Acts of Contrition Page 5

  Craig leaned up on his elbow. “What? No, you’re not. This body suits you. It’s voluptuous and I rather enjoy it.”

  “I’m so fat now,” she repeated.

  “No, you’re not.” Craig ran his hand back up her body to her breast and plumped it carefully. “You’re magnificent. You’ve earned this body and I wouldn’t have it differently.”

  “You’re just saying that.”

  “You’re right, I am,” he agreed.

  She peered at him from behind sleepy lids. “Look at you. Ripped from head to toe. I’m doughy.”

  “I am not ripped. I’m toned. And I did it after my dad died from the heart attack. I didn’t want to be the man who didn’t get to see his children graduate from high school, the man who didn’t get to see his grandkids grow up.”

  “Well, whatever the case, I like it.” Michele traced her finger over his stomach. “I could spend most of a day just licking the peaks and valleys here.”

  “I seem to recall you didn’t waste much time last night getting to that.” Craig shifted the sheet down just a little so he could see her full breast, and slipped his hand over her.

  “Craig we have to talk.” Michele’s voice was quiet. “Also, I’m crazy sore and I need some recovery time, as much as I would love to go again.”

  Craig nodded. “You’re right, we do. I’m also hungry. Let’s get showered and dressed and talk over breakfast.” He groaned inwardly—he had remembered their antics in the shower when they had first been married. “Let’s shower separately.”

  “Agreed.” Michele tossed the sheet back, climbing out of bed. Her nude form was amazing, and Craig dropped back to the pillow on the bed to keep from looking at her. If he looked, he would want. If he wanted, he might take, and they might show up for late dinner if that happened.

  Michele walked out of the bathroom fully dressed. Her long legs were covered with skinny jeans and she was wearing an oversized sweater. Craig cocked his head at the sweater, confused after the light clothing of the last few days, earning a laugh from Michele. “Did you check the temperature? It’s only sixty out there this morning. The seventy-two from yesterday is long gone.”

  “Damn, I was hoping for a sundress.”

  “I think you’d look awful in a sundress. You don’t have the boobs.”

  He stood and turned sideways, framing his pecks with his hands. “You don’t think so?”

  “Oh, shit, don’t do that.” Michele groaned and laughed at the same. “Go. Shower. I’ve worked up an appetite.”

  Craig walked out of the shower in plain khakis and a warm sweatshirt, and pulled on his boat shoes. He held out his hand for Michele—

  —and she took it. He stared at it for just a moment, then up at her. She was staring back, her eyes soft and her lips pouty.

  “Let’s get the coffee.” Craig opened the door. “We at least need that before we get started.”

  “Coffee good,” Michele grunted.

  With the weather swinging around so much, Madeline had decided to keep all the guests in the Florida room for breakfast. There was still a gorgeous morning over the Gulf, and the room smelled of fresh cinnamon buns and hot coffee. There was a full breakfast on the buffet table, from steak to eggs to creamed chipped beef and hot cross buns. Both Craig and Michele heaped plates full of the delicious cooking and moved to a seat against the window.

  Michele let out a great heaving sigh as she let the first swig of coffee caress her. “There is nothing like coffee.”

  “You and your brew,” Craig teased, stirring his own cup. “Michele, did I call uncle too soon?”

  She shook her head. “No. When you said it, I was just about there myself. I had the feeling that it was going to be by the end of this trip.”

  “I… don’t know that I want to give up yet.” Craig took a sip of the hot coffee.

  Michele picked off a bit of her cinnamon bun. “I was fully ready to go home, pack the house and get away from this. From us. But now…”

  “Something happened,” Craig finished.

  She nodded. “We immediately had no expectations from each other. I think that cleared the air for us. Somewhere along the way, we lost ourselves, and each other.” Michele grabbed his hand. “Craig, I am really and truly sorry for the money debacle. I swear. I was angry and lonely and fed up with everything. I didn’t know what the repercussions of it would be. And now that I know how you had the money to pay it off, I feel like I screwed up again, this time with our future.”

