"OK honey, want me to leave?"
"If you want to."
When I finished hanging up my clothes he was in the kitchen barefoot and shirtless, looking in the fridge. I was silently glad he wasn't leaving, but embarrassed to ask him not to, my body still tingled from his touch.. He grinned at me over the fridge door and asked. "Still want your salad hon?"
"No, see if there's cheese and I'll get the crackers." That was always our favorite snack I remembered, and could tell by the look on his face, he did too, I threw the salad in the trash.
He sat out the cheese and got some pop for us both and we ate silently across the table from each other. Then he put the things away while I wiped off the table.
I asked "So are you going to stay in town and keep the business up?"
"Plan to. After you sell the farm, I'll need a place of my own I guess."
"I'll look around still have the same ideas I suppose? Still have that cabin at the lake?"
"Oh definitely we're keeping it for a hideaway. You get away much?"
"I don't have the time, and I like to stay busy."
"Oh but you have to take time, no play makes for a dull life. Boyfriend?"
"No time for that either. I heard you remarried what happened to that?"
"Who me? Came close, but she tried to push me too much."
"You never did like that."
"Nope never will."
He was beside me again and then pulled me into his arms and kissed me again and I ran my hands down his back, and pulling away I said "Luke we shouldn't"
"Too late! And he led me back to the bedroom, and he took a shower. I sat nervously on the edge of the bed and set my alarm and w
was no dream. And both sides of the bed being rumpled told me so too. Dressed I made my way to the kitchen and smelled coffee. Luke was standing there dressed and drinking coffee. I was totally embarrassed but shouldn't have been. He poured me a cup of coffee and handing it to me saying "You look nice."
"Thanks" Looking at his watch he said.
"Well got to go I'll be late, I'll call you." Leaning in to kiss me I turned away saying "It's not a good idea Luke."
"Oh well see you." I felt guilty after seeing the hurtful look on his face, and knew he was disappointed. Before he shut the door I said "Thanks see you soon." He left without replying and I heard him squeal tires on the way out, that much hadn't changed, he did it when he was mad.
A few weeks later I had sold the farm and divided the money into two checks and stopped off at the station with a couple of prospective properties for him. He was busy with someone in his office so I waited. I couldn't help but hear him say he would see her at seven as she left. I felt a tinge of jealously as I thought he had found a replacement.
He ruled out two of the prospects and said he was in no hurry, but would see the other one." Saturday is my only clear day though"
"Nine 0 clock then?"
"Sure I'll meet you at your house."
"Make it the office I have some work to do first."
"OK see you there." We were both business like. As I was leaving I felt his eyes burning me all the way to my car. When I turned around he was staring at me wiping his hands on a rag, I waved to him and drove off.
Saturday while showing him the house he didn't like it at all. I apologized saying I would keep looking. He said he might just rent some place, or buy some land to build what he wanted if I didn't find something he liked. "I'm going up to the cabin, why don't you join me, we can fish and swim and relax." He tried to kiss me and I pushed him away saying "I can't I have two more clients to see. Thanks anyway. When he left me at the office he added "If you change your mind, come on up. I'll be there until Monday morning."
"I just don't have time maybe later."
"OK bye see you."
"Bye Luke." Later I had one to cancel on me and debated on driving up anyway. But then I knew where we would end up, so I decided not to, and went to visit my mother in the nursing home.
Three weeks later we had a three day weekend and I looked forward to some time off. Lil begged me to use the cabin. She had the keys and she and Gene would be camping by the lake, and wouldn't bother me. "Go on enjoy the break. "She begged.. I was interested so I took the keys saying she was right I needed the break. I bought my supper and hurried home to pack a few necessities and hurried to the cabin before it got dark.
Once there I settled in putting things away and fell right to sleep. Something woke me and I jumped out of bed realizing it was thunder. Then I saw car lights shining toward the door. I figured it was Lil, although they were planning on camping by the lake. I was grabbing my shirt and trying to slip it on, when the cabin door opened and I shielded my eyes from the car lights as the cabin lights came on. I heard "Dam what a welcome." I jerked my shirt together hastily buttoning it and asked.
"Luke! What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing darling but I won't. I came out to relax for the weekend."
"Lil didn't tell me you'd be here."
"She had no idea, I just decided at the last minute. In fact I tried to call you, to see if you would join me. Let me cut my lights." He came back and pitched down his bag and a cooler. It was lightning in the south and still thundering. "I'll leave so you can have your weekend
anymore." I curled up on him and wrapped my arm around his chest. He fell back to sleep and I still felt his arms tighten around me as he slept, as I drifted off to sleep.
I was dreaming again that we were back home in my house, happy again. We were kissing and he was touching me in that familiar way. His fingers were poking me as his tongue probed my mouth and I dreamed he said "I love you Katherine." And I whispered back "I love you too." In my dream he entered me and we were making love.
