Mistake

by Brigitta Moon

  “Let’s go to your house and talk Andrew; let’s go now,” Beth whispered into his ear. Andrew’s grip on her loosened and Beth took his hand and guided him toward the Black roofless Porsche.

  CHAPTER 35

  Andrew unlocked the door to his house and waited as Beth entered. She circled around as her eyes fell on the decor Andrew must have spent hours, maybe even days preparing. Red and white Rose petals lined the floor from the doorway to the bedroom. Expensive wine lay on its side in an ice bucket with two wine glasses close by on each table in each room. Red roses stood in vases throughout the room. Pictures of her graced the walls. Gift boxes of all sizes rested under a tree shaped as a heart.

  Beth turned to Andrew and found his eyes lovingly looking into hers. The music of harp strings could be heard in the background as each note came together to play a beautiful overture sending out calming, relaxing tones.

  “Andrew, this is wonderful. It must have taken you forever to do this.”

  “Are you pleased? I only want to please you my love. Seeing you smile is all I need. I will always love only you,” Andrew replied.

  “No!” Beth cried out. “I don’t deserve you Andrew. I don’t deserve all this!” she exclaimed sweeping the rooms with her arms.

  “You deserve it all. Have I pleased you my love?” he said embracing Beth.

  Andrew turned Beth to face him as he saw a lone tear fall from her eye. “Beth my love, please do not cry. Have I saddened you? I only want your happiness,” he said as he kissed Beth’s lips. He lifted her from the floor and cradled her in his strong arms and began to stroll down the hall toward the bedroom as he ravished her lips. “I want to make love to you. I want to give all my love to you my Beth.”

  As Andrew descended the hall Beth thought back to the words of her mother, a fortress armed with love, trust, honesty, respect and most of all forgiveness.

  Andrew lowered Beth to the bed and began an attempt to undress her. She calmly protested. “Not yet Andrew. It would please me immensely if you would lie next to me and listen to what I have to say and not respond until I am done.

  Beth noticed how Andrew’s body seemed to relax under her words. He lay next to her, held her hand and waited for her words.

  “Andrew I love you so much. I want to give myself to you completely. But I want you to give yourself to me completely. I don’t want to have to worry that I will see you with another cheating on me.”

  Beth inhaled deeply as she noted the eyes of the man she love fill with guilt. He uttered not a word as she had requested. She filled with power as she noted her control of the deed. Her happiness is all Andrew wanted, all he lived for; but now, his happiness was all she wanted, all she lived for.

  Beth began to arm her fortress. She loaded it first with honesty, “Andrew I haven’t been honest with you. I should have told you I saw you and Susan in the stairwell. It was wrong of me not to come to you about it.”

  She saw shame and regret fill his eyes as she continued to arm her fort. Trust and Respect, she thought to herself. I must trust that he will understand and respect him enough to be honest in what I have done, Beth thought to herself.

  “Andrew I need to tell you what I have done. It is awful but I wanted you so much I rationalized that it was okay. I used the magic of a book to bind you to me. Please Andrew tell me what you are thinking. Please hold me. I’m so afraid.”

  Andrew’s gaze prickled her skin, “A magic book? Beth there is no magic in a book.” He reached for her and encased her body and feelings with his. “I’m so sorry you saw that. I wanted to tell you but I was afraid you would leave me. I have regretted it since it happened. I don’t know how I could have been so weak as to let her draw me in.”

  Andrew knelt on one knee, clasped Beth’s hand in his, “Please forgive me Beth. If I could go back in time I would undo that incident. I will spend my life making it up to you,” Andrew said pressing his lips against her fingers.

  Beth scrutinized his words wondering if they were his words or the deed’s. She couldn’t be sure. She enlisted the aid of more armor for her fortress, Love, Forgiveness.

  “Andrew I do love you and I know you love me. I forgive you for the misstep. Can you forgive me for hiding that I knew and for one more thing?”

  Beth stood and retrieved her purse. She noticed that Andrew wasn’t following close behind but stayed leisurely on the bed.

