“
Matthew…”
H
e reached to find the pins in her hair, and then the band that held the ponytail and pearls. As he removed them her curls fell free. He reached behind her to the pearl button at her neck.
“
You’d better stop a minute,” she laughed lightly.
“
Need to catch your breath?” he smiled.
“
No, but you might need to catch yours,” she said, her eyes alight with mischief, as she flashed a seductive grin.
“
Oh,” he took a deep breath, “now you just make me want to hurry. I wanted to go slowly,” he told her and laughed.
“
No,” she purred, alluring him, “go slowly.”
He didn
’t return to the button. He walked her to the bed covered with yellow rose petals, instead. As she sat waiting, she watched him. Her legs bare, he ran his hands up them, to find the blue garter that she kept, just for him. He then ran them back down to her feet. He slipped off her shoes and pulled her back to her feet.
“
I can’t take it anymore,” he whispered and reached again for the button.
“
Brace yourself,” she whispered as she let the dress fall to the floor.
“
Dang, Carlee!” he said when he saw the nipple covers.
“
The gal at the Bridal Shoppe said they were your gift,” she teased as she scooted back on the bed. Matthew undressed to join her, and they made love for the first time as husband and wife.
He’d
made an appointment for them at the spa for a massage at seven, and pre-ordered room service for their dinner when they returned two hours later.
~ ~ ~
Their family and friends took Andy up on his offer for a tour and left him. Emotionally and physically, he felt tired. But after they all left, he found himself alone, and he felt alone for the first time in a long time.
He thought about how beautiful Carlee was
- how she’d pulled off ‘
the most spectacular wedding evah’
, and smiled. He thought about Matthew and how in love the two of them were. He knew Beth would be proud of the beautiful woman Carlee had become. He thought about how much she would like Carlee’s husband and found it hard to think of those words in the same sentence - Carlee and husband.
He missed Beth.
It had been sixteen years. They had been together for so long, and then he remembered the years they were apart. And then he thought about that last year with her that he treasured so much.
He
was
alone.
He
’d gone to dinner with women through the years, but found that he only went for the company. He shared what he and Adaleigh had, but Carlee was his life, even more so after John died. He knew she would have been OK if he dated. He just didn’t meet anyone who was worth the effort to get to know.
He poured another glass of wine and put his feet up
to read. His phone woke him.
“
Hello…”
“
Did I wake you?” he heard her rich southern drawl.
“
I wasn’t sleeping; I’ve just discovered recently that reading with my eyes closed happens more frequently,” he laughed.
“
Oh, that’s good! I gotta remember that,” Geni laughed.
“
Back from touring?” he asked.
“
Actually, I didn’t go. I decided to stay here and have a little party.”
“
Party, hunh?” he chuckled.
“
Yeah, a pity party,” she laughed. “My boys are all grown and married now. How did that happen? It was just yesterday that they started school. No, wait. I’m wrong! Yesterday was when I saw them back out of the driveway the first time!”
“
I was just thinking the same thing. Hey,” he said. “I have another bottle of Machus; would you like a glass?”
“
Sure,” she said.
“
Come on down,” he suggested.
Geni knocked on Andy’s door ten minutes later. She took a seat in the chair as he poured the wine.
“
Thanks, for the wine and the company,” she said.
“
It’s certainly my pleasure.”
“
What a beautiful wedding weekend. I love the way it all came together. Carlee did a great job. I know she did most of it on her own, with school and all. She really is precious, Andy.”
“
She is to me.” He was quiet a minute and added, “I’m going to miss her so much.”
“
You two are so close.”
“
After Beth died her dad’s head was someplace else. He was bitter because Beth was sick, but… Well, I’m sure you know the story by now, he was pissed that she brought me back into her life. I think that hurt and resentment flowed over to Carlee. She was five; no child needs that kind of baggage.”
“
I will give him credit, Geni; Beth asked him to keep me in Carlee’s life, and he did. I know it was hard. I got Carlee one weekend a month, but one turned into two, sometimes more. I made sure she felt loved and had what she needed, but I made sure not to spoil her. I sure could have.”
“
And then when John died,” he paused. “Liz and Connor would have done an awesome job raising her, Kimmy too, but Carlee told me she was ‘tired of being shuffled around’ - she needed stability and she thought that was with me. Funny isn’t it? All those years… That was all Beth ever needed from me,” he said and paused in thought. “But enough of all that.”
He looked at his watch; it was 6:30. “Reckon the gang will return soon? I’m getting’ hungry.”
“
Me too,” she laughed.
“
Six?” he asked.
“
It’s close,” she said.
“
It’s good,” he replied.
“
Let’s go,” Geni said.
“
We’ll call and see where everyone else is; they’ll need to eat sometime. If they are close we can wait,” Andy suggested.
She dialed
Thomas, “Hey, there; are y’all having fun?” As she spoke, Andy thought the sound felt like velvet - rich and smooth.
“
I was just getting ready to call you. We’ve been cramming in all kinds of stuff. Everyone is having a great time. We’re thinking about fish and chips somewhere. Want us to have the driver swing by and get you?”
“
That’s a sweet offer. I’m having a glass of wine with Andy. We were thinking of going to Six to grab something. Are Percy and Megs OK?”
Andy smiled, the
mother hen, he thought. He’d seen it when Tom died as she worried about everything and everyone else.
“
They are worn out!” Thomas laughed. “Angela and I are taking turns staying with them in the limo ‘til they wake up. We lost them to a nap about an hour ago!”
“
I’ll see y’all in a little bit,” she said.
“
Let me go grab my purse,” she said to Andy, after she hung up.
“
You don’t need it,” he said. “Come on, let’s go.”
They enjoyed conversation and more wine after their meal. Around eight, Brian and Kimmy came to the table.
