Get your own Free Home PageAs they made their way up the walk, a screen door blew open and a cheerfully round, middle-aged woman bustled out, calling back over her shoulder as she came "Donald, they're here".
E.J. was amused to watch Stanley come to a halt, hang his head and bashfully start to apologize, "I'm sorry we're late, Mrs. M. but"... whatever else he had meant to say was lost as he was enveloped in a hug by the little white-haired whirlwind.
"Now don't be silly, Dr. Stanley", the lady said laughing "what couple could resist one more dance at their wedding...and speaking of weddings..." the look she gave him was so obvious that E.J. couldn't help smiling.
Blushing, Stanley made his slightly flustered introduction "Mrs. M., I mean Mrs. Mack, this is....my wife...E.J. The love and pride with which he infused the word "wife" was so achingly apparent that both women grinned.
"Oh my dear, I am so glad to meet you" said Mrs. M. as E.J. found herself enveloped, in turn, in a short but enthusiastic hug, before they were shooed into the house. "Now get into the dining room you two, and let's get something into you....give Donald your keys Dr. Stanley and he'll take your things down...now don't tell me you're not hungry, I've never known a couple to do justice to the meal at their own wedding..." Mrs. Mack's voice trailed off as she bustled into the kitchen, passing a remarkably patient-looking man along the way. The man took Stanley's keys from him with a grin and a shrug, nodded pleasantly to E.J., and went out the screen door.
"Mr. M.?", E.J. asked unnecessarily.
"Um hum" Stanley replied, adding with a smile "he doesn't talk much."
"Probably doesn't get much chance to" E.J. thought privately, as Mrs. M. returned, bearing a steaming soup tureen.
Soon they found themselves seated at the dining table, in front of bowls of thick clam chowder, and slices of warm French bread. E.J. finished her meal before she even realized how hungry she had been, then sat back to watch in amusement as Stanley vainly fended off Mrs. Mack's. declarations of "you can have a little more Dr. Stanley, you've gotten much too thin". When Stanley had finished his "little more", Mrs. Mack shooed them out, this time saying "It's starting to get dark for walking down that path, and I know you'll want to get settled, so get along you two" When they were almost out the door, Stanley quickly turned to give the motherly woman a kiss on the cheek in thanks, as smiled at him with warm affection while she waved them out, saying..."Breakfast's at nine, and sleep well...and be careful walking down that hill in the dusk...her voice trailed off as they made their way down a sloping wooded path.
After about a quarter of a mile, they passed out of the woods into a U-shaped clearing, where to E.J.'s delight, a small white clapboard cottage sat on a rise, its tiny, impatiens-filled window boxes facing out toward the ocean. E.J. quickly turned to Stanley only to find him looking down at her with a shyly pleased expression "Is it all right?" he whispered.
"Stanley, it's perfect. How did you find it?", she asked, truly curious. He smiled at her then, a smile both sweet and serious, and replied "it's a long story that I will tell you. But let's go in, it gets chilly here once the sun sets."
They walked up the short graveled path to the door, where Stanley startled her by opening it, and then without warning bending down and in one fluid motion, swept her up into his arms, carrying her over the threshold.
"Stanley, your back..." E.J. laughingly protested, but was silenced with a kiss so intensely passionate that she knew her knees would have buckled had she been using them. As their lips reluctantly freed themselves, the look of loving hunger in his eyes sent a pleasurable shiver up E.J.'s spine. "Um, I suppose you should put me down", she murmured. Stanley did so, then with his arms wrapped around her, held them together spoon fashion, so she could finally see where he had brought her.
It was a good-sized room, probably two-thirds of the cottage, and furnished as a living/sitting room. Rich wood paneling, and comfortable looking overstuffed furniture in shades of brown, green, and burgundy, gave the room a warm, peaceful feel. What most attracted E.J.'s eye was the oversized sofa that sat in front of the banked down fireplace...she saw a great many possibilities in that sofa. Stanley smiled at seeing the obvious pleasure in her face, and with reluctance unwrapped his arms from around her and silently led her into the other room.
If the sitting room was all rich, warm hues, the bedroom was pure Louisa May Alcott. Papered walls in an old-fashioned large flowered pattern of greens and peach, and white wood paneling trimmed with green, gave the smaller room a bright, airy feeling. What light there was in the room came from the low burning fire in the carved wood fireplace and the large glass-globed lamp by the bed. E.J. saw that their suitcases had been placed by the bed, and when she turned to look at Stanley inquiringly, he just nodded to a door and said "The bath's in there".
