The Cliff

by Gucker, Christie A. C.

  Grant

  Well, I had the night to myself so I …

  Chapter 32

  Raincheck?

  … headed up to take a much needed bubble bath. My feet were killing me. I started the bath and grabbed a few salts and bubbles to throw in. I waited for the tub to fill up and then undressed and settled in for a long overdue soak.

  The water was nice and hot and all my muscles relaxed immediately the second they hit the water. I missed Grant and wished he were here with me. I sighed deeply and closed my eyes.

  Suddenly, Grant was standing in front of me, suitcases in hand, saying goodbye. He was leaving. He was leaving me to be exact.

  “Lanie, I’m sorry, but I have a different life in mind. It’s not here on the cliff, and it doesn’t include you. “His words stung and I felt my eyes burn.

  “I’ve been here all my life; I don’t want to be stuck here. I want more.” He turned and walked out of the room.

  I could feel my stomach knot at his words and the tears began to flow freely as I jumped out of the tub to beg him to stay with me. “Grant … Grant!” All I could hear was the echo of my own voice. I sunk to my knees and cried.

  Then from a distance, I could hear him calling for me. He called repeatedly. I called out to him but he was too far away. I saw a figure down the dark hallway and I jumped to run to him. But when I got there, it wasn’t him at all. It was Dane. He put his arms around me and told me this is what he said would happen and that he was here to make things better. That he would love me forever. I clawed at him and tried to get away, but he just laughed and tried to kiss me as his grip tightened around me. He told me he would show me.

  He brought me outside into the night over to the cliff’s edge on the far side of his house. I could see something below us but it took my eyes a few moments to adjust to the darkness. It was a beautiful house in a small meadow. I was so confused, my head began to reel. There had been trees there for as long as I could remember, not a meadow or house. As we looked down at it, I saw a few children running around in the yard. A beautiful woman came out the front door and called for them. They ran to her. Another figure emerged from the house. It was Grant. He walked towards the woman, put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. The children began to run around them. They both smiled, watching what I can only assume were their children. I felt my body go cold and the knot in my stomach tightened more. I felt like I was going to throw up.

  ‘No, no!’ I cried out. This couldn’t be happening. Dane just laughed at me. I felt nothing but distain for him. He told me he had been right about Grant. I was only something to pass the time, convenience, not love. He turned me toward him and told me it was him I was meant to be with. I started to run away, my tears blinding me. I could hear myself screaming, crying out for Grant.

  I was awakened by someone screaming Grant’s name. It was me but I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep. The water was cold and my fingers were pruned. And I was no longer relaxed and felt extremely tired. The dream had been so vivid and real that my heart began to race just remembering it. I let the water drain from the tub and watched until it was completely gone. I reached for my towel, dried off and headed for my room. I had nothing better to do, so I climbed into bed, feeling weepy and lonely. I knew it was only a dream, but it certainly rocked my conscious world. I turned the light to the lowest setting and shut my eyes.

  I’m not sure how long I had been there, but I felt movement around me. I was so comfortable and still somewhat asleep. I felt the covers lift and the bed weigh down. I felt arms wrap around me, feeling hot skin against mine. I turned my body around and realized it was Dane in my bed. I began to scream and flail my arms out, pushing him away.

  I heard Grant’s voice telling me everything was okay. I opened my eyes. He was there with me. I guess my dream affected me more than I thought, and I hadn’t been fully awake.

  “Babe, are you okay? What’s the matter?”

  “I thought you were Dane.”

  “Really, you have to stop getting us confused; we really look nothing alike.” I know he was trying to be funny, but it wasn’t funny at all. I was actually feeling angry with Grant for finding another love in my dream.

  “You—you left me. You left me and you fell in love with someone else. You had children with her. You were happy with her.” I smacked at him.

  “Lanie, what in God’s name are you talking about?”

  “I was taking a bath and I fell asleep and I dreamt about you leaving me. You didn’t want me and said you didn’t want to be stuck here with me. And then Dane was there and he brought me to you to show me how happy you were with someone else. You were there with her and your children. He told me I had to be with him.”

  Grant started to laugh so I smacked his arm again, then rolling over away from him. He grabbed me and pulled me back.

  “Lanie, your dream is only showing you your fears. That’s it. Nothing more. There is nothing to them and I’m definitely not leaving you. I’m not stuck here with you. And I choose you. I will marry you and be standing with you and our children. Why are you letting a dream bother you so much?”

  “I don’t know.” The tears began to flow. Again Grant laughed.

  “Lanie, what’s gotten into you? One day away from each other and you suddenly doubt my love for you? It’s simply ludicrous. Nothing can change how I feel about you. Nothing and no one.”

