Nothing would be okay until his feet were on the ground again.
Five hours later he stared at the skyline of Philadelphia in awe. As they had neared the city, he kept seeing all the towns so close to one another they appeared attached. Was there no open land any longer on the eastern coast of the country, just small patches of green? How could so many people live so close, in such congestion? No wonder the newspaper stories told of violence. His body felt as though something heavy were settling upon it. Mairie told him it was the pressure in the plane as it descended, yet Jack knew it was something more. The last time he had been in Pennsylvania, he had been at war. Mostly with himself. An uneasiness haunted him, and he glanced at the woman at his side.
Mairie was excited to be heading back to Pennsylvania, to meet with her brother, and he didn't need to burden her with the ghosts that were starting to creep back into his soul as he neared the place where he'd thought he had slain them. It didn't matter that it was over a hundred years ago. They were ghosts that knew nothing of time.
He heard the grinding beneath him and merely nodded as Mairie informed him it was the wheels being lowered for landing.
"Don't be afraid, Jack. Sometimes it can be a bumpy landing, but it's clear and sunny today, so it should be smooth."
Her smile was endearing. How she had catered to him on this fantastic ride, even when it became quite boring to be looking out the window at the clouds so far below. Then she had told him stories of her childhood, of Bryan, and then of Marc. He still didn't understand completely the bond between her brother and his friend, but he was coming to the conclusion that although it was unusual, he had known of others. Then he had been highly suspicious, but Mairie informed him that such associations were quite common and becoming more accepted. He didn't know that he could accept it himself, but for Mairie's sake he would try. So much had changed in the last century. This was just one more thing he must attempt to understand.
He didn't look out the window after seeing they were over the Delaware River as the plane approached the runway, as Mairie called it. Runway. He didn't care for the sound of that, nor the fact that the plane was so low the water rippled with the close proximity. He looked at the large card in the pocket of the seat before him and tried to remember everything about the flo-ta-tion cushion.
Mairie held his arm, leaned her head on his shoulder, and again began humming softly to ease his fears. What a treasure she was, he thought, and couldn't help himself from glancing from the corner of his eye to the window. They were speeding past buildings where other planes were docked. How would they ever stop at this speed that was pushing him back against the seat? Impossible!
"Umph." He couldn't control a grunt as he heard and felt a bump, then another and the plane leveled out, but it was still moving at a tremendous speed.
Then it happened.
A screeching noise assaulted his ears and he was thrust forward. Glad to be wearing the seatbelt, Jack held his breath in moments of fear until he felt the plane begin to slow down.
"You did it!" Mairie announced with a giggle and a kiss to his cheek. "You just experienced your first plane flight. Congratulations!"
He let out his breath and allowed himself a smile of accomplishment.
"There. It wasn't so bad, was it, Jack?"
"I'll let you know after we've gotten out of this flying contraption." He began trying to undo his belt when Mairie stopped him.
"You have to wait until we get to the terminal and the plane stops. I know you must be terribly sore and need to stretch." Her voice sounded sympathetic. "You didn't move the entire flight."
He rested his head on the cushion behind him, closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
"I need a convenience. Quickly."
"I told you there were small ones on the plane. If you had just listened to me and—"
"Mrs. Delaney…" he interrupted, before she could finish her I told you so speech, "to use a current expression I heard recently… shut up and kiss me."
He loved to make her laugh, to see that sparkle in her eyes, as much as he loved the taste of her lips against his own.
"Gladly," she whispered, staring into his eyes, her mouth inches from his. "The kiss you shall receive. But that won't ever shut me up, buster. You'd miss the fun of me being right."
It was his turn to laugh and he could, now that they were on the ground and pulling into the terminal. "You enjoy tormenting me, don't you?"
"Because I haven't kissed you yet, or that you have to use the bathroom and I'm making you laugh?"
"Both."
Her grin widened, until she looked like a young girl. "Yeah," she whispered, and kissed him soundly.
How he adored this woman.
