by Mlyn Hurn
“Hi, gorgeous!”
Julie turned just as Tony sat down next to her. He looked quite handsome as the groom. She smiled at him, wondering if he knew.
Tony reached over and took a bit of something from her plate and stuck it into his mouth. He grinned as he chewed. “I thought these things were supposed to be fun, and have a ton of food to eat. I’m starving!”
Julie laughed at her brother-in-law. “Actually, there always is a long table with lots of food, and I know for a fact there are two tables here, and people do have fun. Just not the groom!”
Tony glared at her. “So, when are you going to put my brother out of his misery, Sis?”
Julie started in surprise. Tony saw the emotion and grinned. “I’m not blind, sweet Julie, unlike some others around here. I’ve seen how Jim watched you over the years. And I noticed how suddenly his looks changed. Growing up he was like a kid outside the candy store. Angie mentioned it a year ago, but I didn’t notice until yesterday that he watches you like a lion, waiting to fight off encroachers. It was obvious he had tasted the candy and had no intention of sharing it.”
Julie blushed brightly, turning to stare off ahead of her. She wasn’t altogether comfortable with the idea that Jim had had feelings other than loathing for her before she had come to recognize the feelings inside herself for what they truly were. It was like he’d had some special information that only he was privy to. And yet, she should have known!
“I always wondered why the hell he put up with some of your shenanigans, until I fell in love with Angie. And then I understood. He had no choice, because for him, just like it was for me, there were no other options. Jim could no more walk away from you than I could from Angie.” Tony stopped, seeing Angie waving at him across the room. “I see it is time for more wedding duties.” He leaned over and kissed Julie’s flushed cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
Julie watched as Tony reached Angie, kissing her lingeringly on her lips. Before they turned to go back into the other room, where most of the guests were, Angie smiled and waved at Julie. She smiled back, but once they had turned away, she set the plate down and stood up. She needed some fresh air all of a sudden. She made her way easily through the sparsely filled room, out onto the front veranda that encircled most of the house. She looked back over her shoulder, making sure no one was looking her way.
Once she was sure her escape route was clear, she went down the front steps and started walking around the far side of the house, away from the partygoers and noise. She headed for the secluded area at the back of Jim’s property. She gave a quick look around, and still seeing no one, walked through the small gate under the curving archway.
Inside there was only the sound of rustling leaves, the tinkling of the water in the creek and the soft trilling of the birds overhead. She walked toward the creek, wondering what would happen next in her crazy, upside-down world. She would have to write to her aunt, to let her know she wouldn’t be joining her after all. She smiled as she sat on a large rock near the edge of the water. She didn’t think Jim would like the idea of her leaving again.
After a few moments, she kicked her shoes off, and then rolled her thin silky stockings down. She couldn’t resist this wonderful little place of beauty and peace. Of all the places she had seen over the last few years, whenever she needed to find peace of mind and relax her body, this was the place she would call forth from her memories. She slid from the rock, holding her skirts high around her knees, and stepped into the bubbling water of the creek. It felt wonderfully cool as it washed over her feet and ankles.
She moved away from the bank and a few yards further into the water. It now came to her knees, and she could feel that there was more of a current than usual. She looked up from the water and wondered if she could reach the far bank. She hadn’t been to that side for some time.
A few more steps, though, and the water was now mid-thigh and really seemed to be rushing past her. Julie couldn’t ever remember it being this swift before. But she was almost halfway, and she didn’t think it could get any higher. And then, she slipped, missing her footing. In the next moment, she was pulled under the water and dragged along with the flowing current. She got her head above the water and realized she had been carried a short distance down the creek. And now, she was smack dab in the middle of the stream where it veered closer to the house.
That wasn’t the problem, though. The reception had moved outdoors for the cutting of the cake and dancing. There was no way to avoid what was now going to happen. Even though no one had seen her yet, the minute she stood up, there would be a scene. And there was no way she could fight the current to get back upstream. Finally, she pushed her hands through her hair and fought the water and the drag of her wet skirts to stand up. She had almost reached the bank, when she heard someone gasp. She looked up from watching where she was going to see that quite a few people had now turned to look at her and not the happy couple cutting the beautiful cake.
Julie felt her cheeks flush bright pink. She took another step toward the bank, and then she saw that Jim was coming to help her, his limp slightly more pronounced because of his hurrying. She started to reach her hand out to him when she happened to glance down. The water had done what nothing else could…it completed her total embarrassment and shame.
Her dress was molded to her every curve, revealing her full breasts and taut, distended nipples. Her rounded belly was glaringly obvious, and Julie did the only thing she could do at that moment. She once again lost her footing, and only God knew if it was done consciously or not. It was just too bad that Jim had only just reached out to grab her fingers and had a tenuous hold on her, at best. He fought to not let go, which was a mistake. Julie’s momentum carried them both backward into the water.
A few seconds later she resurfaced, having managed to fall into the deepest part. Jim was already regaining his feet when they both heard a strident voice speaking to them from the edge of the bank.
“I should have known you wouldn’t be satisfied with ruining Jim’s life! No! You have to ruin my other son’s wedding. Obviously you have no sense of decency to act like a lady at your own sister’s wedding!”
