If you review it I will write faster. Whoo hoo, thank you for the 500 reviews. It makes my day to get the e-mails that someone out there is commenting about what they are reading. Please please please keep it up.
I am still finding it interesting how much readers are concerned about what I will do with Season 4 and if Lindsay is going to be staying in the lab or going back to teaching. The next chapter will have some of the answers about that. But things can always change, you never know...
Here's a longer than usual chapter for me. Something nice to start the week with.
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Lights shining bright on the front porch meant that her parents had waited up for them.
"Mom, we're here." Lindsay announced from inside the front door. Bags were set down and she went searching the house for them. "Mom? Dad?"
"Out here honey!" Was heard from the back of the house. Lindsay led Danny to the deck where her parents were watching the stars and enjoying the evening. The old screen door slammed and they were warmly greeted by her parents.
"Danny, how are ya doin' hun?"
"I'm good Mama Monroe."
Mama took a good long look at the couple and saw how happy and good they looked.
"Well, come on, come on." Mama cooed. "Have a seat and tell us what's been going on out East."
Lindsay and Danny spent the next hour retelling stories of the school year, the drug raid, summer in the lab, physical therapy, and what the next few months had in store for them. Danny let out a huge yawn as Lindsay was telling a story about one of the kids in her class.
"Look at you," Mama interrupted, "You must be exhausted. Go on, get to bed. We can chat more tomorrow."
**
There were no traffic noises. There were no horns, sirens, or garbage trucks backing up. He couldn't hear Mrs. Garrett singing in her shower through the wall. The only thing he could hear were birds singing and machinery in the distance. He could smell the remnants of bacon hanging in the air when he finally got out of bed at 9:30 the next morning. Lindsay was gone and her side of the bed was cool to the touch.
The kitchen was empty. There was no evidence of anyone making anything for breakfast. Bacon was gone and all the dishes had been washed and put up. There was however about an inch of liquid left in the coffee pot and a cow mug sat next to it. A napkin sat nearby with a note: "When you grow up with four brothers you learn something really quick about food; you belong to one of two groups: the quick and the hungry. Drink your breakfast this morning, you'll like the way my mom makes coffee. Then come find me. –Montana."
Re-warming what was left of the coffee, he went out to the deck to greet the morning. Mama Monroe was sitting and peeling potatoes.
"Morning Mama."
"Morning, you sleep well?"
"Yes, Ma'am, thank you." He eased into a seat and started to flex his fingers like the doctor had showed him.
"How ya holding up sweetie?" She noticed his hand exercises out of the corner of her eye.
"As best as can be expected."
"You mentioned it last night, but when do you expect to go back to work?" She asked not taking her attention away from the task she was doing.
"End of July, beginning of August, but lab work only for a while. I should be 100% by the end of September at the latest."
"And Lindsay starts back to school when you go back to the lab?"
"Yes ma'am."
"That's when her shortened summer will start?"
"I guess, we have not talked about it, but I know she's looking forward to using part of her summer break."
"Uh-huh." Mama switched from the potatoes to breaking the ends off of a huge pot of green beans.
"She's enjoying her time at the lab. She's doing science; she's around friends, and getting paid. There are two months in the summer when she has no income."
"You alright with her working there right now?"
"Why wouldn't I be? She's happy, plus she's a complete natural at what she's doing." His attention was drawn out to the barn. A bright red tractor came around the corner from a field. Lindsay looked so petite sitting on top. She had on a ball cap, jean shorts and a red t-shirt that looked like one of his. The back tire of the machine was taller than she was. "Now that's a sight to see."
"Watch out, she's a natural here too." Mama pointed in the direction of the barn with the knife that she had in her hand. Lindsay and the tractor disappeared into the darkness of the barn. Mama kept working but looked at Danny as he watched the darkened door for her return. "Did you know that by the time Lindsay was nine, she'd been taught how to pick off a squirrel from more than thirty yards?"
He didn't look at her but did respond. "No ma'am, I didn't." He still waited for Lindsay to come out of the large building on the other side of the large garden, but he saw no sign of her yet.
"Her brothers spent hours showing her the right way to hunt and fish. They taught her the ways of the world along with her Daddy and me. Being the only little girl in the family, she was taught well how to take care of herself, but she also knows that if anything happens, we'll be there in an instant." Mama sat back and waited for any response from him.
Danny could see where this was going; it was a gentle warning. Steam drifted from his coffee cup. He wanted to choose his words very carefully. He knew they liked him, but still he was the big city boy taking their daughter and sister away.
