Again the Magic

by Lee Damon

"Since last year, just after we were married. I tried to get reservations for the end of August, but they were filled up and had been for months. This is the most popular weekend of the summer except for Fourth of July. So I called in September and made them for this year, crossing my fingers that you wouldn't be in the last months of pregnancy or just getting back on your feet from same. Of course, I had no way of knowing that you, with your clever sense of timing and extraordinary forethought, had already managed to get pregnant so as to keep all the birthdays in May."

  "Ah, yes, and I did it all by myself," she mocked. "You, of course, merely sat on the sidelines and applauded."

  His deep laugh attracted the attention of nearly everyone in the lounge, and many smiled at the aura of happiness and loving closeness surrounding the handsome couple.

  "Little braggart. As I recall, I was a much more active participant than that. In fact, very active, and willing, and inventive... and—"

  "Shhh. Devil! You pick the damnedest places to start these things," she moaned. The deep, seductive purr, combined with his finger stroking her palm and the heated look in his eyes, had her wriggling in her chair.

  For a long minute, he held her increasingly smoky eyes captive with his, aware of her tautening breasts and rising heat. "Oh, love, I would so like to kiss you right now; but if I do, we'll probably end up on the floor, and that would really make this a ball to remember!"

  It was enough to relax their tense awareness of each other, and they sipped their wine for a few moments, watching the dancers and deciding, simultaneously, to discuss other things for a while.

  "I wonder if the twins miss us. Do you suppose they're old enough to realize we're not there?" Kitt asked.

  "When are they going to have a chance to miss us? With Ez, Midge, Gus and Andy all deluging them with attention, we'll be lucky if they even remember who we are! Oh, and let's not forget Hero. That dog is the most efficient nursemaid since Peter Pan's Nana."

  Laughing, Kitt corrected, "Not Peter Pan's. Nana belonged to Wendy, John and Michael. Did you ever see anything like Ez with those babies? He looks so funny sitting in that big leather chair with one twin in each hand, talking away to them as if they were the least bit interested in knights and castles."

  "Don't knock it. He was the one who got them to quiet down that night they were colicky. Remember? I think it's that rumble that does it. Sort of stuns them to sleep. Now what's put that dreamy look on your face?"

  She brought her eyes back from the dancers to meet his questioning look. "Oh, I was just thinking how lucky I am. And how happy. I've got you, and you'd be a whole life for anyone. But you brought me Gus and now the twins and, oh, it's just so much." Her voice broke on the last words, and she saw him through a blur of tears.

  "You beautiful idiot," he said tenderly, leaning close to brush the tears away. "Besides, you've got it all mixed up. Don't you know you're the center of all our lives? What's between us, alone, can't even be put into words, but, added to that, you've given meaning to everything I do. I've never worked better than I have these last months—despite those many long and fascinating interludes when you've enticed me away from the typewriter."

  "O'Mara, you know I never interrupt you when you're working," she protested.

  "Watching you walk across a room is all the enticement I need," he said ruefully. "If you didn't spend half your days in the shop, it would probably take me at least two years to write a book. Oh, yes, it would," he stated firmly as she laughed and shook her head at him. He studied the wine remaining in his glass for a moment before returning his thoughtful gaze to her face.

  "It's true, you know. We all do revolve around you. Andy was a bit worried that you might want to get involved in running the house and she wouldn't have enough to do, but she calmed right down when she found out that you'd much rather work in the shop or romp around with me than vacuum rugs. And, now, just when Gus was growing out of being dependent on her, you've produced not one but two babies for her to fuss over." Laughter gleamed in his eyes. "You may not be ready yet, but Andy can't wait for the next batch."

  "Please," Kitt groaned, "will you stop talking in terms of batches? I'd just as soon extend this family one at a time."

  "I'll do my best for you." His voice was a seductive tease, and he grinned as he watched the flush of color in her face.

  She took a hasty swallow of wine and groped for a change of subject. "Ah... Gus seems to have adjusted very well to the competition. In fact, he's so proud of his twins that he keeps the whole town informed of their progress. Perfect strangers come into the shop and ask after Jason and Jared. By name, mind you, and they know all about their routine, diet, sleeping habits and personality quirks. Incredible."

  "Not really, love, when you consider how Gus feels about you. He may adore the twins, but he thinks the sun rises and sets on you. Ever since the Battle of the Beach, you've been Wonder Woman, Cheryl Tiegs and Super-Mom all rolled into one."

  "Cheryl Tiegs?! Come on, now," she exclaimed disbelievingly. "He's not old enough to—"

  "He's his father's son and knows a sexpot when he sees one," O'Mara intoned pontifically. He tried to keep a straight face, but at her startled expression he broke up in laughter. "Don't worry, love. At this point, he just recognizes one; he doesn't know what to do about it yet."

  "Lord, let's hope not! However, I'm keeping my eye out for a large broom. The way the girls are beginning to look at him, we're going to need one soon to sweep them off the steps."

