Be Mine...Again

February 14. A day for lovers. For me it was approached as any other day of the year. It’s not that I didn’t like Valentines Day. I did. Marriage, and kids, two jobs, a mortgage, car payments, left me feeling less than romantic. I was tired. Feeling like a desirable, sexual woman was something of the past. My present was filled with teaching three year olds, taking my own children to dance classes, piano lessons. Homework, dinner, laundry, filled most of my free time. Free time, what was that? I barely remembered what it was like to sit down and watch a television show without having another task pulling my attention away from the images flashing on the screen. Most of the time I was folding socks, checking the multiplication facts my daughter had struggled over, cutting coupons, or making lunches, while trying to follow the storyline of the latest news magazine that hit top ratings.

My husband helped a lot. I honestly have to say we are a team effort in raising the children and running the household. I would cook, he would do dishes. I helped with homework, he would supervise bath time. He however, found a way to push the frustrations and exhaustion from his mind when our bodies hit the sheets at the end of the day. While I lie there running through the next day's itinerary was drifting to the romantic, to "OUR" time. Try as I may, I just couldn’t shut it off as easily as he could. Many nights ended in frustration, for both of us.

A year earlier, our church had started a Parents Night Out program. For less than the cost of hiring a baby-sitter, we were able to drop the kids off at church for an evening of games, crafts, and movies. Then we could go out to dinner, a movie, or just go home and enjoy an evening alone. The girls loved it, and so did we. Parents Night Out soon became our salvation. Faithfully, every month, I filled out the form, paid the eighteen dollars, and planned an evening out with my husband.

This month our night out fell on the Friday before Valentines Day. Routinely, I paid the fee, and registered the girls. Our youngest was beside herself with excitement. She looked forward to these nights when she got to see Chloe. Chloe had been her best friend all through preschool. Now that they were in kindergarten, and separate schools. It became a special occasion when they met. Chloe’s mother, Sharon, was the genius who came up with the idea to create the evening out. She was also an acquaintance of mine from preschool. For years she had taught the two year olds, who found their way the following year, to my classroom. Her Chloe, and my Katie, became almost inseparable that one night a month. Our struggles to untangle our children at the end of the evening, gave way to alternating sleepovers. This month was her night. Yippee!

Friday afternoons were normally filled with piano lessons, but not this one. I had called and canceled. Tonight was "OUR" night. Our night to go out and forget about everything for a few hours. I wanted to sink into a fragrant, hot, bubbly bath, and lose myself for a while. Tonight luck was on our side and we had time for both dinner and a movie before we had to pick up Sarah, our oldest, from the church.

I had just undressed, and stepped one foot into the tub when I heard the arguing, the whining, and eventually saw the instigator.

"Mom, it’s just not fair. Why does she always get to go to Chloe's house and I don’t get to go anywhere?" There stood Sarah, trying to look as indignant as her ten years would let her.

"Sarah, it is too fair! I never get to see Chloe and she is my bestest friend. You get to see Andrea all the time, but I never get to see Chloe." Katie shrieked.

"It’s not fair Katie! You always get to do that. I never get to."

"Girls! That is enough!" I interceded. "Sarah, you have friends sleep over too. You don’t have to do everything your sister does, when she does. Katie, are you all packed and ready to go?"

"Just about." She answered.

"Go finish, we are leaving as soon as your Dad gets home. Now girls let me alone for a little while, I want to relax and get ready."

"It’s not fair!" Sarah muttered, as she stormed her way out of the room. I reached for my wine, released a large sigh, locked the door, and slipped into the warm haven of my bath.

I forced myself to shut out the sounds coming from the other room. God those girls could fight. One minute they hated each other and the next, they were as close as two people could be. Reaching for my wine glass once more, I drained it and set it on the floor next to the bathtub. Closing my eyes, I drifted off, for a short nap.

Adrenaline cursing through my veins woke me. Then I heard the barking. My dogs were going nuts. What is up with them? I thought. The doorbell rang, and my question was answered.

"Mom, someone is at the door. It’s a package. Should I answer it?" I could hear excitement in Sarah’s voice. She so badly wanted to be grown up. Opening the door and receiving a package was a terribly grown up thing to do, in her mind. She wasn’t that grown up yet.

"No. Sarah let the door alone. They will leave the package and I will get it in a little while."

"But Mom....."

"Sarah! Don’t argue with me. I said NO!" She listened to me. She didn’t argue with me, but her sister was fair game.

