Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey

by Joachim, Jean C.

  “When did you get laid and with who, Dad?” Peter asked, impatiently.

  “I’m getting there, Pete. Just hold on. So one night, I stayed until closing. I had missed my ride back to the base and was swearing because I’d have to walk. Jeannie said she’d drive me. Tommy was asleep and Arnie, her helper, had cleaned up already. I met her upstairs where she was tucking in the blankets around Tommy.

  “Jeannie turned and looked at me in the moonlight coming in the window. ‘You’re a good man, Sam,’ she said to me. The moonlight was shining on her dark hair and for the first time, I noticed how beautiful she was. She just stood there, looking at me. She knew I was a virgin because the guys weren’t shy about teasing me about it in front of her, or anyone else. She stepped up close and put her arms around me, pulling me right up against her. I can still remember the smell of her perfume when she kissed me.”

  “It gets very lonely here, sometimes,” she whispered in my ear. I didn’t really know what she meant, because I was so incredibly stupid and naïve. Then she took my hand and led me into her bedroom, which she kept locked to keep the GIs out. It was a small, simple but beautiful room, very feminine with heart-shaped pillows, a collection of fancy dolls sitting on a bookshelf and pink walls. Jeannie took off her blouse and skirt and pulled me down on the bed with her. I began to get the idea my ship had come in and I was going to learn all about love from someone who actually knew a lot more about it than I did. I was right too. I was in Pine Bluff for only three more weeks, but every night I went to The Sunrise, tutored Tommy and spent several hours learning about love from Jeannie in that back bedroom.

  “The guys kept teasing me because they hadn’t figured out what was going on. After all, what would a beautiful, worldly woman like Jeannie want with a skinny inexperienced kid like me? I let them think what they wanted. What Jeannie and I had together was special, so I kept it to myself.

  “I was sorry to leave her, not only because I’d miss the sex, but because I was going overseas and I was scared to death. Jeannie refused to say goodbye. She shut down, realizing she had gotten attached to someone else who’d be going to Viet Nam and maybe not coming back. I think it was more than she could handle.

  “I liked and respected Jeannie, maybe even loved her, and it hurt when she refused to see me off. I never forgot the things she taught me about how to make love to a woman. I’m not going into any of that here, so before you ask the answer is no. She was some woman,” Sam said, sighing at the memory of her body and her sweet soul.

  “What a story, Dad,” Peter said.

  The men all agreed Sam had had the most meaningful first experience of anyone. It sure beat a too-quick first time in the backseat of a car leaving a young woman frustrated. Sam felt closer to his sons, man to man, after sharing his story.

  “Are you sure you won’t share any of what you learned from Jeannie with us?” Peter prompted.

  “Peter, I doubt you or Mac need to learn anything from me about how to make love to a woman. You both seem to be doing very…no…extremely well on your own. You both could probably teach me something.” Sam shook his head and laughed.

  While the men were digging into the cookies and popping open more beer, the doorbell rang. Danny ran up to answer the door before another ring woke Casey up. He pulled open the door to see a busty blonde with a big package in her arms smile at him and push her way into the house.

  “Delivery for Peter Caldwell,” she said, smiling.

  “Downstairs,” Danny said, motioning toward the stairs. The young woman marched down the stairs with Danny right behind her and asked who Peter was. Peter came forward and looked her over, grinning. He was drunk. The young woman opened the package and pulled out a CD player. She hit the play button and the song, “The Stripper” came on. Instantly, the young woman began to peel off her clothes to the music.

  The rest of the men came over to watch.

  “Who’s the birthday boy?”

  “No, no, the groom, the groom,” Bill Jones said.

  “Whose idea was this?” Sam looked at the men, who shrugged their shoulders.

  “Here’s a card. There is no message. It’s signed Fran,” the young woman said.

  “Fran? That bitch!” Jim sputtered. “I never should’ve told her about the party. She called with her forwarding address and I guess I wanted to rub it in a little about Pete and Lara. Had no idea she’d do this.”

