8 comments/ 15866 views/ 23 favorites Sometimes, Love Finds You By: komrad1156 *Note to readers: Rainier School is a habilitation center for individuals with developmental disabilities located within the city limits of Buckley, Washington. It serves those whose mental disabilities are so severe they can't live at home. ***** "I told you before the answer is no, Jill." "I don't understand. You're the reason I no longer believe in my church and now that I want to try some new things, you're the reason I can't. Help me understand that, Connor." "It's very simple. I don't need God or religion to have personal standards. One of those standards is I don't smoke, drink, or take drugs. If those are things you want to experiment with then you'll have to find yourself a new boyfriend." Jill Monroe was by far the prettiest girl at White River High School. She was head cheerleader and homecoming queen. She'd been dating Connor Kelly for two years even though he'd refused to join the Mormon Church where her dad was the Bishop. Connor grew up without a belief in God but after his dad, who was also his best friend, had been killed by a drunk driver, he found himself searching for something to hold onto. A friend invited him to go to church with him and out of curiosity he agreed to go. Although he never went back, he had met Jill. She'd seen him at school before, but because she wasn't allowed to date non-Mormons, she'd never really tried to get to know him. But after he'd visited their ward (local congregation) that showed her parents he was a possible future convert so her dad had allowed his daughter to go out with him. Once they'd been out two or three times, she was unwilling to stop seeing him in spite of her parents' continual protests and reminders that he was a non-member. Jill had had her daddy wrapped since the day she was born and telling her 'no' just wasn't in his DNA. "But he's such a good guy!" she told them repeatedly. And he was. His dad started him in scouting as a Cub and since scouting and Mormonism were natural fits, that was a plus on his side. Connor had made Eagle just as he'd turned 18 and for Mormons, that was big deal. No, it wasn't church membership, but it did show character. As if that wasn't enough, he was also White River's quarterback, an outstanding wrestler, and had been named homecoming king his senior year. So over the past 24 months, he and Jill had spent most of their free time together, her parents' objections aside. Over the course of those two years, the topic of religion came up quite a few times. Connor never pushed his views on Jill, but she regularly tried to get him to go to church with her. "Even if you don't believe it, you could at least come with me," she said more than once. "That way, my mom and dad would stop pressuring me to find a boy from church to go out with." Connor was always patient and kind when he answered her. "Jill, I don't believe in any kind of higher power because there's no evidence one exists. I have no axe to grind with religion, I just don't see any reason to embrace it in any way." Jill raised all the standard objections about how finely tuned the universe was and always made what was called the 'argument from incredulity' which said, "I just can't believe all of this got here by accident." Each time, Connor explained how 'all this' could have happened by natural causes starting with the Big Bang through abiogenesis or the beginning of life without a deity. More importantly, he explained why claims of answered prayer were simply not true. People of all faiths—Muslims, Jews, and all varieties of Christians made the same claims about answered prayer but any objective examination showed these claims were purely subjective opinions based on feelings. All that 'proved' was that people of all faiths believe their God answers their prayers—sometimes. When He doesn't, it's because His ways are higher than ours or He has some (unknown) reason for not answering them. Jill slowly began to understand she was the product of programming rather than someone 'blessed to have found the truth.' Sure, her parents loved her and they were sincere in their beliefs, but that didn't mean she hadn't been raised to believe what she'd been taught rather than what she believed being uniquely true and coming from God. Still, she wouldn't give Connor the satisfaction of telling him he was right. At least not until after her 18th birthday party. Afterward, she told her mom and dad they were going out for a while and that she'd be home by curfew time which was midnight. As they drove around up near Green Water at the base of Mount Rainier, she told Connor she wanted to go parking which was code for kissing and just kissing. They'd done a lot of that, but that was as far as it had ever gone. This night however, she poured her heart out to her boyfriend and told him she agreed with his view on God and religion. "As much as it pains me to admit it Connor, you're right. No angel came down and gave a teenage boy some gold plates. It's funny how the Church recently admitted Joseph Smith had over 30 wives and that he used a magic rock and hat to translate The Book of Mormon. So I give up. And I'm giving in." She slid over closer to him and whispered, "By giving in, I mean I've also decided I'm willing to do anything to make you happy." She ran her hand down his crotch and pressed down when she found what she'd wanted. It was thick and large and immediately been getting hard. "Are you sure?" Connor asked her. She assured him she was. In fact, she'd even brought condoms along. He'd never pushed her beyond her comfort zone, but he was incredibly happy when she told him she was ready. That night, they'd made love for