Part 32
Labour Day dawned bright and clear, and
with everything in order in the house, we took the day to just enjoy ourselves
in our own hedonistic way. Lounging
about, making love, indulging in our favourite foods and beverages, and best of
all just being together. We revelled in
a day that was solely ours and we savoured each and every moment of it. For soon enough we’d be getting back to the
routine of everyday life. Lorelei would
be back to work and I would be back to teaching classes fulltime. The sunny days of summer would retreat slowly
and be replaced with the shadowy oncoming of fall days. Leaves would turn vibrant shades of red, gold
and orange before turning brown and wafting silently to the ground. Nights would turn crisp, and there would be
that unmistakable scent in the air that could only be associated with
autumn.
I looked forward to autumn and had
visions of how my life would be different this one than it had in the past.
Having Lorelei to come home to and Barclay who would keep the home fires
burning while we were gone, just made everything better. I knew there would be walks in the woods,
leaves crunching under our feet, cozy meals which we’d prepare together with
favourite comfort foods which would nurture both the body and spirit. Nights spent together sipping her homemade
herbal teas or hot apple cider in front of the hearth. Maybe I was trying to idealize things but I
didn’t think so. I was enough of a realist to know that the day to day grind
would take place as well. I’d have to make lesson plans grade papers and more
than likely get roped into helping organize extracurricular projects at school
like school plays for example. Lorelei would be busy gearing up for the holiday
seasons at work. She’d begin her volunteer
work again. I knew we’d be busy but I
also knew it wouldn’t diminish anything the two of us had together. It would only bring us closer together and
make us appreciate the time we did spend together even more.
I was also bound and determined to plan and
execute the perfect proposal. The more I
thought about it I also was more and more convinced I should just go for broke
and do the wedding as well. I figured why not, after all neither of us wanted a
long engagement so I might as well take matters into my own hands and fast
track things.This would be my great coup ever if I could manage to pull it off
as a total surprise to Lorelei. Being a
realist and never having planned either a proposal or a wedding I might need to
be aided and abetted by a couple of people. I figured I’d line up my
co-conspirators and they’d include my sister Molly, who might roll her eyes on
some of the decisions I’d make but would totally support me all the same. Matt and Skye I felt would be on board as
well and be right in their element helping plan and ultimately executing the
menu for the reception. I’d get the
Morelli’s to create an amazingly over the top wedding cake that would rival
anything in Lor’s wildest dreams. My
brother and a couple of my buddies would round out the team by supplying any of
the muscle I’d require.
I was busy formulating my master plan in
my head, and didn’t realize how wrapped up I’d gotten in my planning until I
heard her voice breaking the still calm.
“Are you okay sweetheart?” “Oh
I’m great, just thinking. Lesson plans,
full days at work, how I’m looking forward to life with you.” And I leaned in
and kissed her. It was sweet, gentle, unrushed and as always a perfect kiss.It
was clear to see from the smile on her face that I’d given her an answer that
she could totally live with, as her face flushed and she radiated genuine
beatified warmth. “I still can’t believe
this at times.” She said as she caressed the sparkling band on her ring finger.
“You looking to upgrade that to an engagement ring my dear lady?” I probed her
gently with the question. She
smiled. “It’s not the ring that matters
to me Liam, and I would happily keep this one and just change the name of it
from a promise ring to an engagement ring if that’s what you decided. I’ve spent a life time looking for the piece
of the puzzle that completes me, with my ragged, obscurely cut edges and I
found that in you, so you are all that I want to make my life complete.” She
told me with gentle sincerity the way that only she could.
“I also have a sense that in some ways you
are quite traditional and that you want to be the one that does the proposing
but you aren’t so traditional that you’d ask me to obey you either in our
marriage vows. Am I correct?” she questioned me. Stroking my chin before
replying, I tried to appear as though I were giving the matter very serious and
grave thought. “Yes I do want to be the one that does the asking as you put
it. Just seems like the right thing to
do.” I began. She cut me off with a “and
we both know you always to the right thing or make every possible effort to.” I
raised my finger to her lips to silence any further conversation on her part
for the moment. “But your dead wrong
about the not wanting you to obey me part.”
