Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Nine: Honeymoon Day Four – A Turbulent Storm
"Elizabeth, I hate to wake you, Darling! But I've got to go check on Newton and Sargent!"
"Hmm?"
"It's storming, Darling. I have to check on the horses!"
Then came the crash of thunder, followed by a flash of blinding lightning, flying into their bedroom.
"NO!" she screamed and flung herself against him.
"Lisbeth, it's alright," and he wrapped her in his strong arms, caressing her, running his fingers through her hair, soothing her the best he knew how. "You're perfectly fine. I'm perfectly fine. We're safe, Babe! But I'm afraid the horses are going to spook and I've got to go calm them down."
She nodded without saying a word, but he could see the fear in her eyes.
"I just didn't want you to awaken and worry why I wasn't here. Will you be all right? I'll just be gone a few minutes, and I promise I'll come back as quickly as possible."
"No! I'll go with you!"
"But, I'm already dressed. And you'll get soaked. There's no need. Why don't you stay here, nice and warm in bed?"
"No!" she shook her head frantically.
Suddenly, he was alarmed, although he didn't show it at all.
This wasn't the fearless Elizabeth he knew.
Something was very wrong.
She was terrified of something, and he had to wonder if it was just the storm.
He held her, caressing her still, trying his best to soothe her, but knowing it was imperative that he check on the horses.
"Lisbeth, why don't you come watch me from the kitchen door? I'll come straight back. I promise!"
He could tell she didn't like it, but when she glanced out one of their bedroom windows and saw the torrential downpour, she jumped up and grabbed her robe.
"Three minutes, and I'm counting. I'll watch the whole time…" she insisted while putting on her slippers.
He smiled, "That's perfect!"
He had already dressed and grabbed a Hooded Rain Slicker he had used when building the place, to cover himself with.
She followed him to the kitchen, still looking very uncertain, and very afraid.
He took both her hands.
"Lisbeth, nothing horrible is going to happen. I'm going to be fine. Just promise me you'll stay here, till I get back."
She nodded, not happy about it at all.
"Nathan, take a lantern!"
"It's too windy, Love! It will just blow out. I'll be fine. Just leave these lights on and that will help!"
He grabbed as many apples as he could and put them in the pockets of his Slicker, then kissed her with all of his love, passionately, letting her know how very much he adored her and couldn't wait to get back to her.
He meant the kiss to say all that, and she interpreted it just as he had intended.
"I love you, Nathan Grant. But stay safe and come straight back to me!"
Her eyes were pleading.
"I'm just going to the barn, Darling! I'll be right back!"
And with a grin, he turned to open their back side door, as the wind whipped through the kitchen sending a chill down Elizabeth's spine.
The wind was stronger than he had imagined, and he struggled to keep upright, praying for God to help him make it to the horses safely and for them to be alright when he got there.
He had only made it a few yards from the house, when he paused, shading his eyes from the wind, squinting trying to see ahead.
But just as he started to step ahead, for some unknown reason, he was struck still.
As though he became paralyzed to the spot he was standing on.
And that's the very instant lightning hit one of the large old Oak Trees ahead of him and split it perfectly into two pieces, with the largest portion crashing down right there on the path he was about to take.
Elizabeth had seen it from the window, and she screamed to the top of her lungs.
"Nathan! Come back!"
He motioned to her he was okay and tried to figure out the best way around or over the tree, finally deciding to jump over it and make a run for the barn.
Just as he did so, there was another round of crashing thunder, and he prayed the lightning to follow would not strike close by.
As he ran hard for the shelter of the barn, he had difficulty opening the door because of the heavy wind pushing against it, but with extra effort and another prayer, he finally got it.
His eyes went straight to Newton and Sargent, both very antsy and frightened, but when they saw him, they both whinnied wanting to get to him.
"Whoa, Boys! So glad you two are alright. Everything's going to be okay. It's just a really bad storm. But I've got you treats. Lots of apples!"
He gave them each an apple and went to pull out a few bales of hay, spreading them over each of their stalls.
He wanted them to have plenty of food to keep their minds off the inclement weather, and he wanted them to have a soft spot to lay, hoping they might even sleep through some of the worst of the storm.
But he could tell already just by them seeing him, they were going to be alright.
And he was so very thankful!
"This barn is sturdy, Boys. It's a strong shelter and it will keep you safe. You're going to be fine through all this. Just stay calm, and I'll be back to check on you first thing in the morning. Earlier, if you need me."