"God, give me strength." I whispered the small prayer. Reaching for my watch, I checked the time. 4:48pm. I needed to get out of there and get my hair, and make-up done. I also had to figure out what to wear. I wanted tonight to be a little more special. It was Valentines Day, well almost.

Toweling off, I stepped from the bath, which had grown cold. Just as I wrapped my robe around my waist, the girls were knocking on the door, begging to get the package. I gave in. With me standing there, just out of site, I let the girls open the door and retrieve the package, that was eating them alive with curiosity. Sarah read the label and handed it to me.

"It’s for you." She said, disappointment filling her voice. "Why do you always get all the packages?"

"There aren’t always for me Sarah. You know that."

"Open it open it." Katie demanded, hoping up and down.

I walked into my bedroom, both girls following closely behind me. Placing the package on the bed, I carefully opened it. What lay inside took my breath away, and left me feeling terribly confused.

"What is it?"

"Yeah Mom, what is it?"

I reached into the box, and pulled out a the most beautiful silvery white dress. It was encrusted with tiny seed pearls That caught the light with brilliant fire. I held it up to me. It fell a few inched above the knee. Giggles drew my attention back to my daughters. They were pointing and laughing at the intimate garments still nestled in the tissue paper lined package.

"Girls!" I disciplined. Icy blue lace as soft and fine as baby hair created the bra and matching panties that were obviously meant to go with the rest of the outfit.

"Don’t forget these." Katie piped in, as she pulled a pair of four inch heeled pumps out of the box. The shoes were also the same silvery white as the dress.

"Who are they from?" Sarah asked.

"I don’t know."

"Read the card." Katie said, as she bent to the floor to pick up the small envelope. "Here it fell when you got the skirt out."

Wear this for me tonight.

I love you.

Will

"It’s from your Dad." I barely spoke. My skin was tingling. My heart was racing, and my palms were sweating. Never in the past twelve years of our marriage had he done anything like this.

"OK, girls out. I need to get dressed." I couldn’t think. I sat on the bed and just stared at nothing. What was he up to? I wondered. Shaking my head, I stood, walked back into the bathroom and began to prepare for what I was sure would be an unexpectedly, unique evening.

I took my time in the bathroom. When I was finished, I stood back and smiled at the reflection in the mirror. My hair shimmered. My eyes sparkled. The soft essence of the rose cologne drifted around my body. The new, romantic garments laid on my bed, right where I left them. The cool silk sent shivers up and down my spine, hardening my nipples, making me aware of the sexual meaning behind what I now wore.

The garage door went up, the girls screamed in excitement. Daddy was home. Nervously I walked into the bathroom once again. I wanted to recheck everything. I needed to make sure I looked all right. What am I doing? I silently berated myself. I am not going out on a first date. I have been married forever.

"Hey." I heard his voice and it reached out and wrapped itself around my heart. I had always loved his voice. Softly masculine, was the only way to describe it. I turned around, and caught his eyes watching me. He didn’t say a word, just walked closer, took my hand, and led me to the bed. Gently he guided me down to sit. When he handed met he midnight blue velvet box, I couldn’t have been more surprised.

"Open it."

Nestled in the velvet lining were a beautiful diamond and sapphire pendant suspended on a very delicate gold chain. An extraordinarily beautiful matching earrings were snuggled at each side.

"Will?" I questioned.

"Ssshhhh." He held a finger up to my mouth to silence me. Leaning forward, his lips met mine. The familiar touch was accompanied by a long forgotten surge of excitement.

"I love you Hun."

"I love you too." I answered.

"Girls, are you ready? It’s time to go." Will called out.

"Aren’t you going to change? I mean are you wearing your suit to the movies?" I asked. My husband didn’t normally wear a suit and tie to work. Today he had a full schedule of meeting with the customer. Secretly, I loved it. I had always loved the way he looked in a suit. So tall, and dark. His Italian handsomeness was emphasized by the navy blue pinstripes.

"Yeah, I’m going to wear this. Do you mind?

"No. Not at all."

"OK girls, let’s go."

The trip to the church took less than five minutes. I was told, in no uncertain terms to stay in the car. Will was going to take the girls in and get them settled and he would be right back. And right back he was. In a matter of minutes our daughters had been safely deposited with their caregivers for the evening and we were on our way.

"This isn’t the way to the theater." I said.

"I know." Calm reserve described him at that moment. He had a secret, and was not going to share it with me.

"Will? Where are we going?"

"You’ll see." He said no more. He simply inserted a new CD and sat back to enjoy the music.

I knew when my husband got this way, there was no getting him to change his mind. There was no amount of begging, pleading, or bribing that would get him to give me even the smallest morsel of information. Resigning myself to the situation, I too, sat back and enjoyed the ride.

