Why the Cleavers Moved

Ward was on his way home an evening earlier from his business trip. He didn't bother to phone June so he could surprise her. The boys were away at summer camp and he thought about nothing but a night of pure romance.

Ward walked up the sidewalk and heard June screaming through the open window. "Get off me!"

The neighbor joined Ward when hearing her cries through the window. Ward barged through the door to find a man holding a knife to June's throat, and tearing at her dress.

Ward yanked him off June, and punched him in the face as the neighbor raced to call the Police. The intruder went for the knife that ended up on the floor, but Ward got to it and grabbed it. "You don't move; the Police are on the way!"

June ran into Ward's arms, crying. "Ward!"

"It's ok, Baby; its over. You're safe now, I've got you."

Ward looked over at Steve Donaldson. "Here Steve, take this knife."

"You bet, Ward." Then he went and stood over the man. "Don't move!"

"Ward….I don't want to be here…with…that man…"

"Ok, Baby; let's go to the kitchen."

Ward sat June down, but all she would do was cling to him and cry. With that, he held her in his lap, and he wasn't going to let her go until the Police arrived.

Steve brought one of the Officers into the kitchen.

"Mr. Cleaver, it's customary for us to walk the suspect out in cuffs in the presence of the victim, as a way to give them peace of mind.

"Ward, I don't…want to be near him."

"Come on, Baby, he can't hurt you anymore; you're safe."

Ward walked June into the living room where the other Officer had him cuffed. His dark eyes penetrated through her, and his nose draining of blood where Ward hit him. June finally turned into Ward's arms, screaming. "Get him out of here! Get him out of here!"

The Officer sat next to June at the table. "Mrs. Cleaver, I know you've endured a horrible night, but we need to get a statement."

"I can't….I can't…talk…."

Ward wrapped his arms around her and said, "Honey, the worst is over; I'm here, I have my arms around you – you're safe, he's cuffed." He kissed her lips softly. "The Officer needs the statement, Baby…now."

"Take your time, Mrs. Cleaver."

June heard the love and protection in Ward's voice, but she also heard the common sense coming through. She looked up at her husband, and said, "I know…you're right."

Ward touched her gently touched her cheek, and told her tenderly, "That's my girl." Then she pulled his arms tighter around her waist as she sat against him and began her statement.

"I heard a strange sound coming from outside from the back yard, so I stepped out onto the patio to look around, and after not seeing anything I walked back inside and locked the door…." She began crying again. "That's when he grabbed me from behind."

"What happened then?" The officer asked.

"He put the knife to my throat and dragged me to the sofa….I was crying and screaming…."

"Is that when he hit you?" The Officer asked gently, and looking closely at her bruising cheekbone.

"Yes….then he was on top of me….he said he knew I was alone, because he was watching me for a few days…."

Ward held her tighter and rocked her. "Just take your time, Honey; remember, it's over", he whispered against her ear.

"He….he threatened to cut my "beautiful face"…all up if I didn't quit fighting him…he started tearing at my clothes…."

She then turned to Ward and cried into his chest. "It's Ok, Baby; I've got you….shh…"

The Officer allowed June to cry and be with her husband in the moment. He was a rookie, and he was putting himself in Ward's place. Had it been his wife, how would he deal with the son of a bitch who tried to rape her? He knew he had to keep it together, so he took a few deep breaths and knew that he would offer Ward the chance to have a few minutes "alone" with the bastard in the interrogation room.

"I know this is hard, Mrs. Cleaver; just take your time. I know this is a very personal and difficult question, but was he able to get underneath your clothing at all…with the knife, his hand…..were you sexually assaulted?"

June looked up at Ward. "I'm sorry….I'm sorry…." She sobbed when clinging to him.

After June's statement, Ward had took her upstairs and drew a hot bath for her. He was downstairs looking around the house and checking every single door several times over. As he wandered through the house, he heard June's crying voice telling him she was sorry…she was sorry because some thug entered their home and sexually assaulted his wife!

