Sandhurst: Barth & Libby’s Night Out-145

While Libby was getting ready, Barth took Jason over to Captain Aubrey’s house. He was to spend the night with the Captain while he and Libby had a much needed night in Savannah. Jason was excited about spending time with a real sea captain. Jack had a collection of ship models he was anxious to examine close up. He’d seen them in a case earlier when Barth had gone over with him to make final arrangements with Jack.

Jason shouldered his backpack with everything he’d need for his sleepover. “I’m here,” he announced through the open doorway.

Jack came through the house smiling. “I see you are.”

“Can’t thank you enough, Jack.”

“It’s a pleasure, Barth.  Not often I have such lively company.”

“We should be back tomorrow afternoon. I’ll call when we’re on the road.”

“No rush, I’m sure I can find some work for the lad.”

“Work?” Jason’s eyes rounded.

“Well, you didn’t think you’d get away without swabbing the decks did you?” Jack laughed. “Have a good time in Savannah.” Jack waved Barth off.

Barth stepped off the porch and rounded the house. He was itching to get on the road with Libby. They hadn’t had a night alone since they left Australia.

Libby was turning in front of the mirror in the black slip dress she'd bought at Tallulah's.  She had already put up her hair and thrown on what little bit of makeup she planned to wear, which wasn't much.  She almost never wore it, so even that little bit would be something new for Barth to see.  She never wore this kind of outfit either.  She was looking critically at the amount of cleavage and leg the dress showed.

Maybe she'd gone overboard?  She grinned at herself at the thought of that word.  It was a bit ironic, considering that they'd spent the last year on a boat.  She couldn't say why she was so nervous.  She'd been living with Barth for over a year now.  It wasn't as though he hadn't seen and touched every inch of her.  But tonight felt special.  She wanted to look perfect.

Her eyes fell on the clock by their bed.  Crap!  He'd be back from Jack Aubrey's any minute!  She slipped on the sleek, black heels she'd bought to go with the dress.  As she was putting on just a couple of drops of perfume, she heard the front door of the cottage open.

"Don't move, Madison!" she called to him.  "You just stay right there in the living room.  I want to make an entrance."

Barth did as he was told. He waited by a table  near the front door. “Not moving,” he answered her.

Picking up the lacy shawl that went with the dress, Libby took a few cautious steps in the heels. That was something she hadn't done in over a year either. Walk in heels.  She hoped she could do it without falling and breaking anything.  When she thought she had the hang of it again, she walked slowly toward the living room.

Entering, she stopped and waited for Barth to look up from his watch.

It wasn’t often he was speechless. He took her in from head to toe and let go a low whistle. “Bloody hell, Libby.” He was so used to seeing her in jeans or shorts this just blew his mind.

He walked toward her and kissed her softly. “Don’t want to mess any of this up…wow.”

She was so pleased with his response she actually blushed, something she hadn't done in a long time.  Feeling this way around Barth was totally new to her.  This really did have the feel of a first date.  Trying to cover her new-found shyness, she said lightly, "But that's the idea, Mr. Madison.  Why do you think I put all this together so carefully?  Just so I could get you to mess it up for me."

He’d dressed in a dark suit and white shirt and catching a glimpse in the hall mirror they made a handsome couple.  He turned her toward the mirror, “Look how beautiful you are. Not sure Savannah is ready for you.”

He kissed her neck and smiling took her hand. “We’d better go if we’re gonna go.”

She was savoring the moment.  Romance wasn't something she'd had very much of in her life.  Not even with him.  Her neck tingled where he'd kissed it, and holding hands was suddenly something wonderfully different.

"You're looking beautiful yourself," she told him, as they settled into the car.

As he drove, she turned in her seat and just stared.  It was hard to remember now that this was the same man who'd frightened her so much when they'd first met.

Barth glanced over at her several times as he drove. There was a feeling of pride that kept surfacing. He was proud of her, of how far she’d come in the past year. He was proud to be seen with her. Many feelings were jostling for attention in his mind. But overall was that sense of protectiveness he’d always felt around her. She was something special.

He smiled to himself, he was in danger of becoming a soppy romantic tonight. He shifted slightly in the seat, moved his seatbelt around. Better keep it buttoned up, Madison.