Julie and Jim both looked at his mother standing and glaring at her. Jim reached down for Julie’s hand, tugging her upward easily. “Mother, please lower your voice. No harm has been done. We’ll both go and get dry and be right back—”
But Phyllis was too far gone to be so easily placated. “Jim, I insist that she leave immediately. How she has the nerve to show her face when she looks like that only proves her lack of concern for even her sister. She is only here to play on your sympathies. Now that she is in trouble, she returns here to you.”
Julie noticed that more people were beginning to wander over, and could probably hear what Jim’s mother was now saying. She blushed even brighter. “Jim, I probably should go back home—”
But that was the wrong thing to say to a sopping wet man who was getting damned tired of hiding his life from others. Jim held her hand more tightly as he turned toward the bank. She was forced to follow him, but he stopped a few feet from the edge. He looked up at his mother, shaking his head.
“I think it is time we faced a few truths around here, Mother. Julie is home, because I married her today after everyone else had left the church.” He didn’t stop as the crowd gasped in surprise and his mother’s face became pale. “So, I guess you got two daughters-in-law today, not one!”
Phyllis wasn’t defeated yet, though. She shot a look of venom at Julie. “Just because she managed to get herself into trouble, Jim, there was no need for you to marry her out of pity or sympathy!”
Angie stepped forward, her anger becoming more apparent with every passing moment. She shrugged off her husband’s hand on her arm. “Pity!” Angie shouted, glaring at her new mother-in-law. She opened her mouth to lash out, but even as Tony was grabbing her arm, Jim spoke up.
“This is my baby, Mother, and I am proud to claim Julie as my wife.
And while we are at this truth thing,” he paused to climb up onto the grassy embankment and gently pulled Julie up next to him, “I’ve tried to tell you over and over, but you will never listen. So, I will tell you one last time in front of witnesses. The accident that crippled me was my fault, not Julie’s.”
Jim wrapped his arm firmly around Julie’s shoulders. “Perhaps she was the one driving, but I was the one who had angered her, and then instead of just leaving things alone, I had to keep nagging at her in the buggy. I tried to grab the reins and that is when she lost control. Now, we will never discuss that damned accident again! Come, Julie, we need to get cleaned up.” He reached for his wife’s hand, but stopped abruptly. He pulled his suit jacket off, and even though it was wet, he draped it over Julie’s shoulder. At least it partly hid her from unfriendly gazes. Once more he took her wrist into his grasp and walked away from the crowd, pulling Julie behind him.
* * * * *
Julie ran to try and keep up with Jim, in spite of his limp. She finally managed to free her wrist from his grasp just inside the door of the kitchen. She ignored Jim’s housekeeper, who looked up from the table where she and her husband were sitting having a cup of coffee. Jim turned to look at her angrily, but slowly the look faded as he cooled back down.
“I’m sorry, Julie, for all that—”
Julie shook her head. “That doesn’t matter, not really. But I’m afraid it is only the tip of the iceberg, as far as your mother is concerned. She will never accept me, and the last thing I want is for her and Angie to be on the outs, too.”
Jim reached out and caught her elbow in his hand. “Let’s get changed and we will worry about this later.” He nodded to his staff, and led Julie upstairs to their bedroom.
He walked into the large bathroom, turning on the water to fill the tub with hot water. When he walked back in, Julie still hadn’t started to undress. He turned her around and began undoing the buttons down the back of the dress. He pushed it down off her shoulders, turning away and telling her to strip off the rest of the way. She turned as she stepped free of the dress, watching as Jim pulled his own wet clothes off hurriedly. She stood there nervously, naked, watching him remove the last of his things. He came back over to her and headed her toward the tub.
Julie turned off the water and climbed into the tub, sinking in up to her shoulders. She let the warmth relax her, letting her eyes close and leaning her head back. The slosh of the water disturbed her and she looked up to see Jim entering the tub also. She gasped in surprise but moved her legs so he could sit in front of her.
Jim grinned at her easily, wondering what thoughts were causing such wrinkles on her forehead. He reached out and stroked his wet fingers over her skin. He curled his fingers into her hair, pulling her forward to kiss her gently.
“Some wedding day, huh, Mrs. Morgan?”
Julie had to smile back at him. She slid forward in the water, lifting her thighs to rest over his, moving until she was pressed close to his chest. Jim wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. He just held her for a long time, and finally he loudly and deliberately sniffed her hair.
“I think we need to get a move on here, wife. That creek water left a distinct odor behind.”
Julie leaned back and slapped the water to splash him. He laughed and cupped his own hands, scooping up water and dribbling it over her head. Julie slid backward in the water, lowering her head and drenching her hair. She pointed to the soap and Jim watched as she lathered her hair with the bar, rinsing it again. She then told him to do the same and she shampooed Jim’s hair. He couldn’t deny the warm feelings that slowly unfurled inside of him at the simple gesture. And when her hands moved to wash his chest, arms and then lower, he growled low in his throat.
