THE HEALING HEART: Military and Pregnancy Romance

by Zelda Clemens

  As the cops were about to leave, Mason and Evelyn arrived at the store. I told Mason the whole thing. Cops left, and the scene was cleared. My father, before leaving for the skiing center, asked Mason to fix the backyard fence. I kept the store closed and Evelyn, Mason and I went to the yard. While Mason fixed the fence, Evelyn and I sat on the ground and had a little conversation.

  “Do you miss your friends in Denver?” I queried.

  “No.”

  “Why? You didn’t like your friends?”

  “I didn’t have any friends.”

  I was astonished by her answer. It was unbelievable that a teen at her age had no friends.

  “Where are your parents?”

  “Dead,” she said with no stress on her face.

  Before I could ask anything further, she threw an unexpected question to me.

  “Do you like Mason?”

  “Yes, he is a kind and humble man,” my brows shrank.

  “Do you wish to marry him?”

  “What?” my eyes blinked twice and my head moved to and fro.

  “I see the way you look at him, but it won’t be possible. My brother won’t let you marry.”

  I figured out that she is not only weird in her dressing, but also a total maniac and this would be the reason why she didn’t have friends. I quit having any further conversation with her. Mason had finished fixing the fence. We went inside the shop. I opened the shop. A few people came to the shop, and I sold them wine. Later I asked Evelyn to watch the counter, and I went to Mason. Mason was sanding the cellars with a sander. I sat aside of him. He took off his specs and switched off the sander.

  “What, do you want to help?” he asked with a sly smirk.

  “I had a little conversation with Evelyn, and she talked awkwardly.”

  “Excuse her, she is not really social.”

  “Yup, it seems,” I pouted, and he smiled again on it.

  “You look beautiful when you make such faces,” Mason said sliding his finger on my chin. My face blushed with shy. I gave him a coy smile. We kept staring each other for a while, his face was so close to mine that I can feel his hot breath. I was caught at that moment it seems the other second my lips will touch Mason.

  Mason slid his palm wrapping around my neck. I felt the roughness of his palm on my soft skin. And the moment I closed my eyes Mason’s lips gripped mine. His lips crushed mine and I parted them for his hot tongue to taste mine. Lost in his passionate kiss, I enclosed his body in my arms. He moved his hand around my waist and pulled me onto his thighs. His broad burning chest molded on mine, scorched my body with desires. I fell for the moment and his grip on my body tightened. His mannish smell cast a spell on me. He slightly bit my lower lips and it run ache in my desires, I felt shy and pulled my lips from his lips and leaned on his chest hiding my face. Pulling his hands from my waist and neck he cupped my face and pushed up. I opened my eyes to look into his deep eyes blushing with love. His lips parted “I have never felt the way I feel for you, I wish I could hold you forever.” It was so true for me at the moment. I too feel the same way as he does.

  From that moment I felt everything changed around me, my longings for love were freshened up with Mason. Every morning I eagerly waited for him to arrive at the store. But I was unaware of the turn my life was going to take.

  *****

  A few days later, a man came to the shop. He introduced himself as an officer from US Forestry department. He was a white guy with a sleek mustache. He was about twenty-eight or twenty-nine. His brown hair shined, and his brows were arched shaped. He had a solid, sturdy build.

  “I am here to enquire about the moose that died in your backyard.”

  “Okay, what information do you need?”

  “Do you think there’s something odd about the death?”

  “A dead moose in my yard torn into pieces is in itself weird, what else odd do you seek,” I questioned him. He judged my annoyance and changed the topic.

  “I see a lot of mess around your shop,” he wandered his eyes inside the shop.

  “Yes, I am renovating my shop for Oktoberfest.”

  “Oktoberfest! Stein and beers, great. I’ve heard a lot about Breckenridge’s Oktoberfest. Finally I get the chance to see it, would you mind if I look around your shop and later you can take me to the yard.”

  I led him inside the shop. Mason was working on the cellars. I introduced him to the officer.

  “Hey, Mason meet Mr. Ethan, he’s an officer from US Forestry Department.”

