Missy's Gentle Giant

by P D Miller

  “Did I awaken you?” Missy’s dimples flashed.

  “What do you think?” He kissed her nose.

  “I thought I might just be too heavy.”

  “Mm, never.” He searched for her lips.

  “The last I recall, you were saying my dimples did something to you.” She pulled away.

  “It’s the last you recall?”

  “Well—” She showed her dimples. “It’s not the last I recall exactly, but it was the last coherent thing you said.”

  “Oh.” Ben grinned and reached out to touch her dimples. “Guess you know they make me kind of crazy.”

  “Mm, and make you lose your head and act like a wild animal.”

  “Was I so bad? Did you mind?” His fingers traced the outline of her mouth.

  “I loved it.” She smiled brightly. “How about you?”

  “Oh honey.” He rolled over with her. Facing each other, he pushed back her hair. “If only you knew how you make me feel.”

  Missy kissed his nipple and glanced up at him. “When I asked you about the second reason, you—”

  “You didn’t forget—yes, the second reason.” He smiled and instantly shifted away. “Even more important now.” He pulled her up by the wrist as he climbed from the bed. “Got a surprise for you in the kitchen.”

  “A surprise?”

  “Mm.” He pulled her along. “You make some coffee while I set it up.”

  Missy watched out of the side of her eyes while Ben sat in the nook and pulled wires out of a box on the table. She stopped between putting spoons of coffee grounds in the holder, listened to him talk to the box and the box talked back to him. Not sure of the spoon count she stopped at, she added four more to be sure, poured the water over the top and automatically flipped the switch turning it on. He was calling her house? She could hear the ringing. Dumbfounded, she stood there with the pot in her hand while coffee spilled all over the counter.

  “Here, talk to your mother.” Ben smiled, took the pot and quickly slid it in place to catch a little of the coffee.

  “Mama?”

  “Missy?”

  “Mama, oh Mama, I can hear you!” She glanced up at Ben with a questioning expression and tears welled in her eyes.

  “The second reason.” He whispered. “Tell her everything’s all right.”

  “Missy are you—”

  “Wait a second, Mama.” Missy clamped her hand over the phone. “Ben?”

  “I love you too.” His eyes glistened. “Tell your mother I want her cheese sauce recipe.”

  “Yes, yes. Mama, Ben wants to know if he can watch me make your chile con queso.”

  “Missy?”

  “He’s a wonderful cook and so good to me and he’s teaching me to be a good wife.” She glanced up with eyes full of love. “Mama—don’t worry, he won’t ever hurt me. I even saw him furious and he—oh Mama, I’m fine, never happier.”

  “Where are you?”

  “I don’t know and don’t care as long as Ben’s with me—Mama, I can hear—Ben did it—oh Mama, I love you.”

  “Missy, you weren’t in a family way when you left. Has the problem been solved?”

  “Oh, yes.” Missy giggled. “Anytime after nine months I could—” Missy watched Ben walk outside. “Mama, I have to go. Everything is fine. I promise it couldn’t be better.” She dropped the handset and ran outside. What had happened to Ben? What had made his smile disappear? All she’d been talking about was being able to hear and how they solved their problem. She stopped when Ben bent down to pick up a shell and threw it out to sea. “Ben. when did you know I could hear?”

  “Before I put you in the sauna.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  He swallowed hard, turned and stared at her standing naked and unashamed before him. “I’m not sure.” He walked over and pulled her into his arms. “At first I enjoyed just hearing you answer my unseen, untouched questions. But like seeing you naked and mine only, I selfishly wanted to keep it to myself.” He pulled away from her, bent to pick up another shell and tossed it into the sea. He turned, faced her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I guess I wanted to believe what we share is so special you couldn’t hear without me.” He glanced away toward the water.

  “But it’s true.” She reached up to his face.

  “No, you could always hear. You just blocked it out.” He put his arms around her.

  “It took your love and loving to bring it back, though. Isn’t it still special?”

