Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey

by Joachim, Jean C.

  “With no temptations?” Mac asked.

  “With no temptations.”

  “So what are you worried about?” his brother asked.

  “I want to be a good husband. She’s special, I don’t want to lose her.”

  “Hey, you’re a Caldwell, aren’t you? We make the best husbands,” Sam said, clapping him on the back.

  “Mac, what’s your secret?” Peter asked.

  “It’s no secret. I try to put Callie, Jason and Kitty before myself as much as possible. By putting them first, I end up doing the right thing, then everyone thinks I’m brilliant and I get a ton of love.”

  “Thanks, Mac. How do you keep the flame burning after five years…if you know what I mean,” Peter asked his brother, thinking back to the first night at the lake house.

  “If the flame isn’t there to begin with, you won’t have it in five years. But if it is and you put your wife first, she’ll make sure the flame stays lit,” Mac responded.

  “Sound advice, Mac,” Sam concurred.

  “You make it sound easy, Mac.”

  “It is easy, Pete, if you pick the right woman. I think you have. Is the flame there…if that isn’t too personal?” Color suffused Mac’s cheeks.

  “The flame is definitely there. In fact it’s more like a bonfire than a flame.”

  “So what are you worried about? You two will be fine.” Mac patted his younger brother on the back.

  Peter’s brow smoothed out in a look of relief.

  Mac, Sam and Peter checked to see if Jason, who was going to be ring bearer, was dressed. Sam double-checked that he had the ring as he was the best man with Mac as usher. Then the Caldwell men, looking dashing and handsome in their black tuxedoes climbed into Mac’s car and headed for the Kiwanis Hall.

  Callie, Eliza and Kitty, as the flower girl, were wearing light aqua dresses and carrying yellow flowers mixed with white daisies. Lara had a white bouquet to match her white wedding dress. The men lined up and waited for Gladys to begin. There was a hush in the audience as Lara and Jim appeared at the back of the room. The Caldwell men were facing forward and didn’t see her yet. When he heard the first notes of Liebesträume, Peter turned and saw Lara. His heart almost beat out of his chest. She was a vision of loveliness in her white dress, veil and flowers with her mahogany hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders. He had never seen anyone look more beautiful. His heart melted; all doubts vanished. Lara smiled at Peter. He relaxed, knowing in his heart she was the one he had been searching for.

  Then the judge asked, “Who gives this woman?”

  “Her mother, her father and I do,” Jim replied, his voice cracking as he held Lara for a moment after raising her veil, while he corralled his tears. Lara’s eyes shone with unshed tears as she held Jim and took a deep breath. The judge waited patiently for Jim and Lara to compose themselves. After a few minutes, Jim kissed her cheek and turned her to face Peter.

  Peter extended his hand and she took it. He put his arm around her waist to steady her as she walked up next to him to face the judge. They stopped and she bestowed a dazzling smile on Peter who moved closer.

  Jason piped up, “You’re not supposed to kiss her until it’s all over, Uncle Peter!”

  Everyone cracked up, including the judge. The ceremony was short. The audience was silent but a few people, like Jonesy were heard sniffling as Peter and Lara said their vows. Callie cried quietly into Mac’s handkerchief.

  Finally it was time to kiss the bride. Peter took Lara in his arms and gave her the sweetest kiss possible, ending with the audience bursting into spontaneous applause. Everyone laughed and cheered. Peter and Lara marched back down the aisle and the celebration began.

  There was a sumptuous catered buffet with hot and cold food for everyone. Wine and champagne flowed like water. Jim had done well investing Lara’s remaining money so she could afford to pay for a beautiful gown and a lovely wedding. Everyone was eating and the band was tuning up so dancing could begin.

  Quietly, a pregnant Marcia Weston peeked in. She got Mac’s attention and he went over to the door to speak with her. They talked privately for a few minutes. When she left, he was smiling with the broadest grin Callie had ever seen.

  “What was that about, Mac?” she asked him.

  “A great wedding present landed in Peter’s lap.” Mac pushed his way through the crowd, searching for Eliza.

