Bonfire Of The Heart

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The House of Four Seasons

By Atonia Walpole

Tonight is the last day of August. Max left on the 28^th and I have honestly been lost here in the house. I think that’s why it let me into Terry’s room tonight. I need…comfort right now, something different to take my mind off Max. There is a cool serene comfort in this room with its shimmering blues and strong subtle scent. I want the man it belongs to. I found it odd that traces of him remained here after he left, the popcorn in the sofa, his medallion in the pool, little reminders, out of place and time. I think the house is trying to tell me something.

Part 1:

He’d been sitting beside the bed for some time watching her sleep. Quietly at dawn he'd let himself into the house and removed his shoes, tiptoeing up the stairs. He found her in his bed on the first day of fall.

He hadn’t touched her. For now it was enough that she was there beneath his sheet, warming his bed. The sun was coming through the window now. He could feel its warmth on his face. Soon she would open her eyes and he would fall into them.

Coming alive gradually, she turned on her right side. The scent in the room was strong and she frowned a little. Fluttering her eyelashes she focused. “Terry,” she whispered.

“G’mornin, luv.”

He seemed to be caught in a shimmering blue light and she reached out to touch him, making sure he was actually real and not a dream.

He moved to the side of the bed and took her in his arms and held her, kissing the top of her head. “Do you need to get up?”

“Umm, yes,” she said against his neck. She pulled back with wide eyes, “Don’t go anywhere!”

“No worries, luv.” While she went to her bathroom he slipped out of his clothes and into the warmed sheets, waiting for her.

Toni rushed back down the hall, pausing only a breath to see him in the bed. With a wide smile she joined him, gathering him tightly in her arms and pressing herself against him to feel his body alongside hers. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Home? I think I am.” He’d felt it when he opened the door, a warm welcoming feeling that surrounded him as he climbed the stairs and walked down the hall to his room. It was still there surrounding the bed they lay in. It was…love.

Toni cooked his breakfast while Millie entertained him at the table. He finally picked her up and gave her a good rub down. “I think she remembers me.”

“Why shouldn’t she? You do live here, you know.”

“I’m still trying to get used to that,” he replied.

“This is your home forever, Terry. Anything you want or need, just ask for it and the house will take care of you.”

“All I want or need is right here in you.”

Toni placed his plate before him and kissed him, holding his face in her hands. He ran his hands over her hips and leaned his head against her breast. She kissed the top of his head. “I love you, Terry.”

After breakfast they went for a walk down to the pond. Terry noticed the boat house and went to have a look. “Want to take the boat out?”

“I’d like that,” she replied and watched, smiling to herself,  as he took the paddles from the wall and stepped down into the boat testing it, making sure there were no leaks and then held up his hand for her to step down in the boat. As he pulled away from the bank she noticed the long pole Max had thrown in the water still floating against the bank.

She was so happy! She leaned her head back, looking at the sky and a lone maple leaf fell against her forehead from the trees overhanging the pond. Fall…she straightened her head and found Terry watching her as he rowed, his muscles bunching with each stroke. What was it about him that held her so?

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I was just wondering what it is about you that makes me love you so.”

He turned his head sideways to see where he was heading with the boat and then back. “I can’t imagine.”

She smiled at him. Perhaps it was his calm, his strength, his quiet control, that cool reserve that hid a passion inside. It was all of it, she decided, that made up who he was. He was good at what he did in his reel life and out here in his real life he displayed a loving tenderness toward her banked with fire. Something about him reminded her of Maximus. He was sensuous without trying, a little edge of danger about him. He fascinated her.

“You are thinking way too deeply.” He brought the boat up against the far bank of the pond.

“I was thinking about you.”

“Ha! That should take you about two seconds. Want to get out and walk a bit?”

He helped her out of the boat and brought her up against him, holding her, looking into her eyes. Her arms went around his waist and she hugged him.

“Terry…I can’t believe you’re mine.”

He smiled slightly and took her hand. “Let’s walk.”

“The gazebo is still here,” he noticed.

