Revealing Destiny

by C. J. Corbin

  Annie had expertly bandaged my hands but they and my body were stiff and sore. I hated to remove the bandages but I needed a shower more. Michael came into the bathroom and poked his head into the shower.

  "How are you doing?" he asked. He was sweaty and it looked like he had been jogging. "I wanted to get a run in before it started raining. How was your walk?"

  "Okay. You're letting all the hot air out."

  He closed the shower door, "Sorry."

  It was then I wished I had thrown away the bandages I had removed.

  "What are these?" He held them up.

  "I fell and scraped up my hands," I explained.

  "Let me see." He opened the shower door again. I sighed and held my hands out for him.

  "Jesus, Elizabeth. What happened?"

  "I said I fell."

  "You don't get scrapes like this falling."

  I took a big breath. "Okay, I fell from the tree stand."

  "What?" he exclaimed. "What were you doing at the tree stand?"

  "I wanted to visit the eagles. I hadn't seen them and you weren't very forthcoming with information this morning."

  "You could have seriously hurt yourself. I don't understand you. Why would you do something so reckless?"

  I pulled my hands back in. I didn't feel like having an argument while I was naked. It made me feel too vulnerable. "Please close the shower door. It's getting cold."

  He handed me a towel after I finished my shower, having already removed his clothes. I wish he wouldn't do that, it made having an argument with him so much more difficult. He pulled the towel and me closer to him.

  "You know we need to talk," he said looking down at me. "Babe, I hate seeing you unhappy."

  "Take your shower and then let's talk."

  By the time Michael was finished, I was dressed and had applied new bandages to my hands. I sat in the living room watching the sunset, trying to collect my thoughts and remember how peaceful it had been up at the eagle's stand. He joined me on the couch and we were silent for a few minutes, listening to the birds chirping. Lifting my legs into his lap, he began to rub my feet, which I had to admit felt very good.

  He let out a big sigh, "What are we going to do?"

  "We deal with everything the best we can. We support Tammy. There will be plenty of time for her to go to school. In the meantime, we help Tammy and her baby. It looks like we're going to have Christina here to help too."

  He stopped rubbing my feet and looked over at me. "I'm not ready to be a grandfather."

  I moved my feet in his lap and smiled, "You better get ready. Keep rubbing. That feels good."

  Michael chuckled, "I'd rather be doing this."

  He pulled me to him, cocooning me in his arms while nibbling at my neck. He then found my lips; he was right, this felt much better. His kisses were richer than chocolate and they fed me until I was totally engulfed in him. Our tongues swirled together as he completely cast his spell over me and I forgot our arguments. A rush of pleasure began as his hands roamed under my sweater and his fingers wiggled under my bra to brush against the tender tips of my breasts.

  My hand searched until I found the crotch of his jeans, his arousal already pressing tightly against the zipper. I gently squeezed him, which elicited a deep throaty growl from Michael.

  "Well, isn't this touching? Are you two filming a porno?" Margaret's voice stopped us in our tracks.

  We both looked up at Margaret while we disentangled ourselves and she flounced herself into a nearby chair.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked with exasperation in my voice.

  "I was invited," she replied with a sneer.

  Michael cleared his throat. "Don't you remember how to knock, Margaret? You just barge in?"

  She looked at her red painted nails and then back up at him. "I did. You must not have heard it. Looks like you were otherwise occupied," she said, rolling her eyes. "You invited me to dinner. I didn't expect to find a sexual act in the living room."

  Michael stood and walked into the kitchen. "Oh stop it, Margaret. Nothing was happening."

  "Yeah, I would call fucking her nothing, too." She said it so low under her breath that Michael didn't hear it, but I certainly did.

  I righted my clothing and as I followed him into the kitchen. I glanced at her, "Careful you bleach blond bimbo. I'll throw your ass out of here."

  "Just try it, you stupid bitch," she murmured under her breath.