  “Ah, of course, you are Mr. Mason, I’m pleased to see you.” He mysteriously smiled on Mason and stretched his hand toward Mason. Mason refused to shake hands and was gazing at Ethan with a bold face. Ethan pulled back his hand and smiled again on him.

  “I met Mr. Murphy yesterday regarding his lost dog, Buffy. He had a lot to say about you and Evelyn,” he said to Mason. Mason eyebrows furrowed but he didn’t speak a word. The way they were looking at each other seemed as they have known each other for years.

  “You know Miss Avery, folks in the town, are talking about wolves, they say, ‘werewolves’ are behind these killings,” he said patting his hand over Mason’s shoulders.

  “All right, let's go to the yard,” he glanced at me.

  I took him to the yard and showed him the spot where moose was killed.

  “Werewolves, seriously! It’s all myth, and people make stories behind every incident,” I said.

  He turned on me and gazed into my eyes, “You mustn’t worry, werewolves don’t bother beautiful women.” His eyes were mesmerizing. I blinked my eyes and stepped aside toward the fence. He made another move toward me, grabbed my hand and placed his business card in my palm.

  “Here’s my card. If you find something, you can ring my bell anytime.”

  His bare hand was warm. It gave a different kind of sensation, yes he has an appealing persona, but the way he approached is too forward for me. He turned away and steadily left the garden.

  I went to Mason and asked him why he didn't speak a word with the officer. Doubt has already raised in my mind.

  “Do you already know him?”

  “No,” he answered and kept himself busy in work.

  “Then why were you looking at him in rage as if you wanted to hit his face?”

  “It’s nothing like that. You just made a wrong observation.”

  “I can feel you are lying. Definitely, you are hiding something.”

  “Hey, look at me,” he sided his tool and grabbed my arms. “Don’t you trust me? Why I would lie to you? Really, I don’t know that man.”

  Mason tried to convince me, but I felt he was lying. There is something he is hiding from me.

  Mason left for his home in the evening. I asked him to come out for skiing, but he said he couldn’t since Evelyn was alone at home. I closed my shop and went alone to the skiing point. I found Ethan was chatting with my father. I knocked on the door to make my dad aware of my presence.

  “Oh, come in dear, meet Mr. Ethan…” dad introduced me.

  “We have already met,” Ethan stood from his chair “I must say, Mr. Peter, your daughter is very charming.” Saying this he darted his eyes from my father to me. I peeked in his eyes for a second and the next moment I drew my eyes away from him showing a sign of discomfort.

  My dad pushed me further into an adverse situation. “Mr. Ethan wants to get familiar with the town, so I proposed to him that you could help,” Dad said with a kind smile. I gawked at him with ambiguity. He prodded me to take Ethan out.

  I led Ethan to the skiing point.

  “Do you like skiing,” I asked Ethan.

  “Depends…” he said.

  “On what?” I asked.

  “Who I’m skiing with,” he spoke raising his brows and spreading his flirtatious smile. I gave him a tour of the skiing center. During this whole time, he passed so many flirty comments in the attempt to charm me. I am not a great admirer of flirts, but it was different this time. Indeed Etha
n was stylish, and his ways were charming. I must admit that I found certain habits of Ethan similar to Mason. May be that was the thing which kept me stringed to Ethan. We returned back to my father's cabin where my dad was waiting for us.

  “So, Mr. Ethan how do you like our skiing center?” My father boasted.

  “Wonderful! I am an adventurous person. In my spare time, I would love to come here often,” he replied.

  “Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight,” Dad offered Ethan.

  “I am sorry it’s not possible tonight. I have some really very urgent affairs to deal with, but I can catch you at breakfast.”

  “All right, Mr. Ethan. Avery and I will wait for you in the morning.”

  We waved bye to Ethan and headed home.

  *****

  Next morning Ethan arrived for breakfast. I went downstairs to fetch him. He was looking very charming. I greeted and invited him upstairs.

  “Where is Mr. Peters?”

  “Some teen broke his fist while skiing early this morning, so Dad had to leave.”