  “I only want our happiness. Please forgive me?” she asked as she handed Andrew the book. “This is the book that has done this to us.”

  “Done what Beth? Forced me to love you? It couldn’t do that because I already loved you.”

  “But you were different. Andrew, you tried to rape me.”

  “I remember wanting to make to love to you, but rape? I can’t remember that.”

  “It was the book Andrew. I need to tell you everything.”

  “Beth, I forgive you, you forgive me. That’s all that matters. Not this book,” he said holding the golden book up for her to see. She noticed a faint glow on the gold.

  “Andrew, look, the book is glowing,” Beth said pointing at it.”

  Andrew still holding the golden book closed the distance between himself and Beth. He stood face to face with her.

  “Hi my name is Andrew and I would love it if we could start over.”

  “My name is Beth and I would love that.”

  “It would give me great pleasure if such a lovely woman as yourself would dance with me,” Andrew said holding out his arms.

  Beth ensconced herself in Andrew’s embrace as their shoes tapped the floor to the chords played by the beautiful harp. Andrew swept Beth out to the patio into the brightness of the sunlight which shone only on them. He twirled her and sprung her back to the safety of his embrace. Beth swept her lips over his feeling their softness and moisture. She sprinkled kisses over his neck and enjoyed the aroma of his White Cristal as it mingled with her skin.

  Beth took the lead of the dance as their feet carried them back into the house where the beautiful harp continued to play an overture. “I love you,” she whispered into Andrew’s ear. “I’m ready,” she said as she danced Andrew toward the bedroom.

  Beth’s back began to feel warm. As she danced Andrew closer to the bedroom holding him tighter, the heat on her back increased. Andrew feeling the heat against his hand from the book as he held on to it during their dance, held it up to look at it. Beth followed his gaze as the book in Andrew’s hand puffed into a golden dust falling to the floor like a light snow.

  Beth continued to lead Andrew into the bedroom where she undressed willingly and offered her virginity to the man she held deeply in her heart. Beth went to Andrew, removed his clothing one piece at a time as she savored every inch of his toned, buffed body.

  When he was standing before her with his body and feelings totally exposed, Beth lay on the bed pulling him on to her. Their eyes locked and no words were needed. Beth was ready to give herself to Andrew and he accepted her virginity with tenderness, care, love and respect.

  CHAPTER 36

  Six Months Later

  Guests began to arrive, gathering in the narthex of the church. Greetings and hugs were shared by family members and friends. Smiles touched the lips and eyes of the guests as they were greeted by their ushers, two teenage boys handsomely dressed in black suits and white shirts adorned with black ties. Lil and Beth’s mom stood side by side prepared to enter the nave of the church with the young ushers. Their steps paused as they began sweeping appraisals of the church. Front and center was the gorgeous blue rose window which must have measured almost thirty feet in diameter. Colorful sparkling stained glass windows with their rounded arches lined the white walls of the church on each side displaying biblical scenes. The mothers were led to artistically hand crafted oak pews exhibiting distinctive biblical carvings. They claimed their seats on the front row.

  In the choir of the church a young woman dressed in a loose fitting floor length white dress with one strap across
her left shoulder with a rope belt around her waist stood next to a golden harp with taught white silk strings that stood taller her. She leaned toward the harp as she plucked at the strings sending out soothing tones which resonated throughout the church. The pews were now filled with guests who continued to laugh and talk, hug and shake hands.

  Now standing room only, the pastor stood at the wooden pulpit dressed in his best black suit, white cotton shirt and black tie. He rested a hand on each side of the pulpit as he nodded an approving smile at the guests.

  The music grew a little louder as the bridesmaids began to enter dressed in short lacy white dresses landing an inch above their knees with white flowers and one red rose in the middle held loosely in their left hands. The other hand rode the bowed elbow of a groomsman dressed in tan seersucker suits, white shirts and white silk ties. On their lapels rode white boutonnieres. The pairs descended the aisle, parting ways at the front.