She looked genuinely shocked at this pronouncement. “Mind you” I added hastily “that’s only in
the bedroom during role play.” My little
joke earned me an “Oh honestly you are such a turkey at times.” Delivered in as
huffy and indignant tone of voice as one could muster when one was trying very
hard not to laugh hysterically, which of course caused me to do my
impersonation of a turkey, complete with gobbling and head bobs. This cracked her up totally and she lay
panting for breath as she was finally able to stop laughing.
“I had you going for a second there didn’t
I?” I teased her. “Yes you did but I was
going to give you a chance to explain before I considered knocking some sense
into you.” She teased me back and gave me an elbow to emphasize her point. “Seriously
though I never want you to promise to obey me, because for starters it’s
archaic and secondly we both know you couldn’t because you have your own mind
about things, and thirdly I’d never want you to.” I told her.
“Well we’re agreed on that then.” She said as she smiled and leaned in
for a kiss. As we sat snuggled together and we’d already sort of broached the
topic I felt it was a good time to test the waters and find out what she really
did want or expect out of the wedding itself.
“You know” I said trying to make it sound as casual as I possibly could manage to “maybe we should start
talking about the future more starting with the wedding. I actually loved some of those ideas your Mom
was ranting on about that weekend we spent at your parents. Do any of those ideas you had growing up
still fit into your ideal wedding now?” “As crazy as it may sound, all of them
still do on one level or another.
For
starters you know how much I love the beach and being near or on the water, so
to me that would be the ideal setting, and the time of year really wouldn’t
phase me at all. If the waters were calm
and serene that would be fine with me. Yet if the wind was blowing and the
waves were choppy I’d see the beauty and feel the raw passion of nature in the
element.” She told me. “That actually makes sense to me and neither of us are
the sorts to want to be confined in the four walls of a church. We need our space and to be in touch with
something that has meaning and significance to us on such a momentous
occasion.” The more I thought about it
and the more we talked I discovered she’d had some pretty sound reasoning to
her choices even when she’d been a kid. “So tell me more.” I encouraged
her. “Well I’ve always loved autumn and
Halloween especially. Halloween was always special to me and I’d eagerly start
planning my costume and even my pranks months in advance in preparation of
it. It was the ultimate day to play
dress up and make your wildest dreams come true. There’s just such magic and energy associated
with it and besides its fun.” She added animatedly and giggled.
“I couldn’t agree with you more, and I’ve
always had a rather soft spot for Halloween myself. I still decorate the house for it and usually
go over the top doing it. I’ll get into
some crazy get up myself and after the trick or treaters have come and gone
I’ll either head down to the village for the street party or off to some other
venue with my buddies to have a good laugh and celebrate.” I agree with her
finding myself really getting caught up in the whole conversation. “It’s not
just the fun of it all, but as we all know I do love to have fun.” And she
giggled over such an obvious statement.
“But ask yourself how many times have you gone to a wedding and been
really uncomfortable in your suit and tie?
Or your dress shoes pinch your feet because you seldom wear them? Or you felt obligated to go buy a new suit to
wear, even though you knew you’d seldom wear it again and it cost you far more
than you really wanted to spend for a few hours? Now let’s move on to your date for said
wedding, as it’s not a piece of cake for women either at these things. A new dress for the occasion so you don’t
clash with the colour scheme of the bridal party, heels that give you blisters
and you end up kicking off at the reception as soon as you can so that you can
dance properly, and besides they cover up the pedicure you just got with that
really cool shade of nail polish on them.
Oh and make up having to be flawless and heaven forbid your mascara run
if you get emotional and cry.” She finished up with an almost vehemence to her
voice.
“You know you’re so right about all of
that. I can’t tell you the number of
times I’ve wanted to just get comfortable and relax and enjoy the event and
just ended up suffering through it like everyone else. We were all in the same boat but we all go
through this let’s dress up to the nines and look stiff as boards and be all
proper about the formality of it all.”
The method to her madness was really beginning to dawn on me with
amazing clarity. “What the focus should
be on is having fun and celebrating the event and what better way to do that
then with love, laughter and doses of silliness wrapped up in being
comfortable.” I was really getting on
board with her ideas more and more all the time. “This is part of why I love
you so much Liam, you are such a quick study.” She said as she pulled me in and
kissed me deeply with a great deal of tongue action that caused a stirring in
my nether regions. This was only
accented by the way her hand and found its way into my lap and was caressing and
kneading my family jewels through the crotch of my jeans.
“Whoa there missy, you just focus on the
topic at hand here.” I told her sternly.