  Before I knew it, the house was full of people. Michael tried to put his best foot forward, but when Debi and Don discovered he had switched camps, the tension was thick in the air. I wished Annie had come because I knew that of all people, she would be able to talk some sense into her son and daughter-in-law. The not so kind insinuations made about Tammy, which made her burst into tears more than once, were painful for Michael. It surprised me Jason did not leap to her defense and instead sat among the proceedings being very quiet. At least he held her hand and gave her sympathetic looks.

  Christina helped me in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the dinner Michael had prepared.

  "How did you manage to sway him over to the dark side?" she asked while she took the garlic bread out of the oven.

  I shrugged my shoulders. "You know him better than I do. It surprised me." I tossed the Greek salad with the dressing he made.

  "I'm glad he finally found reason. I was worried I'd have to drag our parents into this. Adoption is not a word that is translated easily in our family. Everyone would have freaked out." She picked up a piece of feta from the table that escaped the salad bowl, and popped it into her mouth. "Grandmother Helen isn't going to be happy Tammy isn't getting married," Christina said as she chewed, "but, that's the way it is."

  We carried the lasagna and salad to the dining room table and announced dinner. Margaret had been surprisingly quiet as well during the discussions in the living room. It didn't stop her, however, from throwing dagger looks at me. Inwardly, I grinned to myself and thought maybe I scared her after all.

  It hurt that Debi and Don barely spoke to me during dinner. I know they blamed me for the sway in Michael's opinion. It was evident that nothing we could say would change their minds. Both were adamant Jason should stay in school and, clearly, he did not object.

  At that point, Margaret became more belligerent. She had too much wine and her voice rose louder, accusing Jason of not accepting his fatherly duties. Jason's parents were incensed at the implications and barbs began to fly.

  "Had your daughter not stopped taking birth-control, none of this would have happened!" Don directed his comment loudly at Margaret. "Now you want him to stop his education? That is not going to happen!"

  "Your son seduced my daughter!" Margaret yelled back.

  "Enough!" Michael said firmly. "We are not getting anywhere with this bickering and finger-pointing. I think we've already concluded Tammy is keeping her child. I will support her and when she is able to go back to school, she'll continue her education. She'll live either here or with Christina. Should Jason want to be with Tammy and the baby, it is up to him to make that decision. At this point, it doesn't look likely that Jason wants to do that."

  Margaret aimed her venom at Michael, "And where are you going to get the money to do all of this?" She laughed, "Oh yes, you don't have to pay me alimony any longer do you? So, you're flush with cash."

  "Where I get the money is none of your business, Margaret. I no longer owe you anything," he replied simply.

  "Or is Elizabeth giving you money now?" She smirked and looked at me, "Is that how you're hooking him, you bitch? Trapping him and then paying him to marry you?"

  I rolled my eyes and looked at Michael, who shook his head and rose from his chair.

  "Margaret, you need to leave now. I warned you about making comments to Elizabeth. You've crossed the line again."

  "I'm not leaving!" she said confidently. "Tammy doesn't want me to leave, do you honey?"

  "Mom, I think it's better if you d
o leave. You're not being nice to Elizabeth." She dropped Jason's hand and stood next to Michael. "Dad, thank you. I appreciate your support and I will make the effort to live up to the confidence you're showing in me."

  Michael put his arm around Tammy's shoulders and kissed the top of her head before holding her closely. "Oh sweetheart, you know I love you and only want the best for you."

  I could feel tears welling up in my eyes when I looked at the two of them. "My two oldest and dearest friends," I said directing my attention to Debi and Don. "We've been through so much together, but frankly, I'm appalled at the way you've treated Tammy. Blaming her for these circumstances instead of rallying behind these kids to figure out a way to support them is disappointing. Plans go astray. Things happen. It's a measure of our self-worth in how we respond to these bumps in the road." I looked at Jason, "I expect you to give some hard thought to what is important in life. I don't disagree with your desire to stay in school, but you now have some additional responsibilities which you've added to your life." Debi opened her mouth to speak, but I continued, "Whether you planned this or not. It happened. Now, you have to decide how you're going to handle it." I joined Michael and Tammy.