They both neighed, as though they understood, and he petted them both, giving them another apple each, and leaving the third couple of apples in their stalls for later.
"Dear God, please keep Newton and Sargent safe. Keep them calm and comfortable together, and help them sleep as much of this off as possible, we pray."
He petted them once more, reassuring them he was taking the best care of them, and they would be okay.
As he struggled with shutting the barn door, the wind whipped about him.
The thunder was deafening, and if anything, it seemed even darker than when he had entered the barn, but he knew he had to get back to Elizabeth, and quickly.
Something was very wrong for her to be so terrified by a storm, although seeing the fallen Oak had not helped matters at all.
He tried to run against the wind, but it was too strong, the rain was pelting him in a torrential downpour, and he couldn't see in front of him.
But he knew his directions, and he knew he was headed back toward the Lodge.
All of a sudden, a flash of lightning struck again, miraculously lighting his path, and he fought to traverse it as quickly as he could, then he stepped out in faith at the end of what had been lit for him.
He felt his way but was unsure.
Very unsure, till he heard Elizabeth shout his name, and he followed her voice.
He miscalculated and stumbled on the fallen Oak, falling against its branches, cutting or scratching his arms and legs.
He wasn't sure which.
"Keep calling my name, Lisbeth!" he shouted at the top of his voice, as he got up to fight the pummeling rain and wind again.
And she did.
She screamed "Nathan" till she was hoarse, and yet she screamed "Nathan" still.
"Nathan! Nathan! Nathan! Come home! Nathan!"
He followed her syllables broken by the wind until he stumbled onto the wall of their well, and he turned right, thinking he was within steps of their side door, but he couldn't see a thing.
Not even the light from the kitchen windows, through the deep black of the night, and the churlish wind he was battling.
Debris was everywhere, thankfully, mostly tree branches and limbs.
The Barn, Lodge, and Cabin had stood firm.
He ran as fast as he could to feel the wall of their Lodge, but the wind had set him off course.
And he finally realized he was at the back of their smaller Cabin, not the Lodge.
Then he hunkered down to follow her still screaming voice. The two buildings weren't that far apart. This should be easier than it was seeming to be.
"Lisbeth! Lisbeth, call my name!" he screamed.
She did, but he could read the panic in her words, and he hated that she was so distraught.
He stumbled a couple of times but managed to stay upright, soaked to his core, running into the wall of their well.
He knew now that he was only a few yards away from Elizabeth, but there was debris all over the ground, and he was having trouble maneuvering it in the dark.
Till finally, he felt the logs of the Lodge, plastering himself against them, to protect himself from the ferocious winds.
Till finally, he heard the clanging of pans, and he knew he was close to their side door.
Close to Elizabeth.
He stumbled some more, till he literally fell into the open door, soaked through to his skin, sloshing the wet from his clothing everywhere, unable to contain it at all.
But it didn't matter in the least.
Elizabeth was wrapping him in her arms, sobbing, hanging onto him for dear life, soaking the wetness from him without care.
He couldn't speak.
His lungs were raw from shouting in the biting wind.
All he could do was hold her, and try his best to soothe her.
She quickly took charge.
"Here's a blanket. Take off your clothes."
She helped him, practically doing everything herself.
He was just too spent to offer much help, and then she realized he was wobbly.
"Sit, Nathan!" she ordered, helping him to a kitchen chair.
"Oh, no, you're cut!" she realized.
"Just scratches," he murmured.
But she knew better.
She removed his dripping wet Slicker, then removed the flannel shirt.
But then she gasped as she saw the blood against the white of his Henley sleeves.
They were covered in blood.
She grimaced, then raised his arms to remove his Henley, causing him to have the same reaction.
She looked at his wounds, and though they looked worse than they were, she could tell, thankfully, they were mostly deep scratches, but there were at least two cuts on his left arm, and they were bleeding quite heavily.
She quickly yanked off his dank boots and wet socks.
Then she unbuttoned his waist, unzipped his pants, and pulled them off with all her might to get the wetness away from his skin.
They seemed to be plastered onto him from the rain, or was it blood?
He winced in pain, not knowing why, so she tried to be as careful as she could.
But when they were completely removed, she understood why.
It was blood.
Here, on his left leg, was the largest gash of all, and she had to turn her eyes away at the sight of the large amount of blood, quickly wrapping him in the blanket she had waiting for him.
