Cherished

October 1955

“No, you can see him tomorrow at his office.”

“But I just need to talk to him now about the contract.” She flipped her long blonde hair. Elaine the Movie Star was getting frustrated with the woman at the door. She was not accustomed to being refused a request no matter how simple it was.

“I’m sorry, we are having a family gathering, it can wait until tomorrow.” Maria shut the door on the woman who stood at entry entryway. She smoothed her faded floral apron. Elaine had always made her feel inadequate.

“Who was that?” James came around the corner. He asked above the noise of the family setting the table and little ones running around. Marie looked up at him with dark brown eyes flashing gold sparks of anger as she steeled herself for his response.

“Your client.” She said turning from the front door. She noticed the din began to quiet down.

“What did Elaine want?”

“To talk to you.”

“What?” He eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because, its Thanksgiving and we are having a family gathering. What ever she wanted can wait until the morning.”

“God Damn it Maria, it could have been important!” He said harshly. James went over to the door to see if his client was still there. The taxi was two dots of red as the vehicle turned the corner. He slammed the door. “Next time have the courtesy of letting a client into the home I paid for and call me.” He said with controlled anger.

Maria stared at her husband. A cold wave of shock swept over her. In all their years of marriage she had never heard it referred to as his house. It has always been theirs. She reached behind her back, undid her apron then threw it down at his feet.

“I have scrubbed these walls, cooked your meals, swept the floors, picked up after you and your children, I can safely say that that I have earned my keep and then some.

I have lived with the knowledge for twenty-six years that I was your consolation prize and I will be damned if I will let that woman into my home to flaunt it, in front of my family.”

Maria left him standing in the foyer. She could feel the stares at her outburst as she walked into the dining room. She straightened her back , clasped her hands and walked into the kitchen. With the door shut behind her, Maria let out a little wail and ran out through the kitchen backdoor. Tears started to flow stinging her cheeks against the chilly air. They were from a mixture of anger, hurt and frustration. She knew she would always have to deal with Elaine whether in his heart or in his work.

No matter how hard she loved that man, Elaine would always be the ghost in the shadows. Maria sobbed. No matter what she did, Maria had to fight for her husband’s attentions from that woman. Elaine always flaunted her pull on James whenever and wherever she could.

The moon peeked out from behind the silhouette of a cloud as Maria buried her face into her hands and cried. She couldn’t breath from the pain her heart felt at that moment. She threw back her head and took a deep breath. As tears streamed down, Maria’s cheeks she stared at the stars appearing in the night sky.

“Please, for just once I would like to know what it’s like to be cherished by him.” She whispered into the night. A gentle cool breeze blew softly over Maria’s face and carried her words towards the heavens.

James stood looking at her apron crumpled at his feet. He reached down and picked it up. His son David approached him. He took apron from his father’s hand.

“You know Dad, it is the fifties, Elaine could have used the phone.” His son shook his head. “Think about it Dad, every Christmas, every birthday or family picnic, somehow Elaine managed to quote, unquote, borrow you for a moment. Why can’t you see it.”

James opened the closet door and reached for Maria’s coat. “I have Son.” He paused. “I always thought your mother knew how I felt.”

“Well, apparently not.”

Maria was leaning against the porch just staring out at the yard when he found her. Her eyes were rimmed from the tears she had shed. She didn’t move when he stepped outside.

“I thought you might be cold.” He put her coat around her shoulders, letting his fingers rest for a bit before letting them drop to his side.

He struck a match lighting a cigarette. The sulfur tickled her nose before dissipating into the night air. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him leaning on the railing with one leg resting on top. He flicked the ash from the end of the cigarette and took another drag. She pulled her coat closer around her.

“I remember the first time I saw you.” He paused unsure of whether or not she was listening. “I was picking up papers off the floor from the gust of wind from the door opening when I looked up and saw this girl who was trying to keep her hat on and her skirt down.” Maria let a small smile cross her lips remembering that day. “Then you got down and started to help me pick up the pieces of the case that was all over. I hired you then and there. Any girl who would risk a run in her stockings to help somebody else was my kind of girl.” He flicked his cigarette out into the yard. She heard him exhale. “ I thought you were a little odd decorating the office for the different holidays at first. But everyone seemed to like it,” he paused and looked over to her, “including me.” He swung his leg off the rail and stood behind her. He put his arms around her waiting for the resistance her rigid back suggested.

