Always in Albuquerque Read online

  They stopped for supper as soon as they got back to Albuquerque. “You don’t want to cook, do you?” he asked as he pulled into the parking lot of a pizza place. “I feel like pizza tonight.”

  “Me too!” She jumped out of the car. “Let’s each get our own so your yucky veggies don’t touch my side.”

  “I don’t want your yucky meats to touch my side!” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders walking toward the door. He never would have thought they’d have figured out how to co-exist so easily in just two weeks. Maybe Dr. Lachele hadn’t lost her mind after all.

  Once they were sitting together in a small booth, the waitress approached the table. “Hi, Dr. Blanton.” She did a double take. “Alexis? You two know each other?”

  Alexis smiled at her client she had seen just the day before. “We got married two weeks ago today.”

  Jessica stared at them. “Really? I would never have put you two together.” She looked back and forth between them as if they’d totally lost their minds. “Seriously, how did this happen?”

  “Opposites attract,” Alexis said with a smile. She had a feeling that Dirk would feel as if his reputation was totally shattered if she admitted they’d been introduced at the altar.

  “I guess…” Jessica shook her head. “Okay, let’s talk food. What do you want?”

  Dirk answered for both of them. “We want to share an order of cheesy garlic bread, and then I’d like a medium veggie pizza. Put every veggie you can find on it. She would like a medium meat pizza.”

  “No anchovies!” Alexis put in.

  “To drink?” Jessica asked, still seeming a bit dazed by seeing the two of them together.

  “I’d like a Coke,” Alexis said. She knew Dirk wouldn’t approve, but she didn’t care.

  “I’d like water.” Dirk looked at his student, wondering why she was so shocked he could be with a beautiful, fun-loving woman like Alexis. Was he really so different? Small children didn’t run in the other direction when they saw him.

  Jessica made notes of everything and hurried away.

  Dirk frowned at Alexis. “Why is it so shocking we’re married?”

  Alexis shrugged. “I think it’s that we’re so…well, oil and water doesn’t seem to cover it. In some ways we’re salt and pepper all the way. In others…it doesn’t feel like we’re from the same solar system, let alone the same planet.”

  “In what way?” he asked.

  “Let’s start with dress,” she said softly. “You dress like a college professor, which makes a whole lot of sense. You wear suits and sweaters with patches on the elbows. I wear skirts that come above the knee. I’m very conservative in my dress by most standards, but I do stay up to date with styles. Next to you, I look like I’m prancing around in a string bikini around a bunch of women who cover themselves entirely when they swim.”

  “Do people really see me as so serious?”

  “Yes, they do. You are very concerned about your reputation. I think people should be who they want to be, and the rest of the world should just have to deal with it. We have very different philosophies on life, but that’s all right. As long as we’re happy together, no one else should care.”

  Dirk couldn’t help but wonder if simply being seen with her was hurting his reputation. And then he wasn’t sure if he should care. She was a good woman, at least she seemed to be to him. He’d really only known her for two weeks. “Have you ever been arrested?” he asked.

  “Nope. Not once.” If anyone else had asked her the question, she’d be offended. But she understood it coming from Dirk.

  “Have you ever gotten drunk and been nude in public?”

  Alexis had to laugh at that. “Never. I’ve never even been drunk. I can’t seem to make myself enjoy the taste of alcohol.”

  “Have you ever gone skinny-dipping?”

  “Yes, during spring break my sophomore year. It was my three best friends and me and we swam in the ocean together late one night. No one saw us.”

  He frowned. “What other illicit behavior do I need to know about?”

  She sighed. “You’re not going to find nude pictures of me floating around the internet or anything if that’s what you’re asking. Compared to most people, I live a boring life. I have my ears pierced, but those are my only piercings. I have no tattoos. I have never had a boob job.” She looked down at her breasts. “I think the girls look pretty good, though, don’t you?”

  Dirk blushed. “You don’t really expect me to answer that in public, do you?”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with thinking your wife has nice breasts. In fact, I think it’s wonderful. It makes us more compatible in bed.” Just as she said the last three words, Jessica walked back to the table.

  “I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear that. I brought your drinks. Your garlic bread will be out any minute.” With that, Jessica hurried away.

  Dirk frowned at Alexis. “Really? Do you spend nights awake thinking about ways you can embarrass me in public and absolutely ruin my reputation?”

  “Why does it ruin your reputation for people to know you have an active sex life with your wife? Shouldn’t you be able to enjoy sex?”

  He sighed. “I suppose I should, but I shouldn’t be talking about it in public.”

  “But why not? Sex is a very natural act. Without sex there would be no babies. And not as much smiling.”

  “I know it is. But…I guess I don’t feel like it’s something that people should be so open about. What we do in the privacy of our bedroom should be just that. Private.”

  “And it is! I haven’t discussed our sex life with anyone. Well, not really anyway.”

  Dirk closed his eyes. The woman was either going to make him the happiest man alive, or he was going to strangle her in her sleep. He wasn’t sure which would happen at this point. “What do you mean, ‘not really’?”

  “Well, my friends and I glossed over the subject today. They wanted details, and all I’d tell them was it was wonderful.”