  “Bitch is right,” Sam said.

  The stripper was down to a skimpy bra and panties. Her big breasts were spilling over and Peter could not take his eyes off them.

  “You getting married, buddy?”

  Peter nodded.

  “You better look at ’em now, because this will be your last chance…ever!”

  Peter looked at her body with a hungry expression in his eyes. Sam stepped between the girl and Peter and put his hand in his pocket, pulling out a wad of bills.

  “Young lady, I think this is enough. My son is about to get married to a wonderful young woman and we don’t need this performance to screw things up. Here.” He handed her a couple of twenty dollar bills.

  “Why don’t you go on home? I think Pete has seen enough,” Sam said, taking Peter by the arm, leading him toward the pizza and away from the stripper.

  “Okay, buddy. If that’s what you want. But you’re all missing a great pair.”

  “We’re all married here except Jim, so if you want to take him upstairs and show them to him, go ahead. I don’t want anyone’s family life wrecked over a…over…you all get it, right?” Sam asked.

  Jim Caterson flushed and backed away. The young woman took her money, her clothes, her CD player and the fake package and went upstairs to dress. Danny walked with her at a respectable distance. When she left, he locked the door.

  * * * *

  Up in the mountains, the women had finished several bottles of champagne and were feeling no pain. They were all wearing towels as they moved from the sauna to the massage table to the facial chair. Lara had her manicure and pedicure and was lying, naked, on the massage table when the doorbell rang. Lynn, the proprietor of the spa, answered the door and brought a young police officer to where the women were.

  He walked in and turned on his radio, which was really a CD player. The policeman began to take his clothes off to the music, much to the delight of the drunken women. Lara was lying face down with her bare behind visible. Being a ballet dancer, she was not at all modest as there were always people, often male people, coming through the dressing rooms, costume fittings and it didn’t pay to worry about showing your body to anyone. She lay there while the woman who was doing the massage stood in awe, her mouth open, as the handsome young man took off his shirt and pants.

  His name tag said his name was Ray. He had black hair, like Mac’s, straight and thick and the most beautiful, clear gray eyes. A little five o’clock shadow gave his handsome face shading. When his shirt hit the floor, the women could see a ripped chest, with black hair emphasizing the shape of the pecs, a six-pack and arms with enough muscle to be sexy but not enough to look like a self-absorbed muscle man. He was staring at Lara’s luscious behind.

  Lara was mesmerized. She sat up, barely holding the sheet over one breast and staring boldly back at Ray. The other women were speechless.

  “Who is the bride?” he asked, and Jonesy pointed to Lara.

  Ray sauntered over to her, raking his eyes over her body with appreciation.

  “This is my lucky day.” He wore a sexy grin.

  “Who sent you?” Eliza asked.

  Ray ripped open a card and read it to Lara, standing about two feet away from her, staring into her eyes.

  “No reason the fun shouldn’t start tonight, love, Jonesy,” Ray read, then looked at Lara’s exposed breast.

  “Jonesy! What were you thinking? Don’t you remember my party?” Eliza said.

  “I thought…well…you know how you girls are…we don’t want the men outdoing us, do we?” she stammered.

/>   “That’s the best card I’ve ever read. That’s right, Lara. No reason the fun shouldn’t start tonight,” Ray said and almost before he was finished, he was kissing her.

  Lara sat motionless on the massage table and let him kiss her, his hands resting on her shoulders. She closed her eyes and put her hand on his chest.

  “No, no, no. This’ll never do,” Callie said.

  Eliza handed Callie two twenty dollar bills and Callie went over to Ray. She tucked her towel in tighter and put the money in his hand that was sliding down toward Lara’s breast. Eliza scooted over to pull the sheet up.

  “You’re very hunky and if I wasn’t married…I, too, would consider starting some fun here with you tonight, but I think this is enough. Lara’s getting married to a wonderful and extremely jealous man in a few days. We don’t want to mess this up, so Ray, I think it’s time for you to go,” Callie said.