"Lindsay dismissed me with a little wave of her hand the first time I met her. She beat the pants off of me at a game of pool in front of my best friend the first night we went out. She had challenged me every step of the way. I have had lots of chances to run for the hills, but I haven't. She had held me up and gotten me through the beating of my brother, an attack on one of our friends, the brutal murder of my old partner and now this." He held up his arm. "Her friends are my friends. I supported her unconditionally when she needed me and even flew across country to support her. Her students know me and I am part of her classes." He fiddled with the cup in his hands. "She likes my parents and they like her." He looked into the older woman's eyes. "I'm not going anywhere. I love her too much. I can't think of any kind of future without her." Lindsay chose that breath of time to exit the barn and walk the path through the garden towards them. It was a different side of her that he hadn't seen before. "You are beautiful." He told her, even with the dirt smudges across her arms and face. Even with her rural ranch toughness. Even with sweat matting her hair to her face and neck.
"Yeah, whatever." Her focus shifted. "Mama, Daddy's runnin' down to Cody's to see what he can do to help get ready for tomorrow." The screen door slammed and they were left alone again.
Danny had an afterthought. "Plus, she always keeps me on my toes."
"You ever gonna marry my daughter?" The words broke the stare that he had on the door.
"Yes ma'am, I am…someday." He got up and went exploring leaving Mama smiling to herself.
**
Coney Island was the highlight of the summer when he was growing up. His family had taken that once in a lifetime trip to Disney World right before Louie started middle school. But amusement parks were blah to him growing up. His whole outlook on them changed in a matter of hours.
"Lindsay what is that aroma?" He pulled at his nose while walking from the truck to the ticket booth.
"Oh, I know, I cannot wait to get my hands on a funnel cake; all the powdered sugar and the fluffiness of it. YUM!" She took a huge breath in.
"That's not what I smell." He was still pulling at his nose as if that would make it go away. She looked puzzled. He looked disgusted. It dawned on her.
"You smell the animals." The laughter bubbled up and she tried to cover her grin with her hand. "The 4-H club uses this to choose what animals will go on to state fair in September. On the other side of he carnival rides are the animals barns where they are shown."
"You don't smell that?"
"Country nose. I'm immune. You'll get used to it." They came to the end of the line at the ticket booth.
"Who'd want to get used to that smell?" He shuffled with the line. "So what's your favorite ride?" She was tucked close into his side.
"The Ferris wheel." Animated she bounced a bit. "Did you know that the Ferris wheel debuted in the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and the tallest one is in China? I love 'em"
"The Ferris wheel? I would have guessed 'The Zipper,' or the 'Gravatron.'" He tried to pull her back closer, but she was too excited.
"Those are good too, but I love the Ferris wheel." He paid as she talked.
"Let's go there first."
"And last."
**
The night went quickly. They rode everything, ate everything, played lots of games, and were the proud owners of a six foot long stuffed snake. The snake caused a wonderful conversation about how they were going to get it back to New York. Their new treasure kept the ride operator of the Ferris wheel company while they rode one more time…again.
"So what's in store for us tomorrow?" The ride was making the start/stop rotation while filling up.
"Barbeque at Cody's with the family, friends and then fireworks right over there in that field." She pointed way off to a field. "We'll go over to Cody's around 3 to eat, talk, swim, eat, laugh, eat and to eat. At 8 we'll head out to see the fireworks. Afterwards, back to Mama's and Daddy's for cold beer and to catch fireflies."
"Fireflies?"
"Yep." The wheel made its first full rotation. It was the first time that they had ridden in the dark. Their car was coming up the back of the ride and was about to go up and over at the top. The thrill of reaching the apex and going over into nothing by the darkness in front of them excited Lindsay and let Danny know how she felt with a demanding, hungry kiss. Her hands were all over him; in his hair, on his arms, up and down his thighs. The safety bar stopped her from crawling into his lap. She broke the lip lock as they rounded the bottom.
"Wow, you really love the Ferris wheel," was stated while catching his breath. He tried to straighten his clothes and hair the best he could.
"I sure do, and if you like this, wait until you see what fireworks do for me." They reached the top again and another kiss was shared.
**
There was going to be a test, he was warned. He was introduced to family members and close friends and he was told that there was going to be a test later on his memory of who was who.
He met her oldest brother Cody and his wife Jennifer. He met the second oldest brother, David and his pregnant wife, Olivia. He met next oldest brother, Bill and his fiancée Holly. There was another brother, but he was out of state and he couldn't make it to the party. He met scores of neighbors and friends from the past, but he could not remember all of them.
There were scores of kids running around and it reminded him of Thanksgiving at his house. The heat beat down on them and splashes from the pool every so often was a welcome feeling. The sweating cold bottle felt good in his hand. The grill was fired up. Mama Monroe was across the patio rubbing the very swollen belly of her daughter-in-law.
"Danny?"
"Huh, yeah?" Lindsay sat down next to him.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
She followed his sightline. "You lookin' at Mama or Olivia?"
