TIME IN NEW ENGLAND

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THE COTTAGE

Anna woke up at 6am.  She was feeling good; better than she had in weeks.  She decided that what would be would be, and she was not going to let it ruin this time with Clay.  She was going to live as though she never agreed to work with Pierce and when that day did come, so be it.  They had right now and that's all that mattered.

She went to the kitchen and made coffee; bringing a cup back to Clay she thought about waking him up with her normal yell, but opted for something a bit more romantic.  She placed the mug on the nightstand and crawled back into bed.  Softly she kissed his eyes and then his lips.

"Wake up. The ocean's calling." Anna whispered.

"Good morning." Clay said taking her in his arms.

"How about a morning swim?" Anna asked.

"Are you up to it?" Clay asked thinking about her injury.

"Sure, let's go." Anna said walking towards the door.

"Let me take a sip of this coffee and don't you want to change?" Clay asked.

"No, this will do."  Anna said; all she was wearing was Clay's t-shirt.

Clay took a fast sip of coffee grabbed his bottoms and followed Anna to the porch.

"Anna are nuts?  I think we need more clothes." Clay called out.

"Clay it's 6am, no one is up and it's private.  Live a little." Anna laughed.

"I have done more living with you these past months than I have my whole life." Clay replied walking to her.

"Don't you forget it," Anna said playfully punching him. "Hey you look kinda sexy in your boxers with the morning sun on you."

"Anna I'm kind of embarrassed out here in my shorts." Clay said standing behind her and hugging her.

"Ahh, you don't feel embarrassed." Anna said twisting her head to kiss him.

"Well that's something very different." Clay said.  "You have that effect on me."

"You know Deborah Kerr did another movie that was also very romantic." Anna said with a wicked smile.

"What movie was that?" Clay asked.

"From Here to Eternity." Anna said.  "She and Burt Lancaster on the beach."

"What about it?" Clay asked with a worried tone.

"Follow me." Anna said leading Clay to the water.

"Anna, it's cold and these boxers are not exactly thick." Clay protested.

"Then take them off." Anna said removing her shirt and diving in.

"Anna, we can't." Clay said standing on the shore.

"Sure we can, come on." Anna laughed. "The first step is the hardest."

Shaking his head, Clay followed Anna into the water.  He didn't remove his boxers; she had changed him but not that much.  The cold morning tide felt crisp against their skin.  Anna moved closer to Clay; the water on her bare skin kissed by the rising sun made her glow.

"So did you ever see that movie?" Anna asked.

"Not in a very long time." Clay replied.

"Well they are in the water and then lying in the sand kissing.  The waves are crashing around them as he kisses her." Anna said moving closer.

"Then what happens?" Clay asked trying to hold his composure.

"They make love." Anna replied giving him a kiss. "Passionate" another kiss, "Steamy," another kiss. "Romantic love." Another kiss.

Clay quickly surveyed the area, seeing no one was around, he picked Anna up and carried her out of the water to the spot she had dropped the shirt.  Gently he laid her on the sand and kissed her.  Within minutes he could feel the cool air flowing against his naked body as they joined together in their familiar ritual.  Sated and covered in sand, Clay was leaning over Anna as he pushed her hair from her face he mumbled something.

"What did you say?" Anna asked.

"I want to spend the rest of my life wrapped up in you." Clay said as he kissed her.

"Clay, I…" Anna began the sentence and ended with tears.  She crawled out from under him, grabbed her shirt and ran back to the cottage.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Clay said grabbing his shorts, dressing and running after her.

"Nothing." Anna said turning away from him and lighting a cigarette.

"Anna, look at me." Clay said turning her around. "Anna, what did I say that was so wrong?" Clay asked.

"Clay, You are the best thing that ever happened to me." Anna said through her tears.

"And that makes you cry?" Clay asked wiping her tears.

"Let's just enjoy the weekend and not talk about forevers." Anna said

"Anna, the future is there in front of us. Why do you want to ignore it?" Clay asked.

"I don't, you're right.  I guess it just surprised me." Anna said regaining her senses. Remember; put it out of your mind.