Sensing that I was going into teacher mode on her she responded. “But sir, I was doing just that, focusing on
the topic with my hand.” She responded with a look that was trying to appear as
innocent as a lamb but came off more like a total imp. “Your naughty and I’m going to have to make
you stay after class young lady.”
“Promise?” she responded swiftly and eagerly. “You can count on it.” I
returned and rubbed her nose against mine in an Eskimo kiss. “Now where were
we?” she asked if only to refresh her own memory. “Oh yes wedding planning and you really have
to stop distracting me like that Liam.” She teased before plunging back into
the topic with zeal. “I want people to
be comfortable and be able to have fun and if they get to live out some secret
fantasy of theirs by being a superhero or whatever they choose, to me that’s a
bonus. Besides people will be talking
about it and remembering our wedding long after the fact thinking, man was that
ever a great celebration. If you think
about how many weddings you’ve attended over the years how many of them just
sort of meld together into one big composite wedding?
They
all pretty much end up being cookie cutter copies of each other with the
exception of the colour scheme. I don’t
want people looking back years later going “oh yeah same old same old that was,
chicken or beef, wretched wine on the tables for the toasts, the speeches went
on way too long and the music was pretty standard.” If I’m going to do this I want it done right,
and I want it done my way.” At which point she started belting out the old
Frank Sinatra classic in a falsetto voice.
It left me slapping my knee with one hand and laughing in delight, as I
pulled her tighter with my other arm and told her, “You are a total nut, don’t
ever change.” And I couldn’t help myself I just had to kiss her that crazy
woman of mine. My speed course in wedding planning 101 was coming along
brilliantly and I was gaining so much insight into what it was going to take
for me to make this her ideal wedding.
This wedding was going to be so such a blast when I was done with it. “So
what about the Goth element you’re Mom mentioned?” I inquired.
“Oh” she said waving her hand breezily “I just always found the whole
Gothic/Victorian clothing thing to be romantic and eloquent. Not to mention having the ceremony lit with
flickering candles. I guess there is a side
of me that is truly a girly girl at heart.” She giggled.
“Yep it is a wedding and about
celebrating love so a touch of romance and class makes total sense to me.” I really felt like she had a firm handle on
what a lot of people would find the ultimate experience and just allow them to
let their hair down and have a wickedly good time doing it. “What about the hippy
dippy free love aspect?” I asked trying
to sound genuinely interested which I in fact was but at the same time not seem
like I was plotting something.“Is there a reason for your sudden interest in
wedding planning? Thinking of taking up
a new career?” she teased me softly. For
a split second my heart leapt into my throat and I thought for sure I was
busted. “Nope, no plans for a new career
other than future husband.” I protested.
“Besides I just want to know what your thoughts are and you know I don’t
want to drag things out for years. So I
figure if we start talking about it and begin to work things out its half the
battle.” She mulled it over quickly.
“Okay I’ll buy that for a buck.” She quipped back at me. “So what about the
hippy dippy free love thing?” I prodded her gently.
She shrugged slightly. “Guess that has to do with the fact I’ve got
a definite free spirited wild child outlook on life and when you couple that
with my love of music and nature it just seems to work for me. I’m a lover not a fighter at heart.” She
summed up. “Hmmmmmmmmm and what a
fantastic lover you are.” I concurred as I broke into a grin and pulled her
into my lap for some serious kissing and caressing. She offered no resistance what so ever and a
very pleasant shared tenderness between us ensued as a result.
Our clothes were askew and our hair was
disheveled when we broke apart but neither of us seemed to mind one little
iota. The more we shared ourselves with each other the closer we drew together
uniting in our shared joy of life. I let out a small sigh. “Everything, okay?” Liam questioned me
quietly. “Things are better than okay.”
I assured him. “It’s just I wish times like this with you never had to end is
all.” I said wistfully. “I know, I know.
I feel the same way” he affirmed as he cuddled me close and he rained kisses on
my cheek like early morning drops of dew.
I imagined they gave a soft lustrous sparkle to my face just as dew on a
lawn would glimmer as the early morning rays of sun shone on it. It was time
for a wee dose of reality now as we untangled ourselves. There was a ravenous little cat to be tended
to, dinner to be made, lunches to be packed for the morning, as well as
ensuring we both had everything ready to go for work the next morning. We continued talking about the wedding and
what we both thought would be perfect for us.
