When I Look to the Sky

by Barbara S. Stewart

  Geni laughed, “You have it counted down to days?”

  “No, Matthew does! I’m just so ready to wake up with him every morning!” Carlee laughed.

  Matthew and Andy returned and they shared an evening of family time.

  After Andy and Geni left, Carlee and Matthew snuggled under the covers. It was their last night together until Carlee’s semester was over and she was back in London full-time.

  “I’m already dreading the minute you board that plane. Carlee Davis,” he looked deep into her eyes “I love you… more than words…”

  “Right back at ya,” she laughed. “I’m so happy I’m your wife.”

  Back at school Carlee worked hard to get her course work done early so she could work on the plans for camp. Shortly after she returned from the wedding, Carlee received their first official mail. It was a fancy envelope with gold edges, the address information hand-written in beautiful teal calligraphy read, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Davis. She opened the envelope and found a beautiful card in the shape of a butterfly. When she opened ‘the wings’ there was beautiful script inside:

  It’s Time to Take Flight

  It’s time again

  To heal and mend

  Our wings need room to spread

  It’s time once more

  Our lives will soar

  And put aside fear and dread

  It’s time to meet

  To help defeat

  Dream and share what lies ahead

  It’s time for the Ball

  So come on y’all

  Let’s see how far our wings spread

  Join us for the Tenth Annual Butterfly Ball

  Saturday, 28 April, 2018 ~ 7:00PM

  Proceeds benefit the National Cancer Foundation’s

  Butterfly Camp for Kids

  Tickets $200

  She called Matthew that evening.

  “Hello, my love,” she said when he answered. “How many more days?” she asked knowing he would immediately know the exact number.

  “Thirty-one,” Matthew said and laughed.

  “How’d you like to move it up a few days?” she asked.

  “What’s up?” he asked, excitement in his voice.

  “We just received our very first invitation to the Butterfly Ball! I could ask Papa to go with me if you think you can’t get away,” she said first. “But if there is any way we could work it for you to come home I would love that!”

  They went over his calendar. “I’ll call Dan; he told me he’d teach my classes anytime I need him. My Thursday class ends at eleven. I could be at the airport by one on the 26th. That’d put me in Orlando around 6:30 that night. I can take the early flight back on Tuesday, May 1st. I’ll make sure Dan can do my classes. I’ll call to confirm first thing in the morning,” he told Carlee.

  “But would you be so exhausted that you’d be miserable?”

  “How could I be miserable? I’d be with you, Carlee,” he said.

  “Call me as soon as you talk to Dan and I’ll get your ticket, book a room, and get you a tuxedo! Oh Matthew, I can’t wait to see you!” she said excitedly.

  “And I can’t wait to wrap my arms around you, I miss you. And if you have any surprises up your dress, I mean sleeve…,” and they both busted out laughing.

  As soon as she hung up, her phone rang. It was Andy.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he said.

  “Hello, Papa!”

  “I got an invitation to the Butterfly Ball today.”

  “Me too,” she said. “Are you gonna go? Matthew is coming home!”

  “Well, there goes my date,” he pouted.

  “Why don’t you ask Geni to go? That way she could see Matthew!” Carlee said.

  “That’s a nice idea, Carlee. I’ll call her. I miss you. I was wondering if you were coming south this weekend.”

  “Giovanna’s on Friday night? I’ll be there!”

  She saw him as often as she could. She’d either go home or he came to St. Augustine. She knew he wanted to squeeze in as much time as he could. It wouldn’t be long before she was ‘across the pond.’ Carlee thought about that a lot too, but she knew he’d come to London often.

  She made weekend trips to Jacksonville, as well. She and Geni developed a great bond going through things, family ‘treasures’ that she wanted them to have. She’d done the same when Thomas and Brian married. They were packing boxes to send to London.