the first time in the backseat of his mom's car. There had been many more times since. Now, several months later, Jill was at a point where she wanted to, as she called it, live a little. She'd never even tasted beer, never taken one puff of a cigarette, and most definitely never been high and she really, really wanted to try new things. They'd just returned from their favorite fucking spot and were sitting in the driveway at her parents' house. "You don't have the church or anything else keeping you from trying stuff with me like I did, and now I don't care about that anymore. So if I can try new things, why can't you? Why won't you do this for me? I mean, I gave you what you want so is this too much to ask in return?" she said in a kind of mock pout. Jill knew how to use the big, almond-shaped eyes that drove him crazy to her advantage, but not even those eyes could move him on this issue. Connor Kelly wasn't her daddy except when they were fucking. "Jill, listen. I've always been into health and fitness. You know that. And a drunk driver killed my dad just after he and my mom opened a gym in town. Thankfully, he had enough life insurance to pay for the little building it's in, but Mom depends on membership fees to pay the bills. The last thing I want to do is become like one of them. And as for giving me what I want, I haven't heard any complaints out of you." Jill had to admit that after a few awkward attempts to get it right, Connor had gotten very good at making sex enjoyable for her. She liked intercourse itself, but she loved the way he used his fingers and tongue on her pussy. And she absolutely loved sucking his cock. It was just so...bad and Jill learned she liked being bad and giving blow jobs was her own private, dirty little secret. So, yes, she liked sex as much as he did. She decided to try another avenue of approach. "Connor, you're such a saint. You're not going to turn into an alcoholic by having one beer. Come on, there's a party at Kiley's house this Friday. Her parents are out of town and they're bringing a keg. Let's go, okay? Please? Please, please, oh please?" she begged using those eyes for all they were worth. Unmoved, Connor replied, "Jill, you know I'm a Libertarian. I believe in freedom of choice. If you want to do this, that's up to you. I'm not angry and I'm not threatening you when I say this. Let me clear here. If you do go, you're gonna do it without me." He paused for effect then looked directly into those beautiful eyes and said calmly with no malice, "And if you do, we're done." Jill opened the door of his car and said, "Fine. Then I guess we're done because...I'm going." She slammed the door then turned around and said through the closed window, "You used to be so much fun. What happened to you?" Over the noise of the idling engine he said, "Nothing. I'm not the one who changed, Jill." She turned and headed inside and Connor dropped the transmission into reverse and headed to work. He was a short-order cook at a small hotel and restaurant in downtown, Buckley, Washington. Downtown sounded funny to anyone from a large city because in Buckley it meant main street. The one and only real street in town. He worked at place called the Country Kitchen after school and on weekends. The owner, Jimmy Denton, didn't how he did it all, but Connor managed to play three sports, stay on the honor roll, work part-time for him, and volunteer at the Rainier School. He'd never even heard him swear. He was not only an Eagle Scout, but perhaps like Bruce Willis, the last true Boy Scout. He clocked in, said hello to Jimmy's wife, Marge, who was waiting tables, pulled on an apron and grabbed the first ticket off of the rotary to which Marge clipped the tickets. It said: chicken fried steak, hash browns, and lima beans. Connor shuddered at the thought of putting that kind of crap in his body, but dutifully threw the food on the grill and went to work preparing it for the guy who didn't mind doing that. Around eight o'clock, he saw an attractive woman who seemed to be a little younger than his mom come in with a special-needs boy who looked to be about ten. Neither of them noticed Connor, but he most definitely noticed them. His Aunt Ellen worked at Rainier School and from the first time he'd visited there he found himself unable to stay away. Kids with Down's Syndrome and other similar challenges really tore at his heart so he would go over there as often as he could to help out with special events like the upcoming Easter Egg hunt on Sunday. She ordered a salad and water while her son wanted pancakes for dinner. Connor heard him say a little too loudly, "Country Kitchen pancakes are the best!" Connor smiled and decided to make them in the shape of Mickey Mouse as a special surprise. He didn't know the boy, but that didn't matter. He watched as Marge set down and his plate. He heard the boy call out, "Look, Mom! It's Mickey Mouse! I love him. He's so cool!" The little boy was excited beyond words. Connor was thrilled when the mom thanked Marge profusely for doing that. Just as she was setting her salad down, Connor heard the front door. He looked over and saw him walk in and thought, "Uh-oh. Here comes trouble." Wade Lucas was a drunk. So were his two buddies, but neither of them were loud, angry drunks like Wade. They all worked at the Weyerhaeuser sawmill in neighboring Enumclaw, Buckley's chief rival in football. Both teams were The Hornets and the annual football game between them was one of the biggest events in both towns. This year, Connor had led White River to a 21-14 win making him a local hero for at least the rest of that year. Five years ago, Wade had been a standout defensive back for Enumclaw. Now he