Julie had to know she was arousing him, especially when her hands curled around his hardening manhood. Her small, soft hands stroked him gently at first, alternating between light and very gentle touches to firmer, tugging strokes. He finally reached down and closed his hands around her wrists, stilling the erotic seduction her soft hands were causing. She looked up at him, frowning.
Jim grimaced, giving a slightly twisted smile. “We really don’t have time for this right now, my sweet.”
Julie pursed her lips. “I’m happy with a quick ‘roll in the hay.’”
Jim shook his head at her. “Wife, what am I going to do with you?”
Julie closed her eyes, savoring the sweet sensations hearing him call her “wife” did to her nervous system. She desperately longed to be in his arms, but first she needed to say the words.
“I love you, Jim Morgan. In fact, I finally realized that it was always you. Even when I was spitting angry, I still knew the truth. But when Dad left me that property, I just went crazy. Then I overheard my brothers talking about marrying us just to settle any future disputes before they got started.”
She watched Jim’s face closely, wondering what he would say, or how he might react.
“You know what they say about eavesdroppers?”
“I know, I know.”
“Nevertheless, I don’t blame you for running. I think, if you agree, that we should have the land put into a trust to go to our first child when he—”
“Or she.”
“Of course.” Jim smiled and kissed his wife’s mouth. “When she or he reaches the age of say…twenty-five?”
“That sounds like a good idea. I’m sure we could have a lawyer work something out.”
“Tony or Jared, but not Frank.”
Julie nodded and started to move closer but Jim stopped her. When she glanced up and met his gaze, he told her gently.
“I want you to know that you’ve been the only woman I’ve ever loved. There was always this feeling that I couldn’t understand. I’d be pulled toward you and then feel the need to do anything to get your attention, even if it was your anger. At least then I knew you were thinking about me and not some other guy. Once you turned sixteen it got a lot more difficult.” Taking a deep breath, he finished, “I love you, Julie Morgan.”
She moved closer to him, actually pulling herself astride his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned into his ear and whispered to him very softly, “I love you, Jim. Now about not having enough time… Perhaps if we—”
Jim groaned at her suggestion. “Damn, Julie!”
She grinned. “Why not?” she asked him pertly.
Jim held his new wife in his arms. He knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, the life they were going to share was going to be good. Very good indeed.
Epilogue
Julie sat gazing out the large window that overlooked the expanse of land just beyond the edge of the cultivated fields. On the nicely kept lawns near the house, she could hear the sounds of people talking. Not one particular voice or sound stood out, but together they made an appealing cacophony of noise. For most people, hearing family and friends chattering, including a few shouts and bursts of laughter, wouldn’t be such a source of enjoyment. But for Julie, after being apart from her family for so many years, she was happy simply listening to them and knowing they were nearby, not half a world away.
She shifted in the chair as she heard some squealing. Leaning forward, she saw that Nick was carrying his daughter, Amelia, on his shoulders. Her little hands clutched in his hair, but she knew that he wouldn’t care. When he was much younger, his hair had to be close to perfect, unless he was working. Several times she’d been with him when they’d run into female friends. Nick always managed to take his hat off a second time to run his fingers through his hair. Remembering it now made her smile, shaking her head.
“Whoever would have thought that Nick could let his hair get that mussed up?” Jim spoke softly just behind her chair.
Laughing quietly, she nodded. “I’m surprised he hasn’t taught Amelia to carry a comb yet.”
Jim leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Naughty girl!”
“I’m terrible, I know it.”
“Never that bad
. How long have you been up here?” he asked, coming around to perch on the edge of the widened window ledge, partially blocking her view.
“Not too long. I just had a feeling—”
“That it was feeding time?” he quipped before she could finish.
“Oh, don’t say it that way, sweetheart! You make me feel like its feeding time at the zoo.”
“I’m sorry, darling. Who woke up first?”
“Your son, of course. Jason is always more demanding than Michelle. I believe it is his nature.”
“His sister will make him pay for that later in life.” Jim leaned forward and stroked his finger down his daughter’s soft cheek as she nursed quietly at her mother’s breast. “Everyone’s been asking if they are going to get to see the twins.”
“Of course they will, my love. As soon as I finish with Michelle, you can burp her while I check Jason’s diaper.”
Jim stood, nodding his head. “I’ll want extra points for this, but I’ll change his diaper so you can stay put till you are done.”
Julie smiled as she shifted in the chair. She watched as Jim walked over to the bed the twins shared. With what she was positive was an inbred assurance, he picked the baby up and took him to the table they had set up to speed the whole diapering process. Becoming the parents of twins had certainly changed their lives!
“Points? You mean for later?”
Jim turned his head to grin at her and then wink his eye. “You got that right, gorgeous. Tonight’s the night, thanks to the doc!”
Julie smiled at her husband, lifting Michelle and patting her lightly on her back. “What about unplanned interruptions?”
Jim shrugged and then came walking back toward her, his freshly diapered son in his arms. Leaning down, he kissed Julie’s mouth, until Michelle’s loud burp surprised them both. Moving to the side, he lightly kissed his tiny daughter’s head.
“I’m flexible. And since I am the boss, I just might start taking those nice long lunches again. I’m sure the babies would enjoy a quiet lunch hour.”