“Do you know when I first realized I was in love with you?” He whispered. She shook her head. “I was at a movie with Elaine, and I could smell your perfume. I kept looking around until I saw you. You were there with Jack O’Brian.” There was disdain in his voice. “I wanted to go over and throttle him for being with you. I couldn’t concentrate on the movie. It was a Bogart film too. I was holding Elaine’s hand wishing it was yours.” He drew her closer into him. “That night when I took Elaine home I called it off. I couldn’t be with her when I was in love with you. She was angry and probably hurt. She said that I was holding her back and that she was leaving for Hollywood to become the next somebody or other.”

Maria turned around in his arms to face him. “You had me working so many late nights that Jack broke it off. All part of your evil plan no doubt.” She saw the twinkle in her husband’s pale gray eyes.

James smiled. The years etched in only added to his looks. “Elaine is a beautiful woman, I wouldn’t say otherwise. There was a time when I could have loved her, but I had this secretary who kept putting my head in a whirl.” His voice went husky. “I would go home and smell my shirt for your scent if you had fixed my tie before court that day.” He kissed her forehead. “I would come up with any stupid reason just to talk to you.” He brought her chin up with a forefinger to meet his pale gray eyes. “I was sweet on you for months before I had the courage to ask you for a movie.” Maria’s heart melted. She had never heard these words before. “I was so nervous.” He chuckled. His lips met hers briefly. “God, I was so scared that Jack…”

“Jack was never in the picture for me. I was too much in love with you.” Maria said into his sweater.

“It would have been nice to have had that little fact before approaching the bench.” He grinned at her. “I still remember the first night we made love.” James whispered into her ear. “It was raining. You were helping me with the Thompson case and I made you scream my name over and over.” Maria’s cheeks reddened. “I love the fact that after all these years I can still make you blush.” She hid her face in his shoulder drinking in his warm scent. “I love you. How could you ever think that you were my consolation prize?” He cupped her face with his strong hands and lifted her gaze to his.

“You never told me these things before.” She managed to say. A hot tear slipped down her the curve of her profile. “Your mother often points out that you could have been with a movie star, even our son asked you about Elaine.”

“And did you hear my answer?” Maria shook her head. She had turned away not wanting to her the painful response. She tried to pull away but his hands held her there. She closed her eyes instead. “I told David, that she was not half the woman that his mother was.” Maria’s eyes flew open. “And that if he married a woman with half the love that I had for you then he should consider himself a lucky man.”

She shivered involuntarily. “You’re cold.” James held her closer.

“No, I’m not.” She lifted her lips to his, “I just want you to kiss me right now.”
He lowered his mouth and with a wicked smile claimed hers. She could feel their warmth and the intensity of his control. She pressed against him wanting to feel the hardness of his body against hers. His tongue danced with hers, spreading the heat of her wanting him through out her body.

He felt the walls shatter around her as she leaned into him. He could still make her knees weaken and put butterflies in her stomach. James pulled back and looked at his wife. He loved the vision of her after he had kissed her senseless. Her lips slightly parted and swollen with her eyes almost black with desire. He felt a part of him tighten as her fingers slowly brushed over her mouth.

“You know,” Maria looked at him with eyes begging for his touch, “you still kiss better than Jack.” James threw his head back and laughed.

“That my dear, was all part of my evil plan.” He swept her up into his arms and carried her into their greenhouse, turned solarium. He set her down in front of him. “Now you will know just how much I love you.” He took the coat from her shoulders and laid it out on the floor. Maria quivered at the feel of his hands on her skin. She could feel the heat from his eyes as he reached for her. “Do you know how beautiful you look at this moment, here under the moon?”

Maria felt shy under her husband’s intense gaze. He went around her still staring as though she were a statue of a Goddess, denying himself the pleasure of just touching her as his eyes devoured her. James stopped behind her and placed his hands on her hips. She relaxed against him as his mouth teased her neck sending jolts of heightened electricity to her breasts and loins. The need of him built higher.

Her hands rested on his thighs as his lips continued the assault on her senses. His fingers traced a path leaving fire in their wake along her torso through the silky material of her dress. Cold air tingled her skin as James slowly undid the zipper. He slid his warm hands up her curves to her shoulders then gave the dress encouragement to drop to her ankles. With same flowing movements her removed her bra and panties exposing her fully to the moonlight.

His hands covered her breasts leaving her hardened nipples exposed to the cold. He heard Maria’s soft gasp as he teased them with his fingers. James needed to taste her. He could no longer hold himself off. As his fingers tormented her, he could feel his own member come alive at the thought of sucking her nectar.