“I think it’s going to stay, Terry. Unless there is something else somebody wants the house will stay the same. I had a little dining room opened up…in case of a special dinner or something.”

He smiled, “What kind of special dinner?”

“I don’t know, just something special to celebrate, like maybe the coming of fall.” She gave him a side look.

“I’m not that special, Toni, nothing to celebrate.”

She stopped and turned to him. “That’s where you’re wrong. You are special. I love you so much sometimes I think I’m going to burst inside. I’m afraid I’m going to drown you in it.”

He took her face in his hands, “Drown me.” He kissed her long and slow, leaving her totally breathless.

“I can take it.” His breathing quickened and he looked up at the gazebo, pushing her against the side. She stepped out of her shorts. He took her against the gazebo and they fell to their knees, both breathless, leaning their heads against each other until they could speak.

“Oh…Terry…oh, my God, Terry.”

“Are you okay?”

“No…I’ll never be okay again. Where did that come from?”

He shook his head slightly, breathing through his mouth. “I don’t know…exploded.”

“Yes…exploded.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

She moistened her lips. “You…you’re fire and ice.”

“You melt me.”

She turned her head a little and tasted his neck with her tongue, bringing a moan from him. She lifted his shirt and teased his nipples with the her tongue, raking her short nails over his back until he couldn’t stand it any longer and lay her down in the grass and took her again.

It was late in the day by the time they made it back to the house. They were sweaty, dirty and thirsty. The house took it upon itself to prepare a bath complete with a small table containing bottled water, a bottle of whiskey and two short glasses. A bowl of nuts, in case other appetites returned. They had finally discovered something in each other that needed to be fed.

As Toni lay against him in the big soaking tub,his arms closed around her and he pulled her down under water with him. ‘Drown me’ he’d said ‘I can take it.’ That sparked something in her she hadn’t experienced since Maximus. She totally let go and he went with her. He brought her back above the water just when her lungs were about to go.

“You take me to the edge,” she said, gasping.

“Sometimes I like it there.”

“You’re incredible.”

“I want to take you there,” he said against her ear.

“I’ll go anywhere with you.”

Somehow they made it to the bed. Toni didn’t remember how they got there when she woke in the middle of the night. She eased out of the bed and went to the bathroom. The bottle of water was half empty and she took a drink out of it. Back in the bedroom she saw the bottle of whiskey on the table by her bed. It was half gone.  What a night.

She sat down on a chair with the water and gazed at him asleep in her bed. How had they gone through the whole fall last year and not known what they were capable of? She ran her hand through her hair, fire and ice. She’d had it all now. He was simply incredible.

She eased back in the bed and her arm went across his chest, then followed her hand down beneath the sheet and she touched him while he slept. He moaned softly and moistened his lips and without opening his eyes he rolled over on top of her and made slow sweet love to her.

 Part 2:

Toni woke again with the sun streaming in from her balcony. The doors were open and a stiff breeze from the ocean had her sheer curtains dancing. Terry was not in the bed and she thought he might be running, although how he could run after last night, she had no idea.

She closed the doors, looked for the coffee pot the house provided, pulled on a robe and hit the sofa for awhile. Downstairs the house was preparing an enormous breakfast. After all, they had not eaten since Toni cooked breakfast the day before and they needed sustenance.

Terry was running. It took him a bit to get his rhythm but he was on it now. His mind kept rolling over the day before and last night, trying to put together all the puzzle pieces that were Toni. She fascinated him, she consumed him, she drowned him and he loved it. He had no idea what spark lit the fuse yesterday that set off the explosion, but explode they did. They’d reached a new level. He knew it; he felt it; he was on it.

He ran lightly up the stairs and down the hall to catch her coming out of his room with a towel around her head.

“You’re not even out of breath,” she said, stopping to give him a soft kiss.

“G’mornin’, something smells good.”

“Yes, breakfast awaits. I’ll see you at the table.” Toni quickly dressed, pulling her damp hair back in a clip, then went downstairs. It was a huge buffet and she couldn’t wait for Terry. Filling her plate, she sat down at the table. It wasn’t long before she heard him bounding down the stairs. The man had energy to spare.