was just another guy who drank too much and who couldn't hold his liquor. He heard the little boy holler again, "Momma! Look! It's Mickey Mouse. I love HIM!" Wade walked past and said, "Oh, look. It's a retard. I just love THEM!" His buddies snickered but didn't speak. The boy's mother stared at Wade and said calmly, "My son is not retarded." Wade bent over the table and looked at the boy and said, "Well, he sure LOOKS retarded. If you can't see that then you must be as retarded as he is." Marge sat them in the back and said, "Wade, if you say anything else, I'm throwing you out. You understand me?" Lucas pretended to be afraid and said, "Oh, yes ma'am. Please don't throw me out. If you do, where else will I go to get slop like this?" Again, his buddies laughed while Wade just stared at Marge. "So what do you want tonight, Wade?" she asked. "Um...I'll take me an order of that tight, sweet ass sittin' over there with the retard," he said loudly enough to be heard. The woman flinched but didn't respond. Connor however, had heard enough. He took off his apron and walked out into the dining area. As he did, he heard the boy say, "I'm not retarded! I'm smart!" As Connor walked by their table he said, "You are smart, buddy. That man is the one who's retarded." He looked at his mother and said, "I'm so sorry. That guy's just such an ass and when he gets drunk this is what happens." "It's okay," she said. "I'm used to it. Please just let it go. Please?" Connor shot a look at Wade and was about to turn his back and return to the kitchen when Lucas called out, "Oh, look. It's the Buckley Badass himself coming to save the day. Whatcha gonna do badass? You gonna come over here and kick my ass?" Marge walked passed him and said, "I'm callin' the cops." Wade stood up and walked toward Connor. The mom said, "Please, I'm begging you, don't dignify this asshole by paying attention to him, okay?" "Asshole? Did you just call me an asshole—bitch? Someone needs to teach you some manners, bitch." The woman had her hair pulled back into a ponytail revealing a very pretty face with high cheekbones, beautiful hazel-colored eyes, soft, full lips and a perfect smile. Connor couldn't figure out why a woman this attractive was sitting in the Country Kitchen on a Friday night, but right now he was unable to think about anything but protecting her from this...cretin. Wade started to reach for the woman's hair when Connor said, "Don't even think about it, Wade." Lucas howled. "And what are you gonna do about it, badass?" He reached for her hair and Connor's arm shot out and grabbed Wade's wrist. In one swift move, he pulled it toward him, stepped in close, and bent the wrist back so hard it brought Wade to his knees. Wade screamed in pain. "You're dead, badass! I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!" Lucas tried to reach out with his free arm and grab Connor by the legs. Years of wrestling practice allowed him to react instinctively. He let go of the wrist, dropped in behind Lucas and put him in a full nelson as he drove his face into the tile floor. Wade was screaming and hollering threats as the two uniformed police officers entered the diner. One was male, the other female. Connor looked up and said, "Good evening, Officer Lucas," to the female. "It's Johnston now, Connor. I went back to my maiden name after I got rid of this piece of crap. I don't want anything to remind me of the biggest mistake of my life even though he's laying on the floor in front of me. I'll take it from here." Wade's ex-wife slapped handcuffs on her former husband and read him his rights as they walked him outside. The woman said, "Thank you. I mean that sincerely. I know I said I didn't want you to get involved but, well...thank you. I'm Willow, by the way." When she told him her name, Connor smiled. The woman said, "You've never met anyone named Willow before?" "Um, no, we have two girls at school named Willow. You're just the first woman my mom's..." He stopped immediately when he realized how that sounded. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," he told her truthfully. She laughed and said, "It's okay. I understand. I am a lot older than most of the other Willows these days, but for a name to be retro there have to be um, older people who have the name, right?" She raised her eyebrow slightly indicating she was just teasing. Even so, Connor felt bad for having said that. "My mom is NOT old!" the boy said. "And you were mean to that man. You hurt him!" "Honey, the nice young man was just being friendly. He didn't mean anything by it. And he was only mean because the other man wanted to hurt mommy. Please tell him you're sorry." The boy sat there with his arms folded with a defiant look on his face. "No. He said you're old. You're NOT old. You're...pretty!" Connor sat down across the table and said, "You're right. Your mom isn't old. She's..." He turned to look at her again then said, "Well, she is pretty. She's very pretty. And you, my friend, are a very handsome young man." The boy's look softened and he said, "I am handsome. And I'm smart, too!" Connor nodded in agreement and said to the boy, "Yes you are. Hey, I know your mom's name now. Would you mind telling me yours?" "My name is Robert David Andrews and I'm ten years old and I'm smart!" Willow smiled then looked at Connor who said, "Nice to meet you Robert," Connor said as he extended his hand to shake it. "I can tell you're smart. You recognized Mickey Mouse immediately. Did the pancakes I made you taste good?" "Yes, they are GRR-EAT!" he said imitating Tony the Tiger. "You did that?" Willow asked. "I did," he said quietly. "That was really nice of you. He loves Mickey Mouse. Thank