The List

by Alice Ward

  “Ouch!”

  Well, Worth was willing to extend a bit of sympathy to me. It seemed we weren’t past that point of return, at least. “I’m so hurt.”

  “I can understand that. If it makes you feel any better, I doubt he would have even answered my phone call.” Worth shifted in his chair, and I knew his body language well enough to know the thought made him uncomfortable. He began tapping the pen on his desk.

  “I’m not content to leave it this way. I want my family. Together. I want my husband.” My face burned as I said the last word.

  He seemed taken by surprise, his brows rose, and he stifled whatever sarcastic response he was about to make. “I miss you, too, Auggie. You’ve been pretty rough on me lately.”

  “Well, I have an inspiration. I’d like to take the kids out of school for a couple of weeks, have you clear your schedule and let’s go down to the condo and visit Dad. It’s such a huge place, and there’s the boat and everything — it’s all going to waste. I need to check in on Dad anyway. I thought it might be a good family getaway.”

  “How about Hawk?”

  “I’ll let you call and invite him.”

  “Pffft!” he uttered. “Fat chance of him talking to me.”

  “Well, I have his number. Call it from your personal cell and if he doesn’t answer, leave voice mail. We will have, at least, given him the opportunity to go. If he chooses not to, it’s on him. What do you say?”

  “I think it’s a great idea, actually,” he agreed. “You call the school and I’ll line up the jet. Shall we take Letty with us?”

  “Why not? I’ll ask her. I need to talk to Lily too. I’m so glad that I hired her. I can leave and know that everything will still be in good hands.”

  “You’re not inviting her?”

  “No, her job is to back me up here. Anyway, she wouldn’t go if she could.”

  “Why not?”

  “I think there’s a little heat beginning to grow between Brandon and her.”

  “Brandon?”

  “Yes, haven’t you noticed him hanging around here so much lately? He met her that night on the patio and showed up in the middle of the day today, as you know. He’s become a piece of flypaper.”

  “Well, damn!”

  “Why are you cussing?”

  He flushed and quit the pen tapping. “Promise not to get mad?”

  I frowned but nodded.

  “I thought he was here for you and that you might be thinking about leaving me.”

  My mouth dropped open. “You thought I was going to divorce you?”

  He cocked his head sideways. “Well, not entirely sure about the divorce part, but I did think you were escaping from our marriage, in one way or another.”

  I sat and thought about this a moment. “So, let me ask you. Have you done anything you shouldn’t have, thinking that I might be doing the same thing?”

  “Of course not,” he said in a cold, clipped voice.

  “Doesn’t feel very good to be accused, does it?” I asked him, and he just stared at me. “I’ll get started on my share of the planning.” I rose from the chair, turning to leave.

  “Auggie.”

  I turned to look at him.

  “I’m sorry.”

  I nodded and left the room.

  There wasn’t exactly an abundance of receptive joy in the house that night. I knew Worth tried calling Hawk, but the line went unanswered. There were no callbacks. Marga shrieked as though her foot had been cut off. There was outrage regarding some special date she had that weekend and the following week she wanted to try out for a play. “You’ve ruined my entire life!” she accused me.

  I nodded. “Sometimes mothers do that. You’ll get through it.”

  She quit speaking to me at that point.

  Mark was more accommodating although I could tell he was only obliging to me, not because he was enthusiastic about the idea. The most cheerful person was probably Letty. She untied her apron, threw it on the counter and hooted “Whoopee!” on her way to her room to pack.

  I went down to Lily’s house and interrupted her phone call with Brandon. She came to the door with the phone in her hand. “Let me call you back,” she told him and welcomed me in. I hadn’t been in her house recently and was surprised how beautifully she’d decorated it.

  “I love what you’ve done with the place,” I told her. She had superb taste. It was a mix of Kentucky traditional and French country. I absolutely loved the look. “Would you consider doing some interior design for me?” I asked. “I’ve got some rooms that look like a Penny’s catalog — no personality. Especially my bedroom.”