She turned to the sink and grabbed several towels, first wrapping his leg in a clean towel to try and stop the bleeding, then wiping his face, and trying her best to dry his wet hair.
"Darling, come by the fire. I've got to tend these wounds. And we've got to get you warmed!"
She placed her arm around him and helped lift him, still wrapped in his blanket, walking him in his bare feet to an easy chair that was pulled close.
She threw a few smaller logs onto the fire, and then wiped his damp feet with a soft towel.
"Off with your underwear."
He looked at her blankly.
"Off with your underwear," she was adamant. "You're wet all the way through, Love. I'll get dry ones!"
He yanked them off as she went to get the dry ones, quickly rewrapping the blanket back around him.
He somehow felt exposed, almost vulnerable, in a way that was different than just the two of them being together, and he was still worried about her.
This wasn't supposed to have happened. He was her Husband and he was supposed to be soothing her, not adding to her fears of storms.
Not to mention this was their Honeymoon!
She brought the dry clothes to him, and threw another blanket around him, then kissed him on his forehead.
He could see the pain in her eyes, hating to see him hurt in any way, even this small way.
He pulled on the dry underwear under his blanket.
"I've got to take care of your leg, first. You've got quite the gash!"
As she washed the blood away and looked at the wound more closely, she was pleased.
"Oh, thank God! It's not nearly as bad as I first thought! I don't think you need stitches at all. The blood seems to be coming more from a puncture at the edge of the gash. Are you ready? This will hurt, but I have to clean it!"
She opened the first aid kit, and he braced himself for the swash of alcohol he knew was coming.
Then breathed a sigh of relief when it was done, reaching to touch her beautiful face.
She bandaged the wound, and he couldn't help but notice the distraught look in her eyes, as she finished.
But then she managed a feeble smile, one that clearly told him she loved him completely.
"Now, let's start on the left arm," she ordered, as she knew that was the one with the two cuts.
She moved the first aid kit, setting it on the arm of the chair for easier access.
"This is going to burn a bit, too, I'm afraid, Love."
He braced himself again, as she poured the alcohol into the open wounds, checking to see how he was doing, then grabbed the gauze to properly bandage them.
"Babe, I think this will be more comfortable if we just wrap your arm. Is that okay?"
He smiled, although feebly, and nodded.
He took his free hand, and cupped her chin, but was unable to get a smile.
"I'm fine, Lisbeth!" he said gently.
"You don't look fine to me," it was going to take much more than that to sway his determined Wife.
"You did that expertly, Love!" he complimented.
"Years of teaching. Now give me your right arm. Thankfully, these are mostly scratches. Are you ready for the alcohol?"
"That's not nearly as bad as the last."
"Good," she smiled genuinely now, still deciding to bandage his entire arm for comfort.
With his left leg and both arms bandaged, and the bleeding stopped, he was feeling much better, no longer woozy at all.
He reached for her to sit on his lap.
"Are you sure you're up to this? I think you need to rest here by the fire, while I make you coffee. Yes, we need to get some hot coffee in you, first!" she smiled.
She turned and went straight to the kitchen to make him the hot coffee.
He laid his head back, exhausted from his bout with nature, still feeling soaked.
She came back from the kitchen, with the coffee steaming away on the stove.
"Scoot, Love," she ordered, and she climbed into the big easy chair beside him, holding him, doing her best to warm him, body to body, along with the fire.
"Oh, I like this a lot."
"You would!" she laughed. "And here I'm still supposed to be miffed with you, getting hurt out there!"
He smiled and wrapped his injured arms around her, knowing this was his home.
She was his home.
His new gorgeous Wife meant the entire world to him.
And he couldn't stand that she was troubled.
"Were Newton and Sargent alright?" she asked, absentmindedly, playing with locks of his hair, as she sat on his lap.
"Yes, Darling. But I'm glad I went when I did. The treats helped calm them. And I made sure they had lots of hay in their stalls to eat or lay on. I think they'll be fine after our talk."
"Your talk, eh?"
"Yes, I'm sure they understood me," he said as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"Normally, I'd say impossible. But with you, the Horse Whisperer, I'm sure they did!"
He laughed, then quickly turned serious.
"Lisbeth, are you alright?"
He was concerned.
Very concerned.
She bristled.
He could feel it.
And she quickly turned and started back to the kitchen to check on the coffee, to escape from his question.
'Maybe with the storm still clamoring about, it's best not to discuss this right now,' he thought, and with her nervousness, he could tell he was right, instead filing it away for future reference.