  “Promise me. Please, promise me,” I begged him.

  “Lanie, you have no idea how deeply committed I am to you and a life with you. Really.”

  “You didn’t promise.”

  “I promise, Love. I promise I will never leave you and I will always only choose you.”

  I smiled, rolled onto my stomach, laid my head down on the pillow and snuggled into him. I took a deep breath so I could fill my lungs with his very essence. I felt his hands move up and down my back slowly. His caress was soft and gentle, and it began to lull me back to sleep.

  “Oh, Baby, that feels so good. Don’t stop.”

  “I have no intentions of stopping. Not now and not ever. I promised.”

  I smiled at his efforts to relieve my stress with both his words and his movements.

  “Well, you’ll have to stop at some point. People might look at us funny if everywhere we go, your hands are all over me.”

  “If that were the case, I’d never leave the house.”

  I was getting extremely slick and hot, so I rolled over and smiled at him.

  “Raincheck?”

  “Another raincheck?”

  “No, I was offering to cash in one of yours.”

  “Hell yes!” he growled.

  Finally we fulfilled our rainchecks for each other.

  “Oh, Lanie, that was so worth the wait.”

  “Grant, hold me. I want to feel your body against mine.”

  He complied quickly and was lying on top of me before I could even blink. He covered my lips and face with soft kisses. I kissed anything my lips could find.

  Tomorrow was my birthday. I was excited to see what Grant got me. I closed my eyes and started to think about rainchecks and presents, and sleep soon overtook me.

  * * *

  I woke up and it was dead quiet in the house. Grant was no longer beside me, and neither was Woof. The light was coming through my window and it looked to be a beautiful day. I rolled over and looked at the clock. Holy shit, it was nine in the morning. I never slept in. No wonder Grant wasn’t in bed any longer. I was about to get up when I saw a small note and my cell phone on my nightstand.

  Good morning, birthday girl!

  I love you. Please text me when you are up.

  Grant

  It’s my birthday, damn it! I grabbed my cell and began to text him.

  L: I’m up? Where are you?

  G: Stay right where you are. Don’t move

  L: OK(

  G: I mean it. Unless Bathroom. Then OK.

  I jumped up, ran to the bathroom, and once finished, j
umped back in bed with a huge smile on my face, waiting for Grant. I heard a soft knock on my door.

  “Are you decent, Love?”

  “Would you like me not to be?”

  “Um, I’m not alone.”

  Oh crap.

  “Then yes, I’m decent.”

  The door opened, and my dad, Grant and Woof came bounding into the room with balloons and breakfast in bed for me.

  “I said not to make a big deal.”

  “Oh hush up, Lanie, and let your men—dad and boyfriend—guys—whatever, let us spoil you.”

  “Oh fine, spoil me.”

  Grant came over and placed a kiss on my forehead as he put a tray of all sorts of breakfast finger foods on my lap. There was a small vase with a single rose.

  “Oh, you guys, men, Dad and boyfriend are so cute!” I teased.

  “Oh brother,” Jack mused.

  “You are to sit and enjoy this entire breakfast and relax. I plan on giving you a foot rub while you eat.” Grant produced a bottle of massage oil from his back pocket. I clapped.

  “And I have your present for you, so you can play, or read, or whatever it is you do with these things.”

  From behind his back Jack pulled out a white box with a red ribbon. Now, anyone who knows graphics would recognize that box in an instant. Whoot! I grabbed and began to open it. I was so excited. I already knew what it was from the size and shape of the box alone. When I finally got it open, there it was—a brand new tablet.

  “Oh my God. Dad! It’s perfect. I really, really wanted one!”

  Jack shot Grant a grateful look. I smiled, seeing my dad and Grant bonding. This was a great start to the day.

  “Well, I’m going to let you enjoy your breakfast and play with your new toy.”

  “Thank you, Dad. I really love it. It’s the best present ever. Even though I wanted a Barbie,” I said with a wink.

  “I think you got a real life Ken doll. Good luck with that,” he said, pointing at Grant as he left.

  “Oh, my very own Ken doll. Too bad I only like to undress him.”

  “There’ll be plenty of time for that later. Right now, you get a foot massage and breakfast.”

  I started to look all over him, in his pockets and around his back.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Checking to see where your present is.” I gave an evil smirk when I said it.

  “Oh, you’ll get it, when you least expect it.” And his grin back at me was just as evil.

  “Damn.”

  “Patience is a virtue, Lanie.”

  “I lose all my virtue when you’re around.”

  “I know. I love that about you.”

  I was in complete bliss drinking my coffee and noshing on tidbits of fruit while getting the most amazing foot rub, all the while reading the local news on my newest technology. Heaven. If only Grant could rub my feet and other parts all at the same time.