Something woke me, moaning, my moaning. It was daylight and Luke was on top of me and in me. I pushed against him and wiggled under him. Before I could say Let me up I was climaxing and moaning again. He was moaning and saying "Oh baby ride it out." He was too strong for me to push him off and I was in the middle of another climax, so I decided to enjoy the moment. In between climaxes he would kiss me and pull me tighter. When he climaxed he rolled off me and was catching his breath. "Much better than old times, we've improved with age" he said.
I laid my head on his chest and ran my hand across it saying," You took advantage of me while I was sleeping Luke Warner."
"You started it with your moaning. What were you dreaming about?"
"Does it matter?"
"Guess not. Maybe I took advantage of you, but you enjoyed it."
"Of course I did. I'd be a fool if I didn't." Getting out of bed I said "I'll shower and then let's see what's for breakfast."
When I came out showered and dressed he had scrambled eggs and fried potatoes and toast ready. He poured me a cup of coffee and we sat down to eat. He was dressed in shorts and a tee shirt. We ate and I cleaned up the kitchen and made the bed, while he fixed his poles and put away his quilt. When I finished I had debated on leaving but I really didn't want to. I found him fishing down by the lake. I asked "When is Lil coming up?"
"I didn't even know she was, I just told her I was coming."
"And she failed to tell you I was here?"
"You know Lil has a one track mind."
"I wouldn't put it past her to plan it like this."
"Me either, but honest I didn't know myself I was coming until the last minute."
"Well I'll leave now so you can be alone." He handed me a pole and said.
"I don't want to be alone, I want to be with you." Neither of us said anymore.
Later I gave up on fishing and took off my shirt and shorts to my bathing suit for some sunning. I laid on my shirt and he soon was spreading lotion on my back and shoulders. "Let's get married again!" He said.
"Luke!"
"I mean it, I miss being with you. You said you loved me."
"I was dreaming Luke."
"Well you didn't stop me from making love to you the third time."
I turned over on my back and he proceeded to rub lotion on my legs and stomach and arms. "I'm serious. Now we don't have to live from pay check to paycheck. I can give you the kind of life you deserve. I quit drinking for you know, and I want a family."
"Luke we tried being married and it didn't work. Can't we just be friends?"
"I want more than friendship and safe sex." He unfastened my top and kissed my breasts and said "Marry me again."
During our kissing he was pulling off my suit bottoms and I was letting him. Then we heard a horn blowing and yelling. "Dam it Luke, now look at me."
"I am darling, I am." He looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. I hid behind him and hastily re dressed by the time Gene's camper came to a stop three feet from us. Luke said "It's about time you guys showed up." I tried not to show my disappointment as we helped them set u
the moon and stars waiting for the fish to bite. He nibbled on my neck and whispered "Don't make me beg to have you back."
"Why I like it?"
"You always did. You would love me to crawl on my hands and knees begging you wouldn't you?"
"No I wouldn't."
In the dark no one could see, I held onto the pole as he pinched and tugged at my breasts. I giggled and hollared as I felt a huge jerk on the pole, and he stopped to help me reel in a big fish. Lil and Gene had said goodnight and went inside their camper. We were on the other side of the lake sitting on a quilt. He strained to see his watch and said "I forgot to put up a tent you know?"
"It's OK, I don't mind." I kissed him quickly. He propped up his pole and pulled off my shirt, and kissed and licked my breasts. He said "I always loved this about you."
Grasping his head and urging him to continue I said, "Shouldn't we go inside?"
"We didn't use to."
"But we were here alone."
"Be adventurous baby. Let me see you in the moonlight>"
"You first Warner." Quicker than lightning he was naked and so was I. Together we played and went down on each other off and on until it got late.
Leaving our clothes behind we raced to the cabin and I beat him and jumped into bed. And into the wee hours of the morning we kissed, laughed and made love. Only after I heard Lil calling "Get up you two." Did I remember our clothes we left by the lake. He told me not to worry about it, they knew how we were. We took a quick shower and even there we couldn't keep our hands off each other. Finally dressed and starting down to the campsite he said. "You have to admit you enjoy us being together again. And realize it or not, we've been together two nights and a whole day and we haven't fought."
"Yet, give it time."
"I don't have anything to fight with you about, and neither do you for me."
"You are right, it definably is a welcome change with you being sober."
"That's how it will be from now on."
"Luke please don't ruin the weekend. I can't make any promises."
"Do you want me to beg, like I use to for you not to leave me? Is that what you want, then I will" I stopped him before he got on his knees saying. "No Luke I don't want you to beg. Just give me time to think about the changes that will have to be made."
"Don't think too long darling. I'm lonely and we aren't getting any younger." Gene's voice said "Anyone wanting breakfast better get here on the double" When re reached their site our clothes were in a pile beside their camper. I was totally embarrassed through breakfast.
