Jennifer quickly changed into her riding clothes, and came back downstairs.

To her dismay, Jonathan and her dad were now talking about politics. To her relief, they were in agreement.

Jonathan ran upstairs and changed quickly and came back down.

"Pa, we are going for a long ride. Want to join us?"

"No thank you. You two have fun".

They got saddled up and headed out, this time riding at a more leisurely pace.

She showed him all her childhood haunts, and even climbed a tree for old times sake.

She slowed her horse down near a particular flower bed with a white picket fence around it, and stared for a few moments.

After about 5 minutes, she started riding again.

They stopped at the horse barn and she filled the trough for the horses so they could have a nice drink. She and Jonathan went and sat in the swings hanging in a nearby tree.

"Darling, why were you staring at that flower bed so intently?"

"I guess I was a having a flashback, darling".

"Flashback? Of what?"

"One day, I suppose I was about 11 years old or so, I came home from school. The first thing I did every day when I got home from school was grab a snack and then go ride. I rode all over and finally found Mama working like the devil on that flowerbed. It was her pride and joy, and she kept it immaculate. She planted about 5 or 6 things, but they were all organized and grouped together. They weren't just planted willy-nilly".

"Willy-nilly?"

"Yes. You know, haphazardly".

"I love your made up words".

"I didn't make up any words. Anyways, if I ever came home and couldn't find her, she was there. So, one day, when I was 12, I came home, got a snack and went riding. My horse was at the vets, so I had to ride a different one. I found her, in the flowerbed. She was just laying there. I screamed her name over and over and shook her really hard, but she didn't wake up. I hated to leave her, but I had to get her some help. So, I promised her I would be right back, and I rode as fast as I could to the stables, and got the stable hands to call an ambulance and my father. I started to ride back to her, but my horse wouldn't go. Apparently, I had ridden her too hard when I was trying to get her help, and she had a broken leg. So, I quickly grabbed another one and rode back to her, and held her hand till the ambulance got there. I knew as soon as they put the sheet over her that she was gone. Pa wouldn't say the words, but I knew. Coroner said it was a massive heart attack brought on by anaphylactic shock and that she never knew what hit her. Apparently, she was allergic to one of the flowers that she was planting. Pa has kept that as a flowerbed for her memory ever since. Her memorial service was full of flowers. I've seen the pictures of all the different flower arrangements, but the only ones I clearly recall are the irises. There were so many irises. 4 days later, he came home and told me to pack my things, that he had enrolled me in boarding school. I didn't speak to him again for 6 months".

She wiped the tears off her cheeks and stood up.

"Shall we?"

He stood up and pulled her into a long hug.

"I'm sorry I upset you. I shouldn't have asked you that".

"Oh, that's alright. I don't mind talking about it. I haven't seen the flowerbed in a long time. You didn't upset me, promise".

"I didn't know you didn't like irises".

"Yeah, they aren't my favorite. She isn't the only reason I don't like them".

"What's the other reason?"

"Elliott".

They got the horses all situated again and headed back to the barn, and then back to the house.

When they walked in, Stephen was waiting for them in the living room.

"Hey, I'm glad you're back. Sweetheart, come sit down, I have to tell you something".

"What is it, Pa?"

"I got a phone call today from the nursing home where Grandma Jane is. She passed away this morning, sweetheart. They said it was quick and peaceful, and she wasn't in any pain."

Jennifer teared up and nodded her head.

"So, I called your aunts, and they agreed that the funeral can't be held till next weekend. It will be in Boston where she lived. So, I am flying to London tonight, so that I can come back in time for the funeral. I hate to cut our visit short, but your mother will haunt me if I don't attend her mother's funeral".

"That she would".

"Walter will go with me. You and Jonathan are more than welcome to stay, if you'd like. Just lock up the house when you leave".

She leaned over and hugged him for a long time.

"I better go pack."

Stephen headed to his room while Jonathan came and sat down next to Jennifer.

He wrapped his arm around her and held her for a moment.

"Want to stay here with me tonight?"

"Whatever you want to do is fine with me".

"Why don't we stay tonight and then tomorrow if we want, we can head back to New York? If we don't, we can stay another day".

"Sure".

Stephen came out about 20 minutes later with his suitcase.

"Ok, sweetheart. I will see you next week in Boston."

"I love you, Pa. Travel safe".

"I love you too".

"Jonathan, my boy. I'm so glad to have gotten to know you and thank you for looking after my only daughter here".

"My pleasure, sir. Thank you for your hospitality. My condolences as well on your loss".

They shook hands and then Jonathan took his bags to the car.

Walter came out of the kitchen with his bags.

"Miss Jennifer, I made a few meals for you two. What you don't eat, just put in the freezer."

"Thank you Walter, so good to see you".

She gave him a big hug and they all walked outside.

After Stephen and Walter left, Jonathan and Jennifer went back inside and then to the back porch.

They laid down in the hammock together, and wrapped their arms around each other.

"So, tell me about your grandma".