  He took the money reluctantly, but before he turned to go he said to Lara, “This is the best job I’ve had. You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. I hope your fiancé knows how lucky he is. If he doesn’t, please look me up.” He handed his card to a speechless Lara. After he left, the women burst out laughing. They all made lascivious comments about his body and his face, lusting after him in one breath and laughing at him in the next.

  “That was a close call,” Callie sighed, remembering how close Eliza got to big trouble before she got married.

  “Peter would be furious if…” Eliza said.

  “He has nothing to worry about. Even if I kissed another man, which I’m sure I won’t again, I couldn’t imagine wanting to make love with anyone except Peter for the rest of my life. A kiss is nothing, making love with Peter is earth-shattering!” Lara exclaimed, slightly tipsy.

  “I guess she’s marrying the right man,” Jonesy chuckled.

  The ladies finished up their beauty treatments and the food. One bottle of peach champagne was left over and Lara wanted Jonesy to have it for sending Ray, the policeman. They giggled like schoolgirls about marriage, the wedding night, men, and sex until Sam came to pick them up at ten o’clock. He was a little shocked to see them all tipsy and silly, even Patsy.

  “What happened at this party?” Sam asked her.

  “Oh, I can’t tell you, Sam. Doctor-patient confidentiality,” Patsy said, giggling.

  The women all burst out laughing.

  “What happens at the Spa stays at the Spa,” Callie and Eliza said together.

  When everyone returned home, the men had sobered up some, but the women were still tipsy. Peter was watching Lara undress as they got ready for bed. She pulled her bra out of her purse and Peter got upset.

  “What’s that doing in your purse? Why aren’t you wearing it?”

  “We all took off our clothes and got massages and things. I guess I forgot to put mine back on.”

  Peter bent down and picked up Ray’s card that had fallen out of the pocket of her shirt.

  “Who is Ray? Why do you have his card?”

  “Oh, he’s a stripper Jonesy hired for the party,” Lara tossed out as she got out one of her new nighties to tempt Peter.

  “A male stripper? You guys had a stripper?”

  “Didn’t you?”

  “We did, but she was unexpected.”

  “Did she have good breasts?”

  “Why do you ask that?”

  “I know how much you like breasts.”

  “Never mind her. What about this guy? What did you do with him?”

  “He kissed me. That’s all. It was nothing.” Lara slipped on the new gown.

  “Nothing? He kissed you and you call that nothing?” Peter said, pointedly.

  “Didn’t she kiss you?”

  “She didn’t touch me. Sam sent her away before she even finished stripping.”

  “That’s too bad for you, then, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t need her. I have you.”

  “I feel the same way. So Ray kissed me. So what? I don’t want to make love with anyone but you, Peter, for as long as I live.” Her lips curved in a suggestive grin.

  “Is that true?”

  “Don’t you know that by now?”

  “I feel the same way.”

  “You do?”

  “You’re amazing, Lara.” He pulled her to him for a passionate kiss.

  She melted in his arms, pulling him closer.

  “Did you have fun tonight?” he asked her.

  “Yes, we laughed, and ate, and got beautiful. I love my new friends.”

  “Our party was good too. I heard some amazing stories…none I can repeat, of course, but it was good. I ate too much and Danny beat us all at pool.” Peter tightened his arms around her and kissed her passionately. “Did he kiss you like that?”

  “No one kisses like you do,” she whispered, her eyes closed.

  “Did he touch you?” Peter persisted.

  “Callie pulled him away before he did.” Lara was distracted by his lips.

  “Were you undressed?” he continued.

  “I had a sheet over me…most of me…I was having a massage,” she explained.

  “You were naked with this guy and he kissed you!” Peter stepped back.

  “Not really naked, sort of…exposed a little.”

  “No more kissing strangers, okay?” Peter’s brows knitted.

  She hadn’t seen him jealous since Andres. She kind of liked it.

  “You don’t have anything to worry about, I don’t want anyone but you.” She inched closer to him.