  “Why did you have to even tell them that?”

  “Well, it will only help your reputation, right?”

  Dirk frowned. “Yes, but will I be able to look them in the eyes the next time I see them? I assume I’ll be seeing them often.”

  Alexis grinned. “Yup. We have a wedding on May fifteenth. I’ll be a bridesmaid.”

  “Lovely. I can’t wait to see them and not be able to look them in the eye, and then they’ll assume I’m shy, and I’m not. I just don’t like very private things in my life being discussed with others. I hope you didn’t go into too much detail?”

  Jessica pushed the plate of garlic bread into the middle of the table. “Still not listening. Your sex life is your business. Not mine.” She hurried away.

  He shook his head. “We need to change the subject immediately. She already knows too much about our lives together.”

  “All right.” Alexis felt like he was being silly, but she didn’t tell him. If it mattered that much to him, then she could honor his wishes. “Do you like to do jigsaw puzzles?”

  He shrugged. “I love jigsaw puzzles. I did them all the time as a kid, but I haven’t done one in years.”

  She smiled. “Why don’t we stop at Walmart on the way home. We can grab a couple of puzzles to work on together.”

  “I wouldn’t mind that.” He smiled, reaching out to take her hand in his. “I think finding things we both like to do should be of the utmost importance. We can’t spend all of our time in the bedroom.”

  “I didn’t hear that!” Jessica called as she put the two pizzas on the table along with some extra napkins. “You wave me over when you’re ready for me. I keep interrupting, and I really don’t want to do that anymore.”

  Dirk closed his eyes and counted to ten. “You changed the subject and I brought it back just as she approached the table. How did that happen?”

  “I guess you have sex on the brain just as much as I do.” It was all Alexis could do not to giggle at the
look on his face. He was mortified.

  “I’m going to have to leave her a hundred percent tip and beg her to keep her mouth shut.”

  “Jessica?” Alexis asked, shaking her head. “She’s not a gossip. She won’t say anything, but she’ll probably be embarrassed every time she sees you from now on. It could be worse.”

  “You said she’s a client of yours. Will she stop seeing you over this?”

  “Nah. She will just blush the first time, and we’ll move on from there. No big deal. She and I have worked together for more than a year, and we have a particularly close relationship. I think that’s why she was so surprised to see me married. I hadn’t mentioned it to her.”

  “Do you tell your clients about your life?” he asked. “I thought they were supposed to tell you about their lives.”

  “Oh, they are. And I do a little, in between them telling me. Or I use examples of my own life to help them to feel better about themselves. Not a big deal either way.”

  “I see. I guess I use examples from my own life in my teaching as well. Not always, because I prefer to use textbook examples, but sometimes it’s easier to explain with my own life stories.” He shrugged.

  When they left the restaurant, he did leave Jessica a larger than normal tip. He scrawled the words, “I’m so sorry!” on the back of the receipt, hoping she would see them.

  As soon as they were in the car, she got a phone call. “Oh, it’s my mom. I’d better answer.”

  “It’s odd that I haven’t met your parents yet.”

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Alexis. How’s married life? Did you really go through with marrying a stranger?” her mother asked.

  “You knew I would. I’ve been thinking about this since I interned with Dr. Lachele all those years ago. And I’m thrilled that I did. Married life couldn’t be better.”

  “I’m glad to hear it! Tell me about him.”

  Alexis glanced over at Dirk, wondering what exactly she should say with him listening. “Well, his name is Dirk Blanton, and he’s a professor of marketing here at the university. He likes to hike and do puzzles. I think a lot of him.” I think I’m falling in love with him.

  “Sounds like a good match for you. I can’t wait to meet him. We’re still planning on flying out there in June.”

  Alexis quickly muted her phone. “Can I invite my parents to stay with us in June?”

  Dirk looked startled for a moment before nodding. “Yes, of course. I would like to get to know them better, and I’m not teaching summer school this year.”

  Alexis unmuted. “Why don’t you stay with us? We have plenty of room.”

  Her mother hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure, sweetie. You two are newlyweds.”

  “We’ll be newlyweds whether you stay with us or not. Trust me. It’ll be fine.”

  “All right. I’ll give you the dates we’re traveling as soon as we buy our tickets.”

  “Sounds great, Mom.”

  “What else is new in your world?” her mother asked.

  “Well, Dirk is a vegetarian, so there’s a lot of time spent trying to figure meals out.”

  Her mother laughed. “You married a vegetarian? The world is about to explode!”

  “I know. Crazy huh? We’re working things out though. We have a lot of differences, but we’re learning to compromise and work through them.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. It sounds like he’s a good man. I can’t wait to meet him. Your father said to tell you hi, by the way.”

  “Tell Dad hi.” Both of Alexis’s parents were teachers, and they tried to travel to see her every summer. She loved spending the time with them, and they loved getting out of the city to go somewhere rural. Only a New Yorker would consider Albuquerque rural, though.

  “I’ll talk to you later. Pay attention to your husband. I’m glad it’s working out for you.”

