Beyond the Sample -- Teaser Tuesday for Portrait of an Unlikely Affair

                She opened the door and said, “Well, hello there Gen. I’m surprised to see you.”

“Well, this mail came for you at the office and it seemed important,” Gentry replied, handing Avonlea a stack of envelopes then looked around expectantly. “Besides, I needed to check in with you.”

“Oh, I see,” Avonlea closed the door and looked at the envelopes. “Well, you’re just in time. We are cooking dinner. Would you like to join us?”

“We? I must be intruding,” Gentry replied, loud enough to be heard. She then whispered, “OK, where is he? I want to see who this stud muffin is.”

“Behave,” Avonlea threatened in a whisper then replied loudly, “Nonsense. Please. I want you to meet Brian.”

“Well, if you insist,” Gentry grinned.

Avonlea shook her head and rolled her eyes then led her to the kitchen. Brian was finished with the cutting board and had placed the chopped onion and garlic into the skillet. 

“Gentry, this is Brian,” Avonlea introduced as Brian washed off the cutting board and his hands. “Brian, this is my very best friend on Earth, Gentry Adams. I would be lost without her.”  She looked between the two and saw Gentry grinning broadly. Avonlea knew that look.

“Hi,” Gentry was not shy about it at all. “You are so much more handsome than Avonlea let on.”

Brian looked curiously at Avonlea then back at Gentry.  “It’s nice to meet you, too,” he replied and offered his hand to shake as he knew that was customary.

Gentry just smiled, and took his hand in both of hers, which alarmed him. She looked him over from head to toe. “Wow, I’m just floored.”

Brian looked at Avonlea for help.

“I’m sorry,” Avonlea frowned at her friend. “Gentry is not shy about expressing herself.” She jabbed Gentry in the side with her elbow. “Quit drooling, Gen.”

“I apologize,” Gentry grinned, hesitantly releasing his hands. “I completely realize now why Avonlea has been so interested in this project of Kevin’s and I don’t blame her one bit. You are…just wow. E hasn’t mentioned a thing about you, except that you are Connor Jones’s stepbrother?”

“Former stepbrother,” Brian corrected. “Our parents are now divorced.”

“Oh,” Gentry looked at Avonlea and raised her eyebrows. “So, then Connor won’t be upset when he finds out this,” she motioned to Brian, “is going on then?”

Brian shot a puzzled look at Avonlea. Women seemed to speak their own language.

Avonlea smiled, “Gentry, Brian is here for medical treatment.”

“Well, people can multitask,” Gentry shrugged. “This smells excellent. What are you two cooking up?”

“Chicken alfredo with onion, garlic, and mushrooms and a side salad,” Avonlea replied. “Brian is learning how to cook.”

“Oh, how wonderful,” Gentry replied. “Definitely impress a girl with good cooking skills.” Gentry washed her hands then went to the pantry where she chose a bottle of wine. Avonlea opened the cupboard and brought out some wine glasses.

“Would you like some wine, Brian?”

He shook his head, “No thank you.”

Gentry was intrigued, “Not a fan of wine, eh?”

“I don’t drink alcohol,” he replied.

“Really?” Gentry was more intrigued. “Do tell? Is it due to your medical status?”

“Yes,” he replied. “It is just better if I avoid its affects all together.”

“He can’t take pain killers either,” Avonlea added.

Gentry shrugged, “All right, you are more of a purest then. Nothing wrong with that. Your body is your temple.” She winked as she poured a glass for her and one for Avonlea before she looked him up and down again. “And what a marvelous temple it is, indeed. I would worship there.” She grinned, catching a glare from Avonlea. She laughed. “This is so much fun. You see, E here is a light weight in regards to alcohol, too. She’s a cheap date, as they say.” She took a drink of wine while watching Brian with interest.  Avonlea gave her threatening looks when he had his back turned. Gentry smiled. “So, what exactly am I interrupting here?”

“Nothing. We were just talking about life,” Avonlea replied innocently. She knew there was nothing going on. Brian knew there was nothing going on. Gentry, however, would allow her mind to wander down that road and insist something.

“In that case, I’ll ask a question. Brian, tell me, do you have a girl back home?” Gentry asked. “If so, how long have you been dating?”

“No,” he replied. “I don’t date because I have a terminal disease.”

“Oh, how sad,” she frowned. “So there’s not a special girl who has won your heart?”

Brian looked at Avonlea, confused. He didn’t know what Gentry was asking. He had just told Gentry he didn’t date.

“Yes, she just rephrased the same question in a different manner,” Avonlea answered his look. “Gentry, Brian’s life has been complicated because he has a terminal disease.”

“I have other things to preoccupy my time with other than dating.” He knew he couldn’t tell them he wouldn’t be able to date because of his status as well as his terminal designation. “Dating and marriage are not in my future. I just want to find out how much longer I have to live, and then I will be able to plan accordingly with the things I need to accomplish. I do not see myself having a life like the rest of you.”

“That’s incredibly sad. I think you would make beautiful babies,” Gentry frowned, getting another threatening look from Avonlea. “What? The disease isn’t genetic. I’ve been reading Kevin’s studies, too. Your babies would still be beautiful and healthy.” Gentry then grinned at Avonlea’s more intense threatening look. “Oh, E, you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how amazingly handsome he is? You had said he was good looking but he is way beyond good looking.” She saw Avonlea’s face go bright red. “I think you should reconsider your decisions, Brian, in regards to dating.”

Brian looked at Avonlea, “Is this what is considered an uncomfortable conversation?”

“It is,” Avonlea replied, feeling her face still warm from embarrassment. “Gen hasn’t had a date in a while and I’m afraid it is showing.”

                “Oh, you will both be thanking me for this conversation sometime in the future,” Gentry grinned. “Just planting seeds, that’s all. All right, I will behave. I promise. Let’s start over again.”

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