.

Alli paused on the stairs, hearing Gran talking quietly on the phone.

“Of course, dear. I’ll let you tell her yourself. ... You know you can. As long as you need. ... I love you too, dear. ... Alright, we’ll see you next weekend. Bye bye.”

Alli heard the phone click back into the cradle, and Gran’s shuffling feet moving away toward the kitchen.

What was that all about?

Greg opened the door to the gallery and nearly ran into Jason who was on his way out.

“Oh, Ogden, how are you?” He asked in surprise.

“I’m well, Mr. Stone. What brings you by the gallery today? I hope you’re still pleased with your purchase.”

Greg hastened to reassure Jason. “Yes. Absolutely. In fact, we are so pleased with it that I’d like to commission a portrait of my fiancé.”

Jason smiled warmly at Greg. “‘Fiancé’ huh? Congratulations. Your mother never mentioned-”

“Well, it’s not official yet.” Greg explained. “But hopefully soon.”

Jason nodded in understanding. “Of course. Well, she’s a very lucky woman. She’d be a fool to say no.”

Greg was staring at him expectantly. “So, do you have any availability...?”

Jason was proud of his ability to hide any outward signs of annoyance. He was incredibly busy preparing both his own show and the Urban Youth exhibition, but he couldn’t very well brush off the son of the Urban Youth founder, now could he. “It would be a privilege to paint your intended. I’m on my way out, but you can set it up with Emiline. She knows my schedule.”

Greg thanked Jason and shook his hand before Jason continued out the door. After making the necessary arrangements with Jason’s secretary, Greg left the gallery rather pleased with himself. Alli was going to flip over this. She was a strange bird, and he found it nearly impossible to surprise her with things she liked. Jewelry was a bust, she found flowers impractical and preferred them in a garden, and he didn’t like giving sweets - no sense in encouraging irresponsible eating habits. He liked his women waif-like.

Whenever she expressed an interest in something, he took note. Her recent obsession with painting couldn’t have come at a better time. He couldn’t believe his luck when it had turned out Jay Ogden was affiliated with his parents’ foundation. The fact that Greg liked Ogden’s work too was an added bonus.

Alli surveyed the contents of the picnic basket. Grapes, cheese, crackers, sparkling cider. Well, it certainly wouldn’t satisfy any great hunger, but it was a nice idea. Tonight was her last night before heading back to the city to prepare for the coming school year. Alli wanted to surprise Jason with a mini picnic in the hay loft as a way to say goodbye and to commit every inch of him to memory before leaving.

She couldn’t deny the fact that she was disappointed about remaining a virgin, but she knew it was better for Jason this way. Next year would be a different story. She intended to have herself wrapped around him like a ribbon the second the clock struck midnight on her birthday.

She wasn’t stupid enough to attempt bringing candles, but she definitely wanted a softer light than the bright fluorescent lights of the barn. She found two battery operated lanterns with dimming options in her grandfather’s camping gear. Perfect.

It took three trips up the hay ladder to get everything set up, but Alli was pleased with the result. She had spread out a full size blanket as best she could between the haphazard hay bales. The picnic basket sat atop the blanket, flanked by the lanterns set to their medium dim setting. All in all it looked quite cozy.

Jason had wanted to take her to a nice restaurant tonight as a going away date. She had refused, telling him she had something special planned, and hoped this little picnic wasn’t too much of a let down. she couldn’t very well admit to him that it was in his best interest not to be seen with her in public in a romantic context.

She had been adamant about surprising him, and instructed him to meet her at the barn at eight PM sharp - not a minute earlier or later. She heard the crunching of his boots on the gravel and checked the small barn clock above the sink. Eight on the dot. Alli felt an unstoppable grin spread across her face, and giddy bubbles fizzing in her stomach.

Frick and Frack heard him too and started bleating in excitement, thinking he was returning to feed them again.

Jason stopped just outside the barn door. “Hello? It’s eight O’ clock. May I come in.”

Alli could hear the smile in her voice. “Yes you may.”

Jason came slowly into the barn, leaving the big door open just wide enough for him to pass through. Gus immediately pushed past him in search of edibles. Alli quickly grabbed a small bucket of grain and lead Gus into the pen. All three goats climbed all over each other trying to ingest as much grain as possible. Locking the pen behind her, Alli set the empty bucket down and dusted her hands off on her skirt.

Jason had never seen Alli in a skirt before. It was a full skirt that stopped just at her knees. It was a pale pink color, almost white in the dim light being cast from the naked bulb over the grain barrel. She had topped it with a white cotton camisole trimmed in delicate lace. She looked lovely, and feminine, and every bit the virgin he knew her to be. “You look beautiful, Alli. I feel very underdressed.”