“Whoa,” he said rounding the kitchen island, “I’m ready for some tucker.”

“We didn’t eat all day,” Toni smiled between bites.

“Did you get hungry?” He gave her a side look and grinned.

“No, not until this morning. I can’t believe you ran after last night.”

“I always run, no matter what.” He sat down at the table.

“It’s cool out this morning.”

“Yeah, it is. Something brewing out over the ocean. Storm coming in, I think.”

“Hmm, guess we’ll have to find…indoor entertainment then.” She continued her breakfast.

Terry bit into a piece of toast, his eyes smiling.

“Yeah, plenty to read in the library, board games on the shelf, TV to watch.” He cut into a sausage.

“Naps to take, Terry to shag, puzzle books.” She glanced up and forked a sausage.

He laughed.

Toni smiled. It was good to hear him laugh out loud.

The storm came ashore, twirled around, and blew back out to sea in another direction. It rained all day and most of the night, the winds at time rattling the windows. Toni and Terry managed to get in most of their to-do list.

The next morning the air was colder but clear, dark clouds still out over the sea. After breakfast they decided to walk down to the beach and see what might have blown up in the storm.

“Lots of seaweed and driftwood,” Toni commented as they walked down the beach.

“Yeah, not sure all that’s driftwood, Toni. Looks like a boat might have broken up.”

“I hope nobody was in it.”

They walked along a little further until they came to an outcropping of rocks where a lighthouse sat. Terry was all for going up the light house but Toni held back, something…she didn’t know what it was, telling her to stay away. She was standing on the edge of the rocks and Terry had walked out a little farther, noticing more of the painted wood. He thought there might be somebody needing rescuing or something left of the boat.

“Terry,” she called, “don’t go any farther, come back!” Toni was noticing how the water seemed to come from all directions around the rocks. He wasn’t listening to her.“Terry…please come back!”

Just as he stopped and turned, a rogue wave hit the rocks and took him.

Toni screamed and started out on the rocks herself but she couldn’t make any headway. It was as if the wind or something stopped her from moving forward. She ran back on the beach, calling out for him, screaming for him. She went down in the sand on her knees, screamed and cried, then ran up and down the shore, but there was no sign of him. He was gone.

Somehow she managed to get herself back to the cliff behind the house and fell down on the ground.

The house was beside itself! This was the second time something had happened and this time it was devastating. There she was, prostrate in grief, outside alone. It summoned all the magic it held, hoping it would be enough.

Toni came to on the cliff in a wave of nausea. She vomited and got to her feet then headed for the house. Once inside, she rinsed her mouth out and sat down at the table and began crying and keening for Terry. The house wrapped its love around her but she was beyond that and could not be comforted. It would take more than a loving atmosphere.

Millie went to the front door and waited.

He came through the front door, running, and stopped at the kitchen door. What he saw went straight to his heart. She was wet and covered in sand and grass and leaves, her damp hair covered her face and she sat rocking herself back and forth. He went down on his knees in front of her.

“Toni.” He touched her face.

The front door opened again and again.

“What’s happened?” asked Max,also going on his knees.

“I don’t know. She won’t speak.” John held her hands.

Bud ran in and joined them, the first time he’d been with John and Max. “What’s going on?”

“Where’s Terry?” asked John, standing up.

“I’ll go look,” Max offered, running upstairs, going from room to room.

Bud picked up a towel and tried drying her hair and pushing it out of her face. “She’s been crying a lot.”

“She’s wet, Bud. Find me a blanket or something.” John picked her up and held her on his lap.

Bud came back with a blanket and John wrapped it around her, rocking her in his lap. “So where’s Terry?”

Max came in the back door. “I don’t think he’s here, John. I checked the house and around the outside.

“You don’t think he hurt her, do you?” Bud asked, his blood beginning to boil.

John looked up at him. “No, Terry would never hurt her. He loves her, Bud, same as you and I and Max.”