Chapter 17
Mairie held Jack's hand in the cab as they left the airport and picked up the interstate that would take them into the city. They passed the Naval Yard and Jack merely shook his head at the huge gray battleships in for repair. She sensed it was just another thing he would have to process later… the size of everything.
"It's different here, Mairie," he said, as if picking up on her thoughts.
"It would be, love," she murmured. "It's called progress." Though as she looked out to the neighborhoods they passed, she saw them through Jack's eyes and was suddenly depressed. Graffiti and abandoned houses. Garbage strewn along the streets. Run-down buildings with billboards attached to them advertising the smooth quality of a certain vodka. It all became sad. "It's not like this where we're staying. Marc has a friend who's in Europe and he's apartment-watching, so he sent the keys along with the tickets. He thinks it will be more safe if we stay there. He and Bryan will meet us. From the address, I can tell it's a nice neighborhood."
Jack smiled. "Marc appears to have many helpful friends. I am grateful for his assistance."
Glad she could distract him from the passing scenery, Mairie smiled back. "They call it the community. I guess any group of people that is outside the so-called normal sanctions of society bands together and helps each other."
"But we are not…"
"You can say it, Jack. Gay. We discussed it on the plane. It's okay to say it." They would have to talk about this before Marc and Bryan arrived. "Even though you and I are heterosexual, they appreciate our nonjudgment. It makes them want to help us any way they can."
"I'm not judging, Mairie. It's just—"
"I know you're not," she quickly interjected. "I know that these things were handled differently in … in the past."
"It's just that… this is a highly unusual situation. Such an arrangement as your brother and his friend have is something that would have been kept secret in my time. Discretion would have been used."
"I understand, Jack, but would you want to live your life in secret?" Mairie asked, adjusting the blond wig she had donned in the ladies' room of the airport. It dawned on her that her own life might have to be led in secret now, and it really frightened her. What if she could never be herself again? She understood her brother and Marc a little better now.
"Let's not speak of this right now. Perhaps the best thing would be for you to meet Bryan and Marc and decide for yourself. There's no pressure for you to accept it, Jack. Really. I merely ask for you to extend to them the same courtesy you would show anyone else. Besides, I think you'll like them."
He squeezed her fingers. "I'm sure I will. After all, if it were not for your brother, you and I would never have met. I am grateful to him."
"Aw…" Mairie snuggled closer to him and hugged his arm, "how sweet. You have such a way with words, Mr. Delaney. It's kind of a lost art in this time."
Jack smiled down at her. "Are you saying, madam, that shut up and kiss me doesn't exactly melt a woman's heart?"
She laughed. "Let's just say a woman would have to be in the right frame of mind to hear it."
He leaned down, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, "Even though I am backward in current customs and not educated in the proper etiquette of this particular
situation, I will endeavor not to embarrass you in front of your brother, Mairie. I will be a perfect gentleman."
She immediately lifted her head. "Oh, Jack. I wasn't thinking that. I was—"
"Shut up and kiss me." And he stopped any further words she could have said.
Mairie turned from the kitchen counter. "Hey, Jack, check the cabinets and see if you can find the coffee. It might be in the refrigerator, or even the freezer." When she saw the look of bewilderment on his face, she burst out laughing. "Now what?"
He shook his head, as though to bring himself into the present, and stared down at the glass of water in his hand. "All these… machines. I know you explained about the current of power that makes everything operate, but to see ice coming out of a door! Fire turned on with a switch at the stove!"
"Ahh, you ain't seen nothing yet. Wait till I cook dinner tonight. I can't wait to show you my culinary skills. Which reminds me, we have to get to a grocery store. Marc didn't have time to stock up for the few days we'll be here." She brushed his cheek with a kiss and opened the cabinet beside him. "Hmm, just instant coffee?"
Taking out the jar, she said, "Okay, we have an hour and a half before Bryan and Marc arrive. Let's do the shopping and add real coffee to the list." Grabbing her wig off the top of her purse, she grimaced. "I can't believe I have to wear this thing."