  The harpist’s music increased just a little in volume as little Kelly began a shy walk down the aisle; her full white dress shimmering as it oscillated side to side with white patent leather shoes peeking from under the dress. From her woven flower girl basket she reached in and gathered a hand full of red rose petals, dusting the floor as she made her way down the aisle. Guests smiled, hands clasped at hearts, fingers covered lips and eyes began to moisten as little Kelly passed the artistically carved pews.

  The strings of the harp music increased in tone as it bellowed out the bridal march. In the immense doorway waited two dazzling brides, Lil and Beth, each dressed in a golden silk gown. Between the brides stood Father Masters with each bride’s hand lightly riding each of his bowed elbows. To Lil’s left her father, Mr. Rush, stood with Lil’s left hand draped over the crook of his arm. The foursome began their march down the aisle as the long trains of the dresses followed. Golden shoes peeked from under the golden dresses one at a time until the foursome reached the alter where Beth was delivered to Andrew and Lil was delivered to Richard.

  The church was still as the Pastor spoke, giving praise, advice and instructions. The guests listened and watched intently as vows and rings were exchanged between Lil and Richard. Reassuring hand squeezes were passed between Beth’s parents as vows were exchanged between Beth and Andrew.

  “I Beth give you Andrew this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you. With this ring I thee wed.”

  Beth began to slide the gold band on Andrews ring finger as she noticed a golden swirl of dust at her feet begin to whirl up toward their hands. She looked into Andrew’s eyes. He didn’t seem to notice. As the ring encircled Andrew’s finger the golden dust hovered as if waiting for something.

  “I Andrew give you Beth this ring as an eternal symbol of my love and commitment to you. With this ring I thee wed.”

  As Andrew began to slide the golden band on Beth’s ring finger another swirl of golden dust whirled to their hands. Andrew slid the ring all the way while Beth watched as the golden dust swirled and mingled becoming one.

  CHAPTER 37

  Limousines and cars pulled up to the Birchwood Inn located on the edge of town to celebrate the union of the brides and grooms. Cars parked and people abandoned them quickly making their way to the glass room where the festivities would unfold.

  A sleek white limousine motored to the entrance. The doors opened as the brides and grooms exited. The grooms offered the crooks of their arms to their brides. Newly ringed fingers accepted as they all strolled in.

  Cheers blared as the couples entered. The orchestra played as family members and friends greeted the newly married couples. They seated themselves with their wedding party in golden ladder back chairs at the elongated head table covered with a white cloth adorned with a silk golden runner down the middle. Crystal glasses, china plates, gold utensils and golden napkins marked each seat. Crystal vases holding red roses lined the length of the table.

  Lil sitting next to Beth leaned close to her ear whispering, “I wasn’t sure all the gold was going to work, but it’s awesome sis. One day you have to tell me why it was so important to you.”

  “I will. I promise,” she whispered back.

  “The first dance is for the brides and grooms,” a voice announced.

  Beth looked at Lil. “Who hired him? The bartender from Club Ratchett?”

  “Calm down Beth. He’s good at this type of event and it’s open bar. He’s great behind the bar.”

  Andrew and Richard stood and escorted their wives to the dance floor holding them close as the orchestra played. Friends and family joined them on the dance floor. After the dance Lil and Beth began to mingle as did Richard and Andrew. From the corner of her eye Beth saw a waving hand. She turned to see Gabriella waving her over.

  “Beth, you are a breath taking bride. I can’t tell you how pleased I was to receive an invitation. A gold invitation? A golden wedding?” she said as she arched an eyebrow at Beth.

  “I’m not sure why but it was important to me to have a golden wedding.” Beth took Gabriella’s arm and led her to a private corner, “I need to apologize to you for not returning your book. I intended to but…”

  “It’s okay Beth. I was concerned at first when my sista told me you didn’t show up. But then the book didn’t return…”

  “The book didn’t return?”

  “Yes Beth. The book always returns to the guardian when the deed has failed. My family is indebted to you my child…”

  “Indebted?”

  “Yes. No one has ever been able to execute the deed. Not only did you successfully execute the deed Beth, you freed Theron and Zara from their eons of limbo; the golden dust that encircled your rings...”