He'd told her to choose where they would go and after several hours of browsing the internet to find out about Savannah, Libby had chosen a place called Vic's On the River, mainly because of its views and its history.  It had served as Union offices during the Civil War.  It had a lounge and bar and was supposed to have fantastic views of the river.

As he pulled the car up, a valet took the keys to park it for them.  Libby looked around in delight at the lovely historic buildings and the atmosphere of the riverfront.  "This is so beautiful," she breathed.  "I may come from the States, but I've never seen anything like this before."

Barth let his eyes travel over the building and down the row. The Cotton Exchange on one side and farther down the golden dome of the city hall. He smiled and took her hand. “It’s nice, Libby. Let’s go inside and see if they have anything to drink.”

Inside the bar, they sat down and ordered drinks before going in to dinner. Sipping her daiquiri, Libby smiled over at Barth.  "This brings back memories, doesn't it?  Sitting on barstools looking at each other? That first night I came looking for you, I was so nervous I needed a drink!"

“Oh, I remember you. You had on a slinky little blue number that left little to the imagination. I couldn’t imagine what a girl like you would be doing looking for a bloke like me.” He grinned and took a drink of his whiskey.

"Well, I thought I knew what I was doing looking for you."  Libby grinned back at him.  "Until you showed up at my house and just pushed your way right in.  That's when I started thinking I was in trouble."

“You were in trouble cause I didn’t let you go.” Took one of her hands.

Libby squeezed his hand.  "If this is being in trouble, I like trouble."

They were sitting very still, just looking into each other's eyes when the bartender cleared his throat and told them that their table was ready.

Their table overlooked busy River Street and the Savannah River. As they settled in with menus Barth looked up over his and noticed how the candle on their table reflected on her face. He smiled to himself and felt like the luckiest man on earth. Through all they’d been through together and apart to be sitting here now contemplating food…

“I’m thinking fish is out. I ate enough fish this past year to do me for awhile.” He grinned thinking of their efforts on the boat.

Libby laughed. "I learned more about cooking this past year than I really wanted to know.  Maybe I'll write a cookbook.  '1001 Ways to Cook Fish'"

She scanned her menu.  "Well, there's other seafood.  Or, if seafood's out entirely, I see they have ribeye steaks, filet mignon, Southern fried porkchops-  Oh, look!  We're in the South. We have to try some of these fried green tomatoes on the appetizer menu."

She shot him a teasing glance across the table.  "Maybe it's just my cooking you've had enough of to last awhile."

Barth was still trying to figure out a fried green tomato. He glanced up. “Libby, after years of living off my own cooking you are a chef. I’ll never get tired of anything you do.”

Libby grinned at the look on his face when she mentioned the fried green tomatoes.  She asked the waiter to bring an order of them and then gazed at Barth in the soft light across the table.

"This year has been amazing," she told him softly.  "Did you notice that Jason let me hug him goodbye before he left?  That's the first time that's happened."

Despite his enthusiasm for everything, Jason had been a troubled little boy for the last year. Barth knew it had to do with his natural mother who had given him over to his care so she could be with her new boyfriend. Slowly he’d begun to trust Libby.

“He’s comin’ along, Libby.” Barth smiled and reached for his glass.

"Yes, he is."  She took a sip from her water glass.  "I am too. Slowly.  He's helped me with the whole 'coming along' process."

"So have you."  She reached across to take his hand.  "More than I could ever tell you."

He played with her fingers for a moment. “It was a healing journey for all of us. I’m glad we made landfall together.” He hadn’t talked about his own journey and probably wouldn’t. He was like that. But he recognized it in himself. That denominator of hate that had driven him since his’ brother had been killed was no longer there. He felt lighter for it but also a little adrift.

He loved the woman across from him but found it hard to tell her how much.

Libby knew Barth wasn't a man who talked about his own feelings.  He could talk about Jason's feelings and his struggles, but not his own.  She had a bit of trouble with that herself these days.  The man she'd loved back in Australia had not loved her, and telling him how she felt had only seemed to create problems.

The big difference with Barth, and what spoke volumes to her without needing to be voiced, was how he'd been there for her.  She'd never have believed it of him when she'd first met him, but it was true.  Out of all the people in Libby's life, he was the one who had given her a sense of safety and stability after her kidnapping, when he had seemed to be the least likely one to whom she should turn.