  “I’d love to! I considered going to interior design school after the farm sold. It just takes so long to get established with a client list.”

  “Well, now, maybe I should rethink this. If too many of my friends see what you’re capable of doing, I might lose my farm manager!” I teased. “Honestly, you really are talented, girl.”

  Lily flushed with pleasure at my effusive compliments. “Was there something you came to ask me?”

  “Oh, yes. I’m making the family go to Florida and visit Dad for a couple of weeks. I’m leaving the development in your capable hands. If you have any problems, you can call me. The hands will also be here, of course. They pretty much know the routine. They just need someone to give them direction.”

  “Sure, no problem. How lucky you are to have that place in Florida. It’s beautiful there this time of year.”

  “Well, if you play your cards right, you just might need somewhere to honeymoon. I’ll give you a set of keys to the condo and to the boat.” I watched her face to see how she’d react.

  She blushed, just as I’d hoped and didn’t deny the attraction that was building between the two of them. “I like him, a lot, Auggie. You wouldn’t be opposed to my seeing him more often, would you?”

  “My god, why do you need my permission?”

  “I know he’s had a thing for you for a long time. He told me so.”

  “We’ve known each other since college. Worth has always had my heart, though. Brandon is a fine man and an excellent friend. I think both are important.”

  My words gave me pause for thought. I realized that Worth and I hadn’t been friends for a long time. We never did anything together, but were caught up in our work and taking care of the kids’ problems. I’m not really sure how it happened, but it seemed to happen to many couples. I had hoped we would be an exception.

  We decided to leave immediately, and Worth had the plane waiting for us at the airport. My phone buzzed and my heart skipped when I realized it was a text message from Hawk.

  Sorry. Can’t leave on such short notice. Maybe we can get together after you return. Have a safe trip. Tell grandpa I said hi.

  I held the phone to my chest before I sent a reply. I understand. I very much want to see you soon. I love you.

  He didn’t reply.

  The flight was smooth, and it was beautiful flying above the clouds where the moon shone down in reflection. It felt like we were skimming the surface of a lake of clouds. I fell asleep, even though the trip wasn’t very long. There was another limo waiting in Florida, and it had just passed midnight when we arrived at the condo.

  “Dad!” I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

  “What a surprise! Hello, Worth. Marga, Mark, come give Grandpa a hug,” he said, holding out his arms. Worth held out a hand and the kids set aside their sleepy aggravation long enough to hug him. “You all hungry?” he asked, starting up out of his chair. I saw how hard it was for him to get up and it worried me.

  “No, Dad, stay seated. Letty and I can throw something together if anyone wants something but otherwise, I think we’re ready for bed.”

  “Okay, okay, if you don’t mind,” he answered in a tired voice and apparent relief. “My knees have been giving me a little trouble lately,” he added. I was disturbed by this. I couldn’t ever remember hearing him complain.

  “Letty
, in the morning, would you mind doing some shopping to the stock the kitchen? We’ll need some things for the boat too. I’d like to go out on it a night or two.”

  Letty nodded. “Will do.”

  “Dad, have you seen the doctor about those knees?”

  “No, no… no need for that, Auggie. It’s just age. It’s been rough without Margaret, and I’m not getting out as much as I should. I just need more exercise is all.”

  “Balance in all things, Dad. Don’t overdo.” He did look a little pale, and that was odd, considering this was Florida.

  After a last hug, the kids headed off to their respective rooms, bickering as they went. They were both overly tired, and I knew they’d sleep until at least noon. While Letty tidied the kitchen, I sat down with Dad. Worth waved a sleepy hand and headed off to the master bedroom.

  “Dad, I’ve missed you. We should have come down sooner.” I settled into the bamboo chair and breathed in the warm ocean air, leaning my head against the thick cushion.

  “How are things, Auggie? I sorry Ford didn’t come with you. I was hoping to see him.”