As a new Husband, he was totally playing this by ear, not knowing at all what he should do.
Only knowing something was wrong, off, if you will.
She brought two mugs of coffee back, black for him, hers a bit fancier with honey and cream.
But she sat hers down, on the low table in front of them, making sure Nathan drank his first, to get him as warm as she possibly could.
He drank it quickly, taking the last sip, but when he looked up, she had tears in her eyes.
"You barely missed that tree," and there was that terrified look again.
He reached for her.
"God stopped me from taking another step," he said softly. "I knew I was going to be alright. He was protecting me, Lisbeth! These scratches and minor cuts don't even count!"
And then she just broke down and sobbed.
"They count to me, and what if He hadn't?" she asked through her tears. "Caused you to stop, I mean?"
"But, Darling He did," and he just pulled her to him, drawing her closer, finding it difficult to hold her as closely as he wanted, with his bandages.
She sobbed with her head laying on his shoulder, and he held her best he could, not knowing exactly why she seemed so rattled.
But they sat there in front of the fire huddled together, as the storm still clamored about them.
Till suddenly, there was a clap of ringing thunder, and he thought Elizabeth was going to jump out of their chair, but instead, she clung to him with a fervor he had never known, pressing her entire body against his.
"Lisbeth, you're trembling!"
She didn't say a word, just kept holding him.
They laid that way together in the big chair, letting the fire warm them, but with his Wife's body warming his deep chill even more.
Nathan stretched his injured leg out on the ottoman Elizabeth had used to set on and tend to him
"Why don't we go to bed and get more comfortable?" he whispered.
She shook her head vociferously.
She couldn't tell him, but she couldn't stand the thought of him going to sleep.
What if…
No! No bed tonight.
She needed him too badly.
And she was afraid.
In a way, she herself didn't understand.
He didn't push her.
Instead, they just nestled more closely together, into the huge chair, getting as comfortable as they could, as the storm continued to rage about them.
"You know, when I was a little boy, I used to love a good storm!" he mused. "Colleen was always a bit frightened, but I wanted to see what was happening. Once I walked to one of the barns in the middle of a really bad one, like tonight, and slept with my horse all night long. He was as scared as Colleen!"
She laughed in spite of her hurting heart.
"I can so see you doing that! Did your mother get angry?"
"I wouldn't say angry. I got put on Barn Cleaning Duty for 2 weeks straight!"
"Poor Baby! A mother's passive revenge!"
"You got that right. Needless to say, I didn't wander off in the middle of a storm without telling her where I was going again!" he laughed. "You might say, lesson learned!"
Elizabeth got really quiet.
He knew her so well, he could feel the battle raging inside her.
Was she going to hold onto whatever this was or was she going to open up to him, just like he had opened up to her, although he knew in a more nonsensical way?
"Nathan."
"Yes, Love," he spoke the words so gently.
"It's not the storm. It's not that I'm afraid I mean."
He was wise enough to not say a word.
Instead, letting her think aloud, while he ran his fingers through her long silky hair.
"This is our Honeymoon, and this isn't something I should be talking about."
"Because this is your Honeymoon, you should be talking about anything you want to talk about. Nothing off limits between us, Darling. Absolutely nothing. Ever."
"It's not that I'm afraid of storms."
He nodded, not sure what was coming next.
"They make me angry. Really angry. And they make me really angry at Jack."
"Did he have to go out to work in a storm?" he asked gently.
"Yes, but that I understood. When he finished the job and got back into town, he stopped by the saloon and I don't know, did what guys do, cards, a beer, or two. I don't really know. I just know he was there for a couple of hours, while there I sat in the rowhouse, with the storm still raging, not knowing if he was back in town or if he was even alright or not. When he did finally come home, he never once told me he had been at the saloon. He just came home like nothing had happened. He had rescued the cow that had been lost in the storm. And I guess he needed a break. Lee said something about them playing darts or something. I was so angry I really didn't hear the words. See how silly!"
"Elizabeth, nothing is silly. Did you ever talk to Jack about it?"
"No. And I wish I had. Because I knew, it felt like a lie between us. Which made me even angrier. But why would he do that?"
She laid her head down on his shoulder, listening to the beat of his heart.
"I can't speak for him, except to say sometimes when a man completes an exhausting event, and I would say finding a lost cow in a storm would qualify," he grinned and she even started to grin back.
