Author's Note: Happy slightly early Valentines Day 2012. My writing time continues to be rare, but I try to make the most of it. This is the last chapter in this story. I do have some ideas for the "next installment" but need to come up with a title for it first. As always, constructive feedback is appreciated.
The next couple of days are busy ones as Betty and Matt put the finishing touches on the debut issue of Compassion's Compass, which has to be at the printer's by Tuesday evening in order for the issue to hit the stands early on 6/24/11.
On Tuesday morning, Betty lets out an exasperated sigh as she comments, "Matt, I know that you want to make sure you have the right lighting for all of the pictures but I am having trouble concentrating on my final review of the articles with you in here. You are often right next to me and sometimes even seem to be looking over my shoulder."
"Oh, perhaps what you could use is a break and your perfume is distracting me," suggests Matt as he nuzzles her neck.
Turning around, Betty starts to reply, but all she can get out is the word "Matt!" before he wraps his arms around her and kisses her with such staggering and total intensity that she emits a groan and wraps her arms around his neck.
Reluctantly ending the kiss and resting her cheek against his, Betty continues, "I'll admit that was a great distraction and I wish it could go on indefinitely, but that doesn't solve the problem of us working in such close quarters and having a deadline in less than 10 hours with a few tasks that have yet to be accomplished."
"True," acknowledges Matt as he slowly pulls away from Betty and begins to gather his materials, "I'll go work in the conference room."
"Thanks," responds Betty as she sits down at her desk.
Approximately two hours later, Matt knocks on the door and announces, "Work related questions, I promise, along with a possible solution to our office space situation. May I come in?"
"Yes, please enter, with your password being a kiss," teases Betty, with Matt more than happy to oblige her as pulls Betty onto his lap.
Cuddling against him, Betty asks, "What did you need to talk about?"
After giving her one more kiss, a smiling Matt tells her, "Well, first, Kelly confirmed that Dana and Gio will cater the event on Friday night. Dana asked you to call her back regarding the specifics of the menu since she said that the women get the ultimate decision on such matters."
"Excellent and true," states a smirking Betty, who is content to stay on Matt's lap.
She adds, in a slightly worried tone, "I'll call her in a little bit. Nearly 200 people are a lot for a launch party, I hope the reviews are good."
"The reviews should match our magazine, which means they'll be great," answers Matt reassuringly.
"And the office space situation," prods Betty.
Matt replies, "Patience please, I was getting to that. I made a few calls to architects and construction companies after I finished with the pictures not quite an hour ago. Since this office is rather large, I was thinking we could have them move that wall out a bit, and then put a removable, dividing wall there. With those changes, we'd each have our own space but can also work side by side when we need to."
"I knew I married you and went into a business with you for a reason, that sounds like a perfect compromise!" exclaims Betty as she nips at Matt's lip and gives him a hot, sizzling kiss.
After he catches his breath, Matt jokes, "Apparently, having separate offices will have some of its own benefits. I am really liking the kiss password concept."
"Likewise," says Betty as they mutually agree on continuing their snuggle break.
"Betty, Rosalina wants her lunch," announces Kristin as she brings the baby into the room.
"Whoops, I guess I should have knocked, I can go give her a bottle instead," remarks a red faced Kristin who turns and starts to leave.
"Don't go," calls Betty, "We didn't mean to embarrass you. We were just briefly escaping from work for a few moments."
Matt says, "We promise that if things are approaching a level of intimacy that is beyond acceptable office standards we'll lock the door."
All three of them laugh, with Rosalina joining in as she reaches for Betty. After Rosalina is done nursing, Matt brings her back to the office nursery and plays with her on the floor.
Rosalina starts to grab for some papers, with Matt telling her, "No, sweetie, those aren't for you, you've got plenty of toys to entertain you. Put those down."
Giving Matt a pouty look, Rosalina hands them to Matt and goes back to playing with her toys.
"Betty, Kristin, and Kelly, please come in here for a minute," states Matt.
"Is something wrong?" ask all three women, virtually in unison, as they enter the room.
Shaking his head, Matt answers, "No, nothing is wrong. I wanted to test something out though. I think that Rosalina is at the point where she can follow simple directions."
"Rosalina, give Mommy your bear, please," says Betty as she sits down on the floor next to Matt and the baby.
After staring at Betty for several seconds, Rosalina gives her the bear. All of the adults smile and clap, with Rosalina joining in.
Betty comments, "You are right about her being able to follow commands, of course that will probably depend on if she wants to or not."
"Our Princess is growing up so fast, we need to try to enjoy every moment," remarks Matt, who tickles Rosalina, with her laughter permeating the room.
"Very true and I think you'll remind all of us of that, since the Daddy is known more for playtime while the Mommy is known more for learning time," states Betty as she joins in on the fun.
The magazine arrives at the publishing house with an hour to spare. Betty and Matt attempt to focus on the launch party and all of its details and try to not obsess about how the media industry, critics, and the public will react to the magazine. They work closely with Gio and Dana regarding the food, with the decision that the appetizers and desserts will be even more prominent than the buffet. Gio and Dana consult with an African restaurant so that some Botswanan specialties can also be served.
On Friday morning, Betty and Matt decide to work from home, as they are both admittedly a bit nervous regarding the media's reaction to Compassion's Compass.
"Well, here goes nothing," announces Betty as she turns the television on and goes to the channel that covers internationally- themed and circulated magazines.
Gently grabbing Betty's hand and giving her a sweet kiss, Matt whispers, "Our hard work and combined talents are going to speak for themselves and lead to success, I'm sure of it."