  “Oh, it means I will have the pleasure of having a lovely breakfast with a beautiful lady,” he murmured looking playfully at me.

  “Why are you so flirtatious all the time? It may work on other ladies, but I’m not one of them,” I expressed my discomfort. He didn’t say anything on that. After few moments of silence, I asked him to make himself comfortable while I cooked some breakfast for us. He offered and insisted that he would prepare the meal. I led him into the kitchen. He took off his coat and threw it on the couch. He unbuttoned his sleeves and folded them above his elbow. His forearms were broad and high.

  “You know preparing breakfast is like making love with a woman,” he said grabbing the packet of milk. I stared at him with curiosity. He started preparing the meal.

  “Preparing the coffee is the foreplay. Pouring the milk in the creamer is like placing a woman on the bed, the milk boils slowly, and the desire inside the woman gently entices. Adding the coffee beans in boiling milk is like kissing the woman’s body bit by bit from top to bottom,” he browsed me saying this. “When you see the color has enhanced it means the woman's desire is at its fullest, she is ready to have the sugar,” he smiled, and his shiny mustache stretched. “Now stirring the coffee with the spoon is like caressing the body of the woman, the more we stir, the more its aroma boosts. Now oil the pan,” he glanced at me gently spreading oil all over the pan. His eyes looked like stripping me bare. His alluring words were tempting me. “Break the egg and pour the thick fluid into the oiled pan and fry gently on one side, then flip it upside down and cook it until it reddens.” He took a sip of the coffee deeply and exhaled, “Marvelous!”

  His words actually seduced me enough that my body was itching from inside. It has been years since I have been caressed by a man. I gathered myself and tried not to flatten on his words, but he had already observed my inner feelings. He made another move, he stepped forward towards me and overshadowed my body with his. He lifted my face holding my chin with his thumb and index finger. I looked in his eyes it was deep drowning, millions of desires hidden in it to pour upon me.

  “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life,” he muffled at my lips. His warm breaths touched my lips. I held my breath, he leaned and smelled my hair. I don’t know what happened to me that moment I didn’t resist. Either I was lured with the way he approached me or my hidden inner desires have made me be stuck. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulled me towards him lied his chest on mine. My heart thumped, and he could have felt it easily on his chest. He leaned his face and approached my lips to kiss. I remained still and closed my eyes. His slight wet lips drenched my lips. My breaths grasp the aroma of the coffee and my tongue tasted its flavor. “Your lips are more awakening than the coffee,” he muffled. He bit my ears twice, and I felt it more arousing. He then turned me around and grabbed me from behind. He kissed my neck and sniffed my hairs. Pulling my t-shirt slightly down from my right shoulder, he pushed his teeth on it. That was wild move which pinched the animal inside me and made me high. I surrendered myself onto him and he went on caressing my body with his wild love.

  Suddenly the doorbell rang awakening us from the spell. I grasped my consciousness and rushed to the door.

  Mason had arrived with Evelyn. I opened the store and let them in. I asked them to come upstairs and have some food. They refused, and said they already had their breakfast. Mason started unloading his tools. Ethan after a while stepped down and came to the store. Evelyn blushed seeing Ethan as if she knew him. Ethan acted as if he didn’t notice Evelyn. Ethan thanked me for the meal and said he would meet me later and left the store. I glanced at Mason, he was staring at me. His face looked discomfited. I sensed jealousy in Mason. I approached him.

  “Hey,” I prompted, but he didn’t reply. He started striking the nail harshly with the hammer ignoring me.

  “What’s the matter,” I grabbed his upper arm. He threw the hammer on the plywood and pulled his hand from my grip and walked aside. I followed him. “Why you are behaving like this,” I yelled.

  “Don’t bother me, I have work to finish,” he spoke with a firm face pushing me aside. I walked back to the counter and found Evelyn was not there. I peeked out, but I didn’t saw Evelyn there either. I stepped outside of the store and saw at the corner of the street Evelyn was standing with Ethan and they were having some sort of conversation. Ethan was holding a box which he was trying to give Evelyn. Mason stepped out at that moment and seeing Evelyn with Ethan, he rushed furiously toward them. He snatched the box from Evelyn’s hand and threw it on the road. Ethan picked up the box. I couldn’t hear what they were yelling about at each other. Mason pushed Ethan with his hand, Ethan looked around and backed off. Mason grabbed Evelyn’s hand and dragged her into the store and started shouting at her.

