by Candy Caine
She broke into laughter, hugging him tighter. “I’m famished, too.”
“Well, let’s go grab a bite and check out this place.” Taking a small guidebook out of his suitcase, he said, “We’re going to have some fun.”
“You really did some serious research on this place, didn’t you?” Raven said following him out of the room.
“I tend to be like that. It minimizes the chance of unwanted surprises.”
Raven smiled to herself. Just as she thought. She’d done her own research. It was the way they were built.
It was an interesting five-minute walk down Old Maid’s Lane to York Street. The little houses they passed looked unchanged from the time they were built during the 17th century. Street names were as fanciful as they were unique. They turned onto York Street and stopped to look at the simplicity of St. Peter’s Church.
“According to Fodor’s, this church was the first Anglican church in the Western Hemisphere,” Lucas said. “According to the guidebook, it was completed in 1612.”
They continued along the cobbled walkway, stopping here and there to check out some of the narrow, obscure alleyways and walled-in flower gardens until they turned off at Queen Street and headed into downtown St. George’s. In the town square they found Town Hall, shops, and restaurants. There also stood a pillory, stocks, and a whipping post. Across the square by the harbor sat a working ducking stool.
“This must have been a fun place to live when these things were used,” Raven said. “Put yourself in the pillory and I’ll take your picture.”
Lucas mugged for the camera as Raven snapped a few shots before returning to her side. “There are several places to eat. We should decide on one.”
“Let’s go native,” Raven said.
“Uh-oh. Do I have to start worrying?”
“About what?” Raven asked running a finger down his chest.
“Whether or not I have enough money to bail you out.”
“All I meant, silly, was that we should try Bermudian food. I did some research, as well. Did you know that wahoo is Bermuda’s favorite game fish?”
“So I take it you want to have some wahoo for lunch?” Lucas said.
“That’s a start. And if I remember correctly, there’s a place called Wahoo’s close by.”
Lucas took out his Fodor’s and looked up the name and address of the restaurant.
“Can’t fool you. Wahoo’s Bistro and Patio Seafood Restaurant is on Water Street just a few minutes away.”
Raven took Lucas’s hand in hers. “Lead the way.”
They were seated out back on the covered patio with a stunning view of the harbor. Their waiter made suggestions and they ended up having wahoo chowder and wahoo nuggets, washing it all down with glasses of hearty ale.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Lucas asked.
Raven lowered her fork and looked directly into his smiling eyes. “Yes. This is a spectacular birthday present.”
He patted her hand. “I’m glad. Checking out this place made me realize that so many places in this part of the world were found by happenstance.”
“I never really gave it any thought. I know all about the voyages of Columbus and how he stumbled upon Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, and parts of Central America looking for Asia. I guess that’s why they’re called discoveries.”
“Bermuda was no different. St. George’s is named after Sir George Somers, an admiral who accidentally landed in Bermuda in 1609 during a hurricane. This place is the oldest colonial town in the Western Hemisphere.”
“And some parts look unchanged,” Raven added.
After lunch they did some more sightseeing that included wandering over to St. George’s Historical Society Museum. It was furnished much as it was when it was a private home and housed artifacts and documents pertaining to the islands earliest days. Raven was amazed at the collection of period furniture, pewter objects, and china, while the collection of documents, old letters, and rare books intrigued Lucas.
They made their way over to the Bermuda National Trust Museum, which was housed in the former Globe Hotel. It had been built in 1700 by Governor Samuel Day and is one of the oldest stone buildings on the island. The offices of the Confederate agent, Major Norman Walker, were housed here during the American Civil War, something neither Lucas nor Raven had known. Then they checked out the Unfinished Church and the Featherbed Alley Printshop museum before heading back to the Inn.
Their room had a four-poster bed and a beautiful antique clock on the chest of drawers that looked hand-carved. Raven had noticed many antiques throughout the two floors of the Inn. It was a beautiful place and a quite a reminder of the colonial period.
Raven dropped her purse and slipped off her shoes. “Sweetie, I’d like to take a shower,” she said.
He grabbed the remote to the TV. “Go right ahead.”
Raven walked into the spacious bathroom and stripped off her clothes. She opened the glass enclosure to the shower and turned on both taps. She let the water run as she tied her hair up into a ponytail with a scrunchie. Testing the water, she added more cold before stepping inside and closing the door behind her.
She’d just begun to lather her body when the shower door opened and Lucas stepped inside, giving her a momentary start. Taking the soap from Raven, he kissed her neck, sending chills tumbling down her spine even though the water spraying down on her was hot. She flattened her palms against the wall as he began to lather her back with soap, his hands moving in large, elongated circles, as he slowly made his way down toward her butt.
Lucas pulled Raven’s bottom closer to him and she arched her back giving him greater access to her body. He didn’t disappoint. Now soaping her breasts, he kneaded her nipples, causing her to moan pleasurably. He lingered on her breasts a little longer before his hands slipped lower down her body.
Reaching her sex, he began to lather her inside and out, his erection brushing against her, ratcheting her titillation quotient higher.