  “He goes by Hawk now, Dad. I’m sorry. I was afraid that would hurt your feelings.”

  “He was young when he left us, Auggie. You can’t hold things against him. It must have been very hard on him.”

  “He holds a great deal of bitterness. Well, actually, he doesn’t hold it in at all — he’s quite open about it. We invited him to come with us, but he wasn’t able to. He’s getting married, Dad. He’s met a young woman, daughter of a minister from England. She’s very well-mannered and gentle. You should have seen her touch with one of the mares having difficulty foaling. She soothed the animal like a mother humming to her baby. It was really remarkable.”

  “You seem to know more about your daughter-in-law-to-be than your son,” he observed, wincing a bit as he shifted in his chair.

  “Probably, she’s much more open. Hawk has been very, very closed. Mark seems almost scared of him. Worth and he hardly speak. He bought the farm west of us and put up a security fence with a huge, locked gate. I don’t know what he’s into, and I’m actually afraid to ask. He lived in Mexico, you know, and then moved to California before coming home to Kentucky. It certainly leads the mind to speculation.”

  “Why would he need to get involved in anything like that, Auggie? He’s to inherit considerable wealth and surely Worth has offered him financial support in the meantime?”

  “He wouldn’t take it, Dad. He’s more independent than Worth is. In fact, he seems to have inherited the worst qualities of both of us, I’m sorry to say. I hope Liane can have a good effect on him. One of the reasons we’ve come so unexpectedly is that Marga and Mark have been bickering, as have Worth and I. We’re all in a mess at the moment, and I’m not sure what to do about it.”

  Dad shook his head in disappointment. “Auggie, surely by now you’ve learned the value of having family and the misery of being angry with them.” He pointed toward the hallway. “Go to bed with your husband now and heal this rift between the two of you. You never know when you might no longer have the chance.” His eyes drifted off to look out over the moonlit Gulf. I knew he was thinking of Margaret. I didn’t doubt that her passing had taken away a great deal of his will to be healthy and happy. He seemed defeated. I stood up and kissed him on the top of the head.

  “See you in the morning, Dad.”

  He nodded and patted my cheek.

  I crept into the bedroom where Worth was sleeping and slipped into the bathroom for a quick shower before sliding naked beneath the covers next to him. It was a king-sized bed, and there was plenty of room for isolation, but for some reason, I wanted to lie close to him. Perhaps I was feeling vulnerable after the rejection from Hawk. Perhaps it was seeing that Dad was finally giving in to his age that had me shaken. Worth had drawn the heavy blinds and drapes so it was dark and cool in the room. That was my favorite atmosphere for sleeping.

  I tried to dose but was still wide awake. I must have sighed because Worth rolled over toward me. “Can’t you sleep, either?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry, didn’t mean to keep you awake. I just can’t sleep. Maybe it’s because I napped on the plane. Want me to get up and go into another room?”

  “I want you to come here,” he said, pulling me against him. I felt his erection immediately and drew in my breath. It had been so long since I’d felt his muscular torso against my breasts. He stroked the side of my neck, murmuring my name and petting my hair, which had wound itself over and in between my breasts. He gently pushed it aside and slid down on the bed so his mouth could find my nipple. “God, but I never tire of these,” he whispered and his mouth fastened upon each in turn, softly nibbling and sucking. With each lick of his tongue, the fire grew within me. It had been so long and my body was starved for him. Even more so, my mind was starved for his; for a joining of what had been falling apart. I needed Worth. I needed my husband.

  My hand slid beneath the blankets and found him. He was fully engorged and hard beneath my touch. Heat emanated from him, and I was desperate to feel that heat inside me. Worth tipped his face toward mine and the gentle kiss he gave me grew rough and desperate. I bit his lip ever so slightly, but it brought out the response to pain that he so loved. He reached and took my face between his hands, kissing my forehead, down my nose and to my chin. I pushed my tongue into his mouth, and he groaned. As I moved my tongue in his mouth, I mimicked the movement with my hand on his shaft. Undulating and covering each sensitive nerve with a light, flicking touch I tempted and denied alternately. He pulled me closer, wanting to feel my entire body and then pulled me until I was sitting on his chest.