  Carlee and Matthew talked every night. The ball brought great excitement for lots of reasons. Andy called Geni, and she told him she’d be happy to join him. Matthew confirmed Dan’s availability, and Carlee booked three rooms at the hotel. She’d be going as soon as her class was over on Thursday. Geni and Andy would join them Friday, giving them a night alone. They’d stay Saturday after the ball and return home on Sunday. Carlee was staying until Tuesday when Matthew would leave.

  She and Marissa went shopping after class one afternoon and found her dress. It was iridescent, purple, green, and blue, depending on the light when she moved. It was form-fitting, but flared slightly from about knee-length with criss crossing spaghetti straps at the back, and a scoop neck with a bit of a plunge. She thought the fabric looked like the butterfly on the invitation.

  Giddy, she met Matthew at the airport. Watching anxiously, she spotted him and ran. He wrapped her in his arms, and they kissed like there was no one in the world but them. They hurried to the hotel. Carlee had already ordered room service for later. When they reached the room, they fell on the bed and the kissing continued.

  “Don’t get too far gone,” Carlee laughed. “They’re bringing a bite to eat at 6:30.”

  He saw the tuxedo hanging, and then saw the dress, “Carlee, that’s beautiful.”

  “Oh, you just wait ‘til you see it on me!” she laughed.

  “I’ll be more excited to see it off of you after the ball, Cinderella.”

  “I made sure Papa and your mom’s rooms are on another hallway!” she said with a laugh, and added, “In case you go crazy or something!”

  “Count on it,” he said.

  There was a knock at the door, “Dammit!” Matthew laughed.

  After they finished the meal she’d ordered, Matthew took the trays to the hallway, left the entryway light on and returned to where Carlee was waiting for him.

  “Why’d you leave the light on?” she laughed.

  “Because I want to see this, all of it, all of you,” he said. His hands explored her body anxiously; he kissed her breath away, passionately. Finally, he lifted her top over her head and reached for the button on her jeans and held his breath. Pushing them down her hips, he fell back on the bed, pulling her on top of him.

  “Geez Carlee… You’re gonna make it really hard to go home,” he said, wrapping her tightly in his embrace.

  “Is it hard now?” she laughed seductively, and then asked “How many more days?”

  “Three,” he said. She pushed up, her curls fell forward, and he pushed them back from her face. “I can’t think beyond Tuesday right now.”

  They met Andy and Geni at a Mexican restaurant for lunch Friday. Carlee chattered excitedly about the ball; it was the first time she’d been invited. She talked about camp, sharing her ideas for the program this summer; she just talked, and Matthew loved it.

  “Geni, have you told them you’re going this year?” Andy asked after a while. Carlee and Matthew both looked at her.

  Geni looked at Andy, “Have I what?”

  Andy looked at Carlee and immediately saw the wheels going. Matthew looked at her, shook his head, and smiled. “You’re a goner now, Mom!” he laughed. “Even if you weren’t planning it, you’ll be waking up in a cabin at some point. The seed’s been planted!”

  “I am not going out in the woods someplace,” Geni said.

  “What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of it! Geni, you’d love it! It’s not sleeping in a tent or anything; there are beds and air-conditioned buildings. We could bake fresh cookies every day; maybe th
e kids could ice and decorate them!” She said the words rapid-fire-fast and Matthew just laughed. “Oh, my! The possibilities are endless!”

  “Thanks a lot, Andy Stevens!” Geni said sarcastically.

  Andy looked at Geni, shrugged his shoulders, and laughed; “Sorry…”

  “Mom, how can you say no now?” Matthew prodded.

  Carlee and Geni both laughed out loud. “Tell me more about this ball,” Geni said, changing the subject.

  After the meal, they all went to Andy’s room. He poured wine, and they sat around talking.

  “Geni, would you do it?” Carlee asked after a while. “Would you join us and go along?”

  “Is this some kind of conspiracy?”

  “I swear tonight’s the first time I’ve heard it! Never even thought of it! But what an awesome treat for the kids,” Carlee said.

