Welcome to My Fictional World: A Short Clip From The Reunion. Coming In A Few Wee...

“Fiona sat in the chair across from him, crossed her shapely legs, and folded her arms across her body. “I’m not going to play games with a genius.  I’m not smart enough for that battle, but I am smart enough to know when a man is trying to pull a fast one.  What do you want with Kennedy, Harrison?  Are you after her because she looks like your dead wife?  And I don’t mean to sound disrespectful in any way.  But Kennedy will join us in a few and I want to clear the air of this issue now.  It will give you enough time to make an excuse on why you can’t stay.”

The lump in his throat rose. He was surprised Kennedy had talked about his personal life with her sister. “Are you implying Kennedy is naïve?  Because if you are, Fiona, I must say I’m offended.”

“Don’t even go there with me, Einstein.  You know damn well what I’m talking about.  How long did it take you to catch up with the rest of the world, Harrison?  This person you are now was not made in a test tube,” she said pointing at him. “Who helped break the cocoon you’ve lived in for most of your life?”

He played with a loop the shoelace made on his shoe. His idea of a tranquil evening was a home-cooked meal, good wine, and casual attire. This conversation with Fiona, however, tensed every muscle in his body. “Fiona,” he said in a sort of condescending way he didn’t mean to do, “to ease your mind, I’m not replacing Calli with Kennedy. I only showed Kennedy the picture of my wife so it wouldn’t be a shock when she finally saw a picture of her. I didn’t do it to upset her.”

Harrison watched Fiona as she bounced her crossed leg. She had that suspect look plastered across her face. Finally, she said, “I don’t believe you. You may make my sister’s heart go pity-pat, but I know your type, dude.”

He finished the drink and took in a deep breath. “Why don’t you believe me? What do I have to do to convince you that I'm not using deceptive tactics?”

“That will be up to you to figure out how to convince me you're not a creep stalking my sister. But, 

I’ll gladly give you two reasons why I don’t believe you.  You accept a position where she works, and your deceased wife, who was a “sistah,” resembled her.  Wouldn’t that raise red flags if the shoe were on your foot?”

He nodded. “I can’t negate those facts.  However, I have one for you to ponder over.  Did you consider that I married my wife because of Kennedy?”

She furrowed her brows and asked, “Did you?”

He grinned. “Now it’s my turn to run down the facts before Kennedy joins us, and you have to make an excuse to leave us alone tonight.”

“If the facts stand up to my satisfaction, I will have no problem leaving you two alone,” she said rolling her neck.

“Okay—here they are.”  He spoke quickly and in a low tone so that his voice wouldn’t carry any further than the living room.  “I was madly in love with Kennedy. My heart broke when she moved back to Cleveland, and we lost touch.  I tried to track her down.  I even checked to see if she used that dreadful social media crap. Apparently, I’m not the only one who doesn’t use Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, to log my life adventures.  With that last-ditch effort under my belt, I was left with no choice but to drop the search even though I couldn’t get her off my mind.  I got lonely, and I knew that if I didn’t make some changes to myself, I would be alone forever.  During my transition, I met Calli, fell in love—boom—end of story.”

Fiona clapped her hands bouncing in the chair. “You go boy! I like your approach, but I’m still not convinced you’re up to something!” She sat forward in the chair and deepened her voice. “How this is coming together is not just by coincidence.”

“I assure you it is.  It could only be fate that I was headhunted for the position at Cyptec.  And when I learned she worked there; that, sweetheart, was the bonus that persuaded me to sign on the dotted line.”

His honesty was wearing Fiona down---he could see it. All he had to do was reel her in to end her suspicions. If he could get her assistance in luring Kennedy to him, he would forever be in her debt.

She rolled her eyes at him hard. “Don’t mess with my sister.  She may be older and smarter, but I’m hell on wheels when it comes to her.  And don’t underestimate Kennedy either.  She’s tougher than she looks.”

Harrison smiled, revealing a straight set of white teeth.  “I would never mess with her head.  Actually, we could both benefit if you’d help me, Fiona.”

“Why would I want to do that?” she asked in a distrustful voice.

He sat up on the sofa and looked around to make sure Kennedy wasn’t in the hallway.  “Your sister is fighting me.  I know she is as attracted to me as I am to her.  Fiona, can you nudge her in my direction?  I’m begging you and will pay whatever price you ask.  I have plenty of money,” he added.

Fiona cocked her head to one side.  “Do I look like I would sell my sister to the devil for a dollar?”

He slapped his hand on her forehead. “That was a bad choice of words.  Can’t you see how much I want her in my life?  I’m willing to make a fool of myself.”

“Yeah, and not to mention you’re trying to con a street-smart chick.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

“Whatever! Kennedy is not being cagey; she is protecting herself. Harrison, there is a lot you don’t know about her. She has never been in love. She has never had her heart broken by a REAL MAN, either. If you come on too strong, she’ll throw her walls up. That’s just the way she is.”

“I don’t comprehend that. Why is she building walls around herself? Is she against falling in love?”

“Hell no! She is saving herself for the right man. When Kennedy falls in love, she wants it to be forever. Not some one-night fling with an old boyfriend that neglected to call her in fifteen years.”

He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his index fingers. “I swear to God, I love Kennedy.”

Fiona fussed in a quiet voice. “Get real, man! How can you say that after two days of being with her?”

“All it took was for me to see her again, and those feelings rushed back to me. I declare on everything that I have, including my daughter, that I am completely honest with you.”

Fiona fidgeted in the chair. “You are putting me in a bad position. I don’t know you, and you could be shitting the hell out of me just like you did Kennedy with the story about your wife!”

Just as Fiona was getting ready to tear into him, Kennedy walked into the living room to join them. 

“Hello, Harrison; I’m sorry I wasn’t at the door to greet you. I got behind in the kitchen. Has Fiona been a suitable hostess?” she asked, cutting her eyes at her sister.

Harrison stood up as Kennedy entered the living room.  He walked over to her and kissed her gently on the cheek. “Yes, she has.  We’ve had a chance to get to know one another.  Fiona is quite interesting.”  He caught Fiona rolling her eyes upward as she drew her body tightly in the chair.

“She lives an exciting life.  Dinner is ready if you all want to follow me into the dining room.”

A cell phone blared out loud rap music.  Fiona dug it from her purse.  “Sorry about that,” she said as answered it.  After a short conversation she hung up the phone and said, “Sorry, guys, but I can’t stay for dinner.  Something came up suddenly.”

“Something or someone?” Kennedy questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Fiona hunched her shoulders. “Really doesn’t matter because I can’t stay here to babysit you two; I got better things to do.  You all have fun and behave,” she said rushing for the front door.

Harrison shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans and dropped his head to look at the polished hardwood floor.  He couldn’t bring himself to look at the puzzling expression that was probably on Kennedy’s face.