And "bath" it was. Besides the necessary accoutrement, it contained both a shower stall, and a gloriously oversized Victorian bathtub. Stanley slipped up behind her, and again wrapping his arms around her, said with a grin "Why don't I grab a quick shower while you unpack, and then you can fill up that monster with hot water, and wallow to your heart's content." E.J. smiled her assent, and as he took a case and slipped into the bathroom, she began to unpack and settle them both in. Water sounds soon came from the bath, as she finished putting their things in the bureau and armoire.
Pacing restlessly around the room, she came at last to the floor length drapes that concealed not a window, but French doors. Curious, she unlocked them, and stepped out onto a small flagged terrace, where she was surrounded by the soft scents of the woods, and the ocean, and the cool summer night. She soon found herself lost in the beauty of the clear, starlit sky, until the sense of movement behind her quickly returned her to her welcomed reality. Coming back into the room she found Stanley standing before the fire, looking very dignified in a red robe and slippers, yet flushed and ruffled in expression. He gestured with a slight smile toward the bath, and with an answering smile she gathered her things and went in. She found he had already started running water for her, so the steaming tub was already half full. Undressing slowly, she then eased herself by inches into the hot water, and little by little, felt the tension of the last few days slowly ebb away.
She closed her eyes and let her mind drift back over the events of the day, her wedding day, which was certainly nothing if not ...unpredictable. Pacing back and forth in the patio in Gloria Brancusi's grandmother's wedding gown (she must remember to write her a special thank-you note), and vainly trying to settle her nerves with a pound of her favorite chocolates, she wondered what was holding up Stanley's best man and his friend. Only the fact that she knew for certain that Stanley was even more nervous than she was kept her from picking up her borrowed skirts and bolting. When they finally gave up and started the ceremony, no one was more surprised than she to see the helicopter appear out of nowhere and land on the grounds.
She had been surprised to feel a slight pang of...jealousy?...as she watched the relieved and joyful reunion of Stanley and his missing friends. She had to sharply remind herself that these people were and had been for many years a very important part of his life, and that they were the ones who were for his sake, welcoming her into their circle.
But finally the ceremony began, and with John McIntyre as a rather scruffy looking best man, she soon found herself...married. E.J. Riverside, Ethel Jean Riverside, Dr. Riverside, DDS., Mrs. Stanley Riverside II, during the few quiet moments of the reception she had tried those names on in her mind, trying to get used to the sound of them-she had been E.J. Willoughby for so long. The reception had gone reasonably smoothly, all things considered. She had found it very enlightening to watch Stanley with their guests, dutifully polite with his father's friends and associates, more warmly so with hers. But only to his friends from the hospital did he let himself express the joy he had truly felt that day. "Trapper John" and "Gonzo", Ernie and Gloria and "Jackpot", whether they or he knew it or not, were his family, more than his dad ever was or ever could be.
A sudden brief chill reminded her that hot water doesn't stay hot forever, and if she stayed in the tub much longer, she'd come out looking like a black-haired prune. She stepped out and carefully dried herself, then slipped on her receptionist's wedding gift, a peignoir set of soft ivory shangtun silk and lace. She used the time fussing with her hair to try and steady her breathing...this was ridiculous she told herself, she wasn't a kid after all...but she gave up in defeat, took a deep breath, and entered the bedroom.
The first thing she was aware of in the dimly lit room was the bed itself, large and four-postered, its embroidered white counterpane and linen sheets turned invitingly down, the sight of which set her heart thumping erratically in her chest. Taking deep breaths, and glancing quickly around she found Stanley sitting in a wing-backed chair by the fire, waiting patiently for her.
In silence he held out his hand to her, and as she took it, drew her down onto his lap and cradled her gently in his arms. " God, E.J., I've waited so long for you" he murmured, his low, soft voice sending pleasant shivers up her spine "I almost can't believe you're really here"
"I'm here, Stanley" she whispered back and as she buried her face in his shoulder, she felt his arms tighten almost possessively around her. They stayed locked in their mutual embrace for endless minutes, until with a soft sound of protest from Stanley, E.J. pulled slightly back. "Stanley" she said insistently "I have to know, how did you find this wonderful place?"