"Sometimes he just feels wound up and needs to relax in some way. He might not have wanted you to see him so exhausted and rattled. He may have perceived it as being weak, when all he really needed was a change from work, in order to come home and give you his full attention. Or maybe a friend stopped him and asked him to join them. There could have been a myriad of different circumstances, all innocent!"
"Normally, I would understand all that, but he specifically knew I was worried about him going out in the storm. What Wife wouldn't be?"
"Especially a new Wife?" he smiled.
She laughed.
"Yes, especially a new Wife. Now I feel really silly!"
"Nothing at all to feel silly about! But, my Darling Lisbeth, first of all," and he was running his hand up and down her spine, making tingles travel the length of it. "I think maybe if you forgave Jack for that tiny transgression, you might feel differently about the whole scenario of storms."
"But would you do that to me?"
"I don't believe so. Never intentionally. I think I would be so anxious to come back to you, I'd be running to wherever you were. I hope that will always be the case, and I do believe with all my heart, it will be. I can't imagine anything else. But know if you ask me to, or I tell you I'm coming straight home, I will."
She kissed him with a ferocity he had never seen.
"Uhm, I like this very much!"
And he kissed her back just as passionately, smothering her face with kisses, moving down to her neck, and to that spot in the middle of her clavicle where the Diamond North Star Pendant he gave her, always lay.
"Why can't I let that go? Why does it hurt me every single time there's a storm? Like it's happening all over again!"
"The truth?"
"Yes, please. Even if it hurts."
"Lisbeth, I will never intentionally hurt you. And honestly, I don't think Jack did either. But I think if you can find it in your heart to forgive Jack for whatever happened that night, I think your anger goes away never to return."
"But how can you be sure of that?"
"Because we're going to make wonderful new storm memories! So wonderful, you'll be begging for it to storm!"
She grinned that skeptical grin of hers, the one that always spurred him on to convince her otherwise.
"Like what?" she almost flirted.
"Oh, like having a romantic picnic in front of the fireplace. Like lying in bed all day during the storm, holding each other. Like taking our baths at the same time. Like me washing your hair. Like reading a couple of books curled up together. Like reading to each other. Like sharing poetry. Like cooking together, like working a jigsaw puzzle together…"
"You work jigsaw puzzles?"
"Like a champ! But back to my perfect storm day," he teased. "Like opening Wedding Presents together."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"And then there's my personal favorite… ta-da…dancing in the rain that comes after the storm!"
"Are you serious?"
"Don't tell me you've never danced in the rain? That's positively abominable. Why you've never danced if you haven't danced in the rain!"
He was running tiny circles along her back, and she was giggling like a school girl!
"Do I get to remedy that tragedy with this storm?"
"You most definitely have a raincheck to remedy that tragedy!"
"Raincheck! You, are too funny!" and she couldn't help but laugh as she kissed her new Husband with her entire being.
"Now, I even forgot why I was so upset! Are you promising me every single one of these things?"
"Every single one of these things and anything else we can come up with to do together! Storm days are our days. As part of our Honeymoon and our Marriage to come, I Nathan Grant, and you, Elizabeth Grant have decreed it so!"
And she couldn't resist sealing that decree with a most passionate kiss, her favorite kind of kiss, which was definitely already her Husband's favorite kind of kiss…
Their night and day proceeded, most romantically, according to their new decreed plan.
"Ready to go to bed, now, Darling?"
She nodded and giggled as her injured Husband swooped her up and carried her there.
There was a lot of laughter that night, followed by chuckles and giggles, and often silence.
They might not have gotten a lot of sleep, but then again it was their Honeymoon, and they were making the most of it, storm or no storm.
"Are you okay, Lisbeth?"
"I don't know how you did it, but the anger is all gone. Instead, you've filled my heart with anticipation and excitement, and even joy for what is to come on this dreaded storm day!"
A peace came over Elizabeth as her new Husband had calmed the storm and all its turbulence within her, even though nature's storm continued through the night and off and on throughout the day.
When dawn came, they took their baths together with complete contentment, followed by what was becoming their usual raucous bubble-bath fight.
"You've got bubbles all through my hair!" she laughed.
"Now, I get to wash it!" he grinned.
"You'd do that for me?"
"I would do anything for you, my Darling!"
"Wait, did you do that on purpose?"
"Maybe…" he admitted with his eyes sparkling like there was no tomorrow!
"But do you even know how?"