  He pulled her aside. Then he spoke with John Lawrence before he took Callie’s hand and went over to Peter. Mac took Peter aside and gave him the news. He smiled broadly and nodded his head.

  “Shouldn’t you discuss this with your wife before you say yes?” Mac asked.

  “Oh, yeah. I’ll be right back.”

  The band played Peter and Lara’s favorite pop song, Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love for Peter and Lara’s first dance as husband and wife. As Peter waltzed his new wife across the dance floor, he whispered in her ear, “Would you like to stay in Willow Falls?”

  “Yes, but we have to go back, don’t we?”

  “We don’t. The woman who was taking the sabbatical from the art department has come by to tell Mac she’s pregnant and she’s not coming back.”

  “Really?” Lara’s eyes got big.

  “So Mac, Eliza, and President Lawrence are offering the job to me, permanently. Do you want me to take it?”

  “Do you want to take it?”

  “I do. I like teaching here. Our whole family could be together. I love Willow Falls, it’s a great place to have children, don’t you think?”

  Lara nodded.

  “Should I tell them yes?”

  “Yes,” Lara said, kissing Peter’s smooth cheek.

  Lara was so happy, she burst into tears. He kissed her, caught Mac’s eye, and nodded.

  All the Caldwells smiled, including the other new Mrs. Caldwell, Patsy. Everyone danced and the festive mood spread. When it was all over, Lara and Peter went to the Willow Tree Inn, the local hotel, for the night. In the morning they were leaving for the lake house for a week’s honeymoon over spring break. Now both Sam and Peter had to make plans to go back to South Africa, sell their houses and move their lives permanently to Willow Falls after the semester was over.

  Back at home at the Caldwell house, when the children were safely in bed, Mac and Callie took their shoes off and lounged on the sofa with cups of coffee. No one could have been happier about Peter and Lara staying in Willow Falls than Callie. Her little family that started out as only Mac, Callie, and Jason, continued to grow.

  “Mac, it’s so wonderful Peter and Lara will be staying.”

  “I agree. The shrimp is growing on me.”

  “They’ll probably want to buy a house. Their lease is up on the little house they’re renting soon anyway. I have someone to take their lease,” Callie said.

  “You do? Who?” Mac looked surprised.

  “I didn’t want to tell you about this with the wedding and all the good news and all, but I heard from my sister a few days ago. Her husband Bob was killed in a car wreck and she’s looking for a place to go with her two children for the summer. I suggested they come here. Now they can move into Peter and Lara’s old house.”

  “When were you going to tell me about this?”

  “You were pretty busy and I was going to…”

  “Callie! You’ve got to stop keeping things from me!”

  “I wasn’t keeping this from you. I was going to tell you, but you’ve been busy…”

  “I give up. How is Sarah doing?”

  “She’s upset. She and Bob had decided to get a divorce before he was killed. So she feels guilty. The kids don’t know about that. Now she wants to try her hand at writing and thought if she could come here, a new place, be with family, just for the summer, then maybe she could start a novel or something.”

  “She wants to write. So you’ve decided to place her next door to Jim Caterson, the widower, who recently lost his fiancée, who just happens to be head of the Eng
lish department. No matchmaking involved here, Callie?” Mac smiled a knowing smile.

  “I confess, that did cross my mind but only for a moment. Sarah’s daughter is eleven. She can help me with Kitty, like an au pair. And her son is seven, Danny can put him in Kiwanis summer camp. What do you think, Mac?”

  “I see those wheels turning in your head, baby, and you’ve got it all figured out before anyone even gets on the plane. Should we plan for a wedding in May?”

  “Mac, don’t be silly. I don’t know Sarah and Jim Caterson are going to hit it off.”

  “No harm trying, is there?”

  “None at all. Sarah needs help…so does Jim…”

  “Even if he doesn’t know it?”

  “Even if he doesn’t know it. Besides, Sarah would never run off with a ballet dancer, leaving Jim high and dry,” Callie sniffed.

  “Does Sarah look like you?”

  “Oh no, she’s prettier.”

  “Impossible! Maybe I better warn Jim a beautiful widow is moving in next door?” Mac’s eyes twinkled with merriment.