“
Hey,” Kimmy said. “Just wanted to let you know the crew had returned! We had a great time!”
“
Have a seat,” Andy said, lifting the bottle that still had wine left.
Brian slid in beside Geni and said,
“Let me just call and let Melia know.”
Andy ordered another bottle of wine and t
hey talked about all the places they had visited.
Kimmy watched Andy and Geni and smiled to herself. Finally, she said,
“I’d better get back; Lane will think I ran off or something. See you tomorrow.”
Brian left with her and Andy and Geni remained, talking just a while longer.
L
ater, Geni and Andy said good night and returned to their rooms for the evening. Geni changed and got in the bed. She wasn’t tired. She tried to read, but her mind wandered. She kept going back to the evening she’s shared with Andy. It was enjoyable. Part of her felt guilty for enjoying his company; it had only been four months since Tom passed away.
I
’ll just chalk it up to a good time: a nice evening with a friend,
she thought.
Sunday morning, Matthew and Carlee slipped out early to go to the flat. He took her through the kitchen and out the service entrance so they didn’t chance running into anyone. Cook had Matthew’s car brought to the back and handed Carlee a pan of her favorite brown sugar scones.
“
Don’t tell my husband,” she laughed, as Matthew squeezed her hand, pulling her away, “but I love you!”
Their gifts and bags
were waiting in the car. Half an hour later they were inside their home. Carlee baked the scones and Matthew made coffee. They spent the day unwrapping gifts.
Lying in bed, in Matthew’s arms that night Carlee said, “Forty-seven days…”
“
I don’t want to think about it,” he said.
“
I’ll be back before you know it.”
“
Then you’d better make the next two days memorable,” he laughed.
“
Oh, you challenge me,” she laughed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE ~ Cinderella and Her Prince
Monday morning
, everyone met at Six for breakfast. Carlee and Matthew were there to thank them all for coming; everyone but Geni and Andy were departing that day. They were flying back to the states with Carlee on Tuesday. She loved that her extended family were together, taking part in the big chat-fest about their tour of London, the wedding, and the life ahead for Carlee and Matthew.
Afterward, Carlee, Matthew and Geni went to Andy’s room to wait as they all got ready to head to the airport. Kimmy squeezed Carlee tight, whispering in her ear, “Your
mama would be so happy. Matthew is a good man and I know he’ll cherish you as a husband should.”
Once everyone had departed,
Carlee invited Andy and Geni to the flat. Geni had only seen pictures.
“I love the area,” Geni said when they arrived. She looked around, noticing a walkway with replicas of old street lamps along the canal, and wrought-iron park benches. Trees and flowers were just beginning to bloom.
“Matthew’s been able to explore some.
My explorations have to wait a bit longer. Come on, I’m excited to show you!” Carlee said.
There were gifts still
out that hadn’t found a home yet. Geni wandered around and loved seeing it all. “Looks like you’re settling in nicely. This piece is gorgeous,” she said, referring to the china cabinet.
“It’s my wedding present from Matthew!
The china and crystal were my mama’s from her marriage to my dad.”
“I’ve discovered a good pizza place that delivers,” Matthew said after a while. “Stick around, and we’ll order one, because before we know it Carlee will be starving!”
“Ha ha…” she said sarcastically.
“Matt, is there a place close by to get wine?” Andy asked.
“There’s a little shop up the street.
We can go there, and then we’ll just grab the pizza and bring it back.”
At the wine shop, Andy chose Chianti for the evening and added some others he thought would be good. He added a wine bottle holder that held several bottles.
“Matt, do you think this will fit in the bottom of that cabinet?”
“I think so,” Matthew answered as Andy sat it on the checkout counter with the wine. He grabbed a good corkscrew and added it to the pile.
“Do you have wine glasses?”
“Two and some paper cups!” Matthew laughed.
Andy requested the sales assistant’s help asking for an all-purpose wine glass. She picked a set of glasses and Andy added them to the pile.
“One more thing, English wines… I’ve been to Worthing and had the Machus. My daughter loves it, do you carry it or do I need to have some shipped to her?”
“I have that,” she said, and at Andy’s request, she added what she had in stock to the pile he was making.
They picked up a pizza, added an antipasto salad, and headed back.
While Andy and Matthew were gone, Geni helped Carlee put some of the gifts away. While they puttered, the two women shared great conversation.
“Carlee,” Geni said
after a while, “Thank you.”
“Thank me?” Carlee looked at her, scrunching her nose, “Thank me, for what?”
“Thank you for a beautiful, intimate, personal, special, lovely wedding. I know it must have been hard for you; this is something you should’ve been able to share with your mama.”
Carlee was quiet
a moment and finally said, “Geni, I remember her but I’m never sure if it’s my memories or memories that Papa shared with me. The others, Kimmy, Nanny… they try to share, but I think they aren’t sure what to share; Papa tells me everything. He has shared every mistake, every up and down, every road they traveled. He didn’t have to; I can read between the lines in the book, but I know that he feels better that it’s him giving me the details. All of that helps me know her, but it makes me miss her even more. But enough about that; it makes me sad and this is a happy time,” she said with a smile.
“You certainly are wise beyond your years
. I love you, Carlee. Thank you for making my son happy.”
“The wedding was perfect
, wasn’t it?” She let out a sigh. “It was exactly what I saw in my mind! As for making Matthew happy - I pray that I can do that every day for the rest of our lives! I hate that it’ll be forty-five days ‘til we’re together forever!” she said.
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 26
th
. That’d put me in Orlando around 6:30 that night. I can take the early flight back on Tuesday, May 1
st
. 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 the kids could ice and decorate them!” She said the words rapid-fire-fast and Matthew just laughed. “Oh, my! The possibilities are endless!”