"Come on! I have a daughter. Of course, I know how!"
And for the first time in her life, but certainly not the last, her Husband, who was a pro, oh so lovingly, and tenderly, washed her hair with soap, causing it to lather like never before, running his hands over her scalp, massaging away any possible tension with his long fingers, studiously rinsing all the lather away, then rinsing again, till her hair looked and felt like silk.
His lips found hers, as her long hair dripped against him.
He moved her hair gently, just enough to nuzzle her neck, leaving the sweetest, most loving kisses there, until there wasn't a spot left that hadn't been kissed, till she thought she would explode, longing for the touch of his lips on hers.
When his warm lips did finally meet her beautiful, soft lips, Elizabeth thought if she died this moment, it would be okay, she was fulfilled…
As happy as a woman could be.
And she knew it to be true, longing for him still, loving him more than she ever dreamed possible.
"Nathan," the letters of his name rolled off her tongue as though they had been imprinted there from birth.
"Yes, Love!"
"I've never known anything like this. The intensity, the sheer magnitude, the extraordinary power of our love. What did we do to deserve this?"
"I don't think it's about deserving, Love. I just think we were made for each other. I think it's that simple. I think God made you for me and me for you."
"We are, without doubt, meant to be together," she said simply.
He nodded, and wrapped her in his arms from behind her, relishing her closeness, the scent of her hair…
They dressed in their robes and slippers and walked arm-in-arm to the kitchen.
"We start with a breakfast picnic!"
"How about pancakes?"
"Is there anything else?" he asked with a grin.
He started the pancakes and she gathered the fruit to make her own blend of a fruit syrup, adding sugar to a pan, and slicing the fruit into it.
She started the coffee, and another surprise beverage too.
Then she set the butter out to soften from the icebox, and fixed a tray of juices, along with some milk.
Before no time their romantic breakfast picnic was ready.
She reached to kiss her Husband as he proudly carried his stack of hot pancakes to the living room, setting it down on the low table in front of the fireplace, along with a vase of wildflowers from yesterday.
She started to sit on the sofa, there but was quickly rebuffed.
"No sitting on the sofa for a picnic," and he grabbed a quilt and spread it on the floor in front of the fireplace, helping her down to him.
"Oh, the flowers are so beautiful, Love! Thank you!"
"And you made Mimosas! Thank you!" and he reached to kiss the tip of her nose, which caused giggles galore.
"Are you ticklish there?" he wondered.
"Don't push it," she laughed.
"Oh, this is good. Now I know!"
"You be good, Husband!"
He took her hand.
"Dear Father, thank You for your love and for keeping us safe in the midst of the storm. We place our faith in You, and we are most grateful for your tender, loving care. Thank You for the food we are about to receive, and the companionship, intimacy, and love we have for each other. May we always treat our love as tenderly as we do today. In your name, we pray! Amen!"
"Amen!"
"Happy Picnic Breakfast, Darling!"
He raised his Mimosa.
"To our Picnic Breakfast, and to Storms, Darling!" he grinned.
"To our Picnic Breakfast, and although I never thought I'd be able to toast to Storms, to Storms, my Darling! Thanks to my wonderful Husband."
After breakfast, they read a bit more on their books, with Elizabeth curled up into the crook of Nathan's chest and shoulder, perfectly content as much with each other, as their books.
"You know, we've put those presents off long enough. Are you ready to start, again, Darling?"
"If you don't mind to unwrap, I'll continue with the list!"
"It's a deal! But it doesn't seem quite fair, as I get the fun part!"
"Just wait till you've opened a few!" she warned.
The first box was from Ned and Flo.
"It's heavy! My goodness! It's a complete set of silverware."
"It's beautiful. But that's so much! I'll have to remember to do something special for them when we get home."
Next came a silver bud vase from Mollie.
"I love this! I can put your single rose in it for Saturday breakfasts in bed!" declared Nathan.
"I have such a brilliant Husband!" and smiling from ear to ear, she kissed him for his sweet thought!
Next came a white linen appliqued tablecloth to fit their dining table with twenty-four matching napkins.
"This is exquisite. It has to be from Rosemary!"
"You're absolutely right – Lee and Rosemary! Look at their message: 'Looking forward to lots of Sunday meals together! And you can never have too many napkins!"
Next came a fancy silver lantern from the Weiss's.
"This is gorgeous!"
"This stack appears to be from Hamilton! Should I just hand you the cards as I unwrap?"
