January 10, 1996

They walked down the beach silently, hand in hand, listening to the waves lap at the pebbles on the shoreline. The sun was setting at their backs, and she could see their elongated shadows before them and she noticed the closeness of their frames.

She thought about how long she had waited for a time like this - sharing this private place with someone so close to her heart, not needing to say a word at all. She smiled to herself as she thought of that one song he had played so long ago for her and noted it was true for both of them, it just couldn't be explained what their hearts said to each other when they weren't even talking.

She squeezed his hand and he stopped walking and smiled down at her. He pulled her close and hugged her tightly, his arms like the protective wings of a mother bird. She nestled into the space of his chest, and sighed happily. He kissed her forehead and touched her hair lightly.

They reached the gazebo at the end of the beach, and sat down together to watch the last bit of light fade into the bay, leaving its stain on the clouds up above. She rested her head on his shoulder and he put his arm around her. She put a hand on his thigh and pressed gently to let him know she was happy. She pointed out the lights coming up across the bay, and told him the stories her parents had told her about the lights in the Harbor.

They had only been there for 2 days, but it felt like home. It felt like it had always been this good, that it would never change, and he would always be with her. She closed her eyes and thought about all that had happened in this whirlwind romance to bring them to this time and place. She smiled and leaned up on her arm to kiss him on the cheek. His lips replaced the cheek and he kissed her back so tenderly she moaned softly. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. He was smiling and looking at her. He said softly, "You have brown eyes, liebschen." She hugged him close and sighed again. He knew how to make her melt, and he did it without warning.

They got up after the last bit of fire had dipped into the bay and walked back up the beach to her grandparents' cottage. They walked in hand in hand and found a note on the card table from her parents, saying they had gone over to the Harbor for Julierette's. They were alone for the moment. They walked up to the second floor porch and sat down on the newly installed porch swing that looked out over the corner of the house above the driveway, and watched the colors darken in the sky together.

When her parents got back, they went downstairs together and made some popcorn and closed up the windows from the night breeze. Her mother started a small fire in the fireplace, and her dad pulled out the deck of cards. They sat around for an hour or two just laughing and telling stories about growing up and little brothers and families and playing cards for fun. It felt so good to have his welcome her family and for hers to welcome him in. This was what she wanted. She wanted this quiet peace within saying that life was good - not perfect - but good.

She yawned and he laughed and chided her, "sleepy liebschen?" Everyone made excuses and they turned off the lights on the first floor, still laughing about the stories. She walked slowly upstairs and kissed her parents goodnight from the stairwell, and then he followed her to the third floor where their rooms were. She kissed him gently goodnight and they hugged and time disappeared. His hands ran through her hair and she wrapped her arms around his waist. They both sighed and smiled at each other. She started to talk, and a yawn interrupted her. He giggled and pushed her towards her bedroom door. She pouted and closed her door, but not before whispering, "I love you," around the door frame to him.

She changed slowly into a big T-shirt and boxers and left her socks on. She cranked her big window open and heard a gull squawk and the quiet lapping of the lake on the pebbles. She turned off her light and crept back out into the hallway, leaving her door open. She pushed his door open silently and he smiled at her from his seat on the bed. He patted the mattress next to him, and she sat down.

She held his hand and kissed him softly. He took her face in his hands and kissed her cheek before turning her face so he could whisper in her ear.

"I love you liebschen, lots."

She melted, and when she regained her composure, she whispered back, "I love you too. Do you really like it up here? I couldn't wait to bring you here for a sunset."

They whispered like this for maybe an hour, not moving, except to hold each other closer. Finally, she curled her finger for him to follow her. She walked to her room, and leaned on the window frame and looked out at the lake through the trees. He stopped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. They listened to the surf for a while, and then he pulled her back quietly until he was on her bed and she was on his lap.

He kissed her neck and her ear, and ran his fingers through her hair. She leaned back and he let her fall softly to the bed. He bent over her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed long and passionately, but so tenderly, it was almost like they had just met. She touched his face and brought her hands down to run them across his bare chest. She nuzzled him and he pulled her closer. He ran his hands slowly down her back rubbing gently as he went, and let them rest at her waist.

She kissed his chest, and worked her way up his throat, kissing his Adam's Apple and only stopped when she reached his eager lips. They fell together into another long kiss, and this time the world and everything stood still. They could have competed with Buttercup and Wesley for the love that flowed between them during that one. He entwined his fingers with hers while they kissed and she melted to his every motion.

When they came out of their daze, he whispered ever so gently in her ear, "I love you Jennifer. I want to grow old with you."

She whimpered and nuzzled him gently before locking eyes with him, and whispering back, "I love you Jay, and I want to always see your face when I go to sleep at night."

Sometime after she fell asleep in his arms, he snuck out of her room and crawled into his own guest bed, against all his desires. Shrouded in sleep, he dreamt of future plans all night, knowing she would wake him in the morning.

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The contents of these pages are copyright 1996 by Jennifer Kelbaugh. Said contents may not be published for profit or restricted without the express written permission of the author. For the purposes of this notice, the author of all contents on this page is Jennifer Kelbaugh.