  “Yes, you’re right.” He kissed her nose. “You know what? I’m starving, and we have a coffee mess to clean up.”

  “Shall we share the work?” She grinned. So he wasn’t upset because she was hearing. What could it be?

  “Yep, you cook, and I’ll clean up.” He hugged her as they walked back to the house.

  Conversation was light and happy while Ben cleaned up the coffee mess and watched Missy make tortillas. It amazed him how much more work she went through to make around a dozen of them. He was fascinated at how she could chop a potato faster than he could peel one. Deftly she pulled sausage from the freezer, thawed it and cooked it almost like ground beef. The sausage and potatoes were combined, seasoning added, some tomato and onions were added to it and last eggs were added to the whole mixture. As soon as the eggs were cooked, she spooned some of the mixture into each of the tortillas, folded them and put them on a platter.

  “Taquitos.” She grinned as she sat.

  “Mm, delicious. Hope it’s not a secret recipe because I watched every move you made.”

  “They can be varied. In fact, my brothers like Tabasco sauce on them if we don’t have some jalapeño peppers.”

  “These are great this way.” He reached out and tweaked her nipple.

  “Ben, do you realize we are sitting here eating breakfast as if we were totally dressed?”

  “Yep, isn’t it wonderful?

  “But I mean, like this is a nudist colony. Oh my! I even talked to my mother—” Her eyes opened wide.

  “Do you think she knew?” He teased.

  “No silly but—did you run around like this when you stayed here before?”

  “Nope. I dressed most of the time. I’ve never gone naked like this, but I want us to be able to be free with each other.”

  “Free?”

  “You can use my toothbrush if you want.”

  “Oh Ben.”

  “Oh Ben.” He mimicked and hauled her onto his lap. “I don’t want you hiding yourself from me any more.”

  She put her arms over his shoulders. “Do you mean I can touch and taste you like you do me?” She licked his lower lip.

  “Any time you want.” He stuck his tongue out to meet hers.

  “Even if I want to now?” She showed him her dimples.

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Quickly he jumped up and hauled her off to bed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  One morning Missy woke up and wondered about the date. The last few days had been wonderful with Ben teaching her all about lovemaking and she teaching him about Mexican foods. But for some reason this morning seemed to be different.

  “Ben, what day is this?” Missy kissed his nipple and snuggled on his chest. Lying on top of him had become a favorite position.

  “Don’t know.” He sighed half asleep. “Why?”

  “Just wondered when the plane’s coming.”

  His eye shot wide open. “Are you tired of staying here?” He flipped her off him and rose. “Don’t answer it. We have to leave anyway. Damn, I nearly forgot I have to take care of something.” Mocking anger, he turned to glare at her with a pointed finger. “You and your damn dimples.”

  She showed them again. “I don’t think my dimples had a thing to do with the last few—”

  “Hush now.” He grinned. “You pack while I get the jeep and radio the pilot to wait. Oh, and maybe you should wear your nightgown.”

  “Oh? You don’t want me to wear one of my slinky little
sheer things you never let me wear:”

  Ben growled. “The damn nightgown. Hurry.”

  Missy laughed and got up to dress and pack. She laughed even more when Ben came back picked up the suitcases and carried them to the jeep. She was rolling in the bed when he came back to find out why she was still inside.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “We—we’re sure going to look—look funny.” She pointed at him and rolled away laughing again. Her sides hurt now.

  Ben looked down at himself and tromped out to the jeep. Moments later he was back in the bedroom with his suitcase and muttering angrily. “You could have left something out for me to wear, dammit.”

  “I forgot.” She rolled away. Her sides hurt.

  “The hell you did. You just wanted to see my face when we got to the plane.” The picture of him stark naked and carrying her to the plane in her nightgown flashed through his head and started him laughing too. “This week has been wonderful and too damn short! I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Ben carried Missy to the plane just as he had before and deposited her in the suite. He left her alone for a few minutes while he went to talk to the pilot; then he came back wearing a grin.

