The Keepsake

Some time later Ryan stirred in his sleep as something felt amiss. He reached for Marissa but his hand came up empty. He squinted as he opened his eyes to look for her and realised that there was a glow in the room coming from the small lamp on the desk. He noticed Marissa was sitting at the desk writing on something. He turned a little further so that he could see her properly as his eyes became accustomed to the light. She was still naked and the silhouette she was casting from the lamp behind her was simply perfect … in every way. His eyes ran over her profile; from her pert nose, her full lips, her chin … to the tilt of her breasts, over her flat stomach and on to her beautiful long legs. She quite literally took his breath away.

He watched her silently as she continued to write, obviously intent on what she was doing. He thought that she was just writing herself a note and would then return to bed but when, after several minutes, she was still writing industriously he decided to find out just what she was doing so he moved from the bed to stand behind her.

Marissa turned as she sensed his nearness, smiling at him as he joined her. "I'm sorry if I woke you."

Ryan bent to kiss her. "That's okay. But I can't help wondering what you are doing?" he asked.

"I'm writing it all down." She replied simply, showing him the pages of hotel stationery that were already full of her handwriting.

"Writing what down?" Ryan asked confused.

"Today…" Marissa said and then looked over at the clock beside the bed. "Well yesterday really. My wedding day." She explained.

"We will do it better, next time." Ryan started to apologise, thinking she was making notes of what she would change the next time around. "You can have Summer …"

Marissa placed her finger on his mouth to stop him speaking. "There is no better. It was perfect. I was lying there smelling the roses and thinking back over it. Of everything you did for me. The visit to the spa, the dress, the shoes, the rings, your speech at the dinner, our supper … you ... I could never have imagined that's what my wedding day would be like, but I know that it was perfect. You knew what I wanted without me even knowing it myself. You are more in tune with me than I am myself. And I guess that should be scary but it isn't. I just feel like I'm the luckiest woman on earth. And I wanted to write it all down. I don't want to forget one moment of the day. I want to be able to tell our children about it. About how wonderful their father is."

"I hope you'll make it G rated if you are going to show it to them." Ryan suggested feeling a mixture of pride and embarrassment about what she was saying.

Marissa laughed. "I want it all. But I just might put the last part on a separate sheet of paper that is just for me to read."

"I don't suppose I could convince you to join me back in bed. Perhaps we could add a bit to that last page; the page for your eyes only." Ryan suggested as he started to run his hands over her back.

Marissa leaned back into him. "I think that there is still room for me to add some more."

Ryan took her hand and led her back to the bed. "Let's make some more memories."

---

Ryan and Marissa were lying entwined the next morning when they were disturbed by Ryan's cell phone ringing. Ryan reached for it and flipped it open.

"Yeah?" was all he could get out.

"Ryan? Sorry to wake you mate."

"Skip? What the hell are you doing calling at this time in the morning?" Ryan asked still half asleep when all of a sudden he realised just who he was talking to. He sat bolt upright in bed. "Is everything all right?" Ryan asked, instantly concerned.

"Yeah." Skip replied automatically and then added. "Well … I guess that depends on how you look at it. But we're sort of through the worst of it. I think. My Dad did have a serious heart attack and he needs to have a triple heart bypass which at the moment they have scheduled for next week. At the moment they have stabilised him and they're just trying to let him get a bit of strength back before they do the operation."

"Okay. So that's good? Right?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah. As good as it can be given that he's lying in Intensive Care." Skip explained.

"Okay. Well give him our best. How's your mother coping?" Ryan asked as Marissa sat up beside him as she'd realised who he was talking to. She moved to put her arm around his shoulders wanting to somehow portray that she was just as interested in what was happening with Skip's mother as Ryan was, but as she moved to put her arms around him the sheet fell to her waist exposing her breasts to him.

Ryan glanced at her and smiled … and as she went to pull the sheet back up to cover herself, he purposely pulled it out of her hands so that he could take in the sight of her in hall her glory. Marissa went suddenly shy.

"Mum's …. coping, I guess would be the word. But I'm glad that I'm here for her. But I guess that's part of why I'm calling. I've decided to stay until after Dad's operation next week and I've been trying to get in touch with Annabel, but it seems that her phone is off. I know that it's Sunday morning over there but it's after midnight here and I've just gotten home from the hospital and I'm on my way to bed. You see I can't have my phone on in Intensive Care; I gather they upset some of the electronic equipment or something. So this is really the only time of day that I can call her. I was just wondering if there is any way you could get in touch with her and ask her to call my cell. Tell her I'll wait up until I hear from her."

"Sure. I'll give her a call in her room now and get her to ring you." Ryan replied.

"Thanks. And I'm sorry for waking you. How are things going anyhow?" Skip asked.

"Good." Ryan said looking at Marissa.

"Marissa hasn't realised yet that she'd be better off with me?" Skip teased.

Ryan played with the ring on his finger. It still felt odd …. but in a good way. "You know that's never going to happen." Ryan assured him.

"Yeah well. A guy can wish." Skip laughed.

"As long as that's all you do." Ryan replied wishing that he could tell his friend just what had taken place yesterday. He knew that Skip would be very happy for them.

"You can thank me later for waking you. I'm sure you'll think of something ... or should I say someone … to do … now that you're awake. It would have been a missed opportunity if you'd slept in." Skip suggested.

"I don't miss many opportunities." Ryan assured him pulling Marissa in to his side with his free arm.

"Okay. Well I'd better get off this phone and let you contact Annabel otherwise I'll never get to bed."

"Uh huh. I'll call her straight away. And keep in touch. You know that we're thinking of you."

"Yeah. Thanks mate. I appreciate it."