by Ava Bell
“Okay, Maggie.” I speak in a strong tone to let her know I’m serious about this. “I’ll let you call the shots on this one, but in the morning if you’re not feeling or looking better, I will take you to the ER. Understand?” She nods her head slowly but never looks at me. Once we’ve unpacked and gotten Ellie into bed, I lie down and pull Maggie against me. “Why are you so stubborn?” I ask, kissing her neck. She turns to look at me, and I can tell she’s been crying.
“I’m scared, Sam. I watched my mother wither away before my eyes and it was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever experienced. How can I put Ellie through that?” I pull back and look at her.
“Maggie, how can you say that? You don’t know if that’s what will happen. I don’t ever want you to talk like that again!” She closes her eyes and holds me tightly as we both drift off to sleep.
The next morning I wake up in an empty bed. I can hear dishes clanging around downstairs and Ellie’s voice. I pull on my sweatpants and a t-shirt before walking downstairs to find Maggie standing at the stove, making scrambled eggs.
“Good morning,” I say, lightly brushing my hand across Maggie’s butt as I walk by.
“Good morning,” she replies, with a forced smile. She thinks she has me fooled, but I know this is just a way of making me believe she’s feeling better. I lean over and kiss Ellie as I sit down at the table.
“Hey, pumpkin. Are you having scrambled eggs this morning?” I ask. “Or are those Mommy’s?” I see Maggie relax her shoulders as she lets out a loud huff.
“These are for Ellie. I’m having cereal.” She slams the cabinet door after retrieving a box of Cheerios.
I can feel the tension in the air. This is going to be an interesting day. I attempt to help Maggie do some much-needed laundry, but she continues to give me the cold shoulder.
“Hey.” When she walks by, I grab her by the waist and pull her to me. “Don’t be mad at me. If I didn’t love you so much I wouldn’t be so concerned.”
She turns to look away from me. “Stop, Sam, I need to finish.” She pushes my arms away and I follow her upstairs
“Maggie, I’m going to hire a housekeeper.” She stops and turns around slowly.
“Do you think I’m not capable of taking care of things?” She walks slowly towards me. “Are you saying I’m not doing what needs to be done?” Maggie pushes me slightly to make her point.
“Oh, come on. Did those words even come out of my mouth?” I turn and walk into the bedroom and she follows me. I can tell she’s not happy with my idea.
“I’m not sure moving in here was such a good idea.” She walks into the closet, and I watch her grab a bag off the top shelf, stuffing it with clothes.
I grab the bag. “Oh no, you’re not.” I throw the bag on the bed. “You’re not doing this to me. Don’t you make me out to be the bad guy.” I turn and close the door so our loud voices don’t scare Ellie. She sits on the bed and slumps her shoulders as though she’s been defeated, so I kneel in front of her. “Please, Maggie, don’t ever say moving in was a bad idea.” I lay my head in her lap, and she slowly caresses my hair.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean what I said. I don’t want to move out, I won’t move out.” She leans down and kisses the top of my head, and for the rest of the day, she is quiet.
As I lie awake and watch Maggie sleep, I make the decision that I’ve been thinking about for several weeks now. I’m going to ask Maggie to marry me. I’m sure it won’t be a big surprise to her. I can’t imagine my life without her, and my main purpose in life is to take care of her and Ellie. The next morning I shower and hurry downstairs, seeing Maggie and Ellie having breakfast on the patio. I open the patio door and stick my head out.
“There are my favorite girls!” Ellie runs and wraps her arms around me, kissing my cheek.
“Hey, I have to run a few errands. I’ll be back by lunch.” Maggie smiles and shoos me away.
My first stop is Aunt Virginia’s. I’ll need her opinion on just how I should go about proposing, because I want it to be perfect, not cliché.’ I have an idea of how I would like to do it, I just need Aunt Virginia’s help to make it happen. Two hours later Aunt Virginia and I have all the details worked out. We decide since Maggie loves the beach, Hilton Head would be the perfect spot. I find a bed-and-breakfast that can arrange everything: DeSoto Beach Bed & Breakfast on Tybee Island. Before I leave Aunt Virginia’s, she assures me that she will take care of telling them everything I want. Driving through downtown Savannah, I spot the jewelers that Maggie’s aunt has recommended and as I walk through glancing into the cases, I feel a tremendous amount of pressure to find the perfect ring. I point out several unique styles to the saleslady, and although they are all beautiful, they could never match Maggie’s beauty.