  He squeezed my hand and whispered, "I love you babe."

  There was a long gap of silence. Don and Debi looked down at their empty plates; Jason looked at his parents and then at Tammy.

  Finally, Christina cleared her throat, "I think we have cake for dessert! Margaret, shall I wrap yours in a to-go bag?"

  I don't know what made Michael change his mind, but I doubt it was because he was afraid to be a grandfather. Debi and Don were quiet after the shift happened at dinner and they did not stay for dessert, especially after Margaret continued to argue for a wedding. Everyone ignored her opinion. Christina stayed behind to help me with the dishes while Michael packed up Tammy's car and sent her back to school.

  I breathed a long heavy sigh and put the last pot back into the cupboard. Christina closed the dishwasher door and turned it on.

  "I think everyone needs to some tea," she said. "Want to join me?"

  I nodded and wiped the kitchen table off. "That's a good idea."

  We heard the backdoor close and Michael joined us in the kitchen. At first, he just looked at us and ran his hands through this hair. "Man, what a night."

  "I'm making tea," Christina held up a mug, "want some?"

  He nodded, "Anything else I can do in the kitchen?"

  "We're good," I said and placed three mugs on the table. I pulled the German chocolate cake out and sliced three large pieces.

  "Mmmm...Good cake Michael," Christina said after we all settled down at the table. "Grandma Betty's recipe, isn't it?"

  He smiled, "Yeah, but I put in more pecans than she did."

  Christina contemplated her fork after she took another bite and said, "I didn't realize until now that Grandma Betty's name was actually Elizabeth." She smiled, "I guess we are going to have another Elizabeth in the family."

  "Did you know her well?" I asked. I knew they had lost their grandparents on his father's side several years ago.

  "Oh yes," she nodded, "when we were young both Grandma Betty and Grandpa Fred lived with us. She would babysit us while Mom and Dad worked. Grandpa Fred was an editor for the newspaper and I remember when he came home he would read the daily cartoons to us. I loved that."

  Michael grinned, "And he loved to take pictures. I still remember that old Brownie camera he gave to me for my seventh birthday." He chuckled. "I always spent all my allowance buying film. Grandpa would bring film home for me saying he found it at the office. He'd give it to me if I washed his car." Laughing again, he said, "He had the cleanest car in the neighborhood."

  "We had great times with them," Christina grinned and Michael suddenly looked reflective.

  "I don't know how I'm ever going to measure up to Grandpa Fred. He was so patient with me."

  Christina leaned over and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry big brother. We're not going to let you make any mistakes."

  "What finally made you change your mind?" I asked.

  He laughed, "The women around me run my life!"

  I smacked him on the shoulder and then kissed him on the cheek. "We do not!"

  Christina giggled, "Oh yes we do!"

  Later, when Michael and I were finally in bed listening to the rain, I broached the subject again.

  "You don't really think we run your life, do you?" I asked as I turned around in his arms and laid my head on his chest.

  "No," he answered simply.

  "Then what really made you change your mind?"

  He let out one of his big breaths and laced his fingers with mine. "You made me realize I don't have to carry everything on my shoulders. I have a partner in all this now and someone who will stand with me," he paused to kiss my hand, "and someone who will tell me when I'm being a jerk."

  I giggled and pulled his hand over to my lips. Whispering as I nuzzled his hand, "You can always count on me."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  During the following week, we awoke early and hiked out to the eagle stand every morning. Michael was sure that the eggs would hatch very soon. Fortunately, the weather held, and the rain that had been threatening didn't catch us. Michael gave me special leather gloves and, with his help to climb down the rope ladder, there were no more mishaps.

  On the fourth morning, we climbed the tree and he was the first to spot a crack in one of the eggs when Ethel moved.

