Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 18:05:05 -0800 Subject: SUB: Valentine's Contest: "The Final Gift": Short Story There's still time to send your entry! Check out http://web.mit.edu/mbarker/www/val97/val.html for details. Please reserve all critiques on contest entries until after Valentine's Day! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ "The Final Gift" Elizabeth sat on the floor near the fireplace, her face throbbing from the heat. She tore small pieces of bark from a log sitting on the hearth, threw them into the fire and watched intently as the flames devoured the offering. All was quiet in the house except for the angry pop and hiss of the wood being consumed. Subconsciously, she looked at the picture of smiling faces sitting on the mantle. So many unanswered questions were colliding in her mind and she desperately tried to organize them in a sensible manner. Why didn't he tell her? They could have worked through it. If only he would have been more open, she would have been more prepared. She would have known what to say, what to ask and she wouldn't be alone on Valentine's Day. If only she'd had more time. Once again, her thoughts drifted and she allowed the memory of one year ago to give her comfort. ***** So engrossed in the fire, she didn't hear him approach. She was startled for a moment as he sat behind her, then relaxed when he wrapped both arms around her to form a safe cocoon. He buried his nose into her short, wavy hair and breathed in the smoky scent of cedar lingering on her. Her head drifted back to rest on his chest and she gave a sigh of contentment. Oh, how she loved these peaceful evenings, which were only granted to her after a lifetime collage of responsibilities. Her title had quickly changed from bride, to mother, to nurse and now grandmother. The present title suited her well, she was totally at ease with whom she'd become and still in love with the man who embraced her. Ben flashed a red wrapped package in front of Elizabeth and shook it enticingly. "I got us a surprise." "Oh, honey, we don't normally exchange gifts on Valentine's Day." Before she could continue with her apologies, he interrupted, "I know. I said, it's a surprise for the both of us. Why don't you open it?" She unwrapped the gift and to her delight, it was a portrait of their three grown children. Flabbergasted, she looked at him and asked , "How did you...?" He grinned at her, "When they came home for Christmas." "Thank you so much, Ben. I love it." She stood up and placed the picture on the mantle. Reclaiming her seat, she nuzzled into him. "It doesn't feel like we should have kids that old, does it?" He asked in amazement. Elizabeth smiled, "I know what you mean. It doesn't seem like we've been married long enough and yet, I can hardly remember a time without you." Ben hugged her tight, relaxed his hold on her and then began to place familiar kisses on her shoulder and back. "I love to watch a fire burn. It's so magical. Mesmerizing." She cooed to him. A muffled noise from the back of his throat was his only reply. He was far too busy trying to find that special spot behind her ear to worry about the fire. Upon finding it, he place baby kisses to mark the area. Elizabeth whispered, "My hands are cold, Baby. Can you warm `em up ?" Ben's warm hands slid down her arms to cup hers and he rubbed the cold from them. She smiled at the gentle touch and felt completely at peace. "I love this time in our lives. Don't you?" Another moan for an answer reached her ears and she knew he agreed with her. To her brief disappointment, his hands left her own to glide up her satin covered arms. They came to rest in the curve of her neck and shoulders and began to firmly knead away the outside world. Now, it was her time to moan with pleasure and roll her head from side to side as her muscles responded to his labor. Ben's hands stilled, gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. His gray eyes visually ate her up as he unbuttoned her shirt and swept it from her body. The same look of awe was on his face as it was each time he saw her. The light from the fire shimmered on her skin and she felt beautiful in the mirror of his eyes. ***** The chime of the doorbell jolted Elizabeth from her daydreaming. She lifted herself off the floor and went to see who had come to visit. Opening the door, she found a stranger standing on her porch, holding a large box. "Hello?" "Hi, Ma'am. Are you Elizabeth Bailey?" "Yes, I am." Grinning, he said, "I have a delivery for you." Then he thrust the box into her arms, turned and walked away before she could ask any questions. She stepped back, closed the door and wondered at the shifting weight of the box and decided the contents were surely broken due to poor packaging. She sat on the floor of the entry way and tore off the loose fitting tape. To her disbelief, a high-pitched yelp greeted her, followed by a tan puppy leaping over the side of the box. By reflex, she scooped up the puppy before it could hide somewhere in the house. "What in the world are you doing here?" She looked into the sweet, brown eyes, as if waiting for an answer. Of course, the only response she got was a blink of confusion. Rubbing a velvet ear, she tipped the box to peek inside. A white envelope had been taped to the inside of the box on the wall near her leg. Elizabeth pulled it off and smiled at the chew mark on the edge. She turned it over and gasped at the handwriting on the front. The letters blurred together but she could still make out her name. She slowly ran her shaking fingertips across the familiar marks. It was from Ben. A tear wet the edge of the envelope before she could turn it back over to peal it open. Her hesitant hand lifted out the letter that she was desperate to read and yet there was a part of her that was almost afraid to learn it's contents. She unfolded the letter, saw his pet name for her, Lizzy, written at the top and burst into tears. She cried because life was unfair, because she was so lonely that she physically hurt and because she missed her husband. She missed the way he smelled, the way he held her as she drifted off to sleep and his quick kiss in the morning as he rushed out the door. She also cried out of guilt. Guilt because she sat in front of a warm fire, while her husband lay in a frozen ground, covered with snow. Wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her blouse, she continued to read the letter. My dear, sweet Lizzy, Guess you can see why I had the fence put in the backyard. I smile every time I picture the look on your face when I told you about the fence. You thought I'd gone crazy, didn't you? I had planned on getting you a puppy for Valentine's Day because I didn't want you to be alone. It breaks my heart to think of you grieving the rest of your life away. Please, Sweetheart, don't do that to yourself. Promise me, you'll continue to live for the both of us. Liz, I beg you to forgive me for not telling you when the doctor informed me I was sick. I struggled with what I should do and decided it was best not to tell anyone, not even you. My reasons for keeping silent are selfish ones, I know but I wanted to "live" until I couldn't any more. If I'd taken the treatments, it would have made me terribly ill and only prolonged the end by a short time. I wanted you to remember me as a whole man, not some bedridden shell. I, also, didn't want you going through the agony of watching me slowly slip away. And, Sweetheart, when I do drift off, I want to take your smiling face with me, not some grief stricken false image of you. I hope you like the puppy. I'm sure he'll do a fine job of keeping your feet warm at night. I wish it were me. Don't ever forget how much I love you, Ben Elizabeth folded the letter and picked up the bottom-heavy puppy. Through blurry eyes, she smiled at him and rubbed her wet cheek between his ears. "How would you like the name, Cupid?" ------------------------------------------- Sig files are bumper stickers for the computer... without the gunky mess when you remove them. Michelle winebird@inreach.com