Liam was increasingly warming to the
topic which didn’t really faze me all, as to me it was just as much his day as
it was mine. I laughed when he told me
that I was so not bridezilla material like so many of his friends had horror
stories about. He recanted a couple
tales to me, which left me in stitches but empathizing heavily with the poor
bridegrooms in question. I never could
understand women that didn’t want their partners input. Nor could I fathom how
some women became such control freaks, not to mention drama queens over
weddings. When we were nearly finished
in the kitchen I’d shooed Liam off, telling him to get go ahead and get started
on the last minute things he needed to do before his first day back at school. I wanted to sneak a little something extra
into his lunch bag in honour of the start of a new school year as a surprise
for him. We laughed and reminisced about getting ready for the first day of
school when we were kids. Heading back to
class with book bags filled with pencils with no teeth marks in them, freshly
sharpened pencil crayons, and a box of fresh unbroken Crayola crayons in a
rainbow of colours, binders containing freshly lined sheets of paper. In those
days you’d even find a peanut butter and jam sandwich in your lunch bag unlike
now where everything had gone nut free in schools.
As our day wound down to a close, we turned
off lights and headed off to bed. It
wasn’t really sleep that was on our minds though as we slipped between the
crisp cotton sheets. There so no longer
any pretense about wearing pyjamas to bed, nor would there be unless perhaps we
had overnight guests in the future such as nieces and nephews that might make
impromptu late night visits to our room if they needed something. The
exploration of each other was still a thrill and we savoured the sensations of
skimming over one another’s bodies with featherlike strokes of finger tips.
Lips would trail kisses over hills and valleys of flesh. Tongues that trailed warm moist routes over
bodies until they discovered treasures that were thoroughly explored. The exploration causing ripples of delight to
wash over both the discovered and the discoverer. There was the unmistakable scent of arousal
permeating the air with its luscious lingering essence. Soft moans, pounding
hearts, rapid breath and whispered words provided the naturally sweet song that
only lovers are privy too.
Two very happy souls would drift off to
sleep in the aftermath of it all. Secure
in our knowledge that that were indeed loved.
Never a furrowed brow creased our faces only dreamy smiles graced them
as we wended our way into the land of sleep, nestled in one another’s embrace. Mornings
always seemed to dawn way too early for either of our likings. I felt confident
that we both harboured some pretty sinister thoughts towards the alarm clock at
that hour of the day. The saving grace of the situation was waking up to each
other and that tempered and conquered any reluctance on our part to awaken and
start our day in earnest. Loving nuzzles, eased our transition into the waking
world. Caring for Barclay, enjoying a hurried breakfast, some shower time play
and hurriedly dressing rounded out the first couple of hours of the day. It was a happy couple indeed that headed off
the steps together hand in hand and made their way to the bus stop.
With the start of the school year public
transportation was packed to the rafters and it was standing room only on the
bus this morning. Liam and I were
crushed together in the throng of bodies but we hardly considered that to be a
hardship. In fact I think we both considered it a bonus. At the subway station we exchanged hurried
kisses before each rushing off to our respective destinations. I had to grin as
I looked over my shoulder and saw him rooting through his back pack looking for
his tie. As a faculty member he had to
set an example for his students and uphold the dress code, even if he felt like
he has his neck in a noose. I somehow
knew he’d been happier in the summer school sessions where the dress code was
relaxed, but for next few months he’d have to stoically suffer through this
wardrobe requirement.
During the first day assembly to welcome back students and introduce the
faculty to them my mind strayed to the multitude of things I had to accomplish
to pull off a proposal and wedding in rapid succession. I knew the type of ring I planned on getting
for her and I knew the perfect place to find it. It meant a clandestine trip to
The Claddagh House. It was easy to
picture the perfect ring in my mind’s eye.
The perfect ring for her would one that was two pieces but would fit
together to unite as one just as we had.
A plain white gold band with a heart shaped diamond to set it off. The second piece I’d use as her wedding band
and it would slip over the first band to unify and make a complete claddagh
ring. I’d have three little emeralds set in the crown portion of the ring. It
would be perfect for her and I knew she’d love it and treasure it always.