"That's perfect, Love!"
"Wow! Look at this. It's a case of Champagne. Very, very good Champagne!"
"That's from the Ballards. I should have known. They give the best gifts!"
"Look at this! So sweet, a sampler from old Mrs. Haversom. 'May your Marriage be blessed! And she's embroidered the date. I hear she does the framing herself!"
"That's beautiful, Love. We're so fortunate to still have her with us. So active, too. That's who I want to be like at that age!"
"Ah! This you're going to love!"
"What is it?" she asked excitedly.
"A copper teakettle that whistles!"
"Oh, I do love that! Have always wanted one that does that. Especially in copper. It's really beautiful!"
"This looks like a box of bath towels and washcloths. Both are really large ones, too!"
"They must have considered your size, Darling!"
"Should I be offended?" he teased.
"No, my gigantic Husband, you should not! I want you just the way you are!"
Next came a set of sheets, followed by a tiny gold clock, another set of leatherbound classics, a box of assorted candles, a large copper pot, the latest in kitchen utensils, a welcome mat with their initials, a thermometer/hygrometer, a hand-crocheted bedspread, silver toiletry sets for both of them, linen placemats with matching napkins, more candle holders, a second silver lantern from Cat Montgomery that matched the one the Weiss's had given, a needlepoint pillow, a sewing basket, a gold trinket box, a huge meat platter, and oh so much more.
"I think we've put a dent in it, but there's still lots to go! One more…"
He picked up the next one, not realizing who it was from until he read the card and laughed.
"This, Darling, is from our Son and Daughter!"
"Oh, let me help!"
Nathan untied the bow and handed the box to Elizabeth who had a sparkle in her eye that matched Nathan's.
For what was inside was very hard to hide.
They could hear the jumbled noise coming from inside the box.
"Our jigsaw puzzle! Now I get to test your prowess!"
"I think they're trying to tell us something, Darling!"
"I think you're right; jigsaw night with the kids it is! This is just the sweetest thing!"
"We have pretty sweet kids, without a doubt!"
"I miss them so much!"
"I do, too, Darling!"
He knew the question that was coming next.
"Do you think they're alright?"
"I know they are! Our parents are having a ball with them. That is if they've survived them!"
"Don't say that," she laughed.
And since it was deemed to be part of their day, they spent the next half-hour seeing who could get the most pieces together.
"Talk about competitive, Mrs. Grant!"
"You said you were the pro!"
"I am…" and then he moved the section over he had just completed, and her face was crestfallen, pouting lower lip and all!
"That doesn't seem fair!"
"As fair as rain!"
"Hmph!"
He reached to kiss her.
"Is this my consolation prize?"
"Something like that…"
"Please don't stop…" and being the good Husband he was, he did as exactly as his Wife requested!
Late that afternoon, into the early evening, the storm finally seemed to dissipate, and then came the soft rains that Nathan described.
As they hadn't dressed all day and were still in their robes, he stood and held his robe together, bowing before Elizabeth.
"May, I have this dance, Mrs. Grant?" he asked flirtatiously.
His loving Wife gave him her hand, but she couldn't resist a low giggle, amused at the way her Husband had trickily managed his robe!
Nathan took his beautiful Wife in his arms, waltzed her laughing, through their front door, onto their front porch, and down their front steps together, onto their sidewalk, into the rain after the storm.
"This, my Darling, is dancing in the rain!" and he reached to kiss her lips with the rain falling all around them.
The drops glistened on their faces, and it was truly magical.
Experiencing the calm after the storm in such a unique and yes, most intimate, romantic way.
They danced to the imaginary music in their heads, and neither could remember ever being so deliriously happy.
"This is exquisite, Darling. And you're right I've never danced before! Not like this!"
He drew her close, as close as two people can be, and still dance together.
They danced and danced until the rain started to slow, as though it were tired from keeping up with them.
"Promise me we do this every single time it rains, Love!"
"It's absolutely mandatory, Darling. It ensures the most wonderful marriage ever! I promise."
Yes, the rain was slowing, but her Husband didn't stop dancing.
He danced her up the stairs, over their front porch, through their front door, past all the remaining presents, and into their bedroom, where he laid his giggling Wife on their Wedding Bed…
Back in front of a crackling fire, with the light from several candles scattered around, as well as light from the two silver lanterns they had just opened, the couple spent their late evening snuggled together, reading poetry to each other.
