Chapter 1.6 – Memory’s Bliss

It seemed liked only days had passed, but he did it.  Connor completed the house.  He completed the second story, installing three bedrooms and two bathrooms.  They hadn’t talked about it recently, but he knew Carolyn wanted a daughter.  Her family had some weird lineage thing going, with the heir being female only.  He shrugged.  It didn’t bother him.  He planned on buying a couple businesses so he’d have something to give his son, so he wasn’t concerned about it.  He made sure the decorator made the third bedroom pink, though.  He thought Carolyn would be pleased.  He also hoped she’d get the hint.

Just as the house was completed, though, Carl had his birthday.  He son was going to school!  He was so excited.

After the small family celebration, Connor escorted Carolyn upstairs to introduce her to their new little love nest.  He had had it decorated specifically for her, knowing how she loved all things Victorian.  Looking around the room, Carolyn nearly broke down in tears again.  This man.  How could he be so wonderful?  Why was he so wonderful?  She didn’t know.  All she knew was that she wasn’t going to wait any longer.  She wanted him.

Afterwards, as Carolyn lay next to Connor, she melded next to him, her limbs mixing with his limbs.  They were nearly one.  She listened to his heartbeat.  It was almost normal now, and its steady beat reassured her, its insistent lullaby pulling at her, singing her to sleep.

And they moved on.

Carolyn continued her climb up the scientific ladder, Connor continued his writing.  He ventured in schience fiction briefly, at his brother’s request, but found he prefered the longer drama novels.

Carl was doing well in school.  He had friends, and his grades were pretty good.  He remembered, mostly, to do his homework.  Turned out, Carl was quite a hand at painting.  He took to spending all his free time at the easel.

He didn’t talk much, but then he didn’t really have much to say.  He was a contented child.  He knew his parents loved him, and he loved them in return.  He thought all their mushy kissing and stuff was overdone (gross!), but generally speaking, they were pretty cool.  When Father’s Day rolled around, Carl spoke to his dad about his career.  He was supposed to write an essay on his father’s life, and Carl wasn’t exactly, 100% clear on what it was his father actually did.  His dad didn’t get up and go to work every day like his mother did.  As far as Carl could figure out, he spent the day on the computer.  But he didn’t want to say that, as it sounded kinda disloyal.

His dad explained that he writes books.  Carl wanted to know what kind of books.  Connor explained that he wrote fiction.  Stories about people that didn’t really exist, but that he tried to make the stories reflect situations and feelings that all people shared.  Carl thought that was really cool and asked his dad if there was a copy on the bookcase.  He wanted to take a copy in along with the report.  He didn’t really know what anyone else’s dad did, but he thought it was cool that concrete evidence would fit in his bookbag.

Carolyn was busy working, working on her garden, and fishing whenever she had a chance.

Carolyn was becoming moody, however.  She didn’t understand it.  Everything was going well at home.  Connor had kept his word about digging into her past.  He was almost perfect.  Or as nearly perfect as a husband can be.  She stopped at the grocery to sell some of her vegetables and fish, and wandering through the aisles while privately musing over what was bothering her, Carolyn looked up and found herself in the pharmacy department.  Her mind began whirring at light speed, and suddenly, she knew what was wrong.

She had news.  She had also come up with a plan.  Connor loved her and she loved him.  No matter what happened in the future, she knew she would be wrong to waste what they had together.  She was going to ask Connor to marry her.  She didn’t worry about it for her children’s sake - Carl knew who his father was, and the young one she carried would know too.  She didn’t want to do it for her own sake – well, a little maybe – but mostly, this was for Connor.  She wanted him to know how much she loved him and how much she wanted to spend her life with him.

One day when Carolyn was off work and Carl was off to school, Carolyn arranged a “picnic” up at the falls.  She told Connor that they hadn’t been out together in ages and that it would be fun.  Connor was a little grumpy about it.  “I just need to finish this chapter!”  But she didn’t listen.  She told him his great masterpiece would wait, and that a day out in the sunshine would be just the thing to woo his muse.  Connor really did want to spend time with Carolyn, and he capitulated.

Carolyn had planned out the scene in her head.  They would spread a blanket, eat a nice picnic lunch, and maybe a glass or two of wine.  Then she would look Connor in the eye and tell him how much he meant to her; how she couldn’t imagine her life without him.  Then she would bring out the ring and it would be beautiful.  Once they got to the falls, however, she became so tongue-tied and unsure of herself that Connor got frustrated and told her to just spit it out.

So she did.

Connor didn’t know what to say.  He’d wanted to marry Carolyn, but she’d always shied away from the conversation.  He didn’t know what had prompted this decision and he was taken off guard.  He noticed Carolyn’s smile beginning to falter as she registered his hesitation.  He reassured her immediately – she had asked and he wasn’t going to let her change her mind.

“Sweetheart… I’m so surprised!  I love you so much.  Let’s not wait – let’s exchange our vows right now.”

“Connor, no!  I wanted a proper wedding.”

“What could be more proper than out here where all of nature and all of the gods can witness it.  I want the mist from the falls, I want the sunshine.  I want to remember this day forever, just like this.  Marry me now, sweetheart.”

She melted.  She couldn’t refuse.  And so there by the falls, with the mist making them damp, and the fish jumping out to watch, they exchanged their vows.  Promising to love each other and be there for each other until death took them.

She smiled to herself on the way home.  It had been a lovely day.  They had spoken their vows and declared themselves belonging to the other forever.  They had kissed and laughed and held each other.  And he had lain her down right there and showed her how much he loved her.  She’d been certain someone would catch them and she’d been very embarrassed, but secretly she had been pleased.  She was going to tell him her news tomorrow.  She couldn’t remember when she had been so happy.  The future would take care of itself.  For today… today was bliss.  In her memory, today would always be bliss.