Coming Together: At Last, Volume Two

by Alessia Brio, L. A. Banks, Bridget Midway

  "Time for the patient to take the nurse's temperature.” As soon as he brought her dress over her lush ass, and Autumn raised it in the air, the phone rang.

  "Don't answer it, please.” Autumn craned her head around to look Sean in his eyes. “This is our time."

  Sean nodded and held her hip in one hand as he guided the tip of his cock to her puckered asshole. At the fourth ring, the answering machine kicked on. Damn. Why didn't Autumn think to either unplug the phone or turn off the answering machine?

  "This is Lieutenant Colonel Musser,” the authoritative voice bellowed through the answering machine.

  "Are you serious?” Autumn tried not to laugh, but it popped out anyway. “Colonel Mustard like in that board game?"

  Sean hopped off of her and scurried to the phone. He picked up the receiver to stop the recording.

  "Yes, sir.” Sean sat on the edge of the bed with the phone pressed to his ear. “I understand.” He paused before speaking again. “I'll see you then. Yes, sir.” Then he disconnected the call. He turned to Autumn, but from the look of his deflated erection, it looked like their party was over. “Change of plans."

  Autumn got excited. A call from his commanding officer about a change had to be a good thing, right? So why wasn't Sean looking any happier?

  "You're not going?” she asked.

  All Sean had to do was stare at Autumn for her to know the answer. She shook her head.

  "I guess Dad can go on with the barbeque.” Autumn climbed out of bed.

  The mood had been broken.

  Sean jerked to his feet. “Come on. Get dressed."

  "Why? Where are we going?"

  He didn't answer. As a matter of fact, that was the last statement he'd made before Autumn and Sean both showered, dressed and got into his noisy truck.

  Autumn didn't care if Sean drove them down to Mexico from Virginia to start a new life and hide out from the Marine's kung-fu grip. When it came to Sean, she trusted him completely. That was until he drove until the city clerk's parking lot and parked his truck up front.

  "What are we doing here?” A sinking feeling weighed down Autumn's stomach. Her hands became cold and clammy, and she tried wringing them to bring back the feeling.

  Sean turned to Autumn. “Applying for a marriage license."

  That was what she feared the most.

  He opened his door, then, as usual, trotted around to her side to open her door. That gentlemanly gesture would never get old, but it would be missed while he was away.

  He took her hand and led her inside the building.

  "Sean, I told you I didn't want to get married. Not now.” If the ceramic floors weren't so slick, Autumn could have dug in her heels more convincingly. As it was, she looked like a scared poodle at a veterinarian hospital going in for a checkup. All she would need would be a leash.

  "I know.” Sean opened a door that read “marriage license” right above “fishing license."

  Maybe Autumn could convince him to get the fishing license instead. She'd much rather wake up at an ungodly hour, put swishy, squirming bait on a hook and catch a slimy fish than marry Sean right now.

  "If you know that this is not what I want, then why are we here?"

  Before Sean answered her, he requested the applications and sat down with her away from the clerks.

  He stared at her after he wrote in his name. “I'm hoping to convince you to change your mind before the week is up.” Then he completed his application.

  Autumn fixed her gaze on her application. It all seemed so standard. Her name. Her parents’ names. Place of her birth. She started to fill it out until she got to the section that asked for their intended wedding date. She glanced at Sean.

  He must have known where she stopped. He pointed to the filled in area on his application. He noted the last day he would be home.

  The date should have been encouraging. But he was looking for something that, if Autumn had caved, would have torn out her heart.

  Although she signed the document, she couldn't fill in the date. Sean took her application and walked up to the counter. Autumn followed him, although she wasn't sure how she managed it. Everything around her felt like it was all melting away. The floor seemed soft and unstable, and every step she took felt like she was sinking into the ground.

  The clerk looked over both completed documents carefully. “The date's not completed on this one.” She held up Autumn's form.