“Something has happened to Terry.” Max turned and looked out of the back doors.

“How? What?” John asked.

“We need to get her out of those wet clothes and warm,” Bud said. feeling his eyes wet.

“Yeah, if you’ll carry her upstairs. I’ll do that,” John replied. his own eyes wet.

Max turned, “She’s been on the beach. I ’m going down and have a look.”

“If you’ll wait a minute, I’ll go with you.” Bud picked Toni up from John’s lap and carried her to her bedroom. John followed and checked her bath to see the house had filled the tub.

Tenderly John bathed her, dried her, and pulled a nightgown over her head then put her to bed. It was almost more than he could bear. She was in some kind of catatonic state where she couldn’t hear him or talk to him.

The house had put her in that state to save her. It would remain to be seen whether the big magic worked or not.

Meanwhile Max and Bud had scoured the beach, walking down as far as the lighthouse, following their tracks.

“Something happened on the rocks,” Bud stated.

“How do you know that?” Max asked.

“Because, Max, there are two sets of prints coming and only one set going. I’m going out and have a look around.” He got about two steps on the rocks and the same force that would not allow Toni to go any farther held him. “What the..?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t move.” He turned to Max.

“It’s the magic, Bud, trying to protect you.”

“Why didn’t it protect Terry?”

Max didn’t know. It upset him to think the magic didn’t protect Terry. They hung around for awhile then headed back to the house

 Max and Bud went upstairs to check on Toni. John was sitting on the side of her bed.

“How is she?”

“I don’t know, Max. She’s catatonic. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with her, no injuries or anything.”

“It’s her mind that’s injured,” Bud ventured.

“I think it’s her heart.” Max said, taking a breath.

“We can’t leave her like this. What can we do?” Bud wanted to know.

“Nothing, Bud, there’s nothing we can do. The house will heal her.” John touched her cheek.

“I need a drink.” Max ran his hand over his face.

“Why don’t you make a pot of coffee? I think we all could use a cup,” John requested.

While Max went down to make the coffee, Bud wandered over to a chair and sat down. “It seems strange being here with you guys.”

John turned. “That’s how it is, Bud. We’re brothers here; we’re all in this together and this woman here is what holds it all together. Something happens and the house summons us to do what we can. Toni and I got locked out last year. Did she tell you that?”

“Yeah, she did.”

“It was Terry and Max who got us back in, saved our ass and now he’s…” John teared up and blinked, turning back to Toni.

“We don’t know what happened but he never came off the lighthouse rocks. Some kinda force wouldn’t allow me to go out there to see. Why did it let Terry go out?”

“I don’t know, Bud. Terry courts danger…but I don’t know…we may never know.”

Max came back in. “Coffee’s made and our rooms are unlocked so I guess we’re here for the night. Terry’s is open, too. I hope that means something.”

John met his eyes. “I hope so, too.”

Part 3:

“Sir, there’s a man in the water.”

“Are you sure,”

“Yes, sir.”

The Captain pulled out his glass and had a look. “Upon my word!” Orders were called out and a boat was lowered.

He would have been all right had he not hit his head on the rocks and been knocked unconscious. Miraculously a piece of the broken boat came up underneath him and brought him to the surface.

He was pulled into the wooden boat and rowed back to the ship.

“Pullings, would you get Dr. Maturin, please.”

Captain Jack Aubrey watched as they brought the man on deck, half drowned by the looks of it, and with a rather bloody-looking head. Where had he come from?

“Ah, Stephen, would you see what can be done for this man? He’s just been fished from the sea.”

“It looks as though his boat may have capsized or something, sir. He was holding on to this.”  Bonden held up the scrap of blue wood.

He was taken below to Dr. Maturin’s sick bay where his wound was cleaned and dressed, his clothes removed, and he was dressed in a cotton gown then covered with a sheet.

“I’ve given him something to help get rid of the seawater, so time will tell.” Maturin washed the blood from his hands as Aubrey looked on. “He’s healthy and in good shape, much better than I’ve ever known you to be, I might add. He should recover quickly, mostly some bruising and a cut on his forehead.”

