Her Journey Begins by Karen Einsel Read Free Book Online

swing and Barb puts her arm around Chris ’ shoulder.
       “ I like him. He ’ s sweet and cute. Reminds me of your dad when we were in high school. Maybe we should invite him to dinner next weekend. ”
    
       It ’ s Friday, the week before Christmas and Chris is sitting on the porch swing watching Brandon and Brent play catch with the football on the lawn. Her thoughts replay the last three weeks over in her mind. Brandon and Brent have had dinner at her house three times, she ’ s stayed after school three times to watch Brandon practice, which means he ’ s walked her home three times and mom, dad, and her have gone to three of his games and yet he hasn ’ t ever tried to kiss her and the only time he holds her hand is when he wants to run while walking her home. She ’ s under the impression that maybe he just wants to be friends.
    Chris gets up and walks down the steps to stand on the sidewalk. She watches as Brent cocks his arm back. Quick on her feet, Chris sprints out in front of Brandon just as Brent releases the ball. Catching it, Brandon grabs her and pulls her down on the grass with him. Chris clutches the football in her arms and starts laughing. Brandon rises up on his elbow and watches her breast rise with every breath she takes. Chris ’ lips part as Brandon bends down and kisses her for the first time. Brent walks over near them.
       “ Ahem ”
    Brandon smiles at Chris, gets up and holds out his hand to her.
       “ Good catch. Are you coming to practice tomorrow? ”
        “ I don ’ t think so. Mom and I are supposed to be going Christmas shopping. ”
       “ So then can I come and see you on Sunday? ”
       “ Sure. Just plan on wearing an apron and being covered in flour, because we will be baking Christmas goodies all day. ”
       “ About 11 a.m. okay? ”
       “ Sure ”
       “ I don ’ t know if I have an apron though. ”
    Chris smiles.
        “ That ’ s okay dad probably has an extra one you can borrow. ” Brandon furrows his brow and wonders if she ’ s joking or not. Chris grins. “ You ’ ll see. ”
    Brandon looks into her eyes. He really wants to kiss her again but Brent has already gotten in the car and is honking the horn.
       “ I ’ ll see you Sunday. ”
       “ Okay ”
    Brent yells out. “ Bye Chris. ”
    Chris smiles and waves. “ Bye Brent ”
    
       Sunday morning Chris is up early. She takes a shower, brushes her teeth and puts on some makeup. Walking back to her room Barb pokes her head out of her door.
       “ Chris …”
       “ Sorry mom. I ’ ll be quiet now. ” Barb closes the door and Chris continues on to her own room. Chris takes off her robe and massages lotion into her wet skin before she slips into her clothes and combs out her wet hair. She smiles at her reflection in the mirror and then tiptoes downstairs. After grabbing the newspaper from the porch Chris heads for the kitchen to start breakfast.
    
       Barb walks into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of coffee.
       “ Sundays now too? ”
       “ Sorry mom I didn ‘ t mean to wake you up. ”
        “ You look nice this morning and you smell good. What ’ s going on today? ” Chris smiles at her.
       “ I told Brandon that he could come help us bake. ”
    Barb grabs the paper and walks towards the living room stopping at the door to look back at Chris.
       “ Okay, that should be fun. Two men, in aprons, in the kitchen, covered in flour. I ’ ll be in the living room, call me when breakfast is ready. ”
    
       Chris glances up at the clock and sees it ’ s 4:30 p.m.
    “ Mom? ”
    Barb looks over at her and smiles.
       “ Go ahead. Dad and I will finish up. ”
    Brad grins at Barb while protesting.
       “ Hey, that ‘ s not fair! ”
    Chris grins. “ Sorry dad. Thanks mom ” Grabbing another cookie off the plate Chris looks at Brandon. “ Do you want one? “
       “ Ugh no. I think I ’ ve eaten at least