  Autumn's paralyzed vocal chords prevented her from screaming that she didn't want to be here at all. Filling out that paper felt like she was completing Sean's death certificate. There was no joy in the action. It all came off rushed and manic.

  "It's the same day.” Sean commandeered her form on the clipboard when Autumn didn't make a move to correct her intended oversight. He filled in the date and handed it back to the clerk.

  The elderly clerk took Sean's money, and made a couple of official stamps on both forms. “If you're unable to marry on your scheduled date, you two have sixty days from your application date to do so. After that—"

  "There is no after that.” Autumn shook her head as she backed away. “I won't even have him for another sixty days.” She ran out of the office and back to Sean's truck.

  Autumn tried the passenger side door, but it was locked. When she saw Sean walking out of the office, she jumped on him. “Why the hell would you lock this piece of shit? Who's going to steal it?"

  Sean said nothing as he unlocked the door and opened it for her. Once she was secured inside, he went around to his side. In his hand, he held a piece of paper.

  Before he started the truck, he said in a calm voice, “If we do get married, we just need whoever is officiating to sign this.” He handed her the official-looking document.

  Sean must have had a lot of trust in her. Autumn fought to keep from ripping it up to shreds. Instead, she sat it on the seat in between them. When they arrived at home, Sean didn't park his truck. He pulled up to the driveway and kept it running.

  "I don't understand you.” He shook his head. “Do you understand what's going on here?"

  Autumn rutted her eyebrows. “More than you could possibly know."

  "I'm leaving. I'll be gone for a year. I love you.” He held her hand. “Why do you keep denying me the one thing that's going to help me get through this?"

  When Sean said it that way, Autumn couldn't talk. Her throat squeezed shut preventing her from even breathing. She wanted to tell him that her decision wasn't meant to hurt him. Didn't he understand that she wanted more from him, from the situation? Not everything about their lives needed to be dictated by this one event.

  Sean pounded his fist on the steering wheel. That expression was the first time Autumn had ever seen him lose it, show his anger. She blinked, then stared at him.

  Before speaking to her again, he composed himself. “I have some errands to run. I'll be home later.” He kept his stare straight ahead.

  The last thing Autumn wanted this week was a fight, and one about something as big as this. How could she tell him that the reason she didn't want to marry him right now was because she was so afraid of losing him? Here she was trying to keep him happy before he had to go to war. Autumn cupped the side of his face and kissed him with so much passion that she wept.

  "I'll be back.” Sean kissed the side of Autumn's face and nodded his head.

  He loved her, but he didn't understand her pain, her anguish. Autumn got out of the truck and watched the love of her life drive away.

  She slumped into the house, determined to fall asleep and awake to find that all of this, with the exception of meeting and falling in love with Sean, was a dream. She plopped down on their bed and kicked off her shoes. The ache inside of her would not dissipate.

  When the phone rang again, she'd hoped it would have been that damn Colonel Mustard. She wanted to tell him what pulling Sean from their home was doing to her, to them. She wanted someone to scream at for this fucked up situation. She wanted her Sean.
>
  "Yeah!” Autumn screamed into the phone.

  "Oh, is this a bad time?” Sean's mom's voice sounded so fragile.

  Autumn relaxed her shoulders and leaned back against the headboard. “Sorry, Ursula. I thought you were someone else."

  "Everything okay over there?"

  Autumn tried holding it together, but once Ursula asked the crucial question, she crumbled. “Can I come over and talk to you, please?"

  "Yes, you know you can. Is Sean okay? Is he there?"

  She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “No. He had to run errands."

  "You want me to come pick you up? Are you able to drive?"

  Autumn nodded like his mother could see her. “I'll be fine. Let me clean up, and I'll be over there in a few."

  "Be careful, dear. I love you."

  Again, Autumn nodded but she couldn't squeak out the same sentiment to the mother of the man she loved, not because she didn't feel the same. She loved Sean's family as much as her own. Images of Autumn standing by Ursula and Bob, Sean's father, as they buried Sean flooded Autumn's thoughts.