Jack knew who he was but not how he came to be floating in the sea. “I should like to be informed when he wakes. I’d like to talk to him.”

Below decks in the Surprise Terry was vomiting up seawater. Stephen wiped his face and helped him to lay back on the bed then sent a boy for the Captain.

Terry came to, sick to his stomach and with a raging headache, his whole body aching. He had no idea where he was.

“Ah, Terrence Thorne, I believe,” Jack addressed him.

Terry opened his eyes at the familiar voice, “Jack?”

“Yes, and how fortunate for you. Tell me how did you come to be in the sea?”

“Oh, God!” Terry closed his eyes, “Toni.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Toni…”

“At the House of Four Seasons, is that where you came from?”

“Yes, we were by the lighthouse and a wave came up, knocked me in the water. I guess I hit my head. I don’t remember.”

“When was this?”

Terry looked at him. "I don’t know where I am, Jack, or what day or time. It was the morning after the storm.”

“That would have been yesterday. There was a terrible blow. Toni was with you?”

“Yeah, she was on the rocks but not out as far as the lighthouse. She should be okay.”

“I rather doubt that. Well, we shall take you home.” He smiled down at Terry and patted his hand.

Jack went back up on deck to relay orders for a new course.

Terry threw up some more of the sea then lay back again, awake now his mind was on Toni and what she must be going through.  He wished there was a way to let her know he was alive but in this nineteenth-century vessel there wouldn’t be such a thing as a ship to shore phone or anything else.  There was nothing he could do.

After giving orders, Jack went to his cabin. Looking over his shoulder, he dug down in his sea chest and pulled out the Blackberry. With a little smile he sent a text message to Toni’s computer: Terry found alive, bringing him home, JA

Max was standing on Toni’s balcony. They were taking shifts sitting with her and his was the first. It was almost too much for him, seeing her like that. He’d held her in his arms, rocking her, kissing her softly on the cheek and then tucked her in the bed and walked out on the balcony. It had only been a week since he was here with her. It wasn’t his season. He had no rights here, but he loved her and it was hard for him.

He heard a noise in the room and stepped back in the door. It was John. He joined him on the balcony.

“I couldn’t sleep,” John said, running his hand through his hair.

“I can well understand that.”

“I feel so helpless…Terry has to be found, Max.”

“Yes…for Toni’s sake and for all of us.”

Bud couldn’t sleep either. He’d been down in the kitchen for a glass of milk and wandered back into Toni’s room. Max and John were on the balcony quietly talking so he went over to the bed and kissed Toni on the forehead. “It’s gonna be all right, kitten. We’ll find him.” He stood up and wandered around her room and then into her workroom.

Something flashing on her computer screen caught his attention.

“Hey, guys, anybody know anything about computers?” he asked, walking out on the balcony.

Max turned, “Why?”

“She’s got a message notice flashing.”

Max and John looked at each other and made for her work room. Max sat down and played with it until he got her messages up. “She’s got a password…any ideas?”

They tried several different suggestions. Max sighed and typed in house. “Bingo!”

“Well, I’ll be damned…”

“Aubrey…”

“How in the hell did he send a message?”

They rushed back into the bedroom to tell Toni. She lay on her back, sleeping with her hair spread out on the pillow.

“I’m afraid it’s going to take Prince Charming to wake her.”

“I think you’re right, Max, and that ain’t any of us right now.”

“It’s going to be Terry.” John walked out on the balcony, staring out to sea, straining his eyes for any glimpse of a ship.

Bud joined him. “He could be anywhere out there.”

John began telling him about the first visit he made here with Toni and how he had left her on this balcony and what a heart-wrenching thing it was. He told him about the path the sun made to the cliff and how Aubrey’s ship followed it.

Bud noticed John’s eyes glistening and he put his hand on his shoulder. John turned and hugged him.

Max had no idea whether she could hear him or not, but he held her hand and told her Jack had found Terry and was bringing him home, that everything was going to be all right.