Her eyes dropped to their intertwined hands.  "Landfall," she murmured.  "You know, I wasn't sure I was ready to live on land again.  There's a feeling of safety about the ocean.  A feeling that being surrounded by water protects you from other people."

He looked up at her a moment. “Isolation, that’s what it is. Isolated from everything and everybody that can hurt you. Still, that water can turn on you. We were lucky, Libby. We weathered some pretty good storms out there on the ocean and came limping into port more than once. I think we’ve come to a good place here and if for some reason it turns out to be not what we need we can swim again.” He hoped it turned out to be a place they could settle. Jason needed it and so did he.

He sat back while the waiter put the fried green tomatoes before them. With a half grin he looked at Libby. “I haven’t a clue what to do with this.”

"Well-"  She grinned back.   I've never eaten them, but I understand lots of Southerners eat them with their fingers.  Not sure we should do that in here, though."  She looked around.  "Just try our forks, I guess."

Libby took a fork and put a small piece in her mouth.  A dreamy look came over her face.  "This is delicious!" she exclaimed.

Barth followed her lead and found it wasn’t that bad. He tried another and dipped it in the spicy sauce. He looked out of the window and saw  The Georgia Queen leaving its moorings for a dinner cruise on the Savannah River.

“We should do that sometime.” He indicated with his fork. “Jason would like that.”

"Back on a boat again?"  She grinned.  "Yeah, he would.  I think you've created a sailor there.  He'll probably go to work for Jack Aubrey when he's old enough."

"Barth-"  her face turned serious.  "Do you want more children?"

The question took him by surprise. He moistened his lips. “I don’t know…maybe someday.” Then he looked at her seriously. “You aren’t, um, pregnant are you?”

All the happiness that had filled Libby's heart suddenly left and was replaced by a cold, empty dread.  Her eyes dropping to her plate, she managed to murmur, "No.  I'm not."

She didn't want to go on, but she forced herself.  "The doctor in Australia, when I was in the hospital, he-he said-that I wouldn't be able to have any."

She didn't know why she'd brought this up now.  Why hadn't she at least waited until they got back to Sandhurst?  Why had she felt compelled to ruin this happiness she'd been feeling?

The cold in Libby's heart wouldn't go away.  Now he wouldn't want her.  He'd want to find a woman who could give him more babies.

“Good,” he answered, ”I’m not sure we could handle that to be honest with you. Jason is about all I can keep up with.” He reached for his drink and noticed she’d gone silent. “Hey, the last tomato is for you.”

His voice sounded relieved and sincere, but was he just trying to make her feel better?  Ignoring the tomato, she fixed her eyes on him.  "If you want more children, I'd understand-  I mean, I'd understand if you'd rather be with someone who can have more."

Libby meant that sincerely.  She would understand.  It didn't mean her heart wouldn't break, but she'd understand.

It dawned on him where she was coming from. He knew, he knew from her time in the hospital in Sydney that she couldn’t have children.

“Look, you and I have Jason. Yes, you and I, cause I’m not lettin’ you go. Libby, you’re all I want or need. Honestly, it never occurred to me to want any more kids. You caught me with that question and stuff just spilled out of my mouth. I’d forgotten…so you see how important it was to me. It’s not something I even think about so put that out of your mind right now.”

His tone of voice, as much as his words, let her know that he was telling the truth.  Her happiness rushed back in so fast she couldn't contain it all.  Without a word, she rose from her chair, rushed around to the other side of the table, and slid onto his lap.  Ignoring the people at neighboring tables and the waiter, who had returned with their main course, she kissed his forehead and his cheeks before settling on his lips for long seconds.

When Libby finally raised her head, she looked straight into his eyes and asked, "Have I mentioned lately how much I love you, Madison?"

The words flowed over him like warm syrup. Love. “You haven’t, Libby. Neither have I. I love you, Libby Tyler.” He embraced her and kissed her to the delight of their neighboring diners. Applause broke out and he blushed and released her. Embarrassed a little he grinned crookedly.

“I think we’d better save this for later.”

She'd never seem Barth Madison blush.  It fascinated her that he was even capable of it.  Reluctantly, she went back to her own chair.  "You can count on later," she whispered across to him, trying not to let the other diners hear that part of it at least.

The waiter, however, overheard her, and grinned as he placed the plates on the table.  Perhaps he shouldn't as if they wanted dessert, he thought to himself.