  “I’m going to start a nice hot shower for you. Take your time getting ready. Oh, and wear something ridable.”

  “Something you can ride me in?”

  “No. Something you can go riding in. Samantha, Chelsie and I are taking you riding down to the beach.”

  “Awesome.”

  I took my time, as requested, not worrying about having to be somewhere or do something. It was actually quite relaxing. I chose a nice tight pair of jeans and a cute t-shirt Samantha had picked up for me yesterday. It said ‘Hands off, the hot one is mine!’ with an arrow pointing to the right. I’d have to make sure a certain someone was on my right all day.

  I headed out to the stables. Grant and the girls were there and the horses were all saddled up and ready to go. I mounted Magic and we all set off for a ride down the cliff to the beach.

  “Today is going to be epic, Lanie,” Samantha sang.

  “Samantha!” Chelsie snapped at her.

  “What? What am I missing?” I said, looking back and forth between them, and then to Grant, who just had a smooth grin on his face.

  “Oh nothing. She’s just excited about Lanie-day. Any special occasion is a holiday to her.”

  “It is not. Well, it is, too,” Samantha laughed.

  “I love that about you, Sweetie,” I said.

  “Thank you, Lanie. That’s why I don’t take Chelsie shopping for her birthday.”

  “No, it’s because we have the same damn birthday and you always want all the presents.”

  As we neared the beach, Grant and Century took off. I looked at Chelsie and Samantha and they both just shrugged. We kept our walking pace, and as we came around the corner, Grant was waiting for us. There was a blanket and champagne with orange juice waiting for us.

  “Mimosas?”

  “You have to have birthday mimosas on the beach.” He cocked an eyebrow at me while giving me a hand dismounting.

  “Wow. You went all out.”

  “I’d do anything for my girl. I love you. You need a great day. There’s been so much going on lately.”

  Samantha and Chelsie each grabbed a glass while handing one to me.

  “I’d like to make a toast,” Grant said.

  We all raised our glasses.

  “Lanie, I’ve known you my whole life. But now, with things the way they are between us, you’ve given a whole new meaning to what my life is. I love you and there is nothing more I want than—”

  Grant was interrupted by the sound of another horse. We all looked up and there was Dane, on his horse, Jane. He rode up to us and hopped off. I heard Chelsie curse under her breath.

  “Happy birthday, Lanie. Jack told me you guys were down here. I wanted to come wish you a happy birthday.” Grant sort of rolled his eyes and smiled slightly.

  “Thanks, Dane. Grant, is there another glass?”

  “I think so.” He poured another glass.

  “A toast, to Lanie on her birthday. May she have a hundred more,” Dane said.

  “Here, here!” and we all took a sip.

  “Grant, did you want to finish what you were saying?” I moved closer to him so he was on my right.

  “Oh, Grant, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hijack your toast.”

  “No, it’s okay, Dane. I can pick this up with Lanie later. Alone.”

  We hung out on the beach, put our feet in the water and played Frisbee. It was like we were all twelve again. We laughed and joked. It was a good time. We all needed it. Even having Dane here seemed right. He was like his old self again. Dane and Grant even seemed to joke and laugh together, although I think Chelsie enjoyed throwing Dane into the sand to block a catch a bit too much. I think I saw her kick sand in his face when he was down. She smiled. He just got up and brushed it off.

  Life was good and I couldn’t imagine it getting much better. But it did.

  When we decided to head back up, Grant and I lagged behind everyone so we could ride up in semi-privacy.

  “Finish what you were saying.” I slowed Magic even more to look directly over at him.

  “I wasn’t saying anything. Do you hear my voice in your head already? I hope it’s telling you to bring some chocolate treat to bed with you tonight.” He smiled and winked at me. Yeah, that made me melt a little.

  “Finish your toast. I want to hear what you were going to say.”

  He fidgeted on Century who gave him a shake. So I gave him a verbal one.

  “Well?”

  “Just, that …

  Chapter 33

  Just Romantic Dribble

  “… I love you. Just how wonderful my life is with you in it this way. Together.”

  “But you said there was nothing more you want, and then nothing. Well, then Dane.”

  “Yes, he has impeccable timing, as usual. It’s nothing, Lanie. Just romantic dribble.”

  “Romantic dribble?”

  “Look, I promise you, I will finish that sentence. Just not now.”

  “Okay.” I gave Magic a squeeze and we picked up the pace. I wasn’t mad. I just knew if I stayed there, I would
have spent the whole time trying to get it out of him. He asked me not to, and I had no willpower when it came to him, so I just had to remove myself. Grant quickly caught up, and soon we could see everyone up ahead.