  Craig ran his fingers over her knuckles. “Do we have a future?”

  Michele didn’t hesitate. “I think I want one.”

  “I’m so sorry about what I nearly did to us.” His words were quiet. “She was vibrant and different, and annoyingly persistent. I realize now I was caught up in the idea of her. The idea of being adventurous, and that was wrong. There was never a moment you weren’t willing to go on an adventure with me. When the kids came along it just got harder and I thought it was because you’d lost interest. But I know that’s not true, and I know I fucked up with her around.”

  Michele released his hand for another swig of coffee. “I… um. Did you sleep with her?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “I came damn close, but no. She was the worst possible match for me.” He pulled out his cellphone and put it on the table. “I don’t want to change my number, but if she doesn’t stop, I’m going to have to.”

  “Pay the fee, block her,” Michele said. “Please. Those messages were hell to read.”

  “I can’t even get excited about a text from Julie because I’m so terrified it’s going to be her.”

  “Let’s find a store in town and get it blocked today.”

  “I can call and do it. I’ll do that after breakfast.” Craig glanced at the face of the thing. Five more texts since last night. “She’s…”

  “Stalking you at this point.” Michele nodded at the phone. She pulled off another piece of the cinnamon bun. “Craig, I’m afraid I won’t be able to control my spending again. I really am. I did this once before in college, though not to this degree. And now I’m here again. You have a plan for us, and I don’t want to be the cause of its ruin.”

  “Would you… consider therapy? Just for that?”

  “Do they do that?”

  “They have gambler’s anonymous, I’m sure there’s someone out there who can help you. Help us.”

  “It’s money.”

  “It’s money well spent. We’ll work on it.”

  “Do you want to give this a try?” Michele asked.

  “Do you?” Craig mimicked without a hint of mocking.

  “I feel like now that we have a clue what was going on, we can work on it. We have a lot of work to do. A lot. Personally and together. But we were so awesome when we first started.”

  “We’re still awesome.” Craig smiled. “Or at least, that’s what my sore muscles are saying.”

  “I want to try.”

  “I do too.”

  Michele grabbed his hand. “No more Tara. Block her.”

  Craig nodded. “And no more credit cards. Cut them up.”

  There was a beautiful smile on Michele’s face as she nodded her agreement. Craig paused, and then held up a finger to hold her off. He trotted over to the check-in desk, grabbed the sheet of paper he thought he’d seen earlier, and trotted back to the table.

  “Wanna do something really wild?”

  “What…?” Michele looked utterly confused.

  He slipped the paper across the table top. “Let’s get married again.”

  Michele’s head snapped up. “What?” she hissed.

  “They are doing weddings and vow renewals on the beach tomorrow. Let’s do it.”

  Michele studied him. “You’re serious.”

  “Yes!” Craig exclaimed. “Yes. You drive into town and find something new and pretty to wear and I’ll get something simple together. Don’t show me, surprise me. Tomorrow. On the beach.”

  “You…yo
u really want to do that?”

  “I think hearing the words again will make us both realize what we’re fighting for.”

  Michele considered his hand holding hers and then the paper it was resting on. Finally, she looked up at him and caught his eye. “All right. Let’s do it. I’m a sucker for a hot guy in a nice outfit.”

  * * *

  Craig couldn’t believe how nervous he was. For a spur of the moment thing, he was probably more nervous than he was at his actual wedding. He had watched two couples renew their vows after the first full wedding of the afternoon. There had been four weddings that morning, and there were four more later in the day. All of the renewals were between one and four in the afternoon, and they were up next.

  He swallowed hard, walking toward the judge at the water’s edge. He’d gone simple: khakis and white shirt. He was wearing a gardenia boutonniere that Madeline had managed to secure from…somewhere. The woman was a miracle.

