Now & Forever 3 - Blind love (18 page)

“Okay, I won’t. It’s all right, Callie,” he said, kissing her
forehead.

Sam knitted his brows as a frown swept across his face. He
put his arm around her and tenderly pulled her into his shoulder.

“Can’t you use your feminine wiles on him, if you get my
drift?”

“I tried. I put my hand on his chest…our signal. And he said
he didn’t want to make love. Mac always wants to make love…oh, please don’t
tell him I told you! I’m not supposed to tell, but he does. This is the first
time since we’ve been married he has turned me down. And I tried again, and
again he said no. Then he got mad at me for asking and mad at me for crying.
Oh, Dad, he doesn’t love me anymore,” Callie wailed.

“Of course he still loves you, Callie. You’re the light of
his life.”

“Not anymore,” she said, shaking her head.

“You are. I see him with you. He’s crazy about you, has been
for years,” he said after taking a sip of his milk.

“Not now.”

“You know how I know he still loves you and your marriage
isn’t over?” he asked her, raising his eyebrows.

“How?” She sniffed, curiosity overcoming her pain. She opened
her swollen eyelids as wide as they would go.

“Because he’s still up there, in your bedroom. If he was
through with you, he wouldn’t be sleeping in the same bed. He would’ve left the
house, or at least gotten up and gone to another room or the sofa. He’s waiting
for you.”

“He isn’t. He’s in bed, turned to face the wall.”

“Oh, so what. He’s in your bed, isn’t he?”

“True.”

“Well, there’s half the battle, isn’t it? Getting him in your
bed.”

“I suppose. He could’ve left, you’re right,” Callie said,
twisting Sam’s handkerchief in her hands while she considered what he said.

“I have a feeling you know what to do when Mac is in your
bed, Callie,” Sam said, a slight blush appearing in his cheeks.

She felt the color rise to her cheeks too.

“I always have in the past. But tonight is different,” she
said, looking at her hands.

“Is it? Maybe you have to try a little harder, or be more
inventive,” Sam said with a twinkle in his eye.

“What do you mean, exactly?” Callie looked up at him.

“Do I have to spell it out for a smart girl like you? Didn’t
you seduce him from the beginning?”

“Well, maybe, sort of. At least I got him interested.”

“He says he couldn’t resist you.”

“He told you?”

“He said you turned on the heat and he melted like a candle
in the sun,” Sam said, hiding a smile behind his hand.

Callie smiled.

“You did it before; do it again.”

“I don’t know, Dad. Tonight is different,” Callie said,
drying her eyes.

“Mac loves you, Callie. He’s given you power. Use his love to
soften him up a little. Turn on the heat and melt him, like…”

“…a candle in the sun,” she said, finishing his sentence.

“I know you can do it. You’re a strong, resourceful lady,
Callie. Go get him,” Sam said, finishing his glass of milk.

Callie kissed Sam on the cheek and gave him a big hug.

“Thanks, Dad. I feel better. I’m going back to give it
another try.”

“My money is on you,” Sam said with a chuckle.

Callie smiled and went back upstairs.

She opened the door softly, but could see Mac was still
awake, because he stiffened when she came in the room. She knew then he was
worried she wasn’t coming back or sleeping in their bed. Sam was right, she
could break his angry spell.

She got into bed.

“Mac, I know you’re awake.”

He didn’t answer her.

“Okay, you don’t want to make love. Fine. We don’t have to
make love. But my mother always told me not to go to bed mad, without a
goodnight kiss. So you have to let me kiss you goodnight. Okay?”

“She wasn’t my mother.” Mac sniffed.

“Too bad. Those
are our family rules.”

“Since when?” he countered.

“Since now. You have to let me kiss you goodnight,” she said,
sidling up to him.

“Okay. But only one kiss. That’s all.”

Then she knew she had him.

“Okay. One kiss.” She said as she got closer to him.

“Wait, you’re naked. That means you want to make love.”

“What do you mean?” Callie rolled over on her side, facing
him.

“You always come to bed naked when you want to make love.” He
half-turned his head to speak to her.