"It's for your protection," he said, placing his glass on the counter. "Are you sure you want to go outside to shop with your brother coming so soon? Can't we call the room service?"
Smiling, Mairie walked to the hall mirror and adjusted the wig into place. "Jack, this is an apartment. I know it looks like a hotel. I think it even was one years ago, but there is no room service. Besides, I'm so excited I need to keep busy until Bryan arrives. Come on. This will be another experience in modern living."
He rolled his gaze to the high ceiling and sighed. "How exciting. Another experience. I don't know that I've recovered from the last."
"This won't be as exciting as the plane trip, but I think you will be surprised."
They found a grocery store two blocks away and Jack was astounded at the amount of food displayed. He refused to accept that this was considered a small store, compared to a major chain outlet. They filled their cart and Mairie found herself enjoying the experience of shopping with a man again. She didn't know Jack had such a sweet tooth. Cookies and a large chocolate cake were added to their purchases. She had also forgotten how much fun a grocery store could provide, or how erotic certain foods could be when lovers explored the produce aisle together.
Lovers. She repeated the word in her mind, as they stood in line at the cashier. That's what they are. She couldn't let her mind wander to the future. For right now Jack was in her life, and she was going to be grateful for every moment. Leaning back against him, she smiled with appreciation as he stroked her shoulder. Yes, she was a blessed woman … however long it lasted.
When they left, carrying their bags with them, Jack seemed upset by the amount of noise and confusion on the street. Horns honking. The reverberating bass of blaring radios. People yelling obscenities. Roller-bladers weaving. Police whistles bleating. Ambulance sirens howling. Jackhammers blasting. Mairie was glad they only had to travel two blocks.
Back at the Rittenhouse Square apartment, Mairie and Jack put away the groceries and then she began dinner preparations. She had decided on one of Bryan's favorites, and it was also a dinner that she hoped would impress Jack. Salmon stuffed with crabmeat. She could prepare it in a casserole dish with baby carrots, mushrooms, and shallots and let the honey soy sauce marinate it until later in the evening. That way she could pop it in the oven whenever everyone got hungry.
Wiping her hands on a dishtowel, she looked at Jack. He was sitting at the kitchen table, watching her cook, a huge smile plastered on his face. "What?" she demanded with a grin. "Do you want more coffee?"
He shook his head. "I've had enough."
"Why are you staring at me like that?" She put the dish into the refrigerator.
He continued to smile. "Can't I look at you and appreciate your domesticity?"
"Domesticity?" Funny how not so long ago that remark would have made her defensive. Now she actually liked cooking for a man again. Was she getting soft?
"Yes, seeing you do feminine things makes me smile. I have seen you scale a mountain, fall to the earth not once, but twice, and challenge any male in endurance. You are an amazing woman, Mairie Callahan, and could be intimidating to some men."
She laughed and closed the fridge door. "You saved yourself with that last remark, Delaney, or we could be having one hell of a debate right now."
Jack laughed and walked up behind her at the sink. He pulled her against him and her back arched in response. "Back to calling me Delaney again, huh? I don't know that I would interpret that as a save." His hands slowly stroked her stomach before cupping her breasts.
Moaning, she turned around and stood before him. Pulling him to her waist, she gently brushed his hair away from his face. "I take it I don't intimidate you?"
His arms slid around her waist and he hugged her, fitting her body tightly with his. "Oh no, my dear. This time may intimidate me until I learn everything I need to, but you… you've met your equal, madam."
Mairie smiled and rested her cheek against his chest. "I know," she whispered, right before the doorbell rang.
Startled, she jumped and announced. "It's Bryan!" She moved away a few feet and stared at Jack. "It's Bryan," she repeated, and Jack nodded.
He touched her face and smiled tenderly. "I know you're frightened, Mairie. It's all right. Your brother needs you now, and you'll be strong for him. Answer the door, sweet one. You can do it."