I finally decide on a simple one-carat diamond solitaire with a matching band that has three quarter-carat stones; Amethyst for Ellie’s birthstone, Peridot for Maggie’s birthstone, and a Ruby for my birthstone. As I’m getting into my car I hear someone yelling my name, and when I turn, I see Josh walking towards me.
“Hey, Sam. I thought that was you,” he says. He extends his hand to me and we shake.
“How are you, Josh?” I can feel the awkwardness as we stand on the sidewalk.
“I’m great, just working long hours and staying busy,” he replies. I notice Josh hesitating as we make small talk. I know what he wants to know, but he’s not sure how to ask, so I save him the trouble.
“She’s good, Josh. The chemo has been rough on her but she’ll get through it.” He nods and looks down.
“And Ellie?” he asks.
“Ellie is great. She’ll be five in a few months and she’s constantly on the go.” He points to the small bag.
“Shopping for jewelry?” he asks.
I raise the bag. “Yeah, something for Maggie.” I smile and he nods, as though he knows there’s a ring in it.
“Good, she deserves it. Listen, I’ll see ya around, okay?”
I smile and wave, opening the car door. “See you later, Josh.”
I stash the small bag in the glove compartment and drive towards the house, and while I’m driving, I work out the details in my head of how to go about convincing Maggie to go away for the weekend. Tybee Island is only a forty-five minute drive from here. I don’t want to be too far away in case Maggie isn’t feeling well, but it will have to be this weekend since her next chemo treatment is the following week. Pulling into the driveway and turning off the car, I take a steeling breath and go into the house. Maggie and Ellie are curled up on the sofa watching a Disney movie: Tangled. Maggie says it’s Ellie’s favorite movie, but I know the truth. Maggie loves that movie and she’s always talking about the lighted lanterns that float through the village and how she would love to see what they would really look like floating against the dark sky.
“Ahh, Maggie’s watching her favorite movie,” I tease.
“You know it’s Ellie’s favorite movie!” she exclaims.
I wink her way. “I know, she tells me all the time.” I squeeze in with them on the sofa.
Ellie raises her head and smiles. “Mommy and I want pizza for dinner.”
Maggie turns and smiles at me. “Pizza it is!” I exclaim, and we all finish watching Maggie’s favorite movie.
Ellie eats her weight in pizza, and of course the minute she’s strapped in the car, she falls fast asleep. I tiptoe upstairs as I carry her to her bed and after we both tuck her in and say our goodnights, I grab Maggie, throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her into our bedroom. I gently lay her back onto the bed and I lean over her, staring into her eyes. I can see the want in them and I’m sure she can see the need in mine.
I lean down and softly kiss her, starting with her forehead and working down to her navel. She sits up and pulls her shirt over her head while I undo her pink lacy bra. She giggles as I hook my fingers in the waistband of her pants and pull them off. Maggie laughs and tries scoot away, but I grab her ankles and pull
her to the edge of the bed.
“Come here, I wanna make you feel good,” I say softly. She lies back and relaxes her legs open as I slowly tease her by kissing and licking up and down her inner thighs. She tries to wiggle her legs free, but I have a firm grip on both knees and I can tell she’s getting closer by her moans and the grip she has on my hair. I can feel her body relax completely as I lick and suck through her wetness. I swirl my tongue around and around when she starts to get louder.
“OH GOD, SAM! YES! Right there, don’t stop.” I smile, knowing that I can drive her to the edge at any minute, but I want to draw this out a little longer. I pull back and insert my finger deep inside of her.
“Maggie, you’re so wet. Come for me, baby. Let me feel you come.” I feel her legs tense as she throws her head back and screams my name. Suddenly she sits up and grabs my shirt, pulling it over my head as I’m unbuttoning my pants. Before I realize it, Maggie is on her knees in front of me desperately pulling my pants down.