you. Again." "Um, listen. I doubt you saw the flyer on the way in, but there's an Easter egg hunt where my aunt works Sunday morning. I'm going to be there helping out. I was wondering if maybe it might be something Robert would enjoy." "Oh, really? That sounds fun. Where does she work?" Willow asked. "At Rainier School." Willow's facial expression changed immediately. "In that case, we'll pass. I don't like people assuming things about my son. Thank you for the pancakes and for what you did, Connor," she said tersely indicating the conversation was over. Stung but not shocked by her reaction, Connor stood up and said, "I'm really sorry. I don't ever lump anyone into a group. I just spend as much time as I can with kids who live there and I thought maybe this might be fun. I didn't mean to offend you. The meal is on the house, by the way." He stepped away and said, "It was nice to meet you, Robert." He looked at Willow one more time and said, "For the record, you're not my mom's age and as beautiful as she is, I have to say she's most definitely not even in your league. Well, again, I'm very sorry if I offended you. Good night." It was chilly that April morning as Connor was laying the last of the colored eggs in the grass. Neither he nor the other volunteers were hiding the eggs. Rather, they were just setting them on the grass in plain view to make them easier to find. In a few minutes, all but the most profoundly challenged residents (of all ages) would be allowed outside and given the opportunity to 'find' the eggs and put them in the little baskets they'd be given. This was the fourth year Connor had volunteered, and every year it was simply amazing to see these people who lead such difficult and challenging lives have so much fun doing something so simple. In addition to the residents, anyone else with a special-needs child could participate as long as they signed up in advance. There were a couple dozen families waiting patiently for the residents to come out so they could start the 'hunt.' As he walked back toward the registration area, he heard a voice say, "I hope it's not to late to apologize." He turned and saw Willow and Robert, who was holding her hand. "Hey! I know you guys," he said. "It's Willow and her son Robert, who is a very smart guy!" Robert nodded his head in an exaggerated fashion and said, "I am a very smart person!" "Yes you are!" Connor told him again. "Come on over here and wait with me, okay? Everyone else should be coming out soon." Just seconds later, about a hundred people began streaming out of the main building led by staff members. As they grew closer, Connor could hear the excited chatter from those able to speak. "I'm gonna get LOTS of Easter eggs this year!" he heard one man who looked to be about 50 say. "Me, too! I'm gonna get ALL of them!" another girl in her her early twenties said excitedly. Sometimes, Love Finds You The woman running the event tried to quickly explain how this would work but several of the more challenged residents walked away and started picking up eggs and showing them off before the official start. "I got a blue one!" "Hey, look! I got a green one!" Robert was allowed to join the group without his mom who stood next to Connor and watched. In seconds, it was a free-for-all of people bending over and picking up one colored egg after another. Robert found a red one and turned to show his mom. "Mom! See? I got a red one!" "Good job, honey!" she called out as Robert turned back around to find more. "Connor? I'm so sorry about Friday night. I'm not normally sensitive about Robert's challenges, but it had been a rough day and then there was that...guy...at the restaurant. I just felt like it was me and Robert against the whole world, you know? But then I thought it about later and I couldn't have been more wrong. You risked a lot to stand up for us and that's not something that happens a lot for us." Her voice trailed off as she finished speaking. "I can't even imagine what you deal with every day. I really, truly didn't mean to lump Robert in with..." Willow reached out and put her hand on his forearm. "No, it's okay. I know you didn't mean that. It's just that well, Friday my divorce became official and I had to see Robert's father at the courthouse and that upset him—and me—and sometimes, as strange as it sounds, pancakes are the only thing that can calm him down. And then that...guy..." Connor saw tears forming in her eyes and he felt terrible. "It's okay, Willow. You don't need to explain anything. I'm just really glad you came. Robert looks like he's having a blast." They found him in the crowd and he was clutching an armful of eggs and holding more in his hands. He had an even dozen when he came back to show his mom. Connor got a basket for him and helped him put the eggs in it. "See? I told you. Look at all my eggs. I am smart!" he said. "You sure are, Robert," Connor told him. They stood and talked for several minutes as things wound down. "So do you work full-time, Connor?" Willow asked. "Oh, no. I'm a senior at White River High." "That's wonderful!" Willow said. "What are your plans after your graduate or do you know yet?" "Well, if I can keep my grades up, I'm hoping to get an full ROTC scholarship to pay for college. I think I'd like to fly jets for the Air Force someday." Without complaining or whining, he explained what had happened to his dad and the financial situation with his mom. "So if I can hold the 3.9 GPA, I've got a really good shot at it. Well, if calculus doesn't do me in, that is." "Calculus? Ha! If you need some help, just ask. I just took a job at Enumclaw High School teaching math and specifically AP calculus." "Are you serious?" Connor asked. "That's