Chapter Three:

Cleansing Rains

            It wasn't far into our drive that Jamie realized we weren't heading to the bed-and-breakfast just outside of town like we had planned.  "And just where exactly do you think you're taking me?" she questioned.

            "Oh wouldn't you love to know," I countered, as I turned the corner and slowly pulled into the short driveway. 

I loved surprising her.  Jamie never could contain her excitement.  "Sooo…?" The suspense was killing her.

"Get out."

As she stepped out of the car, I picked her up into my arms.  Her arms instinctively wrapped themselves around my neck.  She leaned in, whispering, "You're crazy, do you know that?"

"Only about you."  Stepping over the threshold, I couldn't keep it a secret any longer.  "Welcome home, Mrs. Carter."

The astonishment never left her face, as we toured the small three-bedroom house on the outskirts of town that I had purchased with the help of my parents.  It was a mere two blocks away from her father's house.  Her amazement only grew when she realized that all of her things were already here waiting for her.

We climbed the stairs hand-in-hand and walked into the master bedroom.  Jamie's eyes went immediately to the French doors and outer-balcony where our telescope stood in the corner.

I stood back and watched her as she gingerly opened the door and stepped out onto the balcony.  Approaching the telescope, she instinctively looked into the eye-piece and spotted that special star – her star.  "You already found it."  As she turned towards me, the look on her face melted all of my defenses.  There was something different about her, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it – a maturity, an openness that I wasn't accustomed to seeing in her.  She was absolutely gorgeous.

"Lord, I know that nothing can happen between the two of us… but seriously, why do you have to make it so hard for me?"  I approached her, "Did you expect anything less?"

Jamie simply shook her head, her hands running up my chest before resting around my neck. 

I followed suit, placing my arms around her waist.  "How are you feeling?  Are you feeling up to doing anything?"

"Landon, I haven't felt this good in months, so please don't worry about me.  Promise me something."

"Anything," I couldn't help but feel concerned.  It had been such a long day already.

"Promise me that tonight we can forget about my leukemia, that we can return to a time when the only thing we had to worry about was getting around my father's disapproval – you have to admit, we were pretty good at that."  Her eyes were pleading with me.

"I promise."  It wasn't going to be easy, but how could I say 'no'?  "Hey, you've give me an idea.  Wait here." 

I left Jamie on the balcony, soon returning with sleeping bags and blankets in hand.  I took my time spreading them out, one on top of the other, trying to create something even remotely comfortable.  Her back was turned towards me, and I could tell she was deep in thought.

"Since you're already dressed for the part, I was thinking we could return to our night in the cemetery," I whispered, wrapping her in my arms from behind.

A smile spread across her face as she turned around, her face only inches from mine. "I love you."  Her words were scarcely spoken before her lips joined mine. 

What began as one of our innocent brushes, slowly developed into more, much more.  I stepped back.  "I'm sorry Jamie. I'm stopping."

"Why?"

"Well… we've never allowed ourselves to go this far."  I was stalling, and I knew it.  That wasn't the real reason I had pulled back, but did she know that?  I had just lied to my wife, and it killed me inside.

"We weren't married before, Landon," Jamie reassured me with a soft smile before leaning in for another kiss.

Our kiss picked up right where it had left off; her hand caressed my face while mine traveled down her back, pulling her to me.  It was when she began to run her fingers through my hair that it hit me – "Landon, you're losing control here.  Don't let things go too far."  Once again, I hesitated, stopping mid-kiss.

"Landon, what is wrong?"  Jamie was obviously concerned, and I think even a little frustrated with me.  I couldn't blame her, really.  Here was her new husband stopping her displays of affection.

"I know I promised you that tonight we could forget about everything, but it's just so hard for me.  It wasn't six weeks ago that you were in the hospital.  We didn't even know if you were going to make it through the night."  By now, tears were running down my face.  I was unloading all of the emotions that had been building since her hospital stay.  "That night I studied your every feature, monitored your every breath – afraid it might be your last.  I love you so much, but I can't allow myself to do anything that might shorten your life by even a single breath."

"Landon, what would you do if you found out that you only had a few months left to live?  What would you do with your time?"  Jamie was serious; it was obvious from the look on her tear-streaked face.

There was silence for some time, Jamie giving me plenty of time to think over her questions.  It was honestly something I had never given much thought about.  "Well, I would want to make sure that everyone around me knew just how much I loved them."

"Would that include me?"

I couldn't believe I had heard those words come from her mouth, "Especially you!" 

Apparently my answers had pleased her, for the corners of her mouth slightly lifted.  "Landon, if there's one thing that God has shown me since I was diagnosed, it's that time is precious."  Her fingers gently traced my face. "I have been so blessed to have found you at this point in my life and to feel so incredibly healthy and alive.  Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one – not to me, and not to you.  All we have is the present.  I want to take advantage of this opportunity to show you just how deeply I love you – only God knows how many opportunities I will have to do so.  Please, can we just make the most of tonight?"

I didn't answer her.  There was no need to.  Instead, I picked her up, spun her around, and began to show her just how much I loved her – my lips caressing her temple, her eyelids, and the tip of her nose before finally planting themselves on her soft lips. 

Just as the world appeared to be perfect, it began.  It started out as a gentle sprinkle, but soon picked up.  Big, warm drops plummeted from the skies.  "I don't believe this.  Lord, couldn't you have timed this a little better?"  I pulled back just enough to breathlessly state the obvious, "Jamie, we're getting soaked.  Maybe we should head inside."

"Can't you feel it?"

"Feel what – the water that is progressively soaking though our clothing?"  I looked at her, not quite sure what to make of her question.

"No," she giggled.  "There's something about a summer rain.  It's like… it holds God's saving grace… bringing forgiveness, redemption, and cleansing." 

I threw my head back, looking up to the sky, contemplating her words.  "Like somehow your old self is washed away, and you're given the opportunity to start afresh."  It now made perfect sense to me.

"Exactly," she replied.  Standing there on the balcony with light escaping from our bedroom, Jamie's wet skin seemed to glow, creating almost a magical aura about her.

"Even so, we really do need to get out of these wet clothes."  I was being too rational, and I realized it.

"Hmmm… maybe you're right."  With a touch of nervousness in her face, she reached up and began to unbutton my shirt.  When the last button was unfastened, she helped me out of the drenched shirt, carefully laying it on the rail of the balcony. 

Then, looking up at me with her innocent, wide-eyed expression, I knew I had to be the luckiest man alive – no words could possibly express all the love I felt for her at that moment.  I was completely overwhelmed.  "I'm beginning to think that I'm the one who should have been concerned about being seduced. … Here, let me help you."  My fingers were shaking.  A light blush began to paint her cheeks as I took my turn, placing her blouse alongside of mine.

Water flowed beneath my lips as I kissed her along her collarbone.  All traces of our tears were long ago washed away by the large rain drops.  We spent that night out under the warm, cleansing rains, whispering words of adoration to each other as we finally permitted ourselves to show the other just how much love we were blessed with.  On the outstretched blankets our lives started afresh – now as husband and wife.