He shrugged ruefully and after a moments thought replied, ^"When the board voted me Chief of Emergency I suppose they really didn't have much faith in me. They took away a lot of the responsibilities of the position, and most of them went to the Chief of Surgery...John. He wasn't any more happy about it than I was, and though we had been friends by then, we had come to resent each other, without ever really telling each other why. Then dad got on me about the fact that I needed to do more to raise money for the hospital, so soon I became involved in an endless round of golf meetings and charity balls and all the rest of it, and I admit I might not have been spending as much time in the ER with my patients as I should have been. John criticized me, so I worked harder, and spread myself thinner trying to be both wonder doctor and PR man and Gonzo arrived and irritated the living daylights out of me by becoming good friends with John, while my friendship with him seemed to be over.
Then one day I snapped. John was all over me for some reason, I can't even remember why, and to the horror of both of us I didn't yell or argue, I simply burst into tears and fled. I left his office, I left the hospital and I got in my car and drove until I was exhausted. And this was where I stopped. The Macks fed me, tucked me into this cottage, kept an eye on me, but generally left me in peace. And it is so very peaceful here, so serene, walking through the woods, or sitting on the beach, and I finally felt the knots in my mind slowly begin to loosen. I had called the hospital to let them know where I was, strictly out of a sense of duty, nothing more, so I was stunned to come back from the beach on afternoon to find John at the cottage waiting for me.
Oh he read me the riot act of course, but then he calmed down, and we walked to the beach and sat and talked, like we hadn't talked in years. We sorted out our problems and resentments and he came to understand that I had meant well for the hospital, even if I hadn't always gone about it the best way. And he made me see my mistakes, and the need for me to focus on what I really wanted ... to be the best doctor I could be, and to leave the money raising to the professionals.
After that day we slowly became friends again. When we got back, he helped me smooth down the ruffled feathers I had left behind, and helped me pry back from the board some of the responsibilities that they had taken away from me. John helped me to make them take me seriously. We rediscovered our friendship that day on the beach, and though I know that I exasperate the daylights out of him sometimes, which he almost never fails to let me know, I also know that until I met you, he was the only person in my life who gave a damn about me.
Our friendship was renewed here, so this place is very special to me. ÐI often come here for a day or two, when I can get the time, to read, or to hike through the woods, or to garden a bit...I planted the flower beds around this cottage you know, or to just sit on the beach and think. And I always hoped, vainly I thought, that someday I'd have someone to love to bring to this very special place. So, E.J., even if we had all the time in the world, and anywhere to choose from, I couldn't imagine starting our life together any place but here.
The tears that had filled E.J.'s eyes at his words finally started to spill down her cheeks, the sight of which brought a soft protest from Stanley, as he started to softly kiss them away. E.J. felt her heart begin to pound in response to the slowly growing intensity of those kisses, and it was with great reluctance that she pulled away from him. His flushed face and the bewildered look in his darkly dilated eyes almost made her relent, but she firmly silenced his protest with gentle fingers on his lips.
"Stanley, there's something I think you should know before...well...when I told you I'd waited for you, I meant it. I've never felt for anyone else the love I feel for you. Or trusted any man so completely. So you are the first man that I've ever felt sure enough of to"...E.J.'s voice slowly trailed off. Throwing a quick glance over at the waiting bed, she met his warm brown eyes with her suddenly shy dark ones and whispered "What I'm trying to say is that I'm a 37-year-old virgin, and I guess I'm a little...nervous... about what's to come". As E.J. removed her fingers from his lips she was moved to see tears swimming in his eyes.
He tenderly touched his lips to her forehead as he held her close and said with a voice choked with emotion, "E.J., you are giving me the most precious gift that a woman can give to the man she loves, and who loves her. I swear I will try my best for all the rest of my life to never betray your love or the trust that you have in me. And being the only man you've ever known in the most... intimate way... you can know another person...I just hope I won't be a disappointment to you."
This time it was E.J. who kissed away the tears, and with a growing expression of confidence and joy on her face, laughed as she said "Don't be silly, how could I ever be disappointed in you? I love you." She slowly let her kisses grow in intensity, and felt warmth rising within her as the passion of his responding kisses grew.
She tried to make herself relax as she felt his hand lightly at first, then more firmly, slowly acquainting himself with the lines and curves of her body, through the soft silk of her gown. His slow, gentle, touch sent deep, warm shudders through her, as she vaguely wondered where she was to start. That decision was delayed when he suddenly stood up, and closely cradling her in his arms, carried her to the bed, where he laid her gently down, but to her surprise, sat down next to her.
