Chapter 16: "Show me, she said"
"Welcome home, Sweetheart."
Her eyes glistened still with unshed tears but the smile remained fixed on her face. I leaned over and kissed her again. We held each other for a few moments.
"Let's go home," I said.
Jimmy saw us first and ran out the front door and into his mother's arms. Mary and Angus watched from the doorway, smiling as their daughter walked hand-in-hand with her son up the path to the front steps. I pulled the bags out of the trunk and followed the noisy, happy group into the house.
***
"How does someone your size so easily overpower someone my size?" I asked as she nuzzled into my shoulder.
"Stored energy. A month of waiting for this, all compressed and ready to explode."
"By that logic, I should have been just as powerful."
"Men are weak, women are strong," she said, nipping at my chin.
How we'd got from there to here was a story on its own. Mary had conspired with Nicole to pack a small overnight bag for her daughter, and with Angus's approval, we were sent off to my condominium the minute Jimmy was asleep with the solemn promise that we would return before nine o'clock Saturday morning.
"It was far better, you know," I said, kissing her forehead.
"Yes ... much more than I dreamed."
"You dreamed about this too?"
"Is that a surprise?"
"No ... I guess not. All that dreaming, though. I didn't match the real thing. Didn't even come close," I said, pulling her even closer to me if that was possible.
"Do you think the next time will be just as good?" she asked, her fingers stroking my cheek.
"Better! Each time, each day, each year ... better."
"Show me," she said, climbing on top of me. "Make love to me again and show me."
"I may need a little time to recover," I said, hoping it wouldn't discourage her.
"Let me help."
And she did.
When we ultimately surrendered, we held each other closely, kissing gently and stroking each other and, in no time at all, falling asleep.
In my dreams that wonderful Friday night, I proposed and she accepted. In my dreams, we had a child that I fathered. In my dreams, Jimmy grew up to be a pilot. In my dreams, everything was perfect.
I awoke with a renewed sense of optimism. I knew now I could manage the last three weeks or so of her being away. We would make the most of this next few days, but I would be thinking of all the tomorrows that were still to come when we could be together. All I had to do was make it happen.
As I lay there in complete contentment, I became aware that Nicole was awake also. I rolled toward her to be greeted with a lovely, sleepy smile.
"Good morning, my love," I whispered.
"Yes ... very good," she murmured in return, her hand on the side of my face and a look of love in her eyes that made me weak. How did I ever get this lucky to find this woman?
"I know this isn't the traditional way, Nicole, but will you marry me?"
"Uh huh. When?"
"Yesterday?"
She smiled and her eyes sparkled just the way they always did when she was happy.
"Okay."
"I do have a couple of things I have to do first," I said.
"Like what?"
"Well, I need to ask your father's and Jimmy's permission first."
"You're kidding," she giggled.
"Nope. I'm not worried that they'll turn me down, but it's a courtesy I owe them."
She gave me a thousand watt smile, then, "What else?"
"Why find a ring, of course. Something special for your left hand."
"Of course," she repeated, rolling over on top of me.
"There is something else we should consider," I said.
"And that is?"
"Children."
"We already have one."
"What about another?"
"I thought you told me that you couldn't father a child," she said, looking at me quizzically.
"I said probably, not definitely."
She looked into my eyes, never blinking. "Maybe I'm already pregnant," she ventured tentatively.
"So ... you didn't have any protection then?"
"Nope. Didn't worry about it for a second."
"And you're okay with having another child ... or two?"
"You're awfully confident for someone who didn't think he could become a father."
"That was before I fell in love with a left-handed woman. Besides, I'm an optimist. You could very well be pregnant already."
"Uh huh, could be," she grinned.
"Does your father own a shot gun?"
That brought about genuine laughter.
"Yes, as a matter fact, I think he still does."
"Well, then I guess the wedding date might have to be moved up if we're lucky."
"It just might."