~A Once and Again Series~
Life is what you make of it
Quick note The poems at the end are from www.lovepoetry.com and they are from the "classic love poems" link. Some of them don't seem to be typical love poems, but they were on the site, and I liked them.
Chapter 25//New Year
"Could you grab that plate, Grace?"
"Sure," Grace picked up the platter of crackers, cheese and summer sausage and followed her mother into the living room. Her mother and Rick had decided that celebrating New Year's Eve at home would be best this year. The whole family was there. And Judy and Sam also.
"Oh, food," Rick said as he spotted Grace. He took the platter from her and Grace went over to where Eli was sitting.
"Hey." Grace said to Eli.
Eli looked up and smiled at her. "It's almost time."
Grace looked at the clock, "Yeah." Two more minutes.
Eli stood up and guided her out of the living room and into the entrance hall. "It's a tradition to start the new year off with a kiss, you know."
Grace nodded and they listened to the other room, as the TV counted down the seconds.
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.."
Grace leaned into him and they kissed. Somewhere, far away, it seemed that their family was cheering and Zoe was blowing the noisemaker she had been playing with all night, but all Grace was thinking about was Eli and the kiss. It was a good idea to start off a new year with a kiss. It made everything seem sweeter, and the upcoming year seem more cheerful and hopeful. They could put the tragedies and sorrows of the year behind them and have a fresh start. Grace didn't know how long they had been kissing, she did realize in some distant part of her mind that the cheering had stopped and the noise level lessened. But she was too wrapped up in the kiss to care.
* * *
Judy gave Sam a small kiss as the hour struck midnight. "Happy new year," Judy smiled up at him.
"Happy new year," Sam said back. He took her hand and guided her out of the room. They entered the entrance hall and began kissing before they realized they weren't alone. Judy gasped at the site of Eli and Grace in each other's arms.
* * *
Augustus raised his glass of wine at the radio which had interrupted its classical music to announce the New Year's arrival. Augustus sighed at the prospect of another year and tipped the glass to his lips. He thought of Grace and if she was with Eli at this moment. He thought of the gift he had sent her, and of the inscription he had thoughtless written. He meant every word he had written, but it wasn't fair to Grace that he had sent it to her. He should have held on to it. He should have put it back on the shelf. But once he had taken down that book, the book with poems that spoke to his very soul, he knew he had to send it to Grace. No one but Grace could appreciate it fully. Augustus wondered what she thought of it. He wished he could talk to her, and hear her voice, see her eyes light up with animation. But they had ended it. But still, if it was over, then why had he sent her that book? And why had he known that she would love it?
The radio announcer ceased his cheerful 'Happy New Year's' and the music began to play again. Augustus let the wordless music wash over him and sooth him. Then he put his pen to the paper and began to write again.
* * *
"Happy New Year!"
Lily cheered and gave her husband a quick peck and then she turned to Zoe and kissed her daughter's cheeks. She drew Jessie closer to her and kissed Jessie's cheeks too. Zoe blew her noisemaker over and over. The people on the TV were cheering and shouting Happy New Year!
"Where's Grace? And Eli? And Judy and Sam?" Lily asked as the room quieted.
Rick shrugged, putting a cracker sandwich into his mouth. Lily leaned into him and kissed him again.
* * *
Grace and Eli pulled apart, and looked into Judy's shocked eyes. Sam fidgeted uncomfortably behind her and finally he exited into the kitchen.
"Judy.." Grace began nervously.
"Does your mother know? Or Rick? Or anyone?" Judy asked, still in shock. She had no idea that the two of them were together.
"Jessie knows," Eli said with an uncomfortable shrug.
"Please don't say anything to my mother, Judy, please." Grace pleaded, looking into her Aunt's eyes. She could tell Judy was fighting with herself over what to do.
"There you guys are!" Lily cried as she joined them in the entrance hall. Lily hugged Judy, Grace and then Eli. "Happy New Year!"
Grace looked into Judy's eyes one last time as her mother hugged Eli. Judy frowned, but nodded.
"What are you guys doing in here?" Lily asked.
"Oh, we were getting something to drink," Grace provided.
"Yeah, I'm thirsty," Judy agreed, giving Grace a look that said she didn't like this at all.
* * *
"We have to tell them, Eli," Grace said later. She had snuck out to his garage after everyone had gone to sleep. "Judy knows, and she won't say anything, at least not for a little while. But it's not fair to ask her to keep it a secret."
"I know, I know," Eli sighed, "We'll tell them soon."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I don't know how they'll take it, but we have no choice."
"I love you," Grace snuggled closer against him.
"I love you too."
They lay together and eventually Grace became aware that Eli had fallen asleep. She lightly lifted his arm and rolled out of his grasp. She left his room and snuck up to her own.
When she fell on her bed, she thought she'd fall asleep right away, but her mind was still going. She thought of snatches of the beautiful poems in the collection that lay just inches beneath her head. Finally, Grace resigned and took out the book, and began to read.
She Is Not Fair To Outward View
by Hartley Coleridge
She is not fair to outward view
as many maidens be;
Her loveliness I never knew
until she smiled on me.
Oh, then I saw her eye was bright,
a well of love, a spring of light.
But now her looks are coy and cold,
to mine they ne'er reply
And, yet, I cease not to behold
the love-light in her eye.
Her very frowns are fairer far
than smiles of other maidens are.
Fire and Ice
by Robert Frost
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Hope is a Thing With Feathers
by Emily Dickinson
Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings a tune without words
And never stops at all.
And sweetest, in the gale, is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That keeps so many warm.
I've heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea
Yet, never, in extremity
It ask a crumb of me.
editor's note.. "Hope is a thing with feathers" is my favorite poem of all time!!!
How Do I Love Thee?
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
When We Two Parted
by George Gordon, Lord Byron
When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever the years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder, thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.
The dew of the morning
Sunk, chill on my brow,
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame;
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.
They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me...
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well..
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met
In silence I grieve
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.