Heading For A New Life

by Margaret Smith

  A shiver still ran through her body, heat was in her lungs, and her heart was pounding like crazy when Chris, pulling Laura closer to him, settled her head on his chest, removing the wet strands adhering to her temples from her face.

  — I love you too, ”Laura purred, kissing the tiny shriveled nipple.

  Chris didn’t answer, only pressed him closer to him, not even realizing that he was smiling.

  Three years later

  The setting sun painted the bay in all shades of pink and orange, streaking from the darkening sky to the blazing horizon. The White House, which stood at the top of a low green hill, was also ablaze, catching the last rays of the setting sun. Children ran in the backyard, shouting loudly and laughing merrily.

  — If I ever dare to give birth to another, just shoot me right away, ”Denise grumbled, pulling a three-year-old toddler off her knees, whom she had just blown on a skinned knee. Mark grabbed him under his stomach and the baby squealed cheerfully, swinging his arms and legs in the air.

  — Madhouse, ”Denise said thoughtfully and reached for a glass of wine on the table.

  — I don’t know, I have nothing to compare with yet, ”Laura chuckled, looking at her son, who was peacefully sleeping in the carriage, despite the din that reigned around.

  — Wait, ”Denise said grimly. - That's when he goes and speaks ...

  — I would rather, ”Laura smiled, admiring the tiny copy of Chris.

  Denise said nothing, only shrugged her shoulders philosophically. Men were busy at the barbecue, and Fiona, Tony's girlfriend, a Creole from New Orleans, served everyone beer, deliberately indignant when he loudly spanked her.

  — You didn't bring the lasagna! Tony protested, looking at the bottles in Fiona's hands.

  — Well, I'm sorry, - she snapped spitefully, handing one of them to Mark. - I don't have a hundred hands.

  — It would be nice! - Tony rolled his eyes dreamily and immediately received a light slap on the head from his beloved.

  — Have you brought the lasagna? - Chris was indignant, looking up from the meat that hissed on the grate.

  — The fact that you hate her doesn’t mean that no one else can appreciate my culinary talents, ”Tony protested, scowling.

  — Come on, ”Mark chuckled. - I love lasagna.

  — Here! - Tony looked reproachfully at Chris, but he pretended not to understand what he was talking about, and turned to Laura. Their gazes crossed, and both smiled at the same time. Each smile filled her chest with such warmth that it took his breath away, and Chris was ready to enjoy this feeling forever.

  After they finally got out of the boat and moved into the house, after a week of almost continuous sex interrupted by a grocery trip, she left. But she firmly promised to return, and kept her promise in three months. Eleanor Reeds no longer existed, she died tragically while traveling in the Andes - she fell into the abyss. At the same time, the lion's share of her fortune disappeared without a trace - it turned out that Mrs. Reeds had left a very poor economist and financier.

  But here, in Baton Rouge, appeared Laura Fredrickson, a cardiologist from Ohio, who very soon became Laura Sky, having married the humble owner of a pleasure boat, Christopher Sky. The money transferred to offshore companies would be enough for three comfortable lives, and at first Chris and Laura arranged a honeymoon trip, spending three months in Europe. But then they wanted more, and they left Louisiana and moved to Hawaii, where they bought a small house with five bedrooms so that they would have a place to stay for friends.

  A yacht appeared at its own marina, and a record of a new shipping company in the port of Honolulu. Three boats continuously carried tourists along the chain of emerald islands, and Laura got the idea to open her own clinic. Now she could choose her own affairs, organized a fund that paid for flights, surgery and treatment for children and adults with severe cases throughout the country. And two years later Danny appeared, and Laura with a pure heart left the clinic to her doctors and decided to devote the first three years to the child. Although Denise benignly grumbled that if she could run off to work at any convenient moment under the pretext of an urgent operation, then motherhood would also find exclusively happiness.

  Denise and Mark came several times a year, shamelessly taking advantage of the fact that Chris and Laura were constantly buying them tickets with open dates. Recently, Mark even began to persuade his wife to move to Hawaii completely, but Denise still resisted, not wanting to give up the practice. Tony, on the other hand, has long moved to an island nearby, taking with him Fiona, whom he met in Baton Rouge. He just had nothing to lose, he went with Chris to Louisiana from the very beginning, and now he periodically urged Laura to baptize Danny in the Catholic Church, although she fiercely resisted this, not wanting to decide for her son which faith he should choose.

  The sun has long gone down, white paper lanterns lit up in the courtyard, illuminating those sitting around the table with a soft light. Chris sat on the swing, and Laura sat between his legs, absently fingering his fingers crossed on her stomach. He was ready to sit like this forever, listen to the voices of his friends, inhale the smell of his beloved woman, feel the warmth of her body in his hands. Now he was absolutely, unconditionally happy and dreamed that it would always be so.