"His hand reached the inside of my panties!" He couldn't get those words out of his head…he felt his rage seeping through his entire body. He was ready to lose control, and he had gone to the phone to call the rookie officer who offered to leave him alone with the intruder….he had the phone in his hand, then he slammed the receiver down as he looked over at the crucifix on the wall.

Ward sat down in his chair, and holding back tears, he prayed for the strength to get June through this trauma…."Please, Father, keep me strong and in control."

"Ward….Ward…" He heard June calling him, almost in a panic. He stood up, feeling renewed. He squared his shoulders, turned out the lights, and went upstairs, hollering back up to her, "I'm coming, Babe."

Ward walked into their bedroom and found June dressed in her flannel nightgown; the one he hated, in fact, he had no idea she still had the thing. It covered her completely.

"Honey, it's summer, you're going to roast in that nightgown."

"Well, I'm sorry, but you know all I have are those sheer nighties."

"Baby, I'm your husband, you have nothing to be afraid of."

"Oh, Honey, I'm not afraid of you; I just can't wear those revealing garments right now."

"I understand", he told her gently. "But it's still very warm. How about wearing one of my shirts for tonight, and I'll take you shopping tomorrow for some acceptable night clothes."

"Ok", she relented with a small smile.

Not long after Ward finally got June to fall asleep, he woke up to her screaming.

"Get off me! Get off me!"

"Honey!" He shook her awake. "Honey, baby; it's me, Ward!"

She grabbed a hold of him tightly, and began crying to the point of nearly hyperventilating.

"I'm here, Baby; you're safe….shh…"

While she clung to him, he adjusted his pillows against the headboard, and laid back with her still wrapped in his arms.

He gently drew his hand through her hair and held her tight. "Better now?" He asked her gently.

"Yes…" she whimpered, starting to calm.

"Can I get you some water, or something?"

"No, I just….need…need you to hold me."

"I've got you, Honey", he told her softly.

The Cleaver boys still had a few weeks before they would return home, and things were still shaky after about three weeks. June continued to wake up crying with nightmares, Ward took some personal time off work, and even though they were running low on patience they managed to extend him two more weeks.

Ward and June became close to the Dennison's, as they both had someone to talk to about how they were feeling; besides each other, as they both found extremely difficult. One night June invited them for dinner. Ward had Steve out in the garage talking over a few beers, and June had Janice in the kitchen talking after dishes were done.

Ward opened another bottle of beer. "Steve, I feel like a bad a husband in saying this, but we haven't made love since before I left for my business trip; I tried touching her last night, but she broke down crying."

"Sorry, Ward", Steve shook his head. "Look, we don't have experience with what you two endured…"

"That's just it!" Ward interrupted when throwing his bottle cap across the garage. "I'm angry at myself! June is the one who was assaulted; I just need to be more patient."

"Look, Ward, what I was going to say was that many of my patients have gone through similar traumas, and there's no "time table" of when to put these things behind you; everyone's different, and everyone has their own way in how they handle trauma."

"I just don't know how to make her feel safe, other than being home with her, and that can't be healthy after so long."

Steve shook his head. "No, after a while it can make it worse; especially for your employment."

"Maybe we should move", Ward said abruptly.

Steve shrugged. "And you think it may help?"

"Yes", Ward said firmly. "June can't even walk into the living room without cringing, and she won't go near the sofa, or the patio. She always loved sitting out there on summer nights, and now….now everything's locked up like Fort Knox, and I've had to install central air so we wouldn't suffocate."

"Then I suggest you talk it over with June, it may just help things along." Steve slapped Ward on the back, and asked, "May I make a suggestion in regards to the love making?"

"Sure", Ward nodded.

"Take June out of town for a night or two, and romance her. I know someone very close to me who has a cabin up at Friend's Lake", he told him with a wink.

June and Janice sat at the table with a few glasses of white wine.

June dabbed her eyes with the tissue. "I think Ward is going to grow impatient with me."

Janice took June's hand and gently said, "I don't see that, June. He loves you so very much."