  “I warned you earlier that you will not go near him.” Mason's face tensed and his eyes reddened as he speaks. Nerves stimulated on his face and arms. Mason stroked his fist on the wall in rage, and the wall cracked slightly. Seeing his behavior, I panicked too.

  “Next time I see you with him, I am not going to tolerate any further,” he shouted in anger, “Do you hear me, Evelyn.” He patted his arm on the counter. Evelyn breathed deeply and stared at Mason in rage. Her eyes turned red and seemed like it will burst in blood. She pushed Mason with enough force to make him fall on the floor. She ran out of the shop. I was stuck at the corner of the counter watching all this. Mason stood and ran after her. I stepped out and saw Mason running toward Primrose Path. My brain froze seeing all these things out of a sudden. Somehow I pulled myself together and trailed Mason.

  *****

  I reached Mason’s barn and saw him knocking and pushing the door. Evelyn had locked herself inside. Mason shouted, “Please open the door, Evelyn.” A harsh growling steered out the house leaving me stunned. Mason stopped pushing the door for a while when he heard the growl. He looked at me I was standing at the stairs attached to the porch. Mason came near me and huffed, “Just leave, get away from the compound.” He ran at the door hitting it with his shoulder. The door broke open, and Mason went inside shouting for Evelyn. I was frightened seeing all this, I had no clue of what was going on. I was questioning myself on what to do. Should I enter the house or leave the barn. Finally, I decided to hop in. I moved inside cautiously with my heart beating with fear. As I reached the hall, I heard another growl from upstairs. The voice was harsher and sounds like some wild animal howling in anger. I steadily stepped on the stair to reach the upper floor. I heard Mason’s voice, “Please Evelyn calm down.” I unlocked the room and slid it open slowly. What I saw was unbelievable for my eyes. My body shivered, my nerves stimulated. A silver werewolf was standing in front of me. It swayed its strong arm and stroked Mason. Mason bumped at the side wall and fell on the floor. He stood and stretched his arm sideways puffing his chest outward and shouted, “That’s enough.” The next thing I saw made me think whether I sh
ould rely on my eyes or not. Within a flash of my view, Mason transformed himself into a huge monster, a brown werewolf. By the time I had guessed the other silver beast was none other than Evelyn, Mason leaped toward Evelyn and hit her face with his elbow. Evelyn fell to the floor. Mason pushed her face on the floor and locked her legs. He growled in Evelyn’s face. He pushed her hard not letting her free to move. Slowly the heavy breaths calmed, and they regained their human form. Mason moved aside from Evelyn’s body and sat on the floor. Evelyn slipped in the corner of the room.

  Mason stared at me. I was still shivering in panic. He crawled on the floor and approached me. “Now you know who we are,” he said. I was speechless. “I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth we are the descendants of the cursed,” his voice faltered. I went on staring him with my still eyes fixed on his face. “I know you would think us as the accused ones for the savage killings going on in Breckenridge.” After witnessing this, it was obvious for me to think exactly the same as Mason said. Mason continued, “But I assure you neither Evelyn nor I am behind this. We had overcome our savage nature.” He stretched his hand toward me and gripped my shoulders, “Avery….” I broke my gaze and nodded my head down. “I want to go home,” I muffled. I was not in a state of saying or understanding anything, who could be in a conscious state of mind after seeing such things. Mason gave his hand and helped me to stand. He fisted my palm and walked me out his house. I was numb. I looked at his arm it looked human, his hairy arm flashed in my thoughts. I looked on his face it was human too, his wolf face flashed in my mind. I was drowned in a complete state of perplexion. Millions of thoughts crossed my mind all the way to home. Mason helped me upstairs to my room and left saying he will see me tomorrow. I fell on my bed.