Barth was still smiling when the cut into his steak.  He wasn’t given to public displays of affection. Libby continued to surprise him.

“Umm, this is excellent.” He savored the steak and realized just how hungry he was.

Libby was tucking into her generous serving of meat loaf with a renewed appetite.  "So is this," she replied.

It was true, she thought to herself with some amazement.  Love did make everything better.  Right now, this food was better than anything she'd ever tasted and she didn't think that was all due to the talent of the chef.  Even the candlelight glowed brighter than it had before and she didn't know it, but her face was glowing right along with it.  Wonderful as the meal was, she was looking forward to the rest of this evening even more.

They were down to after dinner drinks and Barth was watching a container vessel as it passed by the window. He wondered if there was a limit to how tall they could stack the containers. The vessel moved slowly by blocking out the lights from the hotel across the river.

He looked back at Libby and smiled. “What plans have you made for the rest of the evening?”

She'd seen the direction of his eyes and nodded toward the window.  "We're going over there," she told him.  "To the hotel.  At least, that's what I had planned.  If there's something else you'd like to do before we go..."

He'd left it to her to make their plans and reservations, but she was perfectly willing to do anything he wanted.  Especially with this lovely feeling she had after their meal and their talk.

“It’s your night, Libby. We’ll do whatever you want to.” He looked back across the river. The container ship had passed now. “Thing is…how do we get over there?”

"There's a ferry," she told him.  "We get to take a beautiful moonlight ferry ride."

As much time as they’d spent in the moonlight on the water he had to chuckle a little. “Sounds wonderful, Libby.”

She knew what he was thinking.  She'd found that the longer they were together, the more often that happened--that she knew his thoughts.  She was beginning to like that.

Now, she told him in a teasing voice.  "This ride'll be on a river, not the ocean.  You won't be responsible for steering the boat, and we'll be alone.  Much as I love Jason, it's wonderful having an evening to ourselves."

She leaned her head against his shoulder with a contented sigh.  Right now, it felt as though everything in the universe was right where it was supposed to be, and so was she.  It was the first time in her life she could ever remember feeling that way.

The elevator opened spilling them out onto River Street. It was clogged with tourists and locals checking out the night scene along the river. A lone saxophone player was playing somewhere along the waterfront. Barth took her hand and crossed the cobbled street and trolley tracks. The ticket booth was just a short walk away.

“Careful in those shoes.” He cautioned as they crossed the street.

Holding onto his arm, she walked carefully.  "I should have practiced more in these things," she laughed.  "I haven't worn them in so long.  Would've looked a bit funny teetering around the deck of the boat in them."

She glanced up at the glittering lights of the hotel.  "This place is the Westin.  It's actually a resort.  They have a spa, golf, the works.  Maybe we'll come back sometime and you can take up golfing."

“Golfing? What kind of fish is that?” He laughed and hugged her close. “Somehow I can’t see me knocking a little ball around all over the greens.”

He bought the tickets for the ferry. They had about twenty minutes to wait. “Maybe you’d like to spa a little while we’re there.”

"Well, I did have my mind on a massage."  She gave him a sly little smile.  "But there's this one particular masseuse I have in mind and I'll have to see if he has a break in his schedule."

He pulled her close. “I’ll kill the bloke, you just point him out to me.” He kissed her.

The ferry was pulling up to the dockside. They waited until it emptied and climbed on board.

When they were aboard the ferry and standing at the railing, Libby stood in front of Barth within the circle of his arms, feeling content and a little nostalgic.  "Let's see..."  She pretended to think..  "Now, how many times did we stand at the wheel of the boat just like this?  I love living on land, but there are things about the boat I miss."

“Well, if this is it, honey, I’ll carry you down to the boat every day.” He tightened his arms around her.

"How familiar is this?" she asked him as they walked up the dock after landing.

Libby led him into the vast lobby and up to the front desk, showing her ID to the desk clerk and telling him they were there to check in.  When the man asked about their luggage, she leaned over the desk just a bit with a gleam in her eyes.  "We don't have any," she told him, with a grin back at Barth.  "I kidnapped him and I have to get him back to his wife by noon tomorrow."

Barth laughed and the desk clerk began to smile. “Ya’ll have a nice night.” The clerk slid the key cards across the counter.

“I plan to.” Barth grinned back at the clerk.

"I plan to see that you do," Libby whispered to him as they walked toward the elevators.