insane. What are the odds?" Both of them laughed at the thought of actually trying to calculate the odds. "You've got to be really busy. I can't imagine you have the time to tutor me." He stopped when he realized tutoring wasn't free. "Besides, we're not really in the position to pay for a tutor so..." "Nonsense! I don't start until after Spring Break which is a week from tomorrow. I'm replacing a teacher who's retiring for health reasons which is why I'm starting at this odd time of the year. If you want to get together, just let me know. There's no charge. It's my way of thanking you for the pancakes and the...protection...and for this." She smiled then added, "It's your break time, too, so I can understand if spending it with a woman...your mom's age...isn't all that appealing." Willow smiled at him and Connor felt something he'd only felt before when Jill looked at him like that. He tried not to stare but she was really beautiful. Not just pretty but...beautiful. Long, dark, silky hair fell to just below her chin. Her eyes were warm and bright and and her face was well...beautiful. He did his best not to stare, but he couldn't not look. Her body was tight and fit and she had a great ass with a small waist and what seemed to be two very nice, round breasts. She was wearing a coat, but from what he remembered she was around the same size as Jill, who was a full B or a small C. He was immediately aware of his growing...problem and hoped she hadn't noticed. To his relief, she was still looking directly into his eyes, and unlike him, not checking out his body. That was because she'd already taken notice Friday night when he was pinning Wade Lucas to the floor. What she'd seen had caused her own kind of growing problem in the form of a warm flutter that started in her stomach that drifted south and ended where she was noticeably very wet. She now felt a little ashamed of herself when she learned he was a boy still in high school, no matter what he'd done or how mature he might be for his age. Willow asked if she could tutor Connor at his place. The reason, she said, was she was living her brother and sister until she could save up enough to afford her own place. He told her was sure that would be okay and after giving her his address, set up a time. To his surprise, Willow had arrived before he got back from working an early-morning shift at the Kitchen, and neither she nor his mom heard him come in. He stood in the kitchen and listened as he heard Willow say, "He told me about that. I'm so sorry for your loss." Connor's mom said, "He's been amazing through all of this. He takes care of everything his dad once did plus all of the other stuff he does outside of his studies. So yes, I am very proud of him." "He may be the most mature boy I've ever met. He not only does all of those things but he carries himself better than most of the men I know who are my age." She paused then said, "He's light years ahead of my deadbeat ex-husband who couldn't stand living with Robert. He saw him as a burden to having fun and 'doing his thing' and yet your son's thing is helping out children like my son. Now that I've met you, Mrs. Kelly, I can see why Connor is the way he is." "Well thank you, Willow, but his dad had a lot to do with that, too. He was always so proud of him and I know he'd be even more so today." Connor wasn't good at dealing with that kind of syrupy praise. He closed the door again only loud enough to be heard then strode into the living room. "Oh, hi, Willow. I saw your car outside. I see you and my mom have met." He bent over and kissed him mom on the cheek and handed her an envelope. "Payday today. I got a whopping 15 cent-an-hour raise so don't spend all that in one place okay, Mom?" She hugged her son and said to Willow, "See what I mean? Well, let me let take her break. It was nice meeting you, Willow, and thank you for helping out like this. I really appreciate it." Connor grabbed his textbook and showed Willow to the dining room table. "So you're in your second semester of calculus, right?" she asked. "Yes. I did great the first semester when we were working on differentiation. But integration is killing me." "There basically kind of reverse processes so show me where you're at and what's giving you trouble and we'll start there." Two hours later, Willow told him she'd have to call it quits for the day. "What time is it?" Connor asked. He looked at his watch and said, "Wow. I wish time flew by like that in class. I had no idea how easy this was. I just couldn't see it until you explained like that." They stood up and he showed her to the door. "You're really good, Willow. EHS is lucky to have you." "Thank you, Connor, but that remains to be seen. As far as tutoring goes, do you want to get together again this week?" "Yeah, sure. I'd really like that, but I'm not sure I need any more help. I mean, you really opened my eyes. Or would that be my mind?" Willow laughed at his quip. "I think I've got it now so in all fairness, I would just be wasting your time. Don't get me wrong. I wish I could think of a reason—any reason—to spend more time with you, but I'd just have to make up the reason so..." Willow laughed. "Your mom is right. You really are an amazing boy, Con... Oops. I am so sorry. I mean...young man." Connor laughed and said, "That's okay. I don't mind a woman, even one my mom's age, calling me a boy." "You're terrible!" she said as she laughed out loud and hit him playfully. Connor laughed, too, until he saw her facial expression change. "What's wrong?" he said. "You know I was kidding about the age thing, right?" She looked sad again, the way she looked so often the few times he'd seen her. "I know. It's...well...when I