  After hanging up, Alexis thought about what she’d almost said to her mother. She was falling in love with Dirk? Yes, she’d hoped it would happen, but it seemed all they’d done was argue so far. How could she be falling in love with him?

  “Everything all right?” Dirk asked, looking at her as he stopped for a light.

  “Yeah, everything is good. My parents are teachers, and they like to visit me in the summer while they’re off work. I usually try to fly there at Christmas time.”

  “Where is there?”

  “New York City. I grew up there, and my parents still live in the same apartment I lived in when I was a little girl.”

  Dirk smiled. “I wish I had some kind of place like that to return to. My grandparents all died before I was born. My parents were only children. My parents are gone now too. Nothing seems to be home to me.”

  “Maybe wherever we are will become home.” The conversation made her think about something they hadn’t really discussed. “I know you want children, but how many?”

  He shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it in great detail, but at least two, I think. I don’t want my child to be an only child. It’s a lonely life.”

  “What if I want fifteen?” Alexis asked with a grin.

  He refused to take her bait, knowing she was messing with him. He was starting to recognize that tone she got to her voice when she was teasing. “Then I think we’ll have to get a bigger house. I don’t think it would be legal to have seventeen people living here.”

  “Probably not…”

  “How many do you really want?” he asked. He was flexible on the number, because he’d never really thought about it. He just knew he didn’t want to die alone.

  “I don’t know. At least two. Maybe more depending on whether or not I have difficult pregnancies.”

  “I think that’s very logical,” Dirk said softly. “Do you want children immediately?”

  “I hope we do. I’m not taking birth control. I told Dr. Lachele that I wanted kids, and I assumed she matched me with someone who wanted them as well.”

  “Well, then we’ll see how it goes. I would like them soon. I hadn’t thought about when until just now, but yeah. Soon sounds good to me.”

  “Good. Then we’ll carry on as we have been.”

  He pulled the car into the driveway and turned to her. “It’s been a long day,” he said softly.

  “It really has. The days I drive to meet my friends always seem to take forever.”

  “Maybe we should go to bed early and start our carrying on now.”

  She laughed. “You sure do have a way with words, professor.”

  “I am a college professor, after all. Not linguistics maybe, but I’ve learned a thing or two over the years.”

  “Learning is good.” She got out of the car and stretched. “You know what? I think I need a shower before we start carrying on. I feel like I’m all sweaty after so many hours in the car.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll check my email while I wait for you. But hurry.”

  Alexis pressed a kiss to his lips. “I’ll do my best.”

  She hurried into the house before he could scold her for kissing him outside. He found it mattered to him less and less with every day that passed anyway. She was special, and kissing wasn’t just for sex, she’d said. It was for showing affection. He was going to show her a lot of affection as soon as she finished with her shower.

  He grinned as he locked the front door and set the security alarm. Alexis had already changed his life in more ways than he could count. Now if they could just get through the next few months without him killing her, he was sure their marriage would last forever.

  Seven

  While at work on Monday, Alexis realized that she was in over her head with Dirk. In the beginning, she’d been sure he needed her so he could learn to laugh. Now she wondered if she’d needed him so she could learn to be serious.

  Everything about him infuriated her while at the same time, she felt herself falling a little more in love with him every day. Was it really love when she could see him for exactly who he was, warts and all
, and she could put up with those things? Well, she could mostly put up with him. She really did want to strangle him in his sleep at times.

  On her way home, she brainstormed meals she could cook on the weekends that would make them both happy. She came up with several and shopped for them, texting him that she’d be a little late.

  Mrs. Remynse had started cooking for both of them in creative ways, making sure there were things they’d both like that were part of any meal. When she arrived home, Dirk was waiting for her. “I waited for you. I want to watch my documentary, but I thought we could work on our puzzle at the same time.”

  “That sounds great,” she told him. “Let me just get these groceries put away.” She hurried into the kitchen and unloaded the two bags she’d purchased, putting everything into the refrigerator.

  She sat down with him at the table, and they began working on the puzzle again. She took the sky because she liked to play with the different nuances of blue in a puzzle.

  “You have the entire summer off, right?”

  He nodded. “From the last week in May until the first week in August. So, two full months and a little more. Why?”

  Alexis smiled. “Well, we didn’t get to take a honeymoon, and I have an idea for one.”

  “What is it?”

  “I want to go to Disney World. It’s a place I’ve never been but always wanted to go. We could stay on Disney property, and you can take buses and boats and monorails wherever you go. What would you think of that?”

  He frowned. “You really want to see Disney that badly?” He had no desire to go to a world where a giant mouse was the center of attention.

  “I really do. There are resorts that are designed for adults and not kids. I spent my whole lunch hour researching. EPCOT is a huge learning experience. Did you know that the word EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow?”

  He sighed. “What kind of learning can you do at EPCOT?”

  “Well, mainly you can learn about different countries. I looked at a map, and the park is shaped like a giant number eight. At the back there are all these little villages about different countries, and there are shops, but museums as well. At the front you can create your own car and then actually feel what it would be like to drive it. Wouldn’t that be fun?” She didn’t mention the bride and groom mouse ears she wanted them to wear. He wouldn’t be a fan of that at all.