“Alexander, will we ever stop walking on eggshells?”
“Only when you learn to trust me again and I learn to forgive myself.”
“It shouldn’t take so long.”
“I don’t know because honestly I have never cared about what I did or who I hurt until you.”
Mirisa unbuckled her shoes slipping them off. She hiked her skirt straddling her husband as he leaned back against the cushion. Meeks slowly unbuttoned the little diamond buttons on her jacket slipping it down her arms before throwing it on the other seat. The sound of the coachman as he talked to the horses echoed in the near deserted street.
Meeks kissed her while his hands slipped her dress off of her shoulders exposing the beauty of her body. He was so out of control as she leaned back arching her body at the touch of his hands. Mirisa captured his love, devoured his passion without a whisper and for the first time he released the always strangling tension of being afraid of losing her. The coachman shook his head when he heard the thud on the carriage floor so he turned slowly into the park in front of the hotel.
Meeks stepped out of the carriage as the coachman held the door. He put out his hand as Mirisa stepped down on the first step before he put his hands on her waist and lift her into his arms twirling around with her until she laughed. The coachman had been with the family long enough to know that discretion was always questionable.
Meeks carried her up the stairs as she continued to kiss him. He struggled to get the key in the door and finally just dropped them on the carpet as he pinned her against the wall. He bent down picking up the keys and opened the door pulling her in as they fell on the settee tumbling onto the floor. Meeks undressed as she could hold back no longer. The sex was filled with passion, covered with demand and thrown against every desire to consume the night.
Mirisa woke up as the sun streamed across the quiet room. She turned her head to find her husband asleep. She curled up as he pulled her against him.
“It has been a long time since you have seduced me.”
Mirisa kissed his chest running her fingers through the white hair that ran up the center of his body. “Alexander, I have missed you so much.” She ran her hand under the covers and convinced him that energy always appeared when needed. Mirisa finally slid out of bed.
Meeks listened to the water fill the tub while an unfamiliar fragrance started to fill the room. He got out of bed and realized their clothing was strewn all over the room. He picked them up putting them on the chair and walked into the bathroom. She was submerged in bubbles. Meeks got out his shaving kit as she watched him. The muscles that ran down his back were so well defined and she thought the human body was such a unique form. He wiped off his face then climbed in the tub with her.
“What did you use?”
“I’m not sure. It seems to be lilacs and gardenias.”
“What is your pleasure today?”
“I think I would like a wonderful breakfast curled up in bed with you and the morning paper. After that I think a walk through the park and shopping until the carriage is filled with new things.”
“Your wish is mine to fulfill.” Meeks stepped out of the tub as she sunk back down enjoying the warm water. Meeks bent over and kissed her. She listened as he dressed. When Mirisa came out he was on the couch reading the paper with a tray on the table. She walked over and took the paper out of his hands as she untied her robe wrapping around him as she bit his ear before he pulled her back and looked in her eyes.
“I must be neglecting you.”
“Sir, it is I who has been so neglectful.”
“Well, if your definition of breakfast was me then I could have saved the energy it took to get you your favorite breakfast.”
“Biscuits and gravy?”
“With great rosemary sausage, perfectly cooked eggs and strawberries and cream.”
Mirisa curled up on the couch next to him lifting the silver cover releasing such succulent steam that made her stomach cry for attention. She picked up a fork and cut into the biscuit taking a big bite. The gravy ran down her lip as she caught it with her finger before kissing him again. Meeks poured her a cup of coffee as she picked up the plate and enjoyed the spicy taste. He watched her smiling because whatever happened last night brought back the happiness that he always loved in her.
They stepped out of the hotel to a cool breeze coming off the river. The sounds of the buggies and horses was a good indication that church had emptied out and everyone would be taking advantage of a beautiful Sunday. Mirisa slipped on her gloves as Meeks waited. She was wearing a silk hat with blue flowers and lace that flowed down the back. They stopped waiting for an opportunity to cross into the park. They strolled casually nodding to strangers as they passed and when they reached the little duck pond Mirisa opened her purse taking out a biscuit wrapped in a napkin.
Mirisa broke off part of it and handed it to Meeks who threw it in the water. They watched as the ducks started swimming from the opposite side of the pond. Several couples stopped and watched as a small boy carrying a ball walked over and stood next to her looking up. She squatted down asking him his name.
“Timothy.”
“You are a very handsome young man.”
The boy put his ball down walked closer to the water and threw the crumbs at the ducks that greedily gobbled them up as he laughed. Mirisa stood back up and Meeks took her elbow as they walked further down the path.
“Oh look Alexander.” Mirisa pointed as two young men were coming toward them riding bicycles. “How do they stay on them?”
“With a lot of practice I imagine.” With that one young man hit a rock and all you could see was legs and arms intertwined with wheels. He hit with a thud as his friend bent over holding his side laughing. Several young women passed giggling as he tried to right himself with some of his dignity intact.