"Both. Your Mom's excited about a baby."
"Yeah, we all are." Eye contact was broken.
There was something more behind her answer. "But…" He egged her on.
Her posture changed, shoulders slumped; she hung her head. "Olivia's pregnancy is not the first in the family." She played with the label on her own bottle. "It's the fourth. Jennifer's had three miscarriages. They are supposed to have a good sized family already. It's been hard to celebrate with David and Olivia when Cody and Jennifer have been through so much. Don't misunderstand me, there are no hard feelings about any of it, at all, but it's there, just below the surface and hurts sometimes. Jennifer and Cody are in the process of adoption."
"When's Olivia due?"
"End of September."
"You wantin' kids."
"Of course." It was said quickly. She looked over at him and saw his raised brow. "I mean what little girl doesn't imagine herself all grown up with a husband and 2.4 kids? Have I thought any further than that? Not really. If something changes, I will revisit the topic." She left it at that and walked over to where her mother was with Olivia and placed her hand on the baby bump and then looked back at Danny. She started to think about it.
**
The sun was starting to dip low in the sky. It almost kissed the horizon. The family piled up into their cars and drove out in the direction that he and Lindsay went in the night before. The field was huge. People were already staking their claims. Mama Monroe went one way and Lindsay pulled Danny in a completely different direction. She walked almost to the tree line before she stopped. With a flourish the blanket was puffed and spread out.
"Montana, what are we doing way over here?"
"It's the best viewing spot."
"Then why are we more than 100 feet away from everyone else here?"
"This is the best viewing spot for me."
Confusion was obvious. "Oh-kay." Shoes were off her feet and she sat. He followed her actions and sat behind her like they usually do at the park.
"Nope, not going to work." She wiggled away from him.
"Wha-Why?"
Lindsay looked back at him over her shoulder and talked to him very suggestively. "Because when the fireworks start, you're gonna have to be flat on your back." There was no question, there was no arguing, that was the way it was going to be, her voice said so.
Blink. Did she just say what he heard? Blink. A knot of arousal formed low in his stomach. Blink. "Um…wow, fireworks really turn you on, but what about all these people?" Blink.
"No, wiseass, that's later." The words came out like silk. "You have to lay flat on your back because they shoot them off from right behind the trees. When they explode, they're right above our heads." She filled him in.
"So later then…?" Two men walked past them and disappeared into the trees. "If you didn't tell me that the fireworks are shot from back there, that would look very suspicious." He told her.
"That means we are getting very close." She was on her back as fast as lightning. He got as close as he could, a hand on the skin of her thigh.
"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Boomed across the field. He didn't hear the rest. Lindsay bent her legs and his hand slid higher. He could feel her whole body coil in anticipation. The ground shook when the first mortar took off like a rocket, then the sky lit up above them. Lindsay's breath quickened, she had her hand on whatever part of Danny she could reach. Each time the ground shook; she writhed at the vibration and shifted slightly. The loud explosions were deafening, but Danny swore that she was moaning. He was mesmerized by every gasp, body twitch, sign, and muscle contraction. The colors reflected on her face and she was thoroughly enjoying herself. He had a new mission in life: take Lindsay to see as many firework displays as possible.
**
He woke up first, stiff and itchy. Sleeping on a bed of straw would do that to a person. So would a night with Lindsay Monroe after watching fireworks.
He had to drive back to the farm because she was so wound up. They went for a walk in the dark while everyone stayed behind and did the whole firefly thing.
Voices faded behind them. Lights faded behind them. A hand slid into the sleeve of his t-shirt and across his chest. A narrow beam of light showed then the way from a tiny flashlight. She didn't see it because she was too busy doing other things with her other hand…to him…that were making it very hard to walk a straight line. The night swallowed them and shadows of trees passed. Nimble fingers slipped into his jeans.
"Dat's it." He barked.
The narrow beam of light went out. One of the trees they passed became a resting point for their assault on each other. Clothes were shed, marks were left on skin. The hum of crickets around them faded as whispered moans, gasps, and screams became louder. They fell to the ground roughly and their whispers were gone. It was now a battle for control and no matter what happened, both of them were going to win.
They made their way back to the house, but only made it as far as the barn before she took over again. He shouldn't have put all his clothes on after the first time if they were just going to come back off so soon. Time was taken loving this time. Marks he left on her before were now kissed away. Screams and groans from before were now sighs and breaths. Nips at flesh with teeth were now deep kisses of blind passion.
He was able to get up and dress quietly. The stillness of the morning could be felt as he peered out the loft door. Mama Monroe sat out on the deck. He took a deep breath in and was a peace. By the end of the day the peace and quiet would be traded for the noisy and busy streets of New York.
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