"Well, I called her Grand-mere, that's French for grandmother. She was a lot like my mom, actually. She was very charismatic, and inviting, mysterious and intriguing. She very much wanted me to be prim and proper, and as a kid I was more of a tomboy, and she didn't like that. When I was 8, she moved up to Boston to live with my aunt Margeaux, because her husband, my uncle Paul is a doctor. I visited her a few times in high school, and they would bring her to my equestrian competitions. I went to visit her in college a few times, also. I'm her only biological granddaughter, as my cousins are my aunt's stepchildren. I never cared about any of that, but she would always point it out."

She nestled into the crook of his shoulder.

"I wish I had taken you to meet her. She would have loved you".

"I'm sure I would have loved her too".

"So be honest. How bad was it meeting my father? Scale of 1-10".

"Overall, about a 4."

"That well? I'm shocked."

"Once you get past the rough exterior, he's a very easy guy to get to know. He's very intelligent and talkative".

"Are we talking about the same person? Getting past the rough exterior? I didn't know that was possible. Darling, you may have been the first to ever do that".

They stayed out there till dinner time, and then decided to go into town for dinner.

They were home by 9, and snuggled up on the couch in the tv room together.

"Darling, you never showed me what you got in town today".

"That's right. I didn't."

She scooted closer to him.

"I got you a few things, for you. And I got you a few things for me. Which do you want to see first?"

"I think I want to see something you got me for you".

"Ok, I'll be right back".

She disappeared upstairs and came back downstairs wearing her robe.

She tossed a pair of his new pajama pants on the end of the couch.

He noticed that her ponytail was gone and her hair was now hanging loose on her shoulders.

"Close your eyes, darling".

He closed his eyes.

She opened the robe and dropped it.

"Ok, open".

She was standing there in a pink and black teddy. It had pink lace covering the bare minimum on her nipples and a pink lace thong with the crotch cut out. There were black straps connecting the pieces of lace to everything else. Jennifer looked absolutely amazing in it. And the best part was, it had a halter neckline and once you unhooked it, it was easy to slip in and out of.

Jonathan's mouth dropped open.

He held his hands out to her. She took them and stepped closer to him.

"You like?"

"Oh yeah".

He started pulling at the straps.

"Don't rip it, darling, or I won't be able to wear it more than once".

"How on earth?"

"It's all an illusion".

She leaned forward and kissed him a few times, and then climbed off his lap and pulled him to the standing position.

He quickly got undressed and then they laid down on the sofa.

He kissed her a few times and then abruptly stopped.

"Does your dad have cameras in the house?"

"No, my father isn't like that".

"Great. I'll be right back".

He took off running through the house and she cracked up watching him.

He was back a minute later.

"What was so important that you ran off?"

"This". He held up a couple condoms.

"Ahhh. Good idea".

He laid down on top of her and kissed her intensely.

He reached down and pinched her nipples through the lace while he kissed her.

She ran her nails through his hair and down his back.

When she got to his butt, she gave It a nice squeeze.

He moved his kisses to her neck.

"You're driving me wild, baby".

"That's the plan".

He ran his hands up and down her back.

"Where are the magic openings?"

She gave him a kiss.

"One behind my neck".

Another kiss.

"And one at the bottom at the back".

He undid the straps and peeled her lingerie off her, and tossed it onto the floor.

"You are so beautiful".

She grabbed his face and kissed him and ran her fingers through his hair.

He sat up and put a condom on, and then laid back down on top of her again.

He gave her a few light kisses across her neck and chest, and nibbled on her earlobe some.

He rolled them so he was on his back and she was straddling above him, and she lowered herself down on to him.

She began to rock her hips forward, as he rocked his upwards.

He reached up and grabbed her breasts while she rode him.

"Mmmmm".

"Oh god, baby…oh god, baby…"

She leaned down and kissed him, and let her hair fall across his chest.

She dragged her nails up and down the sides of his ribcage very lightly.

She could feel his body jerk and react to it.

She squeezed her pelvis around him, and a few seconds later, his body shuddered and the waves and euphoria of an orgasm washed over him, triggering one in her.

It was loud, passionate, intense, exhilarating, amazing, incredible, and beautiful.

She eased off him and laid down next to him, and he covered them with a blanket.

"You're incredible".

"So are you".

She lightly scratched his chest as he held her.

"So did you like my new teddy?"

"No. I loved it". He kissed her a few times.

"Good. There might be a few more upstairs…"

She scratched at his neck and then kissed it.

He made love to her a few more times and then they fell asleep for a while right there on the sofa.

They woke up around 1 a.m., and they were both starving.

Jennifer put her robe on and headed to the kitchen to make them a late-night snack. She found a pan of Walter's hamburger sliders in the fridge and put them in the oven.

She began to peel and slice some potatoes for French fries, and seasoned them.

She quickly fried them while the burgers were baking.

About 30 minutes later, she brought them both plates of burgers and fries to the tv room.

"Oh darling, you read my mind."

"If you don't like the fries, it's ok. It's been a long time since I made them, I may not have gotten the seasoning right".

He took a fry and popped it in his mouth and then moaned.