“So? So maybe I do want to make love, but you don’t. I don’t
have to put my nightgown on because you don’t want to make love, do I? I can
sleep naked if I want to,” she said, inching closer.

“You’re getting pretty close to me with your naked body,” Mac
said, his tone softening.

“I can’t kiss you from across the room, can I?” Callie
replied.

She inched closer, bending over him, lowering herself over
him very slowly. The first points of contact were her breasts on his chest. Callie
felt her nipples harden.

“No fair. Are you trying to seduce me?” Sweat beaded on his
forehead.

“What?” she said, feigning innocence.

“Your breasts are touching me,” he said, his hands moving
toward her, almost automatically.

“I can’t lean over you without my breasts touching you, can
I? You’ve never complained before.”

“Before was different. I thought this was going to be a quick
peck on the cheek,” he said.

“I didn’t say a quick peck, I said a kiss. A kiss is a kiss,
I’ll decide what kind of kiss and a peck on the cheek doesn’t do it for me,”
she said, lowering her body, her lips closer to his. She gently brushed her
lips over his.

“That’s it. That’s the kiss. Now you can back off,” he said,
conviction fading from his voice.

“Why? Am I disturbing you?”

“You certainly are,” he admitted.

“Good. I was just warming up.”

“What? You can’t be serious!”

“I can and I am,” she said, sensing his self-control was
cracking.

“Let’s get this over with, Callie. You’re taking too long,
tantalizing me like this,” Mac said, attempting to turn away from her. She put
her hand on his arm.

“But you don’t want to make love. You said so. Several times.
So why should you worry? Is your resolve dissolving?”

“I’m tired and I want to go to sleep.”

“Oh, so I’m keeping you awake now?” she asked, suddenly hurt,
her eyes filling with tears, her determination weakening.

Then before she gave up, she heard Sam’s words, “melt him
like a candle in the sun,” in her head and she lowered herself quickly, placing
her mouth over Mac’s, parting his lips and exploring his mouth with her tongue,
crushing her breasts against his chest, moving her body over his and losing her
fingers in his hair. She gave him the longest most passionate kiss of his life.
Callie pressed her hips gently into his as she felt his body respond. He wound
his arms around her and his hands stroked her back and hips.

When she finally came up for air, Mac rolled her over until
he was on top of her, kissing her then burying his face in her neck.

“I’m sorry, Callie, so sorry. I shouldn’t be blaming you. You
didn’t cause that man to blackmail us. I was mean to you and you didn’t deserve
it.”

Callie burst into tears, turning her head away from him and
burying her face in the pillow to muffle the sound. Mac pulled her into his
arms and stroked her hair.

“I don’t know what came over me,” he said in a soft tone.

“You’re worried about Jason.” She wiped the tears from her
cheeks with the back of her hand.

“I am. But it’s not a reason to make you cry.” He wiped the
last tears off with his thumb.

“Do you honestly think I manipulate you with tears?” she
asked him.

“I know you can’t help it. It’s not your fault, you’re a
crier. I said it to hurt you and I take it all back. I’m so sorry. Can you
forgive me?”

“Do you forgive me for telling Peter?” she asked in a shaky
voice.

“I do,” he said, kissing her and holding her close.

“I thought our marriage was over. I thought you didn’t love
me anymore,” she said, drying her tears and feeling safe again in his embrace.

“Never. I’ll always love you, Callie, no matter what.”

“That’s what your father said.”

“You spoke to my father?” Mac asked, holding her at arm’s
length.

“He was getting a glass of milk. He was kind and gave me good
advice.”

“What did you tell him?”

“Don’t start, Mac. He’s your father, I should be able to
confide in him and get advice when I need it, especially about his beloved
son.”

“I suppose it’s okay. Don’t reveal anything about our sex
life, okay?”

“Too late.” Callie chewed her lip.

“What did you say?” he asked, wide-eyed.

“Not much. Nothing important…only you’ve never turned me down
before…and a few other things,” Callie admitted.

“Wonderful.”

“I needed his help and he couldn’t help me without some
information. I didn’t tell him anything specific about you in bed or anything.
I think he was kind of proud of you, when I told him you always want to make
love.”