  “Don’t you dare say anything. I’m sure he’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Now that you have it all figured out, do you have a little time for me?” Mac pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

  “You’re the steam that runs my engine,” she purred in his ear.

  Mac took her by the hand.

  “Time for a little matchmaking in our bedroom, Mrs. Caldwell.”

  * * * *

  At The Willow Tree Inn, Peter was peeling off pieces of his tuxedo.

  “What? You’re staring at me,” he said.

  “I like looking at you…watching you undress.” Lara’s cheeks pinked.

  “Nothing to be embarrassed about.” He shot her a wicked grin.

  After unfastening the back of her dress, Peter stopped to caress her shoulders and kiss the back of her neck. Lara stepped out of her dress and hung it up.

  “I like watching you too,” Peter whispered.

  He showered, returning to the room with a towel tucked around his waist, casting a lustful eye at Lara who was sitting in a wing chair wearing a white peignoir. She took off the robe and approached Peter. The gown was filmy, barely hiding her slim body, with tiny straps holding up the delicate fabric and two bows closing it in the front.

  She floated toward him, more beautiful than ever. Peter’s eyes traveled the length of her as he moved toward her, his hands reaching for her waist, his blood beginning to heat up.

  “I can’t believe we’re married,” she said, suddenly shy.

  “You’re the newest Mrs. Caldwell…and the most beautiful one.” He kissed her neck and dropped his hands to her behind to pull her closer to him.

  He pulled lightly on the bows holding her gown together. The bows gave way easily and the gown draped open. Peter paused to look at her, desire taking over his body, his heart beating rapidly. He pushed the tiny straps down over her shoulders and the gown slid to the floor. She tugged the towel from around his waist. He picked her up and laid her down on the bed tenderly and joined her there.

  They slowly began their new life together with their first act of love as husband and wife.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Memorial Day weekend was approaching. Callie and Mac were looking forward to getting away to the lake house. Sam and Pat, and Peter and Lara were in South Africa. Danny and Eliza were visiting Eliza’s brother in Pennsylvania. But before everyone went away, Lara and Peter bought a new house. Mac and Callie secured the lease on the house next door to Jim Caterson for Callie’s sister, Sarah, who was due next week with her son Scott and her daughter Laura. Sam had moved into Pat’s house.

  Construction to renovate and expand the lake house was about to begin. Sam bought an adjacent lot and a new house was being built there because, even with renovations, the lake house would be too small for this growing family, the Caldwell clan.

  Mac, Callie, Jason and Kitty had only four more days before chaos would descend on their lives when construction began next door. Memorial Day weekend started off very hot. The lake house had ceiling fans and a few oscillating fans. Still, with their deck doubling as a dock the cool lake at the end of their deck was tempting.

  Mac pulled out the wildlife guides for birds, amphibians and mammals. He liked to teach the children about the world around them by the lake. Sam also got a kick out of bird-watching with his grandchildren. Peter had stocked the lake house with paper, crayons and paints, encouraging the artistic side of his niece and nephew.

  Jason was nine and Kitty was five. Next year they’d both be in school for the full day. They were happy with four peaceful days of being together, laughing, playing, swimming, exploring, eating and loving at the lake house.

  Saturday temperatures exceeded one hundred degrees during the day. Adults and children were tired and cranky, even Rocky and Blue, Eliza and Danny’s lab mix and pug, who tagged along with them were overcome by the heat and spent most of the day sleeping. They all spent as much time as possible in the lake, even the dogs went wading with the children. Jason and Kitty went to bed early. They fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. The dogs were passed out on the cool floor of the children’s rooms.

  It was too hot to make love, even starting on the little deck. The ceiling fan didn’t seem to do much but move around the hot air. They tossed and turned until midnight, unable to sleep. Callie rolled over and looked at Mac.

  “Let’s have ice cream.”

  “Are you crazy? It’s midnight. We’ll be wiped out tomorrow. We need sleep.”

  “But I can’t sleep and neither can you.”

  “True,” he admitted sitting up on the side of the bed.