  “What are you up to?” Missy eyed him suspiciously.

  “Nothing.” He still grinned. “Just arranged for a car to pick us up so I won’t have to carry you through a terminal.”

  “Am I so heavy or are you getting lazy?” She threw a pillow at him.

  “Just special.” He sat down beside her.

  “You never did tell me who cleans up the house while it’s not being used.”

  “Oh, Pete will fly the caretakers in tomorrow. My father hired a couple of mad artists who like the windows and beach. Never fear, the place gets plenty of use. Dad lets business associates use it off and on too.”

  “Business politics?”

  “Yeah, I’d have never brought you here except—”

  “I know.” She rubbed his cheek. “I also know you’d never have a place like it of your own.”

  “Well now after this past week—” He smiled lecherously.

  “Need to fasten seat belts back there.” Pete’s voice came through the speaker.

  “That was quick.” Missy glanced out a window and was surprised. “We’re still over water.”

  “Yep, but the Pacific does have edges here and there.”

  “Oh.” She fastened her seat belt. Must be a stop to refuel. She closed her eyes and relaxed while they landed.

  “Well, we’re here.” Pete came back with a wide smile and opened doors.

  Missy unbuckled herself and got up. When she reached the door, her eyes opened wide with surprise. “Ben?”

  “Hawaii—thought maybe a second honeymoon was in order.” He grinned.

  “Did the first one stop?” She forgot Pete was standing there until he laughed. Missy was overwhelmed and even forgot she was wearing only a nightgown. Below her was the longest limousine she’d ever seen and several Hawaiian dancers swaying to the music of ukuleles played by boys who wore flowery wrap-around skirts. As they descended the stairs, the girls took turns walking up and placing leis around their necks. Missy jealously watched the girls too intimately kiss Ben. His eyes turned to a jealous glare when the boys came up to her with leis and kisses. Within moments they were ushered into their waiting limo and whisked through traffic to the Kahala Hilton. A doorman opened the door and helped Missy get out. Ben quickly pulled her into his arms and carried her inside. It looked like the whole staff stood waiting for their arrival.

  “You’re crazy Ben, and I love you.”

  “Mm, you’ve been showing me this past week.” Once inside their suite, he dropped her to her feet and pulled her into his arms. “Honey, call your parents and tell them where we are, so they won’t worry.”

  Before Missy even finished talking to her mother or got a chance to look around their door bell buzzed, and Ben opened it to allow an entourage of people carrying all kinds of boxes to enter. Wide eyed, Missy told her mother again she was fine, everything was fine and hung up.

  “They’ve brought you some clothes, love.” He kissed her nose. “I’m going to run downstairs for a few moments. Pick out what you want.”

  “But I don’t want anything.”

  “Suit yourself.” He shrugged and grinned. “I don’t mind taking you dining and dancing in your nightgown.”

  “Oh Ben.” Her face turned crimson.

  “Oh Ben.” He laughed and disappeared.

  Half an hour later when Ben returned, he told the people to leave anything fitting her and take the rest away. Most of the beautiful things stayed. How Ben knew her size amazed her, but then he had bought her wedding dress. He opened champagne and brought her a glass.

  “To us and a long, wonderful and happy future.”

  “Yes, to us.” She smiled.

  “Now tell me, what are you going to wear tonight?”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “I told you dining and dancing.”

  “But you don’t have anything to—” Missy shook her head and pointed toward the boxes he’d brought up. “There are clothes for you, right?”

  “Yep.” He smiled.

  “Oh, I give up!” She dropped her arms down to her sides helplessly. “You move too fast for me.”

  “Wear the bright red one then.” He pecked her on the nose. “I’ll shave while you shower.” He went out to get his clothes.

  When Ben came into the bedroom carrying several suits on hangers, he stopped in the doorway. Missy was sitting on the bed staring in a drug store sack. Quickly he hung the clothes but didn’t turn around. “Something wrong?”