  “Turn around,” he ordered. “I want to taste you.”

  My stomach clenched as I did what I was told and was soon hovering over his face. My hand went to his chest to steady myself as I sank down upon his tongue. I moaned at the first penetration. Moaned harder as he took my clit into his mouth.

  I fell forward on his stomach, wanting to touch him too. Kiss him. Suck him. Give him the same pleasure he was giving me. My hair fell forward and pooled around his hard cock. He sucked my clit with even more urgency as the strands slid over his highly-stimulated skin.

  Grinding onto his tongue, I took him in my mouth, returning the gift. He moaned, and I felt the vibration of the sound move into me, through me. His hands moved over my ass and gripped my hips while I rocked myself toward the edge of oblivion. When I exploded, he lapped at me, calming me.

  Gently, Worth laid me down, turning me onto my tummy. He slid off the foot of the bed and crawled back on, his head between my legs, kissing my skin. Higher and higher his face came until he was once again buried in my pussy. He held my knees in place while I writhed and begged for him to make me come again.

  He did.

  When I thought I could take no more, and I cried out, he raised my hips and mounted me from behind. The first thrust went completely to my end, and I closed my eyes with gratification. All his tempting had finally been fulfilled. I rocked back onto him as he held my hips, kissing my shoulders and guiding me into a gentle, swaying rhythm that caused the lava inside me to begin to boil. His breathing accelerated, and I knew he wanted release. I wriggled backward so he was buried as deeply as he could go. Then I began a slow rocking movement against him, gathering speed. He cried out as the orgasm overcame him, spurring me to let mine go as well.

  Even as the sensations became too much to bear, he stayed within me, his hands reaching around to cup my breasts and my tender nipples. I sighed with passionate delight and total exhaustion as I collapsed onto my tummy, his hand remained cupping me in a possessive clasp. He lay over me, supporting his weight and eventually rolled to his side, pulling me to lie in his arms. It was more peace than I’d known for months — perhaps years. It was the original Worth and Auggie. It was the way we used to make love when we were first together. I’d missed that “us” and I knew he did as well.

  “I love you, Wor
th. Please don’t leave me again,” I whispered.

  “I love you too, sweetheart. I won’t leave. I promise,” he whispered in return and kissed my forehead before cuddling me against him. That was the last I remembered.

  When I awoke, the muscles in my thighs ached a bit, and all the memories flooded back. I leaned over and kissed Worth’s bottom and turned to slide out of bed. “Where are you going? No, no… stay with me.”

  “Shhh… you go back to sleep. I need to check on Dad and Letty. She was supposed to go to the store and get supplies. If she’s asleep, we won’t have breakfast, lunch, or dinner.”

  “Then we’ll order in pizza,” he said and pulled me back against him. He was once again rigid. Wasting no time for the preliminaries, he rolled me onto my back and entered me. Slowly at first, to gently stretch me for his size, then increasingly stronger until he was pounding me into the mattress. I whimpered as the orgasm rose and it came fast. I thrashed beneath him, trying to force him to drill me as deeply as possible to touch my needs. He burst and convulsed within its grip. I watched his face, the way he gasped and the muscles in his neck stiffened. His hair had fallen over his forehead, and I longed to kiss it aside but left him in his moment of male triumph.

  Later, we showered together and soaped one another’s tender spots. This led to yet a third coupling, but this time, it was slow and pleasurable. His cock played me like a bow across violin strings. He knew the way to move that made my woman’s tunnel vibrate in a perfect pitch. It was excruciatingly delicious.

  As much as I wanted to dive beneath those covers and sleep a bit longer, I heard the others stirring — well, perhaps it was more like arguing. I smiled at Worth and blew him a kiss as I dressed and went out into the hallway, closing the door behind me.