  “Come on, we have chocolate chip.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?” He got up.

  “I’ll race you,” Callie said, getting a head start.

  They raced downstairs as quietly as they could. Mac lit candles on the deck.

  “Isn’t it too hot for flames?” Callie asked, sitting down with a container of ice cream and two spoons.

  “Don’t you want me to be romantic?”

  Callie scraped up a spoonful of the sweet, cold confection and put it in Mac’s mouth. He accepted it gratefully, moving closer to her. She had on a lightweight pink cotton robe, he wore only boxers. Mac pulled the sash and her robe opened, revealing her body awash in candlelight.

  “I’m improving the view. Hope you don’t mind.” His gaze rested on her breasts.

  She smiled at him, her eyes dropping to his chest. Mac got up to get glasses of water to wash down the ice cream. When he returned, Callie scooped some ice cream and smeared it on her lower lip, fixing her eyes on Mac’s. He leaned over and licked it off. Then she spooned the last of the ice cream on his lower lip and licked it off. Mac picked her up and set her down on his lap, pushing her robe off. He wound his arms around her, kissing her passionately. She responded, moaning slightly. His hands moved around to her breasts. Suddenly he broke away from her with a quizzical look on his face.

  “Is there something you want to tell me?” he asked her.

  Callie blushed.

  “You are always rushing this.”

  “When are we due?”

  “Yes, I’m pregnant. I found out only yesterday and we haven’t had a minute alone. With any luck the baby will be here before any huge snowfalls in January.”

  “Oh, Callie,” he said, the candlelight reflecting off the love glowing in his eyes. “I’m so happy, baby.”

  “Me too,” she sighed, “now where were we?”

  Mac put his hand on her belly and looked into her eyes. Passion darkened her eyes as she moved her hands up his chest.

  “Take off those boxers, mister,” she whispered, nipping his earlobe.

  Mac slid his boxers off. The heat was still oppressive. They were both sweating and while passion was growing, the heat was doing its best to burn it out of them.

  “Let’s make love in the lake,�
�� Mac whispered to Callie.

  She turned and looked at him.

  “Are you crazy? Someone might see us?”

  “Every normal person has passed out because of the heat.”

  “You mean in the lake?”

  “Yes, or on the little dock out there,” Mac said pointing to the floating mini-dock anchored about one hundred feet from their deck.

  “It’s hard wood,” Callie said, making a face.

  “So we’ll bring towels. Where’s your sense of adventure, woman?” he said, picking her up and walking to the end of the dock.

  “Oh, no, Mac. You wouldn’t!”

  “It’s so hot, babe. I only want to cool you off,” he said tossing her into the water.

  Callie got enough of a grip on his arm to pull him off balance so he fell into the water with her. She came up sputtering and laughing. Mac swam under water and came up behind her. He was treading with one hand while he wrapped his other arm around her waist.

  “You are the most beautiful woman on earth,” he said in her ear, as his hand traveled up from her waist to cup her breast.

  “You like them big like this, don’t you?”

  “I like ’em any way I can get ’em.” He ducked under water to swim around in front of her and kiss her breasts.

  “But yours are particularly spectacular.”

  Callie swam out to the little dock and held on to the ladder. Mac followed her. It felt wonderful to be wet and naked at the same time. The swirling of the water around their totally free bodies energized and refreshed them.

  “So where are the towels?”

  He swam back to their dock and dragged two towels through the water and shoved them up on the little dock. Callie ducked under the water and came up to get her hair off her face. Mac climbed up on the dock and spread out the two towels, one on top of the other. They made a softer, wetter bed.

  “Your bed awaits you,” he said, making a sweeping gesture toward the towels.

  Callie laughed and climbed up the ladder. She sat on the towels and looked at the full moon. Mac sat down next to her.

  Their lives had been so stressful and they would have only a brief respite before Callie would be delivering their third child, sure to create chaos, excitement, love and an overflowing schedule of responsibilities. With all the family they now had, including Sarah and her children, Callie and Mac would have very full lives this fall. For a moment, Callie felt overwhelmed thinking about what she’d be dealing with.