  Geni saw that passion that she had come to love in Carlee, and Matthew saw Geni’s mind go to that place; she was thinking about it.

  “I’ll consider it,” she laughed.

  Back in their room, Carlee went on about the whole idea of Geni going.

  “You know,” she said at one point, “sometime that week they will announce the expansion in your dad’s name. She needs to go.”

  “She will. It just has to sink in,” he told her. “Turn that brain off. We need to go to sleep.”

  “We do?” she teased. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, tonight we need to sleep,” he laughed. “Later, maybe… but we will need to sleep.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Dressed and ready for the ball, they all met in Andy’s room.

  “Wow, Carlee,” Andy said when they entered the room. “You too, Matt, but… Wow Carlee!”

  “I said the same thing,” Matthew said, looking at Carlee, his wife.

  “And the best thing is – it was on the clearance rack!” Carlee laughed.

  “Mom, you look beautiful,” Matthew said, hugging her.

  Andy glanced her way and thought the same thing, but kept his thoughts to himself.

  “Thank you,” but Geni was looking at Carlee too. The dress was gorgeous. Clearance rack, she doesn’t need to worry about that kind of thing, but she’s conscious of it. Geni thought, and she was even more impressed with this beautiful young woman.

  A section of her hair was pulled back, and there was a beautiful clip with a butterfly holding it in place, but the rest hung long to her waist. She was wearing the sapphire necklace Andy had given her, and she looked beautiful. Beautiful woman, Geni thought.

  Carlee hugged Geni, and then Andy, “Check out these handsome men!”

  Carlee watched the conversation between Geni and Andy, and liked what she saw.

  When they entered the ballroom it was magical. There were tiny white lights across the ceiling. Each table was lit with flameless candles, and butterflies hung at varied lengths from the ceiling.

  Butterfly pictures, covered with glass tabletops, decorated the tables. Carlee recognized them from the smaller kids’ art projects at camp the previous summer. It was like a ‘fantasy,’ all very beautiful. She noticed every detail. There was a string quartet playing in one corner of the room and she saw a DJ set up in another corner. Dean Rollins was making his way toward them.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Davis!” he said kissing Carlee’s cheek, and then shaking Matthew’s hand. “I wasn’t sure you’d be able to join us, Matthew. I’m glad you’re here! Andy good to see you,” he said shaking his hand.

  “I’m not sure you remember my mom,” Matthew said. “Genevieve Davis, Dean Rollins.”

  “Of course I do! I remember meeting you at the wedding. I’m so glad you could join us! It will be a lovely evening,” he said to them. “Enjoy! I will see you again later.”

  Andy and Matthew went to get drinks, and they all mingled before the meal.

  Dinner was an elegant affair. Everything was first-class, gourmet food, and fancy tableware. They dined on apricot stuffed chicken with wild rice and roasted vegetables. Each table had a beautiful notice in a silver frame thanking the hotel and local companies for their generous donation of the evening’s meal.

  After the meal, a quartet played and couples started dancing. When they played, “The Way You Look Tonight,” Matthew took Carlee’s hand and led her to the dance floor. As he held her in his arms he whispered in her ear and pulled her closer. “How appropriate; you look beautiful, and you feel like heaven in my arms.”

  She snuggled closer, and noticed Andy dancing with Geni. “Look,” she said softly. Matthew did and smiled.

  She whispered in Matthew’s ear as the next song began, “Unforgettable…,” and she saw Andy making his way toward her.

  “Papa…”

  “May I?” Andy asked and took Carlee’s hand. Matthew danced with his mom.

  Finally, the program began. Dean Collins started with some of the same video presentation from last year’s camp experience that they’d shown at the annual meeting in the fall. It highlighted Matthew’s book, Carlee’s PSAs, and added, was Carlee’s Spirit in Action Award presentation.