“Did you ever court anyone?”
Meeks looked at her. “No.”
Mirisa raised her eyebrows mockingly. “And how did you become experienced?”
“Let’s just say you don’t hang around James and not become more worldly.”
“I miss him.”
“They all miss you and blame me for upsetting their apple cart.”
“Alexander, did you want a son?”
“I did, however, you seemed intent on having only girls but I think most men hope for a son.”
They walked slowly through the park stepping out onto the boulevard that was becoming crowded with families and couples. They window shopped most of the afternoon buying a few things for the girls before Mirisa stopped at the window of a department store and looked at the new cradle that sat in the middle of the window. The headboard and footboard were inlaid in such a beautiful pattern and the legs were higher than any cradle she had ever seen. Meeks watched as her fingers touched the glass lightly.
“Would you like to go in?”
“No. I think it is a beautiful piece of furniture. I love that the sides are spindles instead of solid wood.”
“Are you two shopping?”
Meeks turned around as Garnett and James walked up behind them. “We’re window shopping.”
Garnett took Mirisa’s hand and kissed it formally. “You are exceptionally beautiful this morning and last night you were breathtaking.”
“Thank you Garnett.”
“Can we invite you to lunch? There’s a new little café at the end of the block that I haven’t tried yet.”
They sat near the window so they could enjoy the afternoon. Mirisa listen to them talk politics and business. With congress out of session, they all considered going to Colorado for the summer.
“Mirisa, you aren’t eating well.”
She looked across the table at James. “I had an extremely large breakfast and a very short night.”
“Are you making me regret not taking you off the floor?”
“James, you have never taken me off the floor nor should I have to say anything to entice you.”
“No you shouldn’t. It was a lot easier to accept the restrictions before I knew what I was missing. Now it just makes my manhood hurt.”
Mirisa dropped her fork as she tried not to laugh. The waiter immediately picked it up and brought her a new one but she couldn’t look at James with a straight face.
“Are either of you seeing anyone other than those women?”
Garnett sat back. “Explain what you mean by ‘those’.”
“Garnett you know quite well what I mean. I’m trying to determine how you got through the night when not a single woman disappeared.”
“Do you spend all your time trying to unravel the mysteries of men you can no longer touch?”
“I can touch you.” She sat up straight. “I just don’t have control of myself when I do.”
“Which means you can’t touch me.”
“You changed the subject.”
“And you sweetheart have dabbled too much in the world of ‘other’ women.”
She leaned forward. “So who was lucky enough to get both of you last night?”
“Not the one we wanted.” Mirisa smiled as Meeks laughed.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“Mirisa, I am in my forties and have survived quite well without needing to settle down. Are you so bored that you wish to become a matchmaker?”
“No. I just think if you would both get married I would see more of you and I miss you both terribly. Anyway you won’t be forty until next week.”
“Do you think you will now see more of Dominic?”
“No. His new wife doesn’t particularly like me even though I have been more than polite to her on the few occasions where we have been at the same social event. She seems to have a lot of airs which I find tiresome. He should have found someone a lot younger and I am told she is actually older than him.”
“Who in the world have you been talking to?”
“A few of the other women at the reception. They said that she tried to corner David for a while then set her sights on Dominic.” Mirisa stirred her coffee. “Do you think he loves her?”
“You’re jesting right?”
“No.”
“Mirisa, she’s appropriate for his position where a younger woman would demand to be acknowledged.”
“Well if those appropriate women are available why don’t you and James find one?”
“Do you wish us to find ones who have ‘airs’?”
“You are just not taking me seriously.”
“Sweetheart, all I want to do is take you but that’s not going to happen either.”
James pushed his plate away. “Can you not just accept the fact that we don’t want to be married?”
“No. I love being married.”
“You’re a girl. All girls love being married.”
“All girls want the men they love to be happy and can’t imagine how nights of cards, whisky and loose women could make you happy.”
Garnett started laughing. “How old are you?”
“Much younger than you.”
“And yet you are still so naïve.”
Mirisa turned to her husband. “Alexander.” He looked at her and waited. “Can we go to Colorado?”
“We can do anything we want now that I am not tied to a business.”
“Mirisa, you are getting good at changing the subject.”
“Well, if you are not willing to participate in my belief that you should be married I think the conversation is fruitless.”
“Do you think marriage by itself changes the man?”
“I don’t think anything changes a man because men are always allowed to be whatever they wish to be and women can either accept that or not. Until they allow women to have the right to do what she wants, she is limited to a man’s whims or she spends her years alone. Marriage is a safe haven for most women because to be unmarried carries such a dour opinion in our society where you get nothing but charity or pity.”
“Knowing our backgrounds and behavior, do you believe you would seek out one of us to marry?”