Meanwhile, Terry was up and taking nourishment in the Captain’s cabin. Jack had several conversations with him, finding he liked the man. They had a common ground with Terry’s military background and training. Jack also surmised Terry was fearless, which may or may not have got him into his present situation. He would have made a good officer, he thought.

“Well, the house has its limitations. Perhaps the danger was not sensed until it was too late? I know the waters in that area well. The sea churns and creates its own magic. You would have done well to listen to Toni. She may have been warned.”

“I realize that now. It was the tone of her voice that stopped me before the wave hit.”

“Hmm, well, you should get some sleep, my good man. We should be there in the morning.”

Home. All Terry wanted was to get home to Toni, hold her in his arms and hope to repair whatever damage he had caused. It hurt him down to his soul that he'd caused her grief.

All three were on the balcony as dawn broke through the sky, watching the speck on the horizon become a ship.

“Looks like he’s got full sail and a good wind behind him,” John observed. “I’d say within a couple of hours.”

“Come…on…Aubrey,” Max said quietly.

The house prepared a breakfast for the men and the coffeepot kept itself full through the night. They were all tired, worried, and anxious for Jack to arrive with Terry.

“I don’t know where she’s gone in her mind, you know. I’m worried. Nothing to eat or drink for the last twenty four hours. It ain’t good,” Bud remarked.

“I hope and pray Terry can break the spell of whatever is holding her.”

“You think it’s a spell?”

“I don’t know, John. Her color is good. It’s like she’s just asleep.”

“You’re thinking about Sleeping Beauty, aren’t you, Max?”

“She is.”

After breakfast they went out on the bluff to watch the ship approach.

Terry admired and respected Jack. His command of his ship was total. He stood on the deck listening to him bark out orders, watching men scurry about bringing down sails, guiding the ship directly for the bluff. He tilted his head, puzzling over the three figures he could make out on the edge of the cliff.

“Could I have a look through your glass, Jack?”

Jack turned and handed him the glass. He’d already had a look. Her seasons were there but she was not in sight. They anchored a little way from shore and a boat was lowered. Terry went down into the boat and Jack hesitated a moment, then followed him. It might be well for him to see what exactly was going on in the house.

By the time the boat reached shore his brothers were there to greet him.

“I’m fine, a little waterlogged but fine. Where’s Toni.”

“She’s in the house, Terry,” John answered.

They walked with him to the house, giving a hand up the cliff path and explained what they'd found when they got there and her present state.

The house breathed a sigh of relief. It had worked…the big magic. It sent warm love around Terry as he entered the door. Jack was also given a big house hug for responding to something he was totally unaware he had responded to.

Jack hung back, listening to his brothers' conversations, their worry and love not lost on him. Toni had chosen her seasons well and he was impressed. He smiled slightly as he entered the house, waiting downstairs while Terry, Max, John and Bud went up to Toni.

“I’m not sure I want to witness this,” Bud said as they reached the top of the stairs.

“Come across the hall. Let’s give him a few minutes. If it don’t work, we’ll drag his ass outta there and beat the shit out of him.” John headed for his room and the rest followed.

Terry entered her room, closing the door quietly behind him.  He felt tears start in his eyes and a pain in his heart. His voice barely a whisper, “Toni…oh, God…Toni!” He sat down on the side of her bed, took her hands, touched her face, took her in his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. A tear fell from his eye onto hers and she moved slightly in his arms. He took her face in his hand and kissed her again. She kissed him back.

The house had informed her in her sleep that he was alive and calmed her fears. All that was needed was his loving kiss. The house had known something was going to happen to Terry and had charmed him, hoping to ward off disaster. Had the charm worked? Was it the boat fragment that saved him or the house’s big magic? No one will ever know.

“Can you hear anything?” John asked from his doorway.

Bud with his ear against the door, whispered, “She’s talking, both talking and crying, I think. Do we go in?”

“Leave them alone for now. We’ll get all this sorted out later. What happened to Jack?” Max asked.

“He’s downstairs. Might as well go keep him company.” John led the way.

