Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey (24 page)

He finished shaving, caught a glimpse of her
moving out of the corner of his eye and turned around to face her.
She was smiling as her eyes raked over his body slowly, up and down
and up again. Her smile grew wider. Peter, suddenly self-conscious,
tucked a towel around his waist and stared at her.

“Too late, mister. I saw everything
already.” She giggled at his modesty.

“Saw? You can see?” He moved swiftly to the
bed.

“I can see. I can see everything…in perfect
light and color. Isn’t it wonderful! I can see everything,
including you, bear, and, I must say, you are something wonderful
to behold.”

Peter grabbed her and hugged her. Then he
put her back at arm’s length and stared into her eyes.

“You can see…you were spying on me?”

“Guilty as charged.” She held onto his
wrists.

“So do you like what you see?”

“You are beautiful.”

“I’m not beautiful. You’re beautiful. I’m a
man. A man can’t be beautiful.”

“You’re handsome, then. You’re the most
handsome man I’ve ever seen.”

He took her in his arms and held her
close.

“I can’t believe you can see…”

“I’m so happy! Oh, bear, now I have it all,
or almost all.”

“What’s left?”

“The return of my memory. Let’s call Dr.
Weiss.” She tugged on his hand.

“Pants, first.” He retrieved his clothes
from the chair.

After breakfast, Lara made three calls, one
to Dr. Weiss, one to her uncle Jim, and one to Sam.

“I don’t want to stop looking at you. I
don’t want to close my eyes ever again.” She put her hand on his
chest.

“First I want to show you the lake, then the
changing leaves. We can go hiking…watch a movie! Now you can come
to my class and look at the art…so much to catch up on, honey.”
Peter rested his palm on her cheek.

Her eyes danced with anticipation. Peter
grabbed their coats, tossing Lara’s to her, which she caught
easily.

“Let’s get out of here.”

They hiked around the lake, stopping to
watch eagles soar above looking for fish and spied a variety of
wildlife from squirrels gathering food, to wild turkeys, to a few
colorful birds still waiting to fly south.

Next they went for a drive down deserted
country roads with field after field of trees whose leaves were
turning from green to brilliant red, warm orange and iridescent
gold. They passed scene after scene providing a riot of color with
their last stunning sweep of beauty before the trees slept for the
winter. Lara, a city girl, missed the beauty of fall. Unless she
walked in Central Park, the glory of the changing of the leaves was
something that eluded her.

They had lunch at Eagle’s Nest, a local
bistro. The lovers sat in a corner booth overlooking the lake,
holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes. The owners
couldn’t believe another set of lovebirds from the little shingled
house on the lake perched over a tiny table in their restaurant.
“Do you have to go back to South Africa in May?”

“I could look for a permanent teaching job
in the States. But it will probably be a year before I can settle
here. Are you going to go back to dancing?” Peter took a bite of
his sandwich.

“I’d like to teach ballet. I could teach for
a long time but I can only dance for a few more years…if that.” She
sipped on her coffee.

After an exhilarating and exhausting day,
the lovers rented a movie and fell asleep by eleven.

* * * *

Sunday morning, Peter again arose early and
tiptoed out of the house without waking Lara. He returned and put
coffee on. The smell of the brewing coffee woke Lara up. Peter
entered the big bedroom with two steaming mugs on a tray. Under his
arm were several newspapers.

“Now you can enjoy the best part of Sunday
morning, next to making love, coffee in bed with the newspaper,” he
said, putting the tray down on the dresser and dumping the
newspapers on the bed. He toed off his shoes. Lara smiled up at him
as he handed her a mug.

“I want to make breakfast and serve it in
bed to you,” Lara said.

“You could serve yourself to me in bed
instead, honeybee.” Peter kissed her as he climbed back into
bed.

“First, food.” She popped up and disappeared
downstairs.

In fifteen minutes, Lara arrived with the
same tray covered with plates of bacon and eggs and toast with
jam.

“This is the best Sunday morning ever.”
Peter tucked into the eggs.

He divided up the newspapers. They read to
themselves and then they read aloud, sharing stories. They
discussed news articles, columns for the lovelorn, did the
crossword puzzle together, and laughed at the comics. Too soon it
was time to return to Willow Falls.

The ride home was bittersweet. The weekend
could not have been more perfect.

“Buying that cottage was the smartest thing
my parents ever did,” Peter said.

“Giving birth to you was the smartest thing
they ever did.” Lara smiled as she watched the scenery breeze by
the window.

Peter squeezed her hand briefly. He wasn’t
looking forward to getting back to the real world where he had
papers to grade, a house to share with his dad, Fran to contend
with, and Lara returning to her room next door. Peter enjoyed
having her around all the time yet he wasn’t ready to make a
commitment.

Sunday night, Peter carried Lara’s small
suitcase up to her door. Fran was waiting inside.

“Well, it’s about time you two got home from
your…your…illicit weekend. You have company, Lara,” Fran said and
stepped away from the door, revealing Andres Volinsky standing
behind her.

Lara gasped.

“Andres! What are you doing here?”

“You aunt told me you regained your sight
and might be interested in coming back to the ballet. So I came
here to try to…convince you. Madame Fouret wants to see you
dance.”

“Lara, who is this?” Peter asked.

“This is Andres Volinsky, my former dance
partner…”

“And lover,” Andres added.

“Andres!” Lara said, blushing.

“Former lover…but you never know,” he
said.

Peter’s face got red. “Lara is with me now.”
His jaw tightened.

“We’ll see for how long.” Andres shot Peter
a disdainful look.

“I’ve invited Andres to stay for a few weeks
to get you into shape, so you can go back to dancing and return to
New York City…where you belong, Lara.”

Lara stood by silently.