  “Why did you buy these?” She reached in the bag and pulled out the box of condoms as her thoughts went back to her call to her mother.

  “For protect—”

  “I know why they’re used.” She snapped, threw the box on the night stand and crumpled the sack.

  “I don’t want you to get pregnant.”

  “Why?”

  “So you won’t have to go through all the pain and—”

  “You mean you don’t want children?”

  Ben looked at the floor. Nervously he rubbed his palms on his pants. “I don’t want—”

  “My family expects us to have children.” Missy cut in. She rose and went to the window.

  “Honey—” Ben followed her, pulled her back against his chest and put his arms around her. “We can adopt children.”

  “Then they’ll think something is wrong with one of us.”

  “You can tell them it’s me. I don’t care.” He pulled her tighter.

  “And are you going to use those—those things from now on?”

  “No, I don’t want to use them. When we get back, I’ll go to a doctor and have a vasectomy.”

  “Ju—just like that? You never want to have children?” Missy fought forming tears.

  “Honey, please listen to me.” He pulled her around to face him. “My sister—I stayed with her. She bled to death and cried in pain. I’ve seen women in labor in Iraq. Honey, I don’t want you to have to suffer through being pregnant, especially since—”

  “Since what?”

  “Since I’m so large. And babies we’d have might be too big for you.” He held her tightly. “Remember too, twins run in both our families. I don’t want twins with one being born with serious problems.” He kissed the top of her head. “You understand, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I understand.” She frowned. So, no discussion, he made the decision. He was afraid of twins and especially of one being abnormal. She glanced up at him with a forced smile.

  “I don’t want to risk losing you.” He stared at her seriously.

  “So, we’ll adopt children.” She smiled again.

  “Yes, and I’ll see the doctor when—”

  “No, I’ll go to the doctor and have him put me on the pill or something.” She waved with a smile. �
��Who knows, someday you might change your mind.”

  “Missy—”

  “Look, it’s no big deal.” She smiled. “Guess I’d better shower.”

  Ben watched her go to the bathroom. Strange how when she forced smiles, her dimples weren’t nearly so deep. She wasn’t happy about using birth control. Neither was he, but she was too damn small to be having their babies. Feeling frustrated, he banged his hand on the closet door and went to the bathroom to shave. Maybe she’d come around if he didn’t push it too much.

  Later Ben took her to the most romantic spot he knew, and they leisurely dined and danced until one in the morning. Missy began giggling as they rode the elevator up to their suite.

  “What’s so funny?” He held her close.

  “I just wondered what the manager thought when we drove up in the limo, and I was wearing my dirty old nightgown.” She giggled louder.

  “I think we should pack it away and save it.”

  “For what?”

  “I don’t know, memories maybe, of some serious problems we needed to solve.” He hugged her. “We can pull it out when we’ve been married fifty years and see if it was worth it.”

  “I think it’s a wonderful idea.” She smiled warmly. “We’ll call it my trouble gown for the scars we had to face. As soon as we get home, I’ll have it laundered and packed away.”

  For the next four days Ben tried to do anything and everything to show Missy his love. He took her sightseeing to every place on Oahu. They also went to the other islands. He bought her trinkets, bought them for her parents and all her brothers. He took her dining and dancing every evening. And they made love. It was a perfect honeymoon, except for the unspoken tension building in each of them. While the topic of using birth control hadn’t come up again. Ben could feel Missy hated it just by what it did to their lovemaking, and she tried so damn hard not to let it show. The bad part was he hated it too. Damn, he wanted kids, but he just couldn’t let her take the risk. He couldn’t stand the thought of possibly losing her.

  On the morning of the next day, Ben awakened to see her standing in front of the window staring out at sea. He lay back and watched her for several moments without moving. Could it be she didn’t understand how he felt? She turned and smiled. He held out his arms and she came back to bed. He pulled her close in the circle of his arms and enjoyed the sweetness of her smell. Every morning for the next hundred years he wanted to wake up and find her there.