We were in the car no longer than fifteen minutes and Will pulled the car into the parking lot of the local arboretum. Before I could turn to question him, he jumped out, walked to my side, opened the door, and took my hand. Speechless, I let him lead me through the entrance and down a secluded path.

"Close your eyes, Babe." Again I was led a bit farther. Curiosity was consuming my self control. Oh how I wanted to peek, but I didn’t. We stopped, and I began to hear the faint ribbons of harp music. "You can open your eyes now."

"Oh my God, Will." Tears immediately formed in my eyes. There before us was the most magnificent archway. It was covered with pink rose buds, fern, and thousand of little babies breath blossoms. The arch was standing on a hill overlooking a lake. Beside the flowered walkway sat the harpist and beside her, a justice of the peace.

Will turned to me, got down on one knee, took my hand in his and whispered, "Be mine, again?"

I couldn’t speak. My body was consumed by emotion, I merely nodded and together we walked towards the arch, hand in hand. Once under it, Will reached up and released a single long stemmed pink rose from its confines. This he handed to me.

The justice of the peace began to speak. His words became jumbled into one tangled mass. Just as I had done twelve years before, tears streamed down my cheeks. My emotions controlled me. I was lost. Lost in the love I saw in my husbands' eyes. Lost in the memories of the past years of our marriage. Before my eyes, we relived everything. The anxious moments of buying our first house. The births of our children. The sadness of his fathers death. The relief after our daughters' surgeries. I relived all of it, every wonderful, painful, and intimate moment we had shared.

I awoke from my memories when a ring was placed on my finger, right next to the wedding band that had been placed there a dozen years before. This was not the plain simple band of the first ceremony. This matched the exquisite diamond and sapphire jewels he had given me earlier.

"I now pronounce you man and wife, again. You may kiss the bride." A kiss, for so many it is such a simple act. What followed the ministers words, was anything but simple. That kiss, reached my soul. It told me he would always be there at my side. It told me I would never be alone. It told me I was beautiful, and cherished, and loved more than life itself. That kiss, offered me everything the world has to offer. I accepted, and offered my heart, my soul, my never-ending love, in return.

Magically the justice of the peace disappeared, as did the harpist. We left alone to watch the sun set over the lake. I had so many questions. I wondered how he had planned all this, and when. I didn’t ask them, I just sat there, on the bench, overlooking the lake, enjoying the quiet warmth.

"I have another surprise for you."

"Another? Will how could anything compare to this?" I asked. He answered me by pulling a hotel card key from the pocket of his suit coat.

"We have the night together, alone. Sarah is staying with Katie at Chloe’s house tonight. It is all arranged." The key had the words ‘The Adolphius’ on it. "Shall we go?"

I smiled and nodded my answer.

Luxurious, didn’t come close to describing the hotel room. When we arrived it was ablaze with candlelight. Wine was chilling and a sumptuous dinner was waiting. Will walked over to the small round table that was centered under the large window overlooking downtown. Pulling out the chair, he waited for me to sit before he made himself comfortable. The food was unbelievable. It literally melted in our mouths. Dinner was followed by the lightest, airiest of cakes. Our wedding cake. Our second wedding cake.

Will stood, and went to the large wardrobe, opened it, and in seconds soft music filled the room. "Want to dance?"

"Yes." I said, taking his offered hand. Strong arms wrapped around me, making me feel safe, secure.

Lips were gently touching my ear. Words of love were tenderly whispered. Passion, heated our souls with a fire that burned hotter than ever before. Slowly the dress, the wedding dress, was slipped off my body and I stood before my husband wearing only the lace undergarments he had chosen. Gathering me up in his arms, he carried me to the massive four poster bed, and delicately laid me upon it. His hands caressed my face. Over my forehead, down my cheeks, and around my mouth his fingers traveled. The intensity of our loving gaze brought his mouth to mine again.

Our desire took on a life of it’s own and soon I was no longer sure where my body ended and my husbands began. We clung to each other, drinking in the very breath that gave us life. We drew nourishment from the others soul and our devotion grew to heights we had never before imagined. We had been two individual stars shining light on the world, separately. Twelve years ago we joined our light. Together we built a galaxy of love, passion and nurturing patience. Tonight that love shed all boundaries. We recommitted ourselves to each other. We started a journey that would lead to infinite happiness..... a never-ending life.... together.

This story is dedicated to my husband.. I will love you for all eternity.

Happy Valentines Day.

Jennifer...Monday, February 8, 1999