His face was very serious as he spoke, "E.J., I told you that I was shy about some things, and this is one of those things. I'm not very experienced, because of that shyness, and because I take this act very seriously. I have never loved any woman as I love you, and I will give you all the love that's in me for all the rest of my life. But I want you to know that the very few times in my life that I've experienced intimacy, it was not casual to me, no matter how the other person felt. I can't be casual about this...do you understand? Both you and I will have a lot to teach each other, and my first lesson to you is this...sex can be fun, full of pleasure and joy, and I want it to be that way for us. And it is the most utterly intimate way we can know one another, and show just how much we love each other, and that is what we will learn together tonight."
With these words, Stanley reached over to the night table and extinguished the lamp, and E.J. raised herself up to sit curled next to him. The room had dissolved around them, as only the two of them on the bed were lit by the soft, dim light of the banked fire. E.J. took a deep breath for courage, as she reached over and slowly untied the belt of his robe. With his help she eased it from him , as he in turn slipped her robe from her. Laying her back down, and carefully settling himself beside her, he began again to acquaint himself with her body. This time her own hands joined in the exploration, and summoning courage, she slid her hands up his pajama top to start a slow massage on his back, a move that brought an appreciative purr from him as he was busily kissing her throat. He slowly became more aggressive, and soon the soft feel of silk gave way to the warm intoxication of skin.
She let him take the lead as his hands and lips roamed with loving purpose over her slowly more eager body, finding her most sensitive places with a skill that belied his little experience (and a stray thought drifted through her mind...well, he is a doctor you dope, he knows where all the good parts are). Gently, but determinedly he brought her again and again to the edge and held her trembling body close as he sent her soaring over and over. Her black eyes were dazed as she whispered to him hoarsely, "Now, please Stanley", and with a look of fierce passion and joy on his face, he positioned his body carefully over her much smaller form. He had prepared her well, so though the pain she was half-dreading came, it was swiftly effaced by the sheer pleasure of their union. With a rhythm soon to become second nature to them both, they took one another to the edge, and held each other tightly as they flew as one.
At some point deep in the night a sudden cool shiver brought E.J. awake. And no wonder, she thought, as the fire had died down to faintly glowing coals as they had lain damp and exposed to the air. The light of the full moon that shown in through the slightly open drapes lit the room enough for her to gently straighten out the tumbled bedding. As she started to pull the covers up over them, she paused to gaze with an appreciative smile at the sleeping form of her husband. With his dark brown hair disheveled, and his sleeping face relaxed and calm, she smiled as she realized that he really was a handsome man, in a quiet, unassuming way. and though she was reluctant to admit it, the lines and planes of his face and body clearly showed that Mrs. Mack was right, he really was too thin for his build.
E.J.'s face grew thoughtful as she reflected back on the last few busy weeks. There really was so much they still needed to learn about each other, yet she grinned as the old phrase ran through her mind...it's been the equivalent of a formal introduction. Oh well, she thought, we're committed now, so we'll just have to be patient and love each other enough to get over the bumps.
As she shifted to get more comfortable to continue her musing, the movement brought Stanley's eyes open. Looking as languid as a contented cat his sweet, sleepy smile quickly turned to a wicked grin as his eyes roamed up and down the length of her body. Her mock outraged cry of "Really, Stanley", brought an equally wicked chuckle from him as he said in a tone of injured innocence "What's the matter E.J., I thought one of the reasons we came here was to enjoy the view!" That outrageous remark brought him a playful pummeling until he wrested the pillow away from her, and wrapping himself around her, said "you look a little goosebumpy, I'd better warm you up" She giggled at him and said "you could stir up the fire in the fireplace" "Oh no E.J." he said in a low soft voice, and with the same wicked look "I'd much rather stir up the fire in you" Which he preceded to do, much to their mutual enjoyment.
Just before they went to sleep again she remembered to pull the covers up, as he settled her comfortably in his arms. As she began to drift off, a stray thought wandered through her mind "I guess now we have all the time in the world" With that contented thought, E.J. Riverside fell asleep, in the warm embrace of her husband, Stanley.
"The human heart can see what is hidden from the eyes...and the heart knows things that the mind does not begin to understand"
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