She looked at Garnett and thought about it. “Honestly? No. I believe if I had married someone who was less influential, less rich and more stable that I would have been very happy.”
“Then why do you believe marriage to either of us would make a woman happy?”
“Garnett, sometimes it is impossible to argue with you.”
“Mirisa, sometimes you just have to understand that your passion does not wear well on another. We’ll all be happier when you decide that we are definitely capable of knowing what we want and need in life.”
“Are you chastising me?”
“I am telling you that my love for you is too great for you to try to find someone you think I should love. I enjoy loving you, I enjoy activities of my choosing and those which you obviously don’t find appropriate, I love my daughter and thank you for risking a very happy marriage to have her but you need to accept the fact that I am happy with my life.”
Mirisa’s lip started to quiver as she excused herself and went into the powder room. Meeks ordered a round of whisky. “Well executed Garnett.”
“When are you heading for Colorado?”
“I’ll probably wait until it’s warmer. The girls should be out of school soon.”
“How are they doing?”
“They definitely enjoy going to school a lot more than I ever did but their personalities are so completely different that you wouldn’t know they all sit in the same classroom. Maggie wants to live out west with Jonathan and I have pretty much decided that she will do whatever she wants no matter what Mirisa and I think. She asked us the other night if she could ride with you and Dominic this summer.”
“She has become very good at handling a horse. Are you going to let her ride?”
“That really is up to you and we told her that she had to ask you personally. Of course, that caused a problem with Sara who believes anything Maggie does she should be able to do it too. Despite being seven years old, Sara has the ability to argue as well as Garnett and has absolutely none of her mother’s wistfulness. She would rather take a stance of defiance than ever let anyone know she can cry. I don’t envy the poor man who seeks to put any claim on her. I don’t believe she is old enough to take that long of a ride.”
James laughed. “Matthew was barely three years old when he rode with us.”
“I’ll think about it but I think she’s too young.”
Mirisa came out and sat down as the waiter asked her if she would like dessert. She asked for a cup of tea. He brought back a cup of tea and a small plate of cookies. Garnett wrapped his fingers around hers but didn’t say anything as they continued the conversation on the ride. She didn’t know if they would ever stop treating her like a child.
“I don’t want Sara riding across the country.”
“Why?”
“Because she has not been taught how to handle problems and she isn’t as intuitive as her brothers. I think if you want her to ever ride you need to spend more time teaching her to live off the land.”
“You didn’t know anything when we took you.”
“James there were four of you and everything you did on that first ride was to teach me something and look how long it has taken me to feel like I can protect myself or read a situation well enough to know it is dangerous. I think a year in Colorado will be good for all of the children.”
“A year?”
Mirisa turned to her husband. “Maybe longer but at least a year. I think my daughters need to be stronger and more independent than life in the East will ever teach them. Eastern schooling provides nothing other than how to read and write and they all do that well. They don’t need to learn how to be proper or do needlework, they don’t need to know how to dance or dress in the latest fashion. I want to go home.”
“Home as in the tavern right now?”
“No, I want to go home to Colorado. I am the only one who never wanted to leave Colorado but then I am the only one who ne
ver got bored with the company I kept.”
“What about your family?”
“My family has settled down where they have always lived and they are very happy. They are always welcome in our home but I feel like I am just going through the days waiting for something. I want to go home.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am very sure. I want to wake up surrounded by nature and I want to make a home that the children will love and want to return to after they are grown and gone. Alexander, I appreciate everything you have done but you could have stopped with Colorado.”
“Then we’ll have to discuss a lot of things including renovating the lodge since the girls are old enough to need their own space instead of a nursery. What about the boys?”
“I don’t think they will object and Matthew will always have the option to come east to go to school when he is ready and there’s nothing I can say about Jonathan’s love of the west that all of you don’t already know.”
“Then we’ll go home.”
Mirisa sent a note to Dominic asking him to meet her for lunch and for the first time in a long time he listened to her without objecting. He felt her decision would be good for the boys who were always eager to go to Colorado and reluctant to return east. They talked about his career and Matthew’s leaning toward becoming a doctor.
“When did you grow up?”
Mirisa laughed lightly. “When I realized I had the ability to make my own decisions.”
“When are you moving?”
“Alexander says he has a lot of things that need to be tied up before we pack up the house. My father isn’t very happy with the decision but he appreciates the time he has spent with the children. He’s leaving this summer to take Lucinda to Europe for a year. He said it was always a dream and he wants to do it before he gets too old to travel.”
Dominic paid for lunch before asking her if she would like a tour of his office in the Capitol. They walked leisurely down the mall before touring the Smithsonian Building. Several legislators stopped talking to him but he politely told them to make an appointment with his secretary and continued on the walk. They finally ended with a tour of his office where his staff was more than polite but wondered who this lady was that seemed to be holding his attention.
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