June began to cry. "We haven't made love; I haven't been able to allow him to touch me sexually yet."

"Oh June, that will take time."

"Ward is used to making love several times a week; I can't lose him."

"Oh, Honey, you're not going to lose Ward. Look, I know he's been talking to Steve; you know Steve is a Psychiatrist. I don't know the nature of their talks, but Steve tells me how much Ward loves you and wants you to feel safe again."

Ward and June sat at the kitchen table as soon as the Dennison's left.

"How about a nightcap?" Ward asked June.

"Sure I could use another glass of wine."

Ward poured her another glass of wine and opened himself another beer. He sat back down, and said, "Honey, I uh, I've been thinking about something, and I would like to run it passed you."

"Ok", she nodded with a smile.

He tapped his leg and said, "Come and sit in my lap."

She sat in his lap, and said, "It must be pretty serious."

He slipped his arm around her waist and gave her hip a few light taps. "Well, it is a bit of a life change, but I think it'll be the right one for us. I was thinking that we should consider on moving into a new house."

"Really?" She raised an eyebrow and said, "That would be quite a change."

"I just think that you not being able to enjoy our entire home is really keeping you from healing, and I don't think you're going to feel very safe until we leave."

She put her head on his shoulder, and said, "Well, when you put it that way…."

He smiled and said, "I'll call a broker tomorrow."

June stared out of the car window as Ward drove them to the Dennison cabin at Friend's Lake.

"Are you ok, Babe?" Ward asked.

"Yeah, I'm just noticing the skies looking like a storm."

"I think we are going to get some scattered storms today; sorry about that, Honey."

She smiled over at him, and scooted closer to him. "That's ok, you can't control the weather."

Ward and June ran inside the cabin, both soaked to the bone. She dug their bath towels out of the luggage, and said, "We probably better take a hot shower."

Ward ran the towel through his hair, and peeled off his soaked shirt. "You mean… take…. the shower together?" He asked hopefully, but carefully.

"We may as well; it would save on water." Then she went to the door and made sure it was locked.

Ward walked up behind her, and gently said, "I'll check the cabin and make sure everything's locked up, if you want to go get the shower going at a nice temperature, and then I'll join you."

She gave him a small smile and went through the bedroom to the bathroom.

Ward checked the cabin inside and out while whistling. He knew his girl was coming back slowly but surely. He got to the bedroom and removed his soaked clothing throwing them on top of June's pile on the floor and then got to the bathroom. It was like a log cabin mansion; everything in knotty pine from floor to ceiling and the shower had a clear glass door; he stood watching his sexy wife lather up with soap.

June was rinsing off when Ward slowly came up behind her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. She closed her eyes and pulled his arms closer around her. Then with tears in her eyes, she took his hand, guiding it to her breast.

He spoke softly against her ear, "Are you sure about this, Baby?"

"Yes, I need to feel your touch again."

He gently turned her to face him, and then he pulled her in his arms, holding her close, and caressing her as the water fell against their bodies.

This was the first time Ward has held June's naked body against his since the night before he left for the business trip.

"I love you, Baby."

"I love you too, and I'm so sorry…."

"Hey", he said tenderly. "I told you, this was not your fault – none of it."

"Well, I mean I'm sorry I took so long to allow you to touch me…to make love to me….I need…you…to make love to me." She reached up and held onto him tightly as she cried.

"And I need to make love to you too."

Ward pulled away just enough to raise her chin for their lips to connect….slowly…softly…their tongues intertwined. He lifted her off her feet and set her on top of a small ledge; where he gave each breasts his full attention while moans escaped her lips and she drove her hands through the back of his hair. He ran his lips back up her chest to her neck…..to her lips.

"Oh, Ward…." She cried his name.

"Oh, Baby, I missed hearing you cry my name out." He set her back to her feet in front of him; kissing her with heated passion and driving his hands to her firm bottom…caressing and cupping.

He quickly turned her around, raised her leg, and slowly….carefully dipped a finger inside her desire. He felt her tense up when he added a finger, but she never stopped him.