“Lara, why don’t you stay with me? Then
Andres can stay in your room,” Peter offered.

“Good idea.” She turned furious eyes on
Fran. “Andres, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“You could at least thank me for arranging
this,” Fran said.

“For arranging to get me out of Uncle Jim’s
house faster? You’ve interfered with my life, butted in without my
consent or desire. Thanks…for nothing,” Lara retorted.

Peter was standing at the door, waiting.
“Are you going back to dancing in New York?”

“I don’t know. I’m pretty old to go
back.”

“What about your idea of teaching dance? You
could teach right here. Who is this Andres guy? Are going to sleep
with him again?” Peter fired questions at her.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do yet.
Andres became my partner after Keith died…and no, I have no
intention of sleeping with him. I love you, remember?”

“How was your weekend?” Sam asked them as
they walked in the door.

“Sam!” Lara said, rushing over to him.

She gave him a big hug, then stood back and
looked at him.

“It’s so great to finally see your face.
You’re even more handsome than I thought you’d be.”

“Thank you, Lara.” Color tinted Sam’s
cheeks.

“The weekend was fantastic.” Peter put his
arm around Lara.

“So romantic…” she sighed.

Sam smiled.

“Lara I’ve put your suitcase in the bedroom,
I’ve got to talk to Dad for a few moments.” Peter took his father’s
arm and ushered him into the kitchen.

“What’s up, Pete?” Sam sat down at the
kitchen table.

“Can Lara stay here for a few days?”

“With you?”

“Yes.” Peter put the flame under the kettle
for tea.

“Sure.”

“Fran invited Lara’s old dance partner to
train her to go back to the ballet. I want to ask her to come back
to South Africa with me in May but I don’t know where she stands
with this guy.”

“Back to South Africa…as your wife?” Sam
raised his eyebrows and smiled.

“I’m not ready for that yet…” Peter said,
moving to the cabinet.

“You want her to come with you without
marriage? I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s risky for her…I
doubt she’ll say yes.” Sam shook his head.

“How risky is it? I love her, I’m not going
to desert her in a strange country.”

“Then marry her, Peter.”

“Marriage? I…” he opened the cabinet door
and took out several mugs.

“I almost lost your mother that way.”

“What way?” Peter turned, giving his father
his full attention.

“By not proposing soon enough. Not marrying
her when I should have.”

“What happened?” Peter sat down at the
table.

“We were at college together, but you know
all that. Anyway, she went off to graduate school in New York City
while I went to graduate school at Austen Mansfield in Florida.
Your mother was the most beautiful woman in New York and she was
dating every rich, handsome, accomplished guy there. I was in
agony.”

“What did you do?”

“I got the hell out of Florida! I hated to
leave, but I was terrified of losing your mother. I transferred to
Columbia University for my second master’s year and proposed to
Ellen the day I got the acceptance letter. Had to do it over the
phone.” Sam chuckled at the memory.

“And?” Peter prodded, resting his chin in
his hand.

“I married your mother right after our first
year ended. I was lucky to snatch her up before someone else did.
Of course, after we finished in New York, we moved back to Austen
Mansfield. I got my doctorate there and she taught piano. Mac was
born there.”

“So you think I might lose Lara by not
proposing now?”

“You could, Pete. I was lucky. You may not
be.”

Sam reached into his pocket, and pulled out
a small box.

“I’ve been meaning to give you this. Now
seems like the right time.” Sam handed his son the box.

Peter opened it to reveal a stunning diamond
ring with two emeralds on either side. He shot his father a
quizzical look.

“It’s the engagement ring I gave your
mother. I’ve been saving it. Mac got engaged too quickly. When I
decided to give them the lake house, I saved this for you. I don’t
know if you need it now, but in case you do…if not now, then
whenever you’ve found the right girl.”

Peter’s eyes were bright with unshed tears,
as he remembered his mother wearing it. He didn’t want to make a
marriage commitment yet, especially with Andres on the scene. Peter
needed to be completely sure Lara loved him, was committed to him,
before he proposed. Still he was honored to have the ring.

“It’s beautiful, Dad. Thanks.” Peter put the
ring in his pocket and gave his father a brief hug. He went into
his room and smiled to see Lara unpacking.

“I’m going to clear some space for you,
honeybee,” he said, emptying a few drawers. He stepped out of the
way and watched her move in. He liked the idea. He liked it a
lot.

“Now I’ll be with you every day…and sleep
with you every night,” Peter said.

“Bear, you have a one track mind!”

“I know. I hope you’re on the same track. My
job here is over in May and I have to go back to South Africa. Will
you come with me?”

Lara stopped and looked at him.

“Leave the country? What would I do
there?”

“Live with me.” He stretched out on the bed,
lacing his fingers behind his head.

“It’s almost eight months away. Let’s see
how we feel when it gets closer.” She resumed unpacking.

“I’ll contact the university and see if you
can teach dance there. We need to apply for your visa, so we can’t
wait until the last minute.” He sat up.

Peter tried to hide his disappointment at
not getting an enthusiastic response. Lara seemed reluctant and his
father’s words echoed in his head.

“Please give me some time. I need to sort
out my life.” She folded lingerie and placed it in the empty
drawer.

“Will there be a place for me in your life?”
he asked, suddenly unsure of himself.

“Of course! You’re my bear, aren’t you?”

“This bear wants some honey.” He pulled her
onto the bed next to him and kissed her with passion.

Chapter
Fifteen

Peter stopped practicing piano and moved his
chair to the window to watch Andres and Lara dancing across the
way. Lara was practicing her turns with Andres holding her waist
and spinning her. Peter felt a bolt of jealousy shoot through him
as he watched her turn again and again while Andres’ hands moved on
her ribcage, balancing her.