"You should be a personal chef".

"Not on your life!"

"Baby, I'm serious. What's the seasoning on these fries?"

"A little bit of garlic, a little bit of parmesan, a little rosemary, a little of my secret ingredient".

She found them a movie while they snacked, and then went and cleaned up the kitchen.

Jonathan finished off all the sliders and all the fries.

She came back and curled up on his chest.

He was watching the late night news.

They were showing the weather for the rest of the weekend for the entire east coast.

All that was predicted was rain, rain, and more rain.

"Darling, why don't we fly back to New York tomorrow afternoon? We will beat the big storm that's coming, and we will be able to spend a couple days in the penthouse together".

"I love that idea".

They got up and headed to bed.

Jonathan decided to stay in Jennifer's bed with her.

As he wrapped his arms around her, he kissed her.

"I love you, you are the best thing that ever happened to me".

"I love you too, I'm so glad you are here with me".

A few kisses later, they fell asleep together.

***The next morning***

When they woke up, they packed their stuff. Jennifer set about shutting down the house, while Jonathan called Jack and made arrangements for them to fly to NYC.

Jennifer walked in the room and found him on the phone. The look on his face was serious.

"Ok thanks, Jack. We'll see you soon".

He hung up.

"Darling, what is it?"

"Well, he says we have a very short window of time to fly in today, because he says the storms are going to get worse. He says if we don't fly out within 3 hours, we won't be able to".

"Well, everything's done, we just have to load our bags and lock the door".

"On it".

They took their bags down, and he loaded them while she locked the house.

They had a pretty easy drive to the airport, as it wasn't raining yet.

As soon as they got to the airport, he parked next to his plane so that Jennifer could board, and their bags could be loaded.

"I'll be right back, baby. I'm going to take the rental car back".

He kissed her goodbye and she got settled on the plane while he returned the rental car.

As soon as he was back, they took off.

It was only a 3 hour flight, but as soon as they were in the air, they started to hit some turbulence.

She grabbed his hand and held on tight.

"Darling, it's ok. Jack is the best pilot in the business, I promise you that. He will take care of us".

Just then, he came over the intercom.

"I hope you guys are buckled up. This turbulence is about to get way way worse before it can get better. I'm going to have to drop us down below the storm, and it's going to be a big drop, so hold onto your stomachs".

All of a sudden, they dropped very far, very fast.

Jennifer reached over and got the barf bag next to her and threw up.

It took about 30 minutes for the plane to settle and for Jack to get them out of that storm. It took a little longer for Jennifer's stomach to settle.

As soon as it was safe to move about the cabin, Jonathan got up and got her a ginger ale and a fresh barf bag, and disposed of her old one.

"Thank you, darling".

They landed, and as soon as she was back on land, she perked up. It was storming pretty heavily, so they decided to order Chinese food when they got to the penthouse and just lay low for the evening.

Jennifer changed into a new nightgown and robe when they got there, while Jonathan called and placed their order.

"Darling-sweet and sour shrimp?"

"Yes, please. And wonton soup, chicken fried rice, and an order of crab rangoons".

"You got it."

He placed their order and then went and changed clothes himself.

Jennifer decided to put on a mud mask. She was in the bathroom doing that when he came in.

"Dinner will be here in an hour, darling".

"Wunnerfil".

"What?"

"I thed wunnerfil".

"What?"

She got frustrated. In the end, she just gave him a thumbs up.

He went and found them a movie.

She came and set the timer for her face mask.

"Darling, there's this great western movie on, called McClintock. I swear the daughter in it looks almost exactly like you".

She grabbed a note pad and wrote "Does not".

When the timer went off, she went and rinsed her face and scrubbed it clean.

She came back and sat next to him.

"What do you think?"

"Oh, big difference". He gave her a smirk.

"I'm just trying to keep my skin looking youthful for you, darling".

"I love your face just the way it is".

"And that's why I'm trying to keep it that way".

She leaned up and kissed him.

Their Chinese food arrived, so Jonathan paid for it while she got them plates.

He brought it into the kitchen and set it on the counter.

"What did you get, darling?"

"Well, I got us a large chicken fried rice to split, and I got you the sweet and sour shrimp and crab rangoons. I got me a large beef and broccoli, and a large garlic chicken. Plus, we got a large wonton soup and a couple orders of egg rolls".

As soon as he opened the garlic chicken and the beef and broccoli, Jennifer felt sick to her stomach.

She quickly made her plate and took it to the table.

"Want a bite?"

"No thank you".

She made herself a sparkling water and found a straw to put in the glass.

As long as she was drinking water she was feeling good. She also couldn't look at his beef and broccoli.

They finished eating and she went and put away the leftovers.

Afterwards, she made herself a fresh sparkling water and went to take a bubble bath.

She came out after her bath and sat next to him.

"What do you want to do tonight, darling?"

"What if I told you I wanted to make love to you and spend several hours kissing you and holding you?"

"You must be psychic. That's what I want to".

He picked her up and carried her to bed, kissing her the whole way there.