  “You saw?” Beth whispered full of surprise.

  “Yes. The exchange of the rings between you and Andrew released Theron and Zara from their bondage. Now they can rest peacefully. Thank you Beth.”

  “Beth, dinner is about to be served,” Andrew said as he approached the pair talking in the corner.

  Andrew escorted Beth back to the table. Lil and Richard followed. The bartender approached carrying a tray of four drinks in glasses. He balanced the tray with one hand and lifted an orange drink with the other, “One Sloe Comfortable Screw for Mr. Winslow,” he said placing the tall orange drink in front of Richard. “For Mrs. Winslow, we have,” he lifted the tall white drink, “a Screaming Orgasm.” He placed the drink in front of Lil and inched down to Andrew and Beth. Beth tensed as he lifted a short light tea colored drink sprinkled with ice cubes and whispered, “For you Dr. Conway, one Between The Sheets.” The bartender scooted an inch toward Beth, showed her a gleaming smile as he lifted a tall lime colored drink topped with a pink umbrella. Lil put her hand on Beth’s arm, whispered in her ear, “They’re just fun drink names Beth.” The bartender made a production of delivering Beth’s drink, “And for Mrs. Beth Conway, the doctor’s wife, we have a Leg Spreader.”

  Lil stifled a laugh. Beth glared at her. Andrew patted her hand and kissed her cheek.

  “Did I miss the joke?” Richard asked looking sideways at Lil and Andrew.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you,” the bartender asked.

  “No,” in unison was the answer.

  The bartender still in front of Beth bowed and then scurried to the bar.

  “I know that was your doing,” Beth whispered to Lil.

  “Actually, it was me,” Andrew said. “I enjoyed the story when Lil told it.”

  “You told him?” Beth asked wide eyed.

  “It was cute and funny,” Andrew added.

  “You know what?” Lil interrupted, “I love my drink because tonight my husband will make sure I have a few screaming orgasms.”

  “So what is he saying?” Beth began, “I’m so uptight my husband will need a leg spreader tonight.”

  Andrew, Lil and Richard laughed.

  “Hey, what are you guys talking about? Who needs a leg spreader,” one of the groomsmen asked.

  The chuckles cont
inued, “It’s nothing,” Richard replied.

  Beth turned her body to face Lil, full of indignation, “That’s the wrong drink for me Lil. I tried on the shoes,” she whispered harshly.

  “No way. Not you,” Lil whispered back.

  “Yes, I did and I’m pregnant,” Beth whispered with indignation.

  “Oh, shit Beth, you’re serious,” Lil whispered back.

  “Oh hell,” Beth murmured.

  “Did you just say oh hell? Lil asked in shock. “You never swear,” she whispered.

  “Excuse us,” Beth said grabbing Lil’s arm, “We need the ladies room.”

  Beth ushered Lil by the elbow toward the exit. They found a private spot under a tree.

  “Lil, you can’t tell anyone. I haven’t even told Andrew yet.”

  “Oh shit sis, I’m gonna be an aunt. Auntie Lil. I like it,” she said rubbing her hand over Beth’s stomach.

  “Stop it,” Beth protested. “Someone may see. You want daddy praying for me if he finds out it happened before the wedding?”

  “What do you think about Auntie Beth?” Lil asked.

  Beth’s hand flew to her mouth, “You too?”

  Lil shaking her head and smiling saying, “Yes, I haven’t told anyone either. I can only get pregnant every other month since I only have one tube. So, I refuse to take any birth control until I have at least one little bundle of joy. After my screaming orgasm I plan to tell Richard.”

  “That should have been my drink,” Beth said. I guess after Andrew uses the leg spreader on his uptight wife, I’ll tell him.”

  “Hey, maybe we’ll have our babies the same day. That would be cool,” said Lil.

  “It would be. Wouldn’t it?”

  “Let’s go claim our men. I’m ready for my honeymoon,” Lil said latching onto Beth’s arm and heading for the door.

  Walking through the door, Lil took a look around, “Hey Beth, our golden wedding turned out quite beautifully. Why gold?”