Beaming at the positive initial commentary and sales numbers, Betty comments, "Apparently, you were right, we've really got something special in Compassion's Compass and now most everyone knows it."
Betty and Matt do their best to relax for the remainder of the day before they go over to Meade by 6pm. The launch party is scheduled to start in the newly renovated meeting facility at 7pm. Betty and Matt give each other knowing, intimate glances at how nice the other looks in their new evening clothes purchased specifically for the launch party.
Shortly after 7pm, Mr. Dunne announces, "Here is to the first of hopefully many issues of Compassion's Compass, a publication both Dunne Enterprises and Meade Publications are proud to have our names associated with."
Daniel adds, "An extraordinary concept and magazine that would not have been possible without the unique and complementary talents of Betty and Matt Suarez-Hartley."
"And, although I willingly admit that I am not necessarily neutral when it comes to Betty, I have known for a while that Betty was meant for great things in the publishing world and Compassion's Compass is proof of it," states Daniel.
Blushing, Betty gives Daniel a brief kiss on the cheek as she quietly tells him, "You were a key to making this possible as you, and Meade, gave me a place to grow as a writer and helped me prepare for this endeavor."
Betty and Matt do their best to mingle with the guests, which includes well-known people in the print media industry as well as friends and family. Daniel, Jennifer, Willie, Connor, Claire, Cal, Victoria, Nathaniel, Amanda, Tyler, Hilda, Bobby, Justin, Marc, Ignacio, Elena, Kelly, Kristin, Mr. Dunne, Leigh, Gio, and Dana are among those who have taken the time to share this very important evening with them.
Christina and Stuart walk in at about 7:20, with Christina giving Betty a hug and saying, "We're sorry we are a little late, the flight got delayed, but I am so glad we can be here with you."
Looking lovingly at Matt, Betty remarks, as she returns Christina's hug, "Matt didn't tell me you were coming. You're being here is a welcome surprise, like an extra present."
As Betty and Matt admire the cover of Compassion's Compass, which includes before and after pictures of the waterway along with many pictures of the villagers, they listen to the positive reactions to the magazine on both the news and by those attending the launch party.
Smiling, they lean against each other and kiss. The kiss is both exquisitely gentle yet erotic at the same time, leading Betty and Matt to forget that they have an audience. Sinking deeper into the kiss their bodies press close together and their minds empty of everything but each other.
A happy squeal from Rosalina, who is being held by Ignacio, interrupts the silence that has befallen the room as virtually all present had stopped their conversations and watched the intense, loving interactions of Betty and Matt, with their kiss seeming as if it could go on forever.
Marc quips, "Well, apparently there are advantages to being the married, co-editors and co-owners of a wonderful new publication."
There is a smattering of laughter and conversations resume. Blushing, Betty and Matt slowly separate from their passionate embrace yet remain next to each other.
Matt runs his hands briefly down Betty's arms followed by retorting, "I believe we are both enjoying the perks of being happily married, being our own boss, and the amazing ideas we can share and bring to others through our combined talents."
"To the success of Compassion's Compass and all associated with it," announces Betty as she raises her glass, which was handed to her by a passing waiter.
After giving Tyler a kiss, Amanda states, "I second that. Betty and Matt have shown me, and I suspect many other people in this room, the seemingly limitless possibilities of what one can do when you find those who support you, believe in you, and are confident enough to be honest with you about what is working and what might even need to change."
Ignacio says, "Yes, Betty, Matt, Compassion's Compass and Rosalina are excellent examples of what can happen when the personal and professional mix so well that great things occur for oneself and countless others."
Cal comments, "While I had wanted Hartley Enterprises to be one of the publishing companies of this brilliant concept, being one of the primary advertisers and promoters of it is an honor in and of itself."
"Most everyone in this room has had a role in making Compassion's Compass become a reality versus just a dream, even if that meant taking a step back for some, and we appreciate what each one of you has done to make this possible," responds Matt as he nods at Cal in particular.
Rosalina, who was seemingly going from adult to adult without protest, yells and reaches for Matt when it is Mr. Dunne's chance to hold her.
As Matt whispers soothingly to Rosalina, she calms down, but continues to look at Mr. Dunne and a few of the other, less familiar people in the room with trepidation.
Victoria states with some pride, "My beautiful and intelligent granddaughter seems to be right on time for another skill, stranger anxiety, so those of you who don't see her very often, please don't take it personally."
"We'll try not to, but someone could have warned us," jokes Mr. Dunne.
After several hours of celebrating and accepting congratulations, Betty and Matt say as many personal goodbyes and thank yous as possible prior to leaving Meade just after 11pm. Arriving back at their townhome, Rosalina nurses one final time, with Betty and Matt very glad to have their home, and each other, to themselves without any distractions shortly before 1am.
With a slow, sultry smile on her face, Betty comes up to Matt, gives him a long, almost desperate kiss, and says, "I don't want to think of anything but you."
As he takes Betty into his arms, Matt replies, "Good. I love everything about you and can think of nothing better than making love with you. Just looking at you takes my breath away."
Making their way over to their bed, they feel the other tremble as their hands brush lightly over each other. Quickly lost in the feel, taste, and scent of the other, they are caught up in a tidal wave of sensation that goes beyond the physical. They savor all points of pleasure as they bring to each other complete, unrestricted passion. At a loss for words due to their ultimate connectedness in mind, body, and heart, they eventually drift off to sleep intertwined with the other.