He spoke tenderly against her ear, knowing she needs to hear his voice. "Tell me what you need, Baby…."

"Hold me tighter…." She begged him when driving into his fingers.

"I've got you….Baby…I got you."

"I need….you….inside me…."

He turned her back to him, lifted her up to the ledge and entered her. She cried out, "Oh, Ward!"

He slightly raised her leg to meet his waist for more depth. "Oh, Ward…."

"I love you, Baby…."

"I….love you…" She cried, receiving his slow and gentle thrusts. "I missed….I missed your…touch…your….love…."

"I'm…..I'm here….Baby…." He told her breathlessly.

"Hold me….hold me…closer…." She cried to him.

With that, he lifted her from the shower ledge and held her around his waist, and then gently braced her back against the shower wall, as he continued to make love to her.

She clung to him tightly as she gave way to all her emotions of nearly a month of fear, anger, sadness, and finally sexual satisfaction from her husband's gentle love and affection.

Ward collapsed breathlessly next to June in the queen sized bed. "Wow!"

She rolled over, draping herself on top of him, and lying her head on his chest. The only light was the full moon peering through the 6 foot wall of windows surrounding the entire room and overlooking a private view of Friends Lake.

Ward pulled the sheet over June's bottom, wrapped his arms around her, and then slid a hand under the sheet and across her derriere. "I have a surprise about this cabin", he told her.

She lifted her head with a smile, and asked, "You do?"

He smiled and said, Steve was looking for a couple in hopes to make this place a time share; so we are that couple."

"Oh, Ward, really?" She asked and smiling from ear to ear.

"I knew you would be happy."

"Happy; I'm ecstatic! I love this cabin!"

"Good, this will be our romantic getaway a few times a year."

"How about family vacations?"

"Oh maybe once in a while, but I had it in mind for just the two of us most of the time."

"Wait a minute; if we're buying a new house, will we be able to afford a time share?"

"Absolutely, Baby; I wouldn't have agreed to it if we couldn't afford it. A big selling point too, is the private side of the lake; I mean we couldn't have made love in front of all of these windows otherwise."

She laid her head back down on his chest, and said, "I know it's considered private, but I'm sure people can manage to get near the cabin."

He gently stroked her hair, and tenderly said, "Baby, it's very safe here."

"Mayfield was supposed to be safe too."

He heard the concern in her voice; of which he knew could easily become anxiety very quickly. He wanted to keep her from even thinking about the night she was assaulted; especially now that they were able to pass the step of making love since that horrific night.

He caressed her under the sheet and gently said, "It's going to take time for you to feel completely safe again, Baby, but please trust me when I say that I will never allow anything to happen to you again."

"I do trust you; I'm thankful every day that you came home early that night. I just can't stand to think what would have happened if you hadn't."

"Baby, look at me."

She lifted her head and looked into his eyes.

"Let's not play that what if game; you'll only get upset, and I want this to be the first day of healing for you. It was the purpose of this getaway; it wasn't just to bring you here to make love."

She rested her head into the crook of his neck, and said, "I know that, Honey, and I love you for it. Thank you for not losing patience with me; I was so afraid of losing you had I gone on to get worse."

"You can never lose me, Baby; I was never going anywhere."

June woke up alone in bed, and at first she felt a bit frightened, and then she saw the note on the pillow. Honey, I went into town for a quick errand. The doors are locked, I will use the key to let myself in.

She glanced at the clock; almost 9:30! She quickly rose from the bed, covered her naked body with her robe, and glanced out of the window at the beautiful summer sun sparkling off of the lake. She smiled knowing she and Ward would have many wonderful years at their new time share.

Ward returned to find June was in the shower and so he began cooking breakfast. While waiting for the food to cook, he sat down with the card he bought with June's flowers and began writing a note inside it.

For my beautiful wife – I know I'm not one to write letters, but I've felt compelled given the trauma you had to endure for the past month, and I want to be sure to get this out, and in this case, writing seems to be the answer here.