She had told him specifically to wear his worn work jeans and one of his many threadbare work shirts. She was delighted to see he had followed her instructions implicitly. She loved the way his jeans had molded themselves to his body, and she knew first hand how soft his threadbare work shirts were.

“You look perfect.”

She stepped into his arms and hugged him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. “Is there a reason you turned down a five star restaurant for a hay barn?” He asked with humor in his voice.

Alli smiled up at him. “Yes. Come see your surprise.” She turned and ascended the ladder into the hay loft.

Jason found the mini picnic to be charming. They munched on the cheese and crackers, fed each other grapes, and laughed when they realized Alli had forgotten glasses for the sparkling cider. After wrestling the cap off, they took turns passing the bottle back and forth between them. They were lounging against the back wall of hay, enjoying each other’s presence in companionable silence when Alli leaned over and pulled a small parcel from between two bales. “I have something for you.” She placed the package in his lap.

“What’s this then?” He unwrapped what turned out to be his own shirt, the very shirt he had given Alli after their brief swim in the creek. Inside was Alli’s tattered copy of Atlas Shrugged. She had written a phone number and an email address inside the front cover. “I know you hate the idea of a long distance relationship, but I’m hoping we stay in touch.” Jason leaned in and kissed Alli lightly on the lips. “Thank you. I have something for you too.”

Alli stopped him. “Wait! Can I keep the wrapping paper?” Jason laughed and handed her back his shirt. Alli hesitated, then sheepishly asked, “Actually, can I trade it for the one you’re wearing? This one doesn’t smell like you anymore. It accidentally got washed.”

“I don’t see a problem with that, but this one’s pretty clean too. I just put it on before coming out here.”

Alli leaned into him and nuzzled into his neck, inhaling deeply. “Mmm, this one definitely smells like you.” Straddling him, she pulled at the fabric and slowly unsnapped each snap.

Jason held his breath. He had been intimate with Alli since learning of her virginal status, but he had purposefully kept things strictly above the belt so to speak. He hadn’t let it go further than kissing, and he had no intention of doing more than that tonight. He didn’t want Alli to feel pressured because she was leaving.

Alli pushed his shirt over his shoulders and ran her hands back down his chest. How was this man always so warm?

Settling her hands on either side of his neck, she raised herself up on her knees and bent her head down to kiss him. She teased him at first with her height advantage, brushing softly across his lips. Then she kissed him harder. He pulled her back down onto his lap and returned the kiss just as hard. Her breath was sweet from the apple cider.

Jason couldn’t wrap his arms around her because they were effectively trapped in his shirt. He thrashed around for a second trying to free himself while continuing to kiss her. Once his arms were free, Jason lifted her off his lap and rolled them both forward so that Alli was pinned beneath his prostrate body.

Jason felt her tugging at his belt buckle and put his hand over hers to stop her. “Alli, what are you doing?”

“Your buckle hurts when you’re on top of me like that.”

Jason rolled to his side. “That better?”

This new position gave Alli easier access to his buckle, and she immediately went to work on it again. It came lose with a quick pull, and Jason grabbed her hand again. “Alli. We’re not doing this right now.”

She stared up at him with big, innocent, doe eyes. “I know. I just don’t want your lumpy denim between us. Please? You can keep your boxers on.”

Jason gave her a beleaguered sigh. “I’m not wearing any.”

This information made Alli grin wickedly. “All the better.”

Jason snorted in exasperation. “Alli. How much restraint do you think I possess? Are you really asking me to lie naked with you right now, knowing full well nothing is going to come of it.” Alli snickered at his choice of words, but stopped short at his frown. “What if I stay fully clothed? Would that be better?” At his hesitation she pressed on. “I just want to look at you. It’s like you said, ‘the human body is a thing of beauty’, remember? Well I’ve,” Alli cleared her throat in embarrassment, “I’ve never seen a fully naked man before.”

Jason’s brows shot up. “Alli. You’ve seen
me
naked before.”

Alli shook her head. “I know I’ve
been
naked with you,” She blushed, remembering the times in question, “but the first time you were under water, and the other time it was dark, and, well, I couldn’t actually really
see
much of you.”

It was her blush that made up his mind. He could deny her nothing. He slowly stood up, being careful not to hit his head on the low rafters. The two camping lanterns put off enough light to make him perfectly visible, but the light was warm, almost like candle light. Alli became perfectly still. “You promise to stay dressed?” He asked, for clarification. Alli hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. She let it out, nodding in encouragement, and pushing herself up into a sitting position.