I begged off on fishing and sat on the porch of the cabin to read. Up in the afternoon my mind kept wandering from the book. I kept watching Luke who was fishing. It was like I was watching a double screen at the movies without sound. On one screen was of Luke and me fighting every day. He would stumble around trying to kiss me. Then me screaming and trying to drag him out of bed, and getting us both ready for work.
On the other screen was and entirely new couple. They were much older and sophisticated. They laughed together instead of fighting or arguing. They were totally engrossed with each other and enjoyed being together. Their love making was much different than the other screen. Instead of hurrying up to finish and fumbling around with each other. They took time to savor every minute they had with each other when they made love. They would caress and cling to each other not wanting to let go.
Then I saw a pair of scales holding the fighting couple on one side, the loving couple on the other, which weighed more. Then I saw a run down apartment house with the fighting cou
was content just being there. But he broke the silence. "I wanted to give you everything, you knew that. But I was just too young and head strong to see what I was doing wrong. I've had a lot of time to think about what went wrong and had a lot of regrets."
"It wasn't all your fault. Neither of us were happy with the way things had to be. We were just too young from the beginning. We couldn't get work we were happy with and you had your dad and me both at your throat."
"Well I didn't make it easy for either of you."
He hugged me closer and kissed my forehead and continued. "Now neither of us have to work so hard to get what we want. I can afford to give you all the things you wanted that we could never afford."
"I don't need material things anymore Luke. I'm stable and stay very busy to have much of a life."
"Another reason exactly. You wouldn't have to work so hard if we were together again. We could have a real life now, and a happy one."
"Luke I just can't I like being on my own lonely as it might be. We made a lot of mistakes, I don't want to make anymore. We hurt each other a lot. I don't want to be hurt again or hurt you either."
"You're breaking my heart keeping us apart. It won't be like that."
"But what if it is, I don't want to take the chance, not now. Give me time please?"
He kissed me softly and quickly then said "Come on darling the fish are calling your name>" And he pulled me down to the lake. Actually the fish were biting really good. But I believe what he really wanted was me sitting between his legs and arms as we waited for the fish. I had to admit I liked it too, the closeness felt too good. The feel of his strong arms around me as they tightened around me felt right too right. Especially the fell of his lips on my neck as he kissed me. Lil would look at us and smile and take pictures when we weren't looking.
While we prepared lunch she said "It looks good don't you think?"
"Yes it looks good. But I don't want to jump back into the wrong thing. Or something I'll be sorry for." She laughed and then I realized she must have been talking about something else entirely. She asked "What are you talking about? I meant the cake looks good."
"Sure the cake looks delicious. Lil are you sure he's changed. Do you really think he plans to stay in town, or is this just another passing thing?"
"He's a grown man now, with no liquor fogging his mind. All he ever talked about while he was drying out was coming home to make something of himself. And to make up to you for all the unhappiness he gave you."
"Honest?"
"Honest! He still loves you Katherine, and I think you still love him. That's why you haven't been dating. Gene sees it too. Give him a chance, you both deserve a second time around>"
Gene's voice interrupted us as he yelled in the door. "Hey girls! Luke caught the biggest fish I ever saw. Lillian get the camera." We ran back down to the lake Luke was so proud of his catch he grinned from ear to ear. He insisted that his picture be taken with me beside him an arm around me while he held the fish with the other. He asked "IS this good luck or what?" After the pictures we went to eat lunch.
That night was a carbon copy of the two before. I hated to see the sun light that morning. I covered my head up to block it out. Luke soon peeped under the cover asking "What are you doing?"
"It's daylight, it's soon going to end. We have to go home today." He kissed me quickly after uncovering my head and said. "Oh but it doesn't have to end. It can only be just the beginning." With that he started kissing me again and soon I was on top of him and we were making love once again. When we finished I still laid on top of him backin
come back? I'll buy some fireworks and steaks and we can have a big old barbecue?"
"Well I usually have a big old barbecue at my house for my employees."
"Invite them here for a camp-out."
"I'll think about it and ask around."
"Well I hope you are thinking about something more important to both of us."
"I am and I will I promise, just give me time."
"Can I see you again?"
"I'm sure you will right?"
"Nothing definite?"
"Not yet. I'd better go."
He helped me load up my stuff and he held the door looking in he said "You'll still look for some property for me?"
"Of course I will, and I'll forfeit my commission. Thanks for the great weekend."
"Call me Kat?"
"Yes I'll call you, and you can call me anytime. Bye>" He leaned in grasping the back of my neck he kissed me long and hard. When he let me go he said "Don't forget what we talked about." I nodded my head yes and started the car and backed out. He stood watching me until I got out of sight.
At the end of the lane before turning onto the highway I debated on going back. I wanted to tell him we would try again, but then I was afraid to. I was afraid to get stuck if I turned around so instead I sat and cried and then I realized I was only trying to kid myself, it wouldn't work the second time. After pulling myself together I pulled out on the highway and headed home.