Poetry of storms and poetry of love, but mostly love…
Nathan started: Here's one from memory my Grandmother taught me!"
"A Thunderstorm In Town" by Thomas Hardy
(Subtitled: A Reminiscence, 1893)
She wore a new 'terra cotta' dress,
And we stayed,
because of the pelting storm,
Within the hansom's dry recess,
Though the horse had stopped;
yea, motionless
We sat on, snug and warm.
Then the downpour ceased,
to my sharp sad pain,
And the glass that had screened our forms before
Flew up, and out she sprang to her door:
I should have kissed her if the rain
Had lasted a minute more. (*95)
He grinned at his Wife, drawing her closer, showering her with the kisses the poor poet had missed, causing her to giggle, and fall into him even more…
"Here's one from one of England's most renowned nature poets I remember from school! It was written in 1845 and there was a big controversy whether it arose from the Romantic or Victorian Era. I chose Victorian on my test, and then had to mightily defend my stance because everyone else said Romantic! Here we go – it's short and sweet."
"The Thunder Mutters" by John Clare
The thunder mutters louder and more loud
With quicker motion hay folks ply the rake
Ready to burst slow sails the pitch black cloud
& all the gang a bigger haycock make
To sit beneath – the woodland winds awake
The drops so wet all thro' in an hour
A tiney flood runs down the leaning rake
In the sweet hay yet dry the hay folks cower & some beneath the wagon shun the shower. (*96)
Nathan then found the book he was looking for.
"Here's my favorite: "A Thunderstorm" by Emily Dickinson.
The wind begun to rock the grass
With threatening tunes and low, -
He flung a menace at the earth,
A menace at the sky.
The leaves unhooked themselves from trees
And started all abroad;
The dust did scoop itself like hands
And throw away the road… (*97)
"Which brings me to this, my Darling. For you…" smiled Nathan.
"Hope is the Thing with Feathers"
Hope is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the 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 kept so many warm –
I've heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me. (*98)
"You are my hope, my Darling Lisbeth. My hope, my life, my love!" and he drew her more tightly to him till their breaths were one, and their very souls combined.
"You are my everything, my Love. My heart, my will to live with utter joy. You calm me and embolden me at the same time, and you make me better than I've ever been before. You amaze me, and I adore you so!"
Without any other words, Nathan thumbed through their Book of Poetry, till he came upon another favorite.
"She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron, George Gordon Byron, Byron, 6th Baron Byron
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent! (*99)
Elizabeth took the next one…
"How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love? 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 every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
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. (*100)
Elizabeth's voice cracked as she said those last words, but she had made herself utter them, for she couldn't allow their perfect love to be marred by fear of loss.
For she knew it was irrational and it would only rob her of her joy and even her life. She had experienced great loss, but she was also experiencing great love, and as she lifted her radiant face to her new Husband, they both knew she was choosing to live.
They would share their lives and live together, and they would do it with the utmost joy.
Years from now, when Nathan and Elizabeth would look back on this their perfect honeymoon, they just might choose this night and day of a most imperfect Storm, inside and out, with cuts and scratches, too, as the day they loved most.
Yes, the storm was outwardly present surrounding them, beating across their land.
But the bigger storm had been inside a heart broken by loss and filled with hurt or self-doubt over the simplest thing.
Miraculously, it was on this day, all that was uniquely healed, because of a Wife having the trust to reach out and share, and a Husband having the patience to listen.
This was a day of expressing a need, and filling that need, coming together as Husband and Wife on every level, to thwart an unwanted emotion, in this case, anger, and ban it from their life together.
It was an intimacy with each other, neither had ever experienced before.
But because of it, they would now weather the turbulent storms of life, both physically and metaphorically, with confidence and happiness together.
And perhaps even more importantly, they would now always be found dancing and laughing together, in the calm of the rain after the storm…
(*95) "A Thunderstorm In Town" by Thomas Hardy (Subtitled: A Reminiscence, 1893), published in his Collection "Satires of Circumstance," 1914, Public Domain
(*96) "The Thunder Mutters" by John Clare, 1845, Public Domain
(*97) "A Thunderstorm" 2nd Version by Emily Dickinson, 1864, Public Domain
(*98) "Hope is the Thing with Feathers," Emily Dickinson, written in 1861 and first published in 1891, Public Domain
(*99) "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron, George Gordon Byron, Byron, 6th Baron Byron, 1813, Public Domain
(*100) "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1850, Public Domain