  If she didn't talk to someone, though, about her fears, she would crack. What better person to talk to than his mother?

  [Four]

  As soon as Autumn emerged from her car, Ursula was waiting at the front door. It always amazed Autumn that his barely five-foot tall mother could produce a giant like Sean. As always, she welcomed Autumn with opened arms.

  "I've made iced tea.” Ursula wrapped her arm around Autumn as she ushered her into the house. “Or would you prefer something a little stronger?"

  Autumn chuckled and wiped away an impending tear. “Stronger would be way better."

  Sean's mother walked her into the cozy family room, then she ducked behind a bar to make their drinks. “So how are you holding up?"

  "Probably as well as you are.” Autumn crossed her legs.

  Ursula shrugged. “I think I might be holding up better than you. You have to remember. I've been through this a few times with Bob. And you weren't with him then, but I've gone through this with Sean when he went off to Desert Storm."

  Autumn blinked at Ursula's admissions. How could the woman be so calm? And why would she welcome this type of upheaval in her life?

  Ursula walked over to Autumn and handed her a peach-colored drink. Then she sat down next to her holding a similar drink. “So what's going on?"

  Autumn downed some of the liquid courage, then sat the glass on the coffee table in front of them. “Sean asked me to marry him ... a few times."

  "Was it during sex?"

  Thank God Autumn had already swallowed her drink, otherwise it would have been all over Sean's mother.

  Ursula continued. “Sex was like a truth serum to his father. I could get him to confess what he got me for my birthday and anniversary every time."

  Autumn hoped the confession was intended to make her laugh because she did, and couldn't stop.

  "I knew it! Like father, like son."

  Autumn wiped happy tears away. “Yeah, we just got back from applying for a marriage license."

  The smile dropped from Ursula's face. “You two are getting married?” Then she pint-sized woman squealed and wrapped her arms around Autumn's neck. “That's the best news I've heard in a long, long time.” Then she backed away. “Well, unless you have other news to tell me.” She put her hand on Autumn's stomach.

  "No.” Autumn pulled Ursula's hand away. “I'm not pregnant. And I don't want to get married."

  If Autumn wasn't mistaken, she could have sworn she heard Ursula's jaw crashing through the floor.

  "I thought you love Sean."

  "I do. God, of course I do.” Autumn gripped Ursula's hand.

  "Then I don't understand, dear. What's the problem?"

  "In a week he'll be gone. He may be gone for a year. Or he may not come back at all."

  "So shouldn't that be a good reason to marry him?"

  Autumn shook her head. “No, I don't want to feel obligated to marry him because he's being shipped out. Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamt about my perfect wedding day. I know exactly what my dress would look like. I know where I want to have it, who I want to marry us. I even know what our first dance would look like.” She still had the scrapbook with pictures of just what she wanted tucked away in a shoebox in the back of her closet. “I never wanted to feel pushed into getting married because of time."

  Ursula patted Autumn's hand, but said nothing.

  "I know I must sound selfish. I just never imagined getting married to the man of my dreams only to have him leave me so that we have no chance to start a life together. Is that wrong? Am I wrong for feeling this way?” Autumn ran her fingers through her hair. “Sean looked so angry. I've never seen like that before. He's always been composed, even through our arguments."

  "His father is the same way."

  "He must think that either I don't love him or that I'm the most unsupportive person in his life right now. I want him. But I want him in the right way. Should I feel bad for that?"

  Ursula shook her head. “No. This is your life as much as it is Sean's. I can't fault you for standing up for what you want. I did the complete opposite from you when I met Bob. We met at a dance. We knew instantly that we would be together forever. Sean talks about you the same way."

  Autumn smiled at that admission.

  Ursula finished her story. “The following week, he was due to be sent to Vietnam. Before he left, we eloped. I didn't tell my parents or my friends or anyone, and he did the same. When he came back home, we told everyone. Some were angry, but we didn't care. This was our lives, and we did it how we wanted. As much as I would love to have you as a daughter-in-law, I'm not going to pressure you to marry my wonderfully handsome, extremely polite, smart-as-a-whip son."