  “Before we begin the auction, I have a special announcement to share with you,” Dean Rollins said. “Our attorney advised me today that we’re set to proceed with expansion at the Butterfly Camp. Before I say thank you, I’m proud to tell all of you that we will be able to break ground very soon on the Thomas Grayson Davis Memorial Gymnasium!”

  “We received a generous donation of the ten acres of land adjacent to the current western boundary of the camp location. Thanks to your hard work fundraising and our generous supporters, we will see completion in time for camp in the summer of 2019. I know that our generous donor is here with us this evening.”

  “Ms. Genevieve Davis your gift is making all of this a reality. Ladies and gentleman, Ms. Genevieve Davis...” Geni rose, and the room erupted in applause.

  At last, the auction began. Everything imaginable was up for grabs; restaurant gift certificates, deep-sea fishing excursions, theme park passes, spa certificates… Carlee listened intently for the one thing she would bid on, but nothing sounded like anything she couldn’t live without.

  And then there was. She listened as they described the package.

  “This package is for a one-week stay in Panzano in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy. It includes an apartment for two in a thirteenth century farmhouse in an area surrounded by rolling, vine-covered hills dotted with small villages. Explore local towns, go wine-tasting, or take a day trip to Siena or Florence. In the afternoon you can return to the villa and enjoy a dip in the pool or a cooking lesson for an authentic Italian meal.”

  Before they opened the bidding, Carlee whispered to Matthew; “I’m bidding on this! One word… honeymoon!”

  She turned to Andy and said, “Papa, this is mine!”

  When it began, Carlee raised her paddle to place her bid. Someone across the room did the same. Carlee raised her paddle again. The other bidder went higher, but Carlee was determined. She had a number in her head as a limit, so she bid again. This went on for three more rounds.

  Finally, the Auctioneer said; “Going once… Going twice…” Carlee held her breath. The other bidder bid again.

  ‘Dang it!” Carlee raised her paddle once more.

  Once again the Auctioneer said; “Going once… Going twice…”

  This time he said, “Sold!”

  Carlee ran to the front of the room to get the certificate to go pay for it while Andy, Geni and Matthew watched, laughing.

  The evening went on with more auction items, followed by dessert and more dancing. Andy and Geni shared several dances. Carlee liked seeing him having fun with a woman.

  Later in the evening, Andy and Geni looked on as Carlee and Matthew shared one more dance to George Benson’s “The Love of My Life.” Matthew’s hands lightly caressed her back and her neck as he held her close.

  “Such love,” Geni said as she saw him whisper in Carlee’s ear and she smiled up at him.

  “
I know,” Andy smiled.

  Back in their room, Carlee was still excited, happily going on and on about the trip. “What a wonderful evening, Matthew! Italy! Tuscany!” she was beaming as she spoke. “I am so excited! We have a year to use it.”

  He sat in a chair, watching her, loving her chatter.

  “What?” she laughed.

  “Come here,” he said. She went to him, and sat on his lap, draping her arms, lazily, around his neck. “I love you,” he said kissing, her neck.

  “I love you back,” she said and got up and stood in front of him. “Can you help me with the zipper on this thing?” she asked as she turned her back to him.

  He looked at the dress that hugged every curve of her body and ran his hands down her hips. “You didn’t have a problem getting the zipper up when you put it on,” he said holding his breath. Finally, he started to lower the zipper and stopped.

  She looked back over her shoulder. “Something wrong?” she asked as the dress slid to the floor. She turned to face him.

  “Good grief, Carlee,” he laughed. She wore only a tiny pair of panties, and the SassyNippies like she wore with her wedding dress.

  Geni and Andy headed home after they met for breakfast the next morning. Afterward, Carlee and Matthew returned to their room. They planned on Matthew packing light to take some things back that Carlee had in the car. They talked, they planned, and they made love.

  They were at the airport early the next morning. Before he got to security, Matthew wrapped Carlee in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

  She watched him as he went through security, missing him already. “How many more days?” she yelled to him.

  “Nine!” he yelled back to her. “Nine more days until my wife is finally with me in London!”