“Hold on, Maggie. Let me get my pants off,” I say. But instead, she pushes me back onto the bed and wraps her mouth around me. I can barely catch my breath as she sucks and I know I’m not going to last long if she continues, so I reach down and pull her up.
“I don’t wanna come without being inside of you.” She leans down and kisses me as I slide into her and we move together. She grabs both of my wrists and pins them down over my head, but her nipple dangles close to my mouth, so I flick it with my tongue. She moves closer so I can pull it into my mouth. Maggie moves up and down, matching each thrust with mine, as I suck on each nipple and get closer to my release. I flip her over onto her stomach and she raises her ass in the air. I grab her hips and push as deep as I can.
Afterwards we both collapse on the bed, trying to catch our breath and I reach over to pull her closer to me. I can feel her breathing getting slower as she presses her cheek against my chest.
“I wanna go somewhere this weekend, just the two of us,” I say softly, brushing my hand up and down her back.
“Where do you want to go?” she asks.
“There’s a bed-and-breakfast on Tybee Island. I want to take you there.” Maggie looks up at me.
“Does it have to be this weekend?” she asks.
I squeeze her tight and whisper, “Yes, this weekend. No arguments.” She nods and I feel her relax as she falls asleep.
I’M STILL UNSURE why Sam has planned this weekend getaway, but I’m not going to complain since our last trip was cut short. Aunt Virginia has been so good to us, I hate asking her to take Ellie for the weekend, but Ellie loves staying with her. As I stand in the doorway watching my aunt pull into the driveway, Ellie pushes past me and runs towards her as she gets out of the car. I smile as Aunt Virginia wraps her arms around Ellie and kisses her.
“Do you have everything packed?” she asks, kneeling down.
“Yes, Aunt Vi, I’m ready!” Ellie exclaims, pulling her towards the car.
I grab her bag off the step and carry it to the car. “Hi, Aunt Virginia,” I say, hugging her. She pulls back and looks at me from head to toe.
“Looks like you’ve gained some weight, sweetie. I knew Sam would take good care of you.” She winks and kisses my cheek and as they pull out of the driveway, I wave and blow a kiss to them. Then I turn to go back inside. I can hear the shower running as I get closer to the bedroom. I strip myself bare, stepping in behind him, and Sam grabs my arms as I wrap them around his waist.
“Maggie, we can’t right now. We need to get packed and on the road.”
I kiss his shoulder. “I’m all packed. Besides, it’s only a forty-five minute drive,” I plead.
Sam turns and takes my face in his hands. “I promise to make it up to you tonight.” He kisses me softly.
Forty-five minutes later, Sam announces that he’s starving. I smile and nod, pulling into The Crab Shack. My stomach growls when the smell of fresh seafood hits me as soon as we walk in.
While Sam and I dig into a pile of crab legs that are spread out on our table, Sam keeps glancing at me as though he’s nervous about something.
“Okay, what’s up with you today?” I ask.
He looks at me with a guilty grin. “I’m just excited about being alone with you for an entire weekend, that’s all.” The smile on his face tells me there’s more he’s not telling me about.
Sam checks us in to the DeSoto Beach Bed & Breakfast. While I stand outside looking at the beautiful view, the smell of the ocean drifts through the air and all around me. Sam and I walk up the staircase to our room, and it takes my breath away when he opens the door; everything is white and pale-blues with yellow accents. The four-poster bed is huge and it faces French doors leading out to a small balcony that looks over the ocean. Everything is perfect about this place. There’s a soft knock at the door, and a small, older woman hands Sam a big basket of freshly baked cookies, scones, and muffins. Sam sits it on the bed and joins me on the balcony. He sits down in the big white wicker chair and pulls me into his lap. I kiss him hard and deep. He knows I haven’t forgotten his promise this morning and he’s about to make good on it. He carries me to the bed and lays me down. I keep my eyes on his as he starts to undress, and I unzip my sundress, wiggling out of it. Sam looks at me with intrigue when he sees my red lacy push-up bra and matching thong. The saleslady at Victoria’s Secret promised me that he wouldn’t be disappointed, and by the look on his face . . . he isn’t. Sam slowly pulls my thong down as I lift my hips, but when I start to undo my bra, he stops me.