It was as though he knew she was keeping herself busy, not speaking about it, avoiding it. He must have known her heart was breaking, and was trying to divert her attention from what she must now face. Bryan, out of remission.
Mairie smiled and nodded as the doorbell rang again. "Thank you, Jack."
She ran to the front of the apartment.
"Hey, kiddo."
She steeled herself and was surprised to see that Bryan didn't look as bad as she had feared. He'd lost weight, around twenty pounds, was pale, but he wasn't as sick as she'd imagined. "Oh, Bryan," she called out, and threw herself into his arms.
She couldn't stop the tears as she clutched him to her and muttered, "How I've missed you. Bryan… Bryan…" She couldn't stop saying his name. "I thought… I thought I'd never see you again."
Stroking her back, he whispered into her hair, "Did you really?"
She shook her head and sniffled. Pulling away, she looked into his beautiful eyes and said, "No. I was just scared. Somehow I always knew I'd see you again. Oh, you look wonderful!"
"It's seeing you that's wonderful. You look great!" Bryan brought her close and again hugged her in a surprisingly strong embrace.
"And so there isn't even a how-do-you-do for someone who lit novena candles for nine days straight and isn't even Catholic?" A deep mock-serious voice behind them demanded a response.
"Marc!" Mairie held out an arm and she was enveloped between them. "Bless your heart for everything you've done. I can never repay you."
"Inviting us in would be a start, child. Besides, I'm dying to meet this mystery man. He is with you, isn't he?"
She giggled and wiped at the corner of her eyes. "Yes, he's with me. Come on in."
Mairie held Bryan's hand tightly, as if she were afraid to let it go, and led them through the apartment to the living room. Jack stood waiting for them by the sofa and Mairie's heart expanded with even more love.
"Bryan, may I present Jack Fitzhugh Delaney. He saved my life."
Bryan and Jack each walked the few feet separating them and extended their right hands.
"How do you do?" Jack asked with impeccable manners. "It is a distinct pleasure to meet you."
Bryan pumped Jack's hand and answered, "The pleasure is mine, along with a debt o
f gratitude I can never reciprocate for bringing my sister back to me." Bryan looked at Mairie and shook his head, as if still not believing she had been lost to him.
"Your sister exaggerates greatly, sir," Jack said with a friendly grin.
Laughing, Bryan answered, "I could really tell you some stories from her childhood. But never mind that, and please… no need for 'sir.' Call me Bryan."
"Such nice manners," Marc whispered to Mairie. "And gorgeous. Look at that hair."
Chuckling, Mairie hugged Marc and whispered back, "Be gentle with him, you old lecher. Everything is new to him, especially you."
Nodding, Marc moved forward and extended his hand. "I'm Marc Hayward. Thanks for bringing our Mairie back to us."
She watched Jack exchange pleasantries with the men and could see that he was surprised. Bryan was handsomely masculine and Marc was stylishly arty, yet also masculine. The couple complemented each other well, both tall, one with dark hair so like her own and the other blond and fair. Neither was overt in any way. Mairie's heart swelled with love. Three of her favorite people. Together. Her eyes filled with tears she couldn't hold back.
"Mairie, Mairie, quite contrary," Marc called out in his favorite expression for her. "What brings these tears to your lovely eyes? Certainly not the sight of three good-looking men who are singing your praises? You should be rejoicing."
"I am," she whispered. "I'm just so grateful… for all of you."
Marc came back to her and hugged her again. "And we're grateful for you, child. So dry those tears and let's have a reunion." In almost an inaudible whisper, he added, "Wherever did you find him?"
Taking a deep breath, she smiled and walked back to her brother. "Let's all sit down and talk. We have quite a story to tell you."
She watched as Marc came up to Bryan and took his jacket. He helped Bryan lower himself to the sofa and then threw his own jacket with Bryan's onto a side chair. "What can I get everyone to drink?" she asked, smiling at Jack as he sat in the matching chair. "We have coffee and soda and juice. I even found some tea."
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