"Anna, when did you start to smoke?" Clay asked.

"Oh that," Anna laughed.

"I've never seen you smoke or even tasted smoke on you." Clay said.

"It's a temporary thing." Anna smiled. "It only happens once in a while. Disappointed?"

"In you? Never." Clay said kissing her.  He left Anna standing on the porch and went inside.  He put on a pair of pants, grabbed a towel and dry shirt for Anna and returned to her. 

"How about I make you some breakfast? Go swing on the hammock." Clay said with a smile.

"That sounds good." Anna smiled and Clay turned to go inside. "Yo Clay."

"Yes?" Clay replied.

"I like that look, you with just a pair a pants, no shoes no shirt.  It looks good on you." Anna said.  Clay just smiled and went to make breakfast.

Thirty minutes later he returned to the hammock with a tray to find Anna sleeping.  The sun had completely risen and in the distance you could hear the Inn guests arriving on the beach.

"Hey sleepy." Clay said putting they tray down, "wake up."

"Come hug me." Anna said without opening her eyes.  Clay obliged, got into the hammock and hugged Anna.

"So what do you want to do today? Sightsee? Shop?" Clay asked.

"I don't want to shop. Yuck.  Let's just stay here. Enjoy the ocean." Anna said.

"Whatever you like.  I think you should eat something." Clay said.

"I'm really not hungry right now." Anna said.

"I really think you should eat something." Clay repeated.

"Thanks, maybe later. I am very comfortable." Anna smiled.

"Anna, I think some breakfast would do you good. I made a tray up for you." Clay said.

"Fine, give me a piece of toast." Anna said rolling her eyes at him.

"Don't you want to see the tray I put together?" Clay asked playfully.

"Why is it lined with emeralds and rubies?" Anna sarcastically teased.

"That mouth." Clay laughed. "Actually, it's just lined with diamonds."

"Excuse me?" Anna said choking on air.

"I said it was lined with diamonds." Clay said with a smile as he leaned over and picked the velvet box up off the tray.

"Clay, when did you, but how." Anna stumbled over her words.

"Excuse me, something you wanted to say?" Clay teased. "Another way to shut you up."

"Excuse me, something you wanted to ask?" Anna's smart mouth was back.

"No, not really." Clay said. "But there is something I wanted to tell you."

"Tell me? Since when do you think you can just tell me something?" Anna said with her accent exaggerated.

"I love that accent and I love you; but Anna, shut up." Clay said with a laugh.

Anna just looked at Clay; she was trying very hard not to laugh.

"Anna Sophia Paparini, I've been thinking.  That is a very long name for a short person." Clay teased.

"Oh short jokes, way a sweep a girl Webb." Anna shot back.

"I think you should change it.  Anna Webb, AW like the root beer." Clay said trying to get his words together.

"You're not very good at this are you?" Anna teased.  Clay smiled and took a deep breath.

"Anna in all my life, I never would have imagined someone like you being here.  The feelings I have when I am with you and more importantly the ones I have when we are apart; are powerful.  I know every inch of you.  The crinkle in your brow when you are thinking, the pouty look you get when you're not getting your way, how you bite your lip when you're being naughty, the popcorn kernel burn on your stomach, every scar from a scrape on your knee to the cut on your finger, and even how you lock your toes together." Clay said. 

"Clay…" Anna said softly.

"Shh, listen for a change." Clay teased. "I love how you giggle like a little girl when you watch your nephews, and the happiness on your face when you're riding.  I love to watch you sing and dance when you think no one is watching and how you never cease to surprise me.  I love making love to you and feeling your breath on my chest as we sleep.  I love that you always get your way. Anna I love you and want us to get married."  Clay slipped the ring on her finger.

Anna wasn't thinking about anything at that moment except her love for Clay.  She decided right then that she was going to tell John Pierce that she couldn't do it.  She would help him in any way she could, but she could not go back on the inside.  She loved her family and couldn't leave them; more importantly she loved Clay and would not leave him.  For the first time in her life, there was something more important than justice. Anna looked at Clay and took a deep breath.

"I love you." Anna said.