  Lara wore a skimpy gown and sidled up to him. She took his hand, then pulled him down on the bed and into her arms. Their mouths joined and all worries about stripping policemen fell away as Lara made it clear how much she wanted him.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  It was a perfect day for a wedding, the sky was a cloudless blue, the bright sun warmed the late April air, turning the grass a deep, rich green and giving the world a golden glow. Music played in the Kiwanis hall as Gladys O’Reilly, from the music department, warmed up. Peter and Lara planned to walk up the aisle to Liszt’s Liebesträume. The huge Kiwanis hall was decorated in spring flowers in yellow, pink and white. Metal chairs were set up in rows and a red carpet was placed down the center aisle. Sunlight streamed in through the huge windows, lighting up the whole room.

  The small meeting rooms were set up for Lara, Peter and members of the wedding party to use to change their clothes, put on makeup, pace or do whatever they needed to do before the ceremony. Jim Caterson, dressed in a tuxedo, entered the meeting hall early. He needed time alone with Lara. Fran had driven a wedge between Jim and his niece. He wanted to rekindle their close relationship. They slipped out the back for a private talk.

  “I was only fifteen when your mother and father got married. It was a beautiful wedding. Stephanie and John were meant for each other.”

  “I wish they were here today. They’d love Peter.”

  “They would. They’d be very proud of you and all you’ve accomplished and all you’ve overcome.”

  “Everything would’ve been so much easier if they had been here.”

  “I know,” Jim said, patting her hand. “I’m proud of you on their behalf, proud to be giving you away. Peter is a good choice. He’s a fine man, smart and he loves you.”

  “He does. He’s so sweet.”

  “I’m sure, wherever your parents are, they are smiling today.”

  “I hope so, Uncle Jim.”

  Lara cried as they talked. She used an extra hanky from Peter to blot her tears. Jim teared up, too, missing his sister.

  The big hall began to fill up with people Lara and Peter came to know through Lara’s dance classes and Peter’s teaching. Grateful parents of her students along with the students who loved Lara and her sweet ways were there to watch the couple become one. Many of Peter’s students came as well as other professors in the art department and administrators. The men who ran Kiwanis came with their families. There were one hundred
fifty people there. John Lawrence, president of the university, was there with his beautiful wife, Annika. They never missed a faculty wedding.

  The bride and groom were surprised and pleased to see so many people. Lara had Callie and Eliza help her into her perfect Vera Wang wedding dress. The dress had a slim bodice with a little lace, which was repeated in a wide band around the bottom of the full skirt. Pat Weiss Caldwell was there for moral support.

  Kelli came from her beauty salon to do Lara’s hair. Tara and Marcy were there from the nail salon to touch up Lara’s manicure and pedicure. They had a hard time getting her to keep her hands still long enough for them to apply the polish. Lara was nervous something would go wrong, but not nervous about marrying Peter. She loved him totally and felt confident he felt the same devotion.

  * * * *

  Peter was beyond nervous at Mac’s house getting dressed, even though he had his father and Mac to help him. Peter paced, had a drink and paced some more.

  “Pete, I never thought I’d see this day. You getting married. And to such a great girl. It’s wonderful. Wonderful. I’m proud of you. I wish your mother could be here,” Sam said, blinking back tears.

  “I’m waiting until he goes through with it, before I congratulate him,” Mac joked.

  “Thanks a lot, Mac. Weren’t you nervous when you got married?”

  “I never worried about marrying Callie. I knew she was the one.”

  “You did? How did you know?” Peter asked, desperation in his voice.

  “Shrimp, you can’t pursue someone as hot and heavy as you pursued Lara and then have doubts when you win her.”

  “Who says I can’t?”

  “What is this about, Pete?” his father asked.

  “I guess I’m wondering if I’m cut out to be married.”

  “Why wouldn’t you be?” his father asked.

  “Well, I haven’t exactly been tied to one woman for long, you know.”

  “You’ve been faithful to Lara, haven’t you?” Sam asked him.

  “Of course!”