Finally Lucas grabbed her hips, pushing through the soapy velvet folds of her vulva with his penis. Raven moaned once again. He began to move in and out slowly, giving her extreme pleasure with each thrust. But neither one of them wanted that for long, so he began to pump into her with quick, short thrusts. Her hands became fists as the sexual tension wound tightly within her like the mainspring of a watch. When she bent lower, allowing him deeper penetration, he pumped into her as hard and fast as he could. As they reached their crescendo, their ragged breathing had become audible noise and they climaxed within moments of each other, collapsing against the wall. The water had turned cold and they rushed from the shower, laughing.
* * *
That night they had dinner at the White Horse Pub and Restaurant. It was a beautiful night, but the wind had picked up a bit so they ate inside, gazing at St. George’s harbor. They both ordered fish and chips.
“This place is magical and could make you forget the hustle and bustle of Manhattan,” Raven said.
“Yup. I feel it, too. No one seems to be in a hurry around here.”
“But, most of all, it’s so romantic.”
“That it is,” Lucas agreed. “Of course, you need to be with the right person to notice.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes without speaking until Lucas broke the spell. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to do this.”
Raven watched with curiosity as he removed a small box from his jacket pocket. He handed it across the table. As she opened it, he said, “Marry me.”
She stared at the diamond ring and then looked up at him. Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Those tears better be happy ones,” Lucas said.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Lucas watched as she slipped the ring on her finger. “Happy birthday, baby. Now I’ll always remember when we got engaged. We need to get married on a holiday so I can remember our anniversary.”
Raven began to laugh as tears of joy flowed down her delicately sc
ulpted cheeks.
Chapter Fifteen
Back in New York, everything had remained just as Raven had left it, even though her life had dramatically changed. She was now engaged to marry a wonderful, caring man. And she’d always been the woman who never thought such a person existed. The men she’d encountered were the Gordon Whites who roamed the world looking for naïve women to seduce with their lies and deceit. Since she told Dottie, her aunt had been doing a nonstop happy dance. Of course, Dottie was thrilled. She’d never thought Raven would find someone who met her stringent standards. She was so thrilled that she wanted to have a huge wedding and invite half the country.
Raven and Lucas merely wanted to get married quietly by a justice of the peace. A dinner with their close friends would follow. Several dates had been discussed. Paul was all for Bastille Day on July 14 or sooner. By now Raven realized he’d been serious about getting married on a holiday, but she wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of Bastille Day since it was the symbolic start of the French Revolution, where not everyone had a bloody good time.
Lucas resumed his scheduled patient appointments. Susan Smith actually showed up for her scheduled appointment. Unfortunately, she appeared tired and edgier than usual, and this troubled Lucas. He attempted to engage her, but she resisted, remaining as closed as a clam. Again, Lucas wondered why he didn’t cut her loose. It was more than obvious he wasn’t reaching the source of her problems. He promised himself that if he made no headway on her next visit, he’d let her go. He’d give her the names of several other therapists to try. Yet there was something about this woman—perhaps her vulnerability—that worried him. And he feared that she might hurt herself, and the slightest trigger might set her off. Then he recalled something his father had often told him. “Know when to let go. You can’t help every patient who comes through your door.” Even so, the woman troubled him.
* * *
The judge adjourned early at the request of the prosecution. Raven didn’t feel like rushing directly back to the office, so she called Lucas to see if he was free to meet her for lunch.
Lucas’s cell began to buzz as his patient left. Seeing that the caller was Raven, he answered immediately. “Is this my favorite woman of the bar?”
“If you mean Renee from O’Malley’s Tavern, no.”
“Hello, funny girl. I miss you.”
“Good. Don’t blow this one time chance of seeing me,” Raven said.
“Do you mean now?”
“No. I’m calling today for next Tuesday. Of course, now, silly. I got out of court early and I’m practically next door in Mineola.”
“Your timing is impeccable. I’ve got two hours before my next patient. Why don’t we meet at that little diner on Main Street. It’s close and the food’s good,” Lucas suggested.
“Great. I’m on my way.”
“I’ll meet you out front in ten minutes,” he said snatching his keys from his desk.
* * *
Twenty minutes later after they both ordered sandwiches, Lucas looked into Raven’s smiling eyes and squeezed her hands that were resting on the table.
“What’s that look all about?” she asked.
Lucas loved the way her eyebrows arched inquisitively whenever she was curious. “Just looking at the woman I love.”
“I love you, too, sweetie.”
The waitress brought their coffees.
“Has Dottie come back down to earth yet?” Lucas asked as he stirred cream into his cup.
“Not really. She’s taking a new tack in her campaign to get us to change our minds about having a small wedding.”
“That woman’s like a dog with a bone. What’s she up to?” He sipped his coffee.
Their sandwiches came and the conversation continued. “Oh, when she’s not dropping hints, she’s leaving bridal magazines all over the place.”
Lucas nearly choked with laughter and wiped his mouth. “That woman’s something else.”
“That she is. Speaking of our wedding, how does January 10th sound?”
“You want to get married on my birthday?” he asked surprised.
“Yup. Why do you ask? Are you afraid you’ll forget the date?”