laughed just now I realized that was the first time I'd laughed—really laughed—in so long I'd forgotten how good it feels to have a nice time." She was looking at him in a way he didn't quite understand when she said, "Once again I find myself thanking you for something." "For what?" Connor asked. "For making me feel...alive. I don't mean to be melodramatic, but I haven't felt that way since my ex-husband told me he couldn't stand living with me...no, not me...with Robert, anymore. A part of me died that day and I've just never fully recovered." She smiled a half-hearted smile and said, "You made me feel like my old self so I guess that's what I'm thanking you for." Connor's smile faded as her words sunk in. Willow felt responsible and said, "Oh, my. I just realized. I'm standing here complaining about my ex-husband while you lost your father. Oh, Jesus, Connor. I'm so sorry. I feel so...petty and ashamed." Connor forced himself to smile and said, "Okay, that's enough. No more sharing our misery, okay? We need to talk about something else or maybe even do something else. Instead of tutoring, can I take you guys somewhere where we can do something more enjoyable?" "You can't be serious! You've already done so much for us. I'm the one who should be doing something for you. I'd offer to make dinner for you but well, I kind of don't have a house or even an apartment so..." "You guys just moved here from Olympia, right? So I bet neither of you have been to the Seattle Science Center. Something tells me your very smart son would have a blast checking out all of the exhibits. What do you say?" Willow eyes were darting back and forth between his own. "I'd love to Connor, but you really don't have to do that. I know you have a big heart and Robert talks about the Pancake Guy all the time now, but that's an all-day commitment. You must have friends or probably a girlfriend to hang out with." Connor told her about the break up with Jill. "I'm really sorry. It hurts no matter how old we are. I'll just say it's clearly her loss. Maybe we could do something simple. You know, like take Robert to a Disney movie or something." He could tell she wasn't trying to get out of going with him. She was genuinely concerned about him 'wasting' an entire day with someone he couldn't possibly want to spend time with. "Why don't we do both? I'll take you two to the Science Center then you can take us guys to a movie." Again, Willow asked, "Are you serious? Do you actually want to hang out with us that much or are you just being the nice guy you are? You don't have to do any of this, Connor. Really." She was still looking at him 'like that' when he said, "Well, maybe I want to spend my time with the two of you. Did you ever think of that, little Miss I'm-older-than-you-so-I-know-everything?" Willow feigned indignation and said, "Well I am older than you and maybe I do know more than you." She paused, cocked her head then said, "And I do. About calculus anyway. So there, Mr. Smarty Pants-nice-guy who's really, really young." She paused, looked down, then back up before adding, "And really cute." "Like Robert, I prefer the word handsome but...okay" he teased. Willow smiled and tried to speak but her throat was tight. Her smile faded again and her eyes had a different kind of look. It was a look he recognized but couldn't place. It was a look that told him something he just instinctively knew. Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. She didn't kiss him back, but she also didn't pull away and her eyes closed along with his. When he pulled back her eyes were once again darting back and forth between his. "What just happened?" she managed to croak. "I just kissed you," he said as though she needed an answer to her question. "I...I...I should go now," she said. Without saying another word, Willow turned and walked out to her car. Connor watched as she got in and started the engine. She looked dazed like she'd just seen a ghost. Connor regretted kissing her, but it was too late to undo it. As she backed out, he realized he didn't know her number or even where she lived. He did notice her license plate as she pulled onto the street in front of his house, but that wouldn't do him any good and something told him she wouldn't be stopping by for another visit anytime soon. "Shit," he said out loud. "You just blew that out your ass, Mr. Know-it-All," he told himself. The next day, he was leaving the kitchen when he saw her. "Officer Johnston!" "Hey, Connor! How's the 'Buckley badass' these days?" she kidded. "Yeah, Wade was spewing his shit about you all the way to the jail. What a dick. How did I ever fall for that asshole?" she said. "Oh, sorry. What's on your mind?" "Well, I kind of need a favor," he told her. After some cajoling she told him she'd pull up the plate and check her address. "It's still the Olympia listing, but I know she filed a restraining order against her ex-husband so I know where she lives." "Great!" Connor said. "No, not great. I could lose my job if I tell you so please don't ask me to do that, okay?" "Ah, come on. You know I'll never tell anyone." He watched her give him that look where she twisted her mouth around as if to say, "I know I shouldn't do this but for the guy who beat Enumclaw this year..." "Okay, but if you tell, I'm gonna do a lot worse to you than I did to Wade." After she gave him the address he said, "Don't you mean 'after what I did to Wade'?" She doubled up her fist and shook at him but couldn't help smile as she did. He was so damn nice...and cute. Connor's stomach was churning as he rang the doorbell. "I'll get it!" he heard someone holler. It was Robert. "Hey, I know you!" he said. "You're the Mickey Mouse pancake