  "Oh, I wouldn't worry too much. Between Ez and myself, he's got two prime sources of experience to call on in learning how to handle women." O'Mara watched her with an expectant gleam, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter.

  Kitt choked on a swallow of wine and gasped. "And you called me a braggart! Perhaps Midge and I ought to tape one of our strategy sessions, and you two would find out just how much handling you really do!"

  He leaned over and kissed the indignant look off her face. "Believe me, we're well aware of just how often you two wind us around your delicate fingers. On the other hand, we've managed to surprise you a time or two."

  "Mmmm. Too true," Kitt agreed with a reminiscent grin. "Ez certainly did when he greeted us back from our honeymoon with the news that he and Midge were getting married the next day, and it was damn lucky we returned on time, or he wouldn't have had a best man! I knew he was serious about Midge, but I didn't think he'd move quite that fast."

  "I did," O'Mara said smugly, and then chuckled. "What surprised me was that he quit teaching to take over running the bookshop."

  "Now, wait a minute!" she exploded. "You know perfectly well that Midge and I do most of the 'running,' while Ez lolls around upstairs reeling out those wickedly sexy historical novels. I can't believe how fast he does it, either. Four in less than a year, and the one that's already out is on its way to being a best seller!"

  "Why not? He's damn good, and he doesn't have to do much research on that period. He already knows it backward and inside out. You, of all people, shouldn't have been surprised, love. Others may look at him and see an easygoing bear, but you've always known that he was absolutely brilliant."

  He glanced at his watch and then pulled Kitt to her feet. "Come on, love, this is our waltz." At her questioning look, he just smiled and led her into the ballroom.

  Wordlessly, they turned and glided around the room to the strains of a slow waltz. Kitt felt a nostalgic enchantment gradually enclosing them and dimming the reality of other people and the room around them. She was floating in a golden haze, aware only of the lean, strong body pressed to hers, warm hands holding her, and the tantalizing brush of their moving legs. He lifted his cheek from her hair, and she tilted her head slightly to look at him. It was all there in his face—love, caring, cherishing—and the power of it stopped her breath. She didn't realize that the same expression lit her face with a rare beauty. His arms tightened convulsively, and he pressed his face against hers with a wordless murmur. The gold-tipped lashes
fluttered down, and she moved in a dream, confidently surrendering all control to him.

  It was several minutes before she felt the breeze on her bare shoulders and the rougher floor under her feet. Opening her eyes, she caught glimpses of the moon-washed beach and realized that O'Mara was slowly waltzing her the length of the veranda. He brought them to a halt at the top of the steps and took a step back from her, letting his hands come to rest on her hips. The smile he gave her was full of devilment.

  "It's a beautiful night and that's a lovely walking beach. Could I interest you in going for a moonlight stroll?"

  "Weeellll," she teased, "it looks rather deserted. Will I be safe with you, sir?"

  "Not for a minute. Do you really want to be?"

  "No!" She laughed and pulled him down the steps and along the short path to the beach. She stopped at the edge of the sand to take off her shoes. Turning to him, she found that he had already removed his tie and undone half his shirt buttons. She watched, bemused, while he shrugged out of his jacket, took her shoes and stuffed them into the pockets, and swung the jacket over his shoulder. When he held out his hand, she slid hers into it and turned to walk across the beach with him.

  They reached the hard-packed sand near the water, and she paused, tugging him to a stop a step ahead of her. Slowly, dreamily, with a remembering look on her face, she scanned the glittering water with its tempting silver path and then the bright beach stretching before them into the darkness. Her head bent as she looked down at her dress and then lifted again as her eyes traveled up his long, sinewy body to meet his waiting gaze.

  "It's the same," she said wonderingly. "It's all the same."

  "Almost." He waited, watching her.

  She frowned. "We're older and married?"

  "That, too." The devilish smile was back, and she could see silver glints in the darkening blue eyes.

  "O'Mara?" It was a question, but her growing smile said that she already suspected the answer.

  "We, my lovely Kitt, have some unfinished business with a sand dune."

  Laughing, they began to run hand-in-hand down the long beach.

  About the Author

  Lee Damon is Massachusetts born and bred. She has lived in Waltham, Braintree, and Concord, and she currently makes her home in Acton. She is a descendant of an old Concord family, whose first settlers arrived in 1680.

  An only child in her New England Yankee family, Lee was encouraged to become a teacher or a nurse. Instead, she studied writing, got married, acquired some secretarial skills, and promptly got a job where she wouldn't need them. She has worked as a technical editor/writer for several electronics and aerospace firms until fairly recently, when a small inheritance allowed her to start her own graphic arts company.

  Having gained considerable experience in advertising and nonfiction writing, she finally turned to another longtime dream: writing fiction. In her own words, she's always been "independent, stubborn, creative, and imaginative." And now, with a nineteen-year-old son in tow, she's off and running with yet another brand-new career!