  The judge smiled at him. “Y’ all right there, son?”

  Craig cleared his throat. “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “Y’ looked a little surprised to be here.”

  “We were talking about divorce when we started this vacation, and now we’re renewing our vows.”

  The judge clapped him on the back. “Miz Madeline’s little establishment is known to bring out the love between two people. And I suspect you two have a wonderful history to work from and an amazing future to work toward.”

  “Two awesome kids, a great home and now…it looks like we are going to fight for that future.”

  The judge nodded sagely. “That’s what I like to hear.” He pointed to the boardwalk. “I think that one belongs to you.”

  Michele was a vision. She was wearing a white tea length dress with a mesh overlay that had black velvet details on the bottom of the sleeves and the skirt. Somewhere along the way, her hair was swept up in to a messy up-do, his favorite look for her. Her favorite necklace from the kids was at her throat—a beautiful pendant he’d helped them design when Julie was five, with a stone for each of them in. She was barefoot, and carried and small spray of gardenias. Craig smiled. Madeline really was a miracle worker.

  “Well, I must say, that is one beautiful woman.” The judge smiled at him. Craig agreed, watching her walk toward him down the aisle created with chairs and bags that held flameless candles. There were a few guests in the chairs, and some random beach walkers who had sat down to enjoy the festivities. Some of the local residents had come to join in the Valentine fun as well.

  As she got close, Craig held out his hand and Michele grabbed on, smiling. She squeezed gently as they used to when they were dating. “You look amazing.”

  “You don’t look half bad yourself.” Michele gave him a crooked smile.

  They turned to the judge, who nodded at them. “Michele and Craig, it is my pleasure to be here today to reaffirm the vow you took years ago. Many people believe that marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship. A couple meets, learns about each other, shares secrets and dreams, falls in love and chooses each other. They take the final step, marriage.

  “Marriage is not the final step. It was never meant to be. It is the beginning of a grand adventure, of a consuming and fulfilling relationship, meant to last all life long.

  “You have shared the joys, the blessings, the challenges and the trials of a married life. And yet, here you are today, reaffirming your commitment to work together. To work to make your marriage to grow and blossom in the coming years. May the renewing of your vows remind you that despite the stresses that are inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding will continue to increase your contentment and bring forth the joys in living.

  “Accept your marriage as a work-in-progress. It consumes your attention day by day and yet is never completed. Because a lifelong love requires a lifetime of hard work. But it is a joyous labor, whose fruits are the very richest. Your future is before you, vast and unknown. That future with its hopes and dreams, sorrows and disappointments cannot be seen. But it is a great tribute to your trust and belief in one another that you have come here today to reaffirm yourselves to each other, your willingness to face that unknown with each other.

  “May the pure, simple love with which you join your hearts and hands once again today never fail you, and grow deeper and more sure with each passing year. Michele, Craig, please face each other. Michele, reaffirm your vows to your husband.”

  Michele was crying, hard. Craig quickly wiped her tears and choked back his own. She grabbed his hand again.

  “Craig, I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever. I renew the promises I made to you years ago, a promise of my hand and heart, of my love and devotion, to fight for us from this day forward. I recommit myself to us, and to all we were and all we can be. I have always wanted you by my side and I want that from this day forward. I remember my love for you and reaffirm that here today on this beach in the presence of these witnesses. I will continue to love you for as long as I shall live.”

  The words were perfect. They had found vows the night before, but Michele had added to it. The judge nodded at him.

  “Michele, I believe in this marriage more strongly than ever. I renew the promises I made to you years ago, a promise of my hand and heart, of my love and devotion, to fight for us from this day forward. I recommit myself to us, and to all we were and all we can be. I promise to provide for you and to protect you, and to remember always that you were the one there for me always. I want to walk by your side, hand in hand, from this day forward. I remember my love for you and reaffirm that here today on this beach in the presence of these witnesses. I love you, and I will love you for as long as I shall live.”