guy." "Hi, Robert. Is your mom home?" Just as he said that, Willow came to the door and said, "Robert honey? Why don't you go inside with Aunt Cody and let Mr. Pancake Guy and Mommy talk." "He's the Easter Egg man, too, Mom!" Robert said as he ran back inside. Willow closed the door and said, "How did you find me?" "State secret," he told her. "Are you upset I did?" She looked down and said, "No. Well, maybe." "May I ask why?" Connor queried. "Look, you're a really nice guy, Connor. There aren't many out there like you, trust me on that. It's just that well, this can't go anywhere, you know? I'm older than you. A LOT older than you and..." "I don't care how old you are, I care about who you are," Connor told her softly. "You need to understand Robert gets attached to people very quickly. Especially men. He really misses his dad but how can I explain any of that to him? He likes you, Connor. He talks about the Pancake Guy and the Easter Egg guy all the time. I just can't let him get attached to you and then have you disappear from his life." "Are you planning on moving again?" he asked in the same calm, quiet voice. "What? What do you mean? We just got here and I told you I'm going to be teaching at EHS next week." "Then I don't see a problem," he told her. "I mean, I'm not moving anywhere so who's gonna be leaving?" When Willow laughed he was very relieved. "Okay, you caught me off guard there," she told him. "The truth is, I really do like you, Connor. You honestly are one of the nicest, most decent people I've ever met. But I'm 32 years old and you're still in high school. And I have a son who needs stability and a ton of patience and..." "I think I'm a patient person," he said interjecting himself into her list of objections. "Okay, I'll grant you that, but there's still the issue of me being a teacher and you being a student." "Okay, I'll grant you that, too...for another two months or so and at a different school. Your turn." "Connor, this isn't a game. This is my life. This is my son's life. You have no right to waltz in and do this knowing you'll just..." "You mean do this?" he said as he pulled her to himself and kissed her again. "Connor...stop..." she protested. "I don't want you to..." Her protests died out and she just stood there and let him kiss her...again. And then that feeling welled up inside her and no matter how hard she tried not to she raised her arms and put them around his neck and kissed him back. They didn't kiss all that long, but the intensity of it sent shock waves through her body. She hadn't been kissed in well over two years, and she couldn't remember if she'd ever been kissed like that by anyone, let alone someone so handsome. "What just happened?" she said again—reflexively as though she hadn't been part of it. "I kissed you. Again. Just like last time, remember?" "Oh, my God. This is insane!" she called out. "Do you realize this is truly insane?" Her eyes were darting again. Back and forth. Left to right, right to left. She was looking to him to agree with her and tell her she was right. Instead he said, "What would be insane is not finding out whether or not this really is insane." Her eyes were filled with disbelief and concern. There was no fear, but he could tell she was deeply concerned. "Why couldn't you just leave me...leave—us—alone? Why did you have to find me and...and kiss me and make me feel...like this again?" He saw a kind of desperation in her eyes that told him she didn't want this to be happening even though she wanted it to be happening more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life. "Connor, this is crazy," she said as she lay her head on his shoulder. "Is that a step up from insane?" he joked. Willow lifted her head up and looked into his eyes again. "Do you have any idea how you make me feel?" she asked as she ran her hand across his cheek. "Will you tell me? How you feel?" he asked as he brushed her hair back. "Happy. Afraid. Hopeful. Confused. Scared." "Is that everything?" he asked as he kissed her forehead. "Isn't that enough damage to inflict on me?" she said as she lay her head back on his shoulder. "I was hoping you might say 'horny'," he said trying not to smile. "Connor Kelly! What is wrong with you? My son is just inside the door and..." He took her in his arms and kissed her deeply and passionately until she melted into him and kissed him back, hungrily and deeply. "Okay, you win," she moaned. "Just please, please don't hurt me or my son. Please?" He held her tight and whispered, "I won't hurt you, Willow—ever. Or Robert. I promise." On Saturday they spent the day at the Science Center and as predicted, Robert couldn't stop talking about everything he'd seen. Rocket ships and outer space and the oceans. Oh, and the ice cream. He loved the ice cream. And the hot dogs. He was so excited he never noticed his mom was holding hands with the Pancake Guy or that they kissed many times during the day. "My brother said he'll keep Robert tonight if you know...you and I wanted to well, you know..." Willow said on the way home. Robert had fallen asleep during the ride back. "I mean, if you'd like to alone with me, that is. I'm not expecting anything, I just thought maybe..." "Willow? You think too much. There's nothing I'd like more than to be alone with you." Sometimes, Love Finds You She thanked her brother and assured him she'd be back early the next morning before Robert woke up. "He's a bit like you," she told Connor. "My brother, I mean. He's so calm and centered and totally non-judgmental. We talked after you came over and all he said was that sometimes love finds us even when it comes from the most unexpected places. He just wants me to be happy." "Wow, that's