Jack’s head came up quickly at the sound of footsteps on the stair and he stood, walking out from the living room. “What news?”

“She’s awake and talking, that’s all we know,” John answered.

“I thought it best to leave them for awhile.” Max moved over to the fireplace, looked down at the cat, and moved back to a chair.

“I’m sure that’s wise. Well, then, my work is done.” Jack moved to the doorway.

“I think I’d hang around for a while, Captain. She may want to see you…thank you and all,” Bud said, leaning on the stair banister.

A little while later Terry came down the stairs. “She’s getting dressed and will be down in a minute.”

“She’s okay?” asked Bud.

He smiled slightly, “Yes.”

“You worked your magic, Terry,” John said. “We’re grateful for that.”

“Thank all of you for coming and looking after her. She’s going to be…wonderful.”

They all knew exactly what he meant, including Jack.

“Um, Jack, she want s to see you for a minute, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, Terry. Should I go up?”

Terry nodded.

Max got up and walked over, taking Terry by the arm and leading him into the kitchen.

“I know you’re basking in the afterglow right now, Terry, but I have one thing to say; if you ever do anything like this again, I’ll knock the bloody hell out of you. It’s not her job to chase after you and keep you out of trouble; it’s your job to look after her.”

Terry took a breath. “I understand completely, Max. I’m sorry…you have no idea how this has affected me.”

“I won’t be alone, Terry.”

“You don’t have to worry…not ever again.”

 “Jack, come in,” Toni said, rising from her dressing table where she had been brushing her hair.

Jack came over, took her hand and kissed it. “How good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too. Sorry about the circumstances.”

“Yes, well, it was very fortunate that I was in these waters at all. In fact, I’m not quite sure…”

“Won’t you have a seat?”

“You have quite recovered?”

“Yes, magic at work, I guess. I wanted to thank you for saving Terry’s life…I can’t imagine…I couldn’t be without him.”

“You love him very much, I gather. Hmm, and to think I tried to dissuade you from him.”

“That’s before the magic changed. It’s different now.”

“So I’ve been told. I must say you have made good choices for your seasons. I wish you every happiness, Toni.”

“Thank you, Jack. They’re forever, you know.”

“Hmm, yes…well, should one ever fall out of favor…” he smiled.

“You would be my first choice,” she smiled back.

He stood. “Well, I shall be on my way. Should you ever need me, I’ll be out there somewhere and I’ll come to your aid.”

“Thank you. It’s a comfort to know you’re there.” She walked him to her door and touched his arm. He stopped, turned and kissed her lips and then went downstairs, said his good-bye’s there and walked down the cliff path.

He thought about her as he walked down the path. He had his chance. He could have had her…now forever. Part of him regretted it. He turned and looked out to sea at his ship awaiting him, but there was his maiden fair. He’d made his choice he reached the shore, waiting for his boat to come for him.

Toni came down the stairs with a big smile. There were all her loves at once. It was almost too much as she went from one to the other, bestowing kisses and hugs. “I want you all to know how much I love you, each and every one. Thank you for coming to my rescue, again, Max," she smiled. "It means a lot to me."

“Damsels in distress is not my line, love. You’re going to have to do better,” he smiled and looked over his glasses.

Terry stood back and watched her, his eyes so full sometimes he had to look away. He let his brothers have their say; he could wait.

“You gave us a scare, Toni.” Bud hugged her.

John came up to her and took her hand, leading her into the kitchen. His arms went around her and he kissed her. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Toni. I love you too much.” He stepped back. “I know it’s not my season and I shouldn’t have you in here, but dammit.”

“John, I love you, too, but you’d better go now.” She kissed him softly.

After his brothers left, Terry went to find Toni. She was on the stone terrace with her arms wrapped around herself. She felt him come up behind her and closed her eyes, leaning against him. His arms went around her, holding her close. It was enough for the moment that he was here, that she could feel him against her, his breath on her neck. Later she would take him inside of her and her love would burst upon him and drown him…because he could take it.

ON TO WINTER SOLSTICE

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