  "Look Elizabeth, the egg in the middle, do you see it?"

  I looked through my binoculars and focused on the center of the nest. "Oh..." I said slowly. "There it is. It's a big one and it wasn't there yesterday."

  He laughed and continued to look through the lens of his camera. "No, it wasn't."

  "How long do you think it will take?"

  "We might see an eaglet tomorrow when we come out. It will take several days for all three to hatch."

  I held the binoculars back up and when I saw a small piece of shell fly up from the egg, I inhaled sharply, " Michael, look! I don't think we have to wait!"

  We stood there together, watching in awe as a small, grayish-white feathered head popped up from the opening in the egg. It took a while before the tiny eaglet was completely free from the surrounding shell. Its tiny, wobbly legs were unable to support its body, and Ethel was there, immediately tending to her young until she finally tucked the little bird under her wings.

  "Oh, this is so thrilling!" I exclaimed in a hushed voice.

  His eyes crinkled in pleasure when he looked down at me. "How did I ever find a woman who would find this as exciting as I do?" he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me.

  "Like I said, we're in this together."

  Michael's lips met mine and I was reminded of how special this place was to us. Our first night together was spent here under the stars last summer and it was here he proposed.

  Over the next several weeks, we made daily treks to the eagle's nest to watch all the eaglets hatch and start their growth process. Michael had warned me in the early days that it was not uncommon for the first born to kill one of their siblings, so each morning I held my breath, expecting the worst. Fortunately, none of the hatchlings committed fratricide.

  Both parents tended the nest, but it was Ethel more often than the male eagle who fed the eaglets, whereas the male did most of the hunting. It was surprising how rapidly the birds grew and by the end of three weeks they were all over a foot tall, their feet and beaks nearly the size of their parents.

  During this time, we were both preparing for our trips. Michael was flying up to Canada to document the new polar bear cubs leaving their dens for the first time and I would be in Los Angeles working on the movie. Both Tommy and Marcus were meeting Michael in Churchill and I suspected it would probably turn into a bad boy fest. Nancy would be in L.A. with me, which was a great relief to me. I missed having someone close to talk to since both Debi and Don were stil
l not speaking to us. This cast a heavy shadow over what should have been a happy time for all of us. It was the first time I had experienced a split with either Debi or Don and it was causing a painful void in my heart.

  We enjoyed having Christina around. She spent the majority of her days supervising the building of her house. I felt sympathy for the contractors, because no detail escaped her. While she was gone from my cabin and, since there were fewer distractions, I started writing the first book of a new series there. The biggest distraction at the house was Michael. He would quietly come up behind me and read what I was writing over my shoulder. That drove me nuts, which he thought was quite funny.

  As it worked out, we were leaving on our trips on the same day. There was a flurry of activity at our house the day before. My nausea had finally abated; my regular clothes were beginning to be a little snug but still fit, and I was beginning to show a small baby bump. As I was packing, I knew it was time to think of buying maternity clothes. I hoped Nancy and I would have some time to go shopping while we were in Los Angeles. I hated shopping and she loved it. She would know where to go.

  For the first time, we had to board our dogs because we had no one to care for them. Normally Debi and Don would have accepted the responsibility, but I received a message through their daughter Betsy that no one would be available. I couldn't believe the lengths they were resorting to and it was making me angry. I was afraid, too, that the longer this went on, the more damage it would do to our friendship.

  "Are you sure you don't want me to come along with you?" Michael asked as we managed to wrangle all four dogs into my Range Rover. He leaned through the driver's side window to kiss me. "I can postpone my conference call."

  "No. I can handle it. I don't want you to keep the San Diego Zoo people waiting."

  "Be careful. The roads are still slick from the rain and there might still be snow when you get on the other side of Mintock," he said, tenderly kissing me. "We need to get you a new car when we get back. One day this heap of junk isn't going to start or something worse."