amazing. I talked to my mom about us, too." "Oh, my God, Connor! Tell me you didn't do that!" Willow was horrified. "It's okay. She said she knew I was too smart not to recognize the challenges of dating someone almost twice my age, with a child who has special needs, let alone a soon-to-be teacher." "What else did she say?" Willow wanted to know. "She said she only wants me to be happy. I mean, she wants me to go to college and fly for the Air Force or whatever I want but she understands that love doesn't always follow a predictable path. She told me she wished I would find someone closer to my own age but that if I really, truly loved you, she would love you, too." Willow was tearing up again. "I almost feel like I don't deserve this. This chance to be happy again. I've been so sad and so lonely and so miserable for so long I had to ask myself whether I was, you know, falling for you or falling for the idea of being needed again." "And what did you decide?" he asked as he held her hand tighter. "I'm on my way to a motel with you right now," she said softly as she looked over at him. Then even more sweetly she said, "Does that answer your question?" Connor held her hand as they drove to Auburn, a larger city where no one would know them. He'd made a reservation for two under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly at a reasonably nice motel. As he shut the door behind them, he grabbed his beautiful girlfriend from behind and said, "Let's get out of these clothes, shall we?" Willow purred and said, "Mmmm...definitely." They slowly undressed one another kissing softly letting the tension build between them as each button was undone. As she pulled off his shirt, she bit his lower lip—hard. "I want you so bad," she told him as she released her bite. He lifted her sweater over her head and quickly unhooked her bra. He pushed her back on the bed and immediately took her large, hard nipple between his lips. "Oh, God!" she sighed. "Oh, that's feels so good!" He sucked and licked and pinched. "Bite me," she said. "What?" Connor asked not understanding what she meant. "No! I mean bite me. Literally. Bite my nipples. Hard!" Afraid of hurting her he bit down ever-so gently. Willow moaned softly then told him, "Harder. Please. A lot harder." Conner increased the pressure of his bite until he was literally afraid he would draw blood. Only then did Willow gasp and say, "Yes! Just like that. Bite me like that, okay? Oh, my God that feels so good!" He learned she liked him to release the pressure then quickly bite back down just as hard. After a few minutes of this kind of new nipple play, she helped him get her jeans and panties off as she did the same with his jeans and underwear. "Mmmm. I knew it. You are big! I'm so glad. I'd love you no matter what, but I'm so glad you have a big cock, honey." Connor ran his hand between her legs and noticed she was slippery wet. He kissed her as he slipped two fingers inside her. "Did you just say you love me?" he asked as he pulled back from the kiss. Willow nodded and said, "I did because...I do love you, Connor. Does that scare you? That I'm in love with you?" He shook his head and said, "No. Not at all because I'm in love with you, too, Willow." "Mmmm. Then get that big cock of yours inside my pussy," she begged him. Connor lifted himself up and felt her tiny hand wrap around his rock-hard cock. "Right there, sweetheart," she said as she guided the tip of his throbbing erection to the lips of her pussy. He pushed but felt no resistance whatsoever. She was utterly drenched in her own juices and he slid in effortlessly. "Oh, my fucking God!" she screamed. "Oh, Jesus! Oh, yes! Fuck me, honey! Oh, God that feels SO good!" Connor pounded her hard for a very long time then turned her over on her hands and knees before re-entering her. He was amazed at her body. She was 32 years old but her body was hotter and sexier than Jill's. He was hammering her, his balls slapping hard against her ass. "Jesus fucking Christ!" she screamed. "Oh, my God. I'm gonna fucking cum! Cum inside me, baby. Please fuck me. Cum in my pussy, Connor. Oh, God I love you so much!" Connor bucked and jerked and fired off stream after stream of hot, sticky cum into his beautiful lover's pussy until he was completely dry. Willow waited for him to go soft before moving. When he finally did, she turned over and pulled him on top of her. She was crying softly. "You okay?" he asked as he kissed her face. She nodded and said, "Uh-huh." She looked directly into his eyes and said, "I'm more than okay. I'm in love." ______________________________________________________________________ Connor graduated with his 3.9 GPA in tact in June. A week later, he and Willow were married at his mom's home with just his mother and Willow's brother and sister in attendance with Robert serving as his best man. He got his Air Force ROTC scholarship and in September he began his studies at the University of Washington in Seattle, where Willow took a full-time teaching position at a city high school until he graduate with honors and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Air Force. A year later, he was a getting ready to graduate from flight school in San Antonio, Texas and start flying F-16s. Willow had taken another teaching job at a high school in the city while Robert attended a school for special needs children where he demonstrated every day that he really was very smart. After flight school, Conor was making enough money to support both of them, and Willow was able to quit working and care for Robert full-time. They had another child a year later; a daughter they named Lindsay Day. Sometimes you find love. Sometimes, love finds you.