You don't know this, but before the young Officer left that night, he offered to allow me to spend some time alone with the intruder to do as I saw fit to the man for what he did to you. Honey, I had the phone in my hand to call him and accept that offer, but then I saw the crucifix on our wall, reminding me that God would take it from there, and then I prayed for strength to get you through.

But I had been struggling with it. I still had it in my mind that as your husband beating him to a bloody pulp was something I should do in order to defend your honor, but I have come to realize it wouldn't erase what he had done to you. You would still have a hard road to heal, you would still have the fear and nightmares, you would still struggle to feel safe, and beating him up wouldn't do anything but make it worse for you, and as I always tell the boys, there are consequences for all of our actions.

Initially, I did what I had to do when I pulled him off of you and hit him, and just as I was ready to go after him some more, you ran into my arms, and that's when my instincts as a man and as your husband took over – I had to take care of you, and let Steve see to him until we could get him out of our home. I wanted you to know all of this, now that we are both on our way to healing. I love you more than I could ever express, and I want you to know that I will always protect you against anything and anyone. Love, Ward

June walked into the kitchen and sniffed the air. "It smells wonderful!"

She joined Ward at the stove and wrapped her arms around him. "What a nice surprise in cooking breakfast for us."

"Yeah, I figured it's been awhile."

June stood in thought, and replied, "I was expecting Beaver when you cooked me breakfast in bed; just the morning after I told you."

Ward laughed. "Ok, so what; only nine years?" This generated laughter from June too. He nodded to the dining room. "There's something waiting for you in there."

June walked over to the table and saw a dozen red roses in a crystal vase. "Oh how beautiful; thank you, Honey." She walked back into his arms, planted a kiss to his lips, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Ward caressed the small of her back, feeling her naked body through her robe. "You're welcome, Baby. I uh, I wrote you a short letter too." He pulled the chair out for her, and said, "You sit to read it while I tend to our breakfast."

Ward brought their plates to the table, and saw tears rolling down her cheeks. He set the plates down, and came down to a knee in front of her. "Hey", he said tenderly, "I didn't mean to make you cry."

She smiled through her tears, and told him, "You have a way with words. Please sit down."

He pulled the chair out next to her, and sat.

She stood up and sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I may have been the one who was attacked, but I didn't know how much it affected you; so much of the time I was scared of losing you, and I wasn't thinking of your feelings at all."

He touched her cheek and wiped the tears from her eyes. "It wasn't like that, you couldn't help how you reacted to what you had gone through, Honey. This experience changed you; you were attacked in our home, the very place you should feel the safest. What was it that made you afraid of losing me?"

"You went from a wife who made love with you two to three times a week, to a wife who was afraid of being touched; I wasn't afraid of you, but I couldn't get that terrible night out of my head long enough to remember that I loved your touch, and it was so different. I figured if I kept on, I could no longer satisfy your needs…"

"Oh, Baby…" He held her tight. "I wouldn't be a real man, nor a decent husband if I had felt that way."

"You're the only one who's supposed to touch me like that…."

"But, Baby, you weren't giving him permission to do so; he was forcing you." He raised her chin for their eyes to meet. "Please hear me when I say this; none of this was your fault. No woman is to blame when a man takes it from her."

He gently captured her lips to his. "I can't even fathom the idea of my life without you."

"I feel the same", she told him when smiling through her tears.

"And just so you know, if you had taken that offer to see that man and do what you wanted to him; you wouldn't have been the man I married. You're just not a violent man, Ward, and that's just one of the many things I love about you."

She drove her hands through the back of his hair. "I do hope I gave you the closure you need in knowing you did as you should have."

"Very much, thank you, Honey."

June, still sitting in Ward's lap, reached for a piece of bacon, and fed it to him. "We should get to eating breakfast."

He gave her teasing smile while chewing. "I think so."

Then he watched as June untied her robe and let it fall off her shoulders. "No desert until after we finish our breakfast."

Ward laughed and said, "Well, this will be the quickest breakfast ever."