My mind snapped back to the present when I
heard my name called and I stood and acknowledged the student body. After the assembly ended the day passed
quickly for me. Shepherding first year
students to their classrooms, filling in seating plans until I got to know all
my students by name, handing out textbooks and course outlines for the
semester. My lunch break left me
grinning ear to ear as I found a note from the woman I was wild about tucked
inside my lunch. It was so like her to
let me know she cared and was thinking about me even when we were apart. I also
appreciated the special care she’d taken in what she’d chosen to pack for me
and the brownies were a welcome treat as well. Since it was the first day I had
nothing pressing to keep me at school any longer than necessary, and checking
my watch I calculated how much time I had before popping around to the bakery
to meet Lorelei.
I’d texted Molly on my lunch break and
she’d agreed to meet me at a local coffee as she’d arranged for the kids to
head over to their grandparents after school, so we’d be uninterrupted. I was raring to go with this wedding planning
and I needed to get people on board as quickly as possible to help me pull this
whole thing off. “Let me get this straight” said Molly after I had explained my
plans to her. “You are going to organize
a beach wedding in October on Halloween after proposing only hours earlier and you
want it to remain a surprise? Are you
delirious or merely tripping big brother?” She questioned me looking at me like
I had truly lost it this time. “No, no
I’m fine.” I assured her though I couldn’t help but laugh at her assessment of
my current mental state. “Look neither
of us has wanted to have a long engagement nor do we want to wait to get
married for ever. So I figured why not,
just do it?” I explained. She rolled her eyes at me “Life is not a Nike
commercial you know Liam.” She chided me.
I hurriedly explained
our visit with her parents and our subsequent discussions on the subject of the
perfect wedding, as I knew my time was limited before I had to leave. Her face softened when she realized I was
completely and totally serious about this.
“It it’s really want you two want and it will make you happy then you
can count on me to help you pull this off. I still however think you are nuts
and I’m beginning to suspect she’s as crazy as you are.” She said looking me
dead in the eyes. “She is which is part
of why she’s perfect for me and thanks kiddo.” I added as I got up to leave. She hopped up and gave me a bear hug and made
me promise to let her know eas soon as I had more things planned and that she
could start implementing for me. I was
elated as I met Lorelei knowing that I had the ball rolling and I was in fact
going to pull things off. She sensed my
euphoria and joined in it, though not entirely sure what was behind it other
than we were back together again hand in hand.
Every spare moment I had without her that
I wasn’t working became devoted to executing my master plan. Sean could expedite any necessary permits I’d
require for the wedding on the beach was enlisted to my team as well. He shared Molly’s initial sentiments that I
had finally totally flipped out, but when he realized I was for in fact dead
serious about this he willingly and whole heartedly agreed to pitch in. My family were pretty cool about most things
and it was nice to know they cared enough about me to make sure I’d have no
regrets about my actions. Skye and Matt took the news totally in stride as it
would seem they were used to such wacky things being friends with Lorelei for
so many years. They were thrilled to be
asked to participate and I left the menu planning in their more than capable
hands after explaining themes. I was
totally sailing along with this whole thing and it was building as it went. I
had even figured out the way I’d present the whole idea to Lorelei so that she
was actually helping plan things but was also totally oblivious to the real
purpose.
“So how would you feel
about having a blowout bash for Halloween this year?” I asked her as we were
washing dinner dishes together. “I’d
love it.” She responded without batting an eye.
“It could be our house warming party as a well. It would be a perfect time for a celebration.
I’ve always loved Halloween and this will be so much fun.” She enthused. “Awesome”
I responded. She began to list things
we’d have to do. “We’ll need a list of
who to invite and we’ll have to send out invitations, and I’ll have to plan a
menu and of course we’ll have to decorate and….” I wrapped my dish towel around
her waist and pulled her tightly into my arms and kissed her deeply. “And, and, and.” I teased her.
“I give you my word this will be the best party we’ve ever throw.” She
wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down so she could kiss me back.
“The best ever.” She echoed between kisses. With Lorelei knowing that something
was being planned was making my life so much easier and taking a lot of
pressure off me and the rest of my band of merry men. The hardest part was ensuring that everyone
remembered the word wedding was strictly forbidden to be used in her presence.
I was pretty dead
chuffed with myself. Who else could have managed to pull something of this
magnitude off, enlist the help of the guest of honour and still manage to keep
it all under wraps and a secret?
The Tale shall be continued, just click on the "chapters" button up on the top right for more!
while you are awaiting the next installment and you've enjoyed what you've read so far,
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