“No, no, no . . . leave it on. It’s sexy and it makes me HOT!” he says, breathlessly.
I spread my legs wide, giving him all access as he climbs onto the bed. His kisses are rough with passion and need. I feel his hardness as it glides through my wetness and it sends shockwaves through my body. When he pushes into me, a loud moan escapes my mouth and with each thrust harder than the last, I arch my back and grip his arms. Sam covers my mouth with his when he senses I can no longer stifle my moans as I reach my release. Sam grabs my ass and pushes deep one last time before collapsing on top of me. I can feel his warm breath on my neck while he traces his fingers over my face.
“God, I wish you knew how much I love you,” he says, and he leans over and kisses my forehead.
“I think I have an idea,” I reply. “If it’s even close to how much I love you, then I know.”
Sam swats me on the rear as I climb off the bed and head towards the shower. I stop and marvel at the beautiful sunset outside our balcony.
“We have dinner reservations in two hours. Think you can be ready by then?” he asks.
I turn and give him that look. “Are you saying it takes me a long time to get ready?” Sam only shakes his head and laughs. “If you had this much hair it would take extra time too.” I turn, wiggling my butt while I go into the bathroom, and I hear him giggle as I shut the door.
Sam takes my hand as we walk towards the entrance of the restaurant. He slides his hand over my bare back, caressing it. “This dress makes you look so hot, Maggie,” he whispers in my ear. I smile because that’s exactly the response I was hoping for.
After the waiter seats us in a nice discreet booth, I slide my strappy heels off and snake my foot up and between his legs until I feel a nice hard bulge. Sam looks over his menu at me and grins, so I move my foot around. I know I have his attention and I use it to drive him crazy.
“Don’t make me bend you over this table in front of everyone and fuck you until you scream.”
I smirk and go back to looking at the menu. After dinner, Sam and I walk along the beach. The sound of the surf is mesmerizing. Sam bends down and picks up a shell, handing it to me; it’s a Van Hyning’s cockle, a heart-shaped shell. I place the shell in my purse as we walk towards the car.
Sam makes me close my eyes before he opens the door to our room. “Maggie, just do it, please.” He gives me that pouty lip, and I could never resist his pouty lip.
“Okay, just hurry.” I cl
ose my eyes and place both hands over them. I smell the most delicious smell when he opens the door, a mixture of Jasmine and Lavender. Sam guides me slowly into the room.
“Keep your eyes closed and don’t move.” Sam moves away from me and I stand still, waiting for his cue. “Okay, Maggie, open your eyes,” I hear him say. It takes me a few seconds to finally open them because I wanted that moment to last just a few seconds longer.
“Oh. My. God. Sam! What is all this?” I exclaim, looking around the candlelit room. Every surface has a lighted candle, the glow of the room making it look magical. I continue to take it all in; daisies scattered on the bed, champagne chilling on the balcony table, and Sam kneeling in front of me. On one knee.
I cover my face with my hands. “Sam, baby, what have you done?” I look down and he’s holding in the palm of his hand the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.
I lean down and take his face in my hands. “Yes. Yes. Yes,” I say, planting soft kisses all over his face. He slides the ring onto my finger and kisses it gently. I hold my hand out in front of me as I gaze at the sparkle on my finger.
“It’s so beautiful, Sam. When did you do all this?”
“Last week, your aunt helped me arrange it all.” He leads me out onto the balcony. Sam pours champagne into each glass and hands me one. “A toast to my soon-to-be wife.” And we clink our glasses together, and later that night Sam and I make love with such passion and intensity, it leaves us both exhausted and sated.
As the sunlight streams in through the windows, I open my eyes and immediately look at my left hand. It’s real; the ring on my finger proves that the amazing night we had wasn’t just a dream, it was a dream come true. Sam’s arms and legs are intertwined with mine. He raises his head and smiles. “Good morning,” he says. I wrap my arms around him as he nuzzles his face between my breasts.