James slowly went down on one knee while his mouth kissed and his tongue savoured her back to the top of her round inviting bottom. With his fingers, he brushed ever so gently the mound that led to her inner secrets. And how he wanted to explore her secrets. He guided his hands from her ripe breasts to caress her buttocks awakening the flower he wished to drink from.

A soft groan escaped from her throat as his finger found her soft forbidden spot. The sound heightened his own hunger. The more he played the more he wanted to feel her warmth wrapped around him. Sliding, slick and wet against each other.

His tongue took over as his hands gently parted her rounding, giving full access to his mouth. Maria’s entire body lit up consumed by an unknown heat as his tongue darted in and out of the sinful pleasure. She wanted more. Her breathing turned into panting. Her breasts ached to be touched while her body screamed for his ardor to slake hers.

James could smell her passion as she called out name. Her soft plea begging for release. He slowly guided her to turn around and parted her legs. Maria’s fingers curled themselves into his hair as his mouth hovered below her opening. She waited in anticipation for his lips to take her into his mouth and ebb the fury that raged inside of her.

His tongue flickered over her hard nub while his fingers tormented her slick, warm slit. Her knees gave way when he began to suckle sending her further over the edge. The word please, barely escaped from her lips as he ignited her passion further by slipping a finger into her. The more he drank from her, the wilder her senses became about her. She had to have him all. She called out his name and she could feel the edge of her climax wanting to rip through her body.

He wanted her to explode but not until he had finished with tasting her. She was sweeter than the finest of wines he had ever tasted. At the thought he plunged his tongue into the petals of where her nectar lay invading her with sucking and kissing. The more his tongue delved the more Maria pulled his head into her.

James drew up and undid his trousers. The painful bulge released and Maria reached for it. James pushed back her hand. “No my love, this one is strictly for you.” He placed his hands onto her hips and plunged into her. Maria screamed as his mouth sucked on her breast while he rocked her higher and higher.

A thousand lights burst into tiny electrical volts throughout her body. She cried out his name as the intensity imploded inside her then spread through out like an uncontainable wildfire. As she reached the height of the stars, she felt James shudder with his own release. His waters finally eased the fire. She drifted slowly back to earth and into his arms. He wrapped her in his coat as he held her.

“I love you.” James kissed her tenderly. He took her hands into his large one. “With every inch of my soul. I have for the last twenty-six and I will for the next twenty-six. There has never been room for any woman but you.”

“And I love you.” Maria whispered. “With all my heart.”

“Come on Vixen,” Her heart fluttered at the use of his old nickname for her. “We should get back in there, it is Thanksgiving.” He stood then pulled her up beside him. Maria heard a sharp intake of breath. “I will never tire of looking at you when you’re like this.” He brushed a hair from her eyes. James softly claimed her lips for another secret kiss.

He helped her dress quickly as the night air was now cold. As they headed back for the house he stopped her. “Just a minute.” James reached up and took a leaf out of Maria’s hair. He gazed at it then put it in his pocket. He pulled her close chuckling and kissed her.

At the same moment, the back porch light went on and the door opened. Their daughter and son stood looking worried. Maria and James broke apart and laughed at their glowers.

“It figures.” David turned to his sister and then back to his parents. “Do you two always have to be this way? You know it is Thanksgiving.” He tried to sound more disgusted but his amusement overshadowed.

“You would think they would be too old for this.” Jane grimaced. “Everybody is here and I think the gravy is ready.” She looked to her mother and held out the apron.

“All right you two, let us through.” James tried to sound gruff as he pushed his way past leading Maria by the hand into the warmth of their house laughing. Jane followed her mother to the stove and pulled another leaf from out of Maria’s hair shaking her head at her mother. James watched as Maria smiled at it and tucked the leaf into the pocket of her apron.

Maria started to bring the dinner to the table when she heard James answer the phone. “Yes she did Elaine.” Maria held her breath. “It wasn’t her place, I agree. It was mine. I should have been the one to close the door on you. Consider your file as transferred. Good bye Elaine.” She heard the phone placed on the receiver.

James came into the dining room where Maria stood holding the mashed potatoes. He held his breath. His wife was sparkling with a glow that he had put there. “God your beautiful.” He said in a voice meant for Maria ears only. She blushed and set the hot dish down.

“Mom always looks beautiful.” His son came up behind him. “Especially when there is food in her hands.” James laughed as Maria chided at David to sit while she headed back onto the kitchen.

Maria looked over the dinning room table, above the noise and chatter of the family gathering into the loving eyes of her husband. She would never doubt her place in his heart again. And by the look he was giving her she knew she was truly cherished.