  "No guilt, huh?” Autumn smiled.

  "I didn't say I wouldn't brag on him.” Ursula laughed, then became somber. “Life is short, dear. Just keep that in mind."

  "Don't you ever get angry at all over these wars and what it's done to your family?"

  Ursula stroked Autumn's face. “You'll learn how to deal with it when you're a military wife.” Then she winked at her.

  "No guilt."

  Ursula shrugged. “No guilt."

  "Will you and Bob be able to make it to the barbeque at my parents’ at the end of the week?"

  "Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

  "Good.” At this time, Autumn would need her family around her just as much as Sean.

  * * * *

  "Merry Christmas!"

  Sean glanced outside of the window at the searing summer sun, then back at Autumn who bounded into the bedroom carrying brightly-wrapped presents and in the cutest little elf costume he'd ever seen.

  "Again, had I known you were going to do the costume thing, I would have deployed a long time ago.” Sean sat up in bed as Autumn set the presents in front of him.

  "Let's see. We've done my birthday, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving."

  Autumn rubbed her ass. “Yeah, my butt is still a little sore from that celebration."

  "Sorry.” Sean smiled.

  "No, you're not.” She sat next to him. “But it was good."

  "Just good?” He hitched up an eyebrow.

  "Great.” She kissed him. “Wonderful.” And again. “Magnificent.” And a third time, this time, making it linger.

  "So now we're up to Christmas. Next will be New Year's."

  "New Year's will be tonight at midnight. Tomorrow—"

  "My last day."

  Autumn glossed over his statement. “Will be the Fourth of July celebration at my parents'."

  "Just like last year."

  "Except your family will be there this time."

  "Don't let my little mother fool you. She knows how to party."

  "I hope so.” Autumn smiled at him.

  Sean pushed the gifts to the side, then pulled Autumn close to him. “I don't know why you don't want to marr
y me.” Autumn started to open her mouth but Sean stopped her. “And you don't have to tell me. I know you love me. And you know that I love you. But I know how you are. I'm sure it took you the entire time after I told you my assignment for you to plan this entire week, didn't you?"

  Autumn dropped her gaze. “You know me so well."

  "That's why I think I know why you've been turning me down.” He pulled Autumn onto his lap. “I know getting married now is not the most ideal situations. I didn't see myself getting married like this either. I saw us getting married on the beach."

  Autumn wrinkled her nose. “Really? I was thinking something more homey and intimate."

  Sean put his hand on Autumn's belly. “And I want us to have children."

  "Lots of them.” She beamed.

  Sean smiled with her. “Yeah, a house full of them. But I would be crushed if you got pregnant now, and I missed seeing your belly grow and missd the baby being born and everything. Just like I get that when you get married, you want everything that goes with it. The honeymoon, setting up house."

  "Again."

  "Yeah, again. Planning our family.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. When he broke from the warm gesture, he stared into her eyes. “Just know if it doesn't happen before I leave, I won't be angry. I have a feeling like you're going to beat yourself up if you see me off, and we're not Mr. And Mrs. Littleton. Don't. If we don't get married, it'll give me hope to come home and ask you to marry me in the right way and do it up right."

  What could Autumn say? She wrapped her arms around Sean's neck so hard that he nearly gasped for air. He held her just as tight. It was this feeling that he didn't want to forget.

  She pulled back from him. “So can I ask you one thing?"

  "Of course."

  She interlaced her fingers with his. Her soft hands felt heavenly on his.

  "Did you already get the ring?"

  Sean cocked his head.

  Autumn nodded, apparently getting her answer from just looking at him. “Can I see it?"

  He shook his head. “You know better than that."

  "Oh, come on. Just give me a peek. Is it in the spare bedroom?” She started to run out of the room when Sean grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “No, you don't, Nancy Drew. We're going to celebrate Christmas. Then I'm going to ring in the New Year having sex with you in the backyard."