Autumn In Vermont
For three days they had been together here, reveling in autumn and all it's splendor. This morning was different from the rest only because it was their last morning here together. The coffee and their time would be bittersweet, for tomorrow they would be back in the city, with all its trappings. But how could he forget these last three days? As idyllic and tranquil as their days had been, they were only surpassed by their evenings together. Holding each other so close that their vision of each other was blurred didn't matter, they loved and laughed into the night.
And after enjoying the early morning mists that sometimes traveled in from the north, they would go back to bed and slumber until later in the morning until they were stirred by the wind playing in the chimes on the deck overlooking the trees of so many hues or by the sunshine dappling their bedroom through the branches of the oak tree just outside their window. While she still slept quietly, he looked at her and watched her breathing; at peace with no cares. It was then that he vowed to himself that he would return here again someday.... soon.
He had not seen her yet as she leaned against the doorjamb leading out onto the deck, her terrycloth robe falling open slightly, and watched him quietly for a few moments. His elbows were on the railing of the deck, coffee in hand, as he stared out into the woods at nothing in particular. She knew how much he loved to be able to take a few moments, anywhere, and simply enjoy whatever nature had to offer. And nature here was working wonders.
Her hair was still wet from her morning shower which had awakened her body, but not completely her mind. Thinking about the last few days, she felt a lump well up in her throat and her eyes began to cloud - she so didn’t want this weekend to end. But it was ending, and tomorrow would be "back to normal", only, what was normal? Tomorrow would come soon enough though….straighten up, put on that smile, embrace the morning,...embrace him. Look back on these last two days, and this one, as some that you’ll never forget…something to always remember, to cherish she told herself. She would try.
“Good morning.”
He looked back over his shoulder at her and smiled that smile she had seen a thousand times. But it was such a wonderful smile, genuine and comforting. He turned, leaned against the railing and held out his arms to welcome her.
“Good morning. How’d you sleep?”
She pressed up against him now, her arms around his waist, holding him gently. His strong arms wrapped around her as his hands rubbed the back of the thick robe. She could still feel their strength through the material and laid her head against his shoulder.
“Wonderful,” she remarked. “I’m surprised I even woke up, I was sleeping so hard.” She looked up at him. “I think you kept me up too late,” she said, smiling.
“You know me,” he quipped and then smiled. He leaned down to kiss her. For just a few moments, each was lost in the other and neither cared that this morning, this day, would end too soon for both of them.
Autumn In Vermont Corpus Christi Dilemma Kent and Kristen Christmas for Bill Christmas for Jack Christmas for Sherry