“You told him that?”

“So what? It’s true. Aren’t most guys like that?”

“Not most, maybe only the superior guys, with a strong sex
drive, like me,” he joked, kissing her neck.

“Mac Caldwell—sometimes you drive me crazy.” Callie moved her
hair to the side.

“Is your offer to make love still open?” he whispered, moving
his hands down to her breasts.

“Now and forever,” she said kissing him, winding her leg
around his waist.

With a house full of people, Mac and Callie tried to be
quiet, but making some noise when they made love was inevitable.

* * * *

Sam was sitting on the sofa in the darkened, silent living
room, a little worried about Callie when some giggles and cries drifted softly
down the stairs. He smiled and sat back.

“Like a candle in the sun…Mac’s a lucky man,” he said aloud
before he returned to his bed.

Chapter Eleven

It was cool for September, a stiff breeze blew over the lawn
of the hospital across town from the University. Marcia buttoned up her trench
coat as she walked down the hospital steps and got into her car.

On the drive home from the hospital, Marcia wondered what
type of food she’d find waiting for her. Sometimes Johnny’s American wife,
Rebecca, cooked, sometimes Jakub, and there was always food left over. Rebecca
never asked Jakub where he was taking the food and he didn’t volunteer the
information.

Once home, she went directly into the kitchen where she spied
the small care package of food on the counter. Jakub had been there. Marcia
opened the package and put the aromatic, Eastern European food on a plate and
into the microwave. His food helped her regain some of her strength. She needed
to be strong for Jay, who was obviously failing now. Although Marcia couldn’t
see it from day to day, his mother, Ruth, noticed at her weekly visits. She
clung to Marcia even though she hadn’t approved of Jay’s marriage to her. Mrs.
Wilton and Marcia had been barely cordial, but Marcia had compassion for the
older woman who was facing the loss of her only son.

As Marcia finished eating, Jakub knocked on the door. She let
him in.

“Tea?” she asked.

He smiled and nodded.

“You’re a good cook.” Marcia turned on the flame under the
kettle.

“I cooked for my wife.”

She made tea for them and put a pastry she bought at the
Jewish bakery on a plate in front of Jakub as he sat down at the kitchen table.

“Your husband?” Jakub asked.

“He’s sick. He’s very sick. Cancer.” Marcia said, tears
forming in her eyes.

Jakub patted her hand.

“Your wife?”

“She died—cancer—now two years. I cooked for Veronika, the
last year.” He looked down at his plate.

“I’m sorry. Veronika, pretty name,” Marcia said, patting his
hand.

“I called her Nika. My plum dumpling was her favorite.”

“How long were you married?”

“Twenty-six.” Jakub held up first twenty then six fingers.

“Children…I mean besides Johnny?”

“Two.”

“You live here?”

“Had a house but after Nika…I move over Johnny’s garage. We
fix up apartment there. Very nice.”

“You fix up this house too?”

He nodded.

“Very nice.” Marcia smiled at him.

“Thank you. How long you marry?”

“Eleven years.”

“Children?”

She shook her head. Jakub put his hand on hers and squeezed.

When they finished, they went into the living room and Marcia
turned the Mets game on the television.

“Never the Yankees?”

“Maybe next time, Jakub,” she said, smiling.

At ten o’clock she went up to bed while Jakub turned out the
lights and went home to his silent apartment.

* * * *

In the dean’s office at the university

The phone rang. Mac tensed when he recognized the voice of
his blackmailer.

“Mr. Carlson, I need more time,” Mac said.

“Did you talk to your wife?”

“She agreed we should pay you. But we need to liquidate some
things to get the cash which takes about three or four days,” Mac said.

“I guess this being such a surprise and all, I understand you
need a few more days. But four days from today, I’m going to instruct my lawyer
to file papers. And I will be doing a paternity test, so be prepared, Mr.
Caldwell.”

“I will. Thank you for understanding,” Mac said, gritting his
teeth. He slammed the phone down and muttered out loud, “I’ll pay you when hell
freezes over.”

* * * *