  The judge smiled and placed his hand over their joined ones. “Michele, Craig, you are here today to celebrate your love and acknowledge your lifelong devotion to each other. Your example reminds of the possibilities and wondrous abilities of true love. So, with your hands joined and your eyes to each other, let it be known that you are joined, inseparably in this lifetime, and that this bond continues and grows with each day.”

  “Craig, you have something for your wife?” The judge smiled at him.

  Releasing Michele’s hand, he reached into the shirt pocket. “I wanted to give you something to remember the day we promised to try again. I pledged my life to you with a diamond, and I want to seal it with an emerald. Emeralds are for healing. They are stones of harmony, wisdom and love. They can bridge two souls and bring true love closer. It is a symbol of love, and this is the symbol of my love, the one I hope we share.”

  The emerald was a traditionally emerald-cut setting, but on either side were three baguettes running perpendicular to the main stone. It was a ring Craig had long ago seen Michele admiring in a magazine, a very Art Deco ring. Getting the ring made had been a bit of hustle, but the wonderful jeweler—another friend of Madeline’s—was able to find all the right jewels and worked late to get it made.

  The look on Michele’s face was worth the price. He slipped the ring onto her finger.

  The judge finished. “Inasmuch as you have sealed this renewal of your marriage vows in the presence of those gathered here, it gives me pleasure to announce that you are now, even more than ever before, husband and wife.”

  Chapter Seven:

  Craig walked up behind her, and held out a glass of champagne. “For you, Mishi. To us.”

  “To us.” She rang the glass gently against his.

  “We have a lot of work ahead of us.” Craig sipped the bubbly drink. “But I’m ready for it.” He brushed the few strands of her hair to one side, and pressed a kiss at the base of her neck.

  “We do.” Michele moved her head for him “And I’m ready for it too.”

  Craig nipped gently as Michele put the flute on the end table, moving her head to give him better access. She remembered how wonderful it was to feel him against her, his warmth washing through her.

  “It’s our
Vow Renewal night, Mrs. Ferguson,” he breathed in her ear. He made no secret of his intention when his fingers pulled the zipper of her dress down.

  “That it is, Mister Ferguson.”

  Michele stood still as his hands traveled back up her body and pushed the dress forward, slipping down her arms and pooling on the floor. His hands easily found her breasts and she could feel his excitement pressing against her. “The dress looked beautiful on you, but it was on far too long.”

  She turned in his arms. “You are far too dressed for this evening.” Michele quickly unfastened the top button, and took a short cut to his abs by pulling the whole shirt over his head.

  Craig chuckled. “Anxious?”

  “Impatient.” Her hands found his belt, and busied themselves. “You dropped that off me like it was liquid. And I’m not standing here working each of those buttons when I could be working something else.” His pants were now around his ankles and her victorious hand wrapped around him. She was rewarded with his hiss laced with desire.

  Craig stepped back and took her hand. He led her to the bedroom, leaving their clothes behind in rumpled piles. Laying down, he motioned to her to join him. Michele smiled, dropping her panties to the floor before crawling on to the bed with him. She swung one leg over him and shimmed up.

  “That’s not what I was thinking.” Craig reached for her breasts again, this time, unhooking the front of the lacy scraps that barely contained her.

  “We’re partners and sometimes…” Michele leaned down and kissed him hard. “…that means I get to be in charge.” She fisted him, guiding him inside her. Both of them let out soft breaths of desire and fulfillment. Slowly, Michele started her rhythmic possession of his body and she could see his mind quickly followed.

  “I sure hope you like being in charge, because I’m kind of fond of it.”

  “Me too,” Michele admitted. “I like the view.”

  “The view is not bad from here either.” Craig added a slow thrust of his hips. “Being partners also means we help each other.”

  Michele giggled. “You can help me with that as much as you like.”