“Very funny. Let’s hope I don’t get Alzheimer’s.”
* * *
As November became December, Raven began to spend more and more time at Lucas’s townhouse. She hadn’t realized how much her aunt missed her until Dottie called her at work. Raven was sitting in the cafeteria of the Supreme Court–Appellate Division in Manhattan, having lunch as she perused her notes for the case she was there litigating.
“Hi, Aunt Dottie. What’s going on?”
“Hello, stranger. I’m impressed. You recognized my voice.”
“What’s wrong, Aunt Dottie?” Raven asked as she picked up her aunt’s sarcasm.
“What could be wrong?” Dottie replied glibly. “Unless, of course, you consider the fact that I never see or hear from you.”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Dottie, I didn’t mean to neglect you.”
“I know. You’ve been busy. Too bad it hasn’t been in planning your wedding.”
Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Raven said, “Don’t you ever give up?”
“Why should I? Am I dead?”
“Heaven forbid!”
“Then I can expect you for dinner tonight just in case I’m going to croak tomorrow?” Dottie asked.
“Good Lord! I forgot how well you play the guilt game. Yes, Aunt Dottie, you can expect me for dinner tonight.” Raven said.
“How’s my boy?” Dottie asked.
“If you’re referring to Lucas, he’s fine. We can talk about him tonight.”
“Thank you. I’ll even make something you like for dinner,” Dottie said before hanging up.
Raven texted Lucas to let him know she wouldn’t be seeing him that night. Her aunt was on the warpath, demanding her presence for dinner and perhaps her scalp. He replied, telling her to have fun, and sent his love to Aunt Dottie.
Chapter Sixteen
Several days later, Susan Smith sat in Lucas’s office. She was dressed in worn jeans that sported a hole in one knee and a tight tee shirt. He watched her fidget with the frayed strands of fabric around the tear in her jeans for several minutes. He realized the moment he’d dreaded for so long concerning this patient had arrived. It was time to let her go. If he couldn’t help her, it was the best course of action for them both. Only, he had to choose his words wisely.
“Susan, you’ve been coming to this office sporadically for some time now. It doesn’t appear that I’ve been helpful—”
“No!” she screamed. The features on her face had screwed into a tight knot. “Don’t tell me not to come anymore!”
“Please calm down—”
“Don’t tell me to calm down. I’ll—I’ll hurt myself if I don’t come.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. I only want to help and do what’s best for you. Unfortunately, I may not be the one capable of reaching the source of your problems,” Lucas replied as he tried in vain to explain himself.
“Well, you have hurt me!” Susan replied angrily and pounded her thighs with her fists.
“Susan, stop that!” Lucas commanded.
She stopped and he verbally tiptoed into his terms for continuing her therapy. “If you don’t want to stop coming here, you have to make an effort to try to help yourself. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you certain you understand? I have no magic wand and cannot help you without your participation. We have to work out your problems together. I’m only going to try one last time. I have a list of other well-qualified therapists—”
“No. I only want to see you.”
Lucas’s lips tightened. “If that’s the case, you know what you must do.” He glanced at the time. “We have some time left. Now let’s try to make some progress.”
* * *
The following session with Susan Smith two da
ys later went well. This gave Lucas hope that she’d continue to be more forthcoming in their future sessions. He was glad he hadn’t terminated her therapy. “Patience and endurance were important behavioral traits every psychologist must possess, son,” his father continually reminded him.
The list of patients for the day was already on his desk. Perusing it, he saw that Susan had another appointment that morning. Hopefully they’d continue to make progress, he thought, taking off his gloves and placing them next to his keys on his desk.
Renee came in with a cup of coffee. “Thought you might appreciate something hot to warm up.”
“Thanks. I can’t believe they’re talking snow for later,” Lucas replied.
“I still want to know what happened to fall. We went from warm to cold nearly overnight.”
“You’re right. It does appear that someone up there just flipped a switch,” Lucas said as the outside line began to ring.
Renee left to answer it. Lucas sat down and began to prepare for the day.
* * *
Raven called Dottie to ask if she’d like to go out for dinner. It would be just the two of them. After her aunt had called the week before, chiding Raven about having been abandoned, Raven thought it would be best if she spent more time with Dottie. In January she’d be gone from the house permanently and Dottie would be alone.
“I’m tired tonight, Raven. My feet are complaining so that I’m afraid they’ll sue me.”
“I can recommend a good lawyer,” she replied playfully.
“I bet you can.”
“I’ll bring something in so you won’t have to cook.”
Dottie sighed audibly. “Tonight I appreciate it. I’m not getting any younger, you know.”
“Nonsense. You’re more like an older sister than an aunt to me,” Raven said quickly. “You’re far from old.”
Dottie chortled. “Perhaps we need to get your eyes checked.”
* * *
Susan Smith entered Lucas’s office at 10:30. Aside from accidentally knocking everything off his desk as she reached for a tissue on the way out, the session had gone well. She’d behaved as if she truly cared about getting better. Perhaps the heart-to-heart talk he’d had with her worked. However, Lucas wasn’t ready to pat himself on the back as of yet. There was plenty of time to do so after their next successful session.