One with the Wind (16 page)

 

            Josie stirred in bed later that night. Jet lag had finally caught up with her. She had a secure feeling being home in America—her parents were downstairs, the boys were asleep in their bedroom and Nick was beside her. She stretched her arms and legs, feeling the comfort of the bed, and then Nick rolled on top of her.

            “You’re awake,” she said surprised.

            “For some time, I was debating whether to make love to you while you were sleeping, or wait until you woke.” He kissed her face and neck, pressing his erection against her thigh.

            “Well it would have woken me anyway,” she said.

            “I’ve done it before,” he whispered.

            “Really?” She sighed at his touch and opened herself up to him.

            “Many times,” he whispered. “Sometimes you stir and I think you’ll wake up, other times it’s like making love to a dead person.”

            “Nick, that’s kind of sick,” she said as he entered her.

            He chuckled and nuzzled his unshaven face against hers. “How do you think Al was conceived?” he joked.

            She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling him move inside her. Still after all these years, he felt so damn good. “Next time you go for stealth, sleep sex; wake me so I can enjoy it.”

            “You’re so sweet when you’re sleep; I don’t like to disturb you.”

            “Nick, disturb me…please,” she said as she dug her fingernails into his butt cheeks.

            With Josie in his arms, he rolled over onto his back so she sat on top of him.

            “You’re getting good at that,” she said, rocking back and forth.

            Josie froze as Yuri’s screams shattered the night air. Josie pulled herself off Nick and dressed quickly in her nightgown and robe.  Nick leapt from the bed and headed naked to the door.

            “Nick! Pants!” Josie yelled.

            It was too late, Nick ran naked down the stairs to where Yuri had fallen.

            “Dear God!” Josie’s mother screamed at the sight of Nick’s nakedness and walked away to the living room.

            Nick didn’t care. He carried Yuri to the kitchen and wiped the trace of blood from his face. He studied the wound and felt relieved that it was only a scrape. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re okay,” he said, hugging Yuri tightly.

            “What is wrong with you?”  Josie scrunched up Nick’s pajama pants legs for him to step into. “My parents are here.”

            “Will you chill out? Our son is more important!”

            Josie looked at Yuri and started crying. “Is he okay?”

            “Just a scratch on his cheek, he’s more scared than anything.”

            They walked out to the living room where Josie’s parents waited.

            “I can’t believe you didn’t hear him calling for you Nick. He was looking for you and slid down the stairs,” said Josie’s mother. “You two are parents. You should be acting like parents instead of teenagers.”

            “Mom, you said you bought stuff for the children. You didn’t think of a safety gate for the stairway! We come all the way from Moscow, safe and sound and now my son is injured in our home. This wouldn’t have happened in Russia!” Josie yelled.

            “We are here for you and we can leave first thing in the morning if you don’t appreciate us,” scolded Josie’s mom.

            “Why doesn’t everyone calm down? Everything is all right,” replied Josie’s father.

            Nick sat down on a chair with Yuri facing him. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you bud. Do you forgive me?” He kissed his forehead and hugged him to his chest. “I'm here. I love you. Do you want to sleep with mommy and me tonight?”

            Yuri nodded tearfully. When Nick carried Yuri to their bedroom and lay him down, Yuri bounced up, jumping and giggling. “You’re just like your mother. What you wouldn’t do for attention,” he said as he tickled Yuri’s belly.

            “Gracious,” Josie sighed sarcastically as she lay next to Yuri.

            She turned on her side to face Nick and laughed through her tears. “What an episode. I don’t think my mother will ever be the same again. Will you a least try to wear pants the next time something like this happens?”

            Nick brushed Yuri’s hair. “I will try to keep my pants on, but I can’t promise.”

 

            As the weeks passed, their life settled down into a routine. Nick worked in New York City and Josie spent her days creating a home for their family. There were times she regretted not following her own career, but spending her time with the boys and taking care of Nick was better than any job she could imagine.

            She had dinner on the table when Nick returned from work. They both helped the boys with their meals as they ate. “I talked to my mom. They want us to come out to Johnstown. I told them we could go next weekend,” Nick said.

            Josie took a drink of water. “Nick, don’t you remember that weekend is our five year anniversary?”

            “What anniversary?” he said, cutting the carrots on Yuri’s plate.

            “Wedding! You do remember we are married?”

            “Oh, well, I guess my parents could watch the boys that night. We can go to Main Street Grill for dinner.” He smiled. “It’s where we had our first date.”

            “Main Street Grill! Why don’t we go fuck at Jared’s house? That’s where you first kissed me.”

            Nick covered Yuri’s ears. “Honey, language.” He took a mouthful of food and looked at Josie thoughtfully. “When we get back, I’ll take you out to a nice place in the city, how’s that?”

            “Sounds fine,” she said, not hiding her disappointment.

 

            Two weeks later, Nick packed up the car for the long drive to Johnstown. They had planned to break the trip over two days, stopping in Hershey for the night. Despite being disappointed by Nick’s lack of anniversary plans, Josie enjoyed the drive home and was looking forward to seeing her old friends.

            Mrs. Markovich barreled out the front door as soon as Nick pulled in the driveway. She kissed and hugged everyone over and over again. “Oh, I can’t believe you’re home. You all look so good.” Mrs. Markovich had prepared a huge meal for them which waited on the table. It was like they had returned from Moscow with the vast spread on the dining room table. “You’re father pulled your high chair from the attic,” said Mrs. Markovich. “My God, I remember when you were just a baby. Now you have babies.” She then turned her attention to Josie. “Tell me, are you two still having sex?”

            “Mom!” protested Nick.

            “I made this fig flavored vodka. They say it is an aphrodisiac,” said Mrs. Markovich.

            “Mom, we’re fine,” he said.

            “That sounds wonderful,” replied Josie, “can I try some?”

            Mrs. Markovich rose from the table to fetch the vodka. “Honey, I’ll give you the bottle.”

            Josie winked at Mrs. Markovich. “We don’t even need glasses.”

            “That’s my girl,” said Mrs. Markovich and kissed Josie on the head.

            Nick glanced away embarrassed.

            “Honey, it’s important you keep the fire going in your marriage, especially after children. Remember the trouble your brother had,” said Mrs. Markovich.

            “Yes, mom,” he sighed.

 

            The afternoon of their fifth anniversary came and Nick waited downstairs for Josie. “Come on sweetheart, we’re going to be late. I have reservations.”

            Josie walked down the stairs wearing a sundress and heels. “Since when did the Main Street Grill take reservations and why do we need to go so early. Old people eat at four o’clock, Nick.”

            “I want to beat the crowds,” he said.

            They got in the car with the windows rolled down. “One with the wind, remember?” he said.

            “You’re a geek.” She rested her elbow on the window edge.

            “I’m not the one who originally said it,” he reminded.

            “So now I’m the geek.”

            He grinned at her and pulled onto the street. Nick drove through the city, passing their old stomping grounds. They drove by the high school and where they used to park near the Stony Creek River. He continued to drive, winding through the woods.

            “I thought we were going to be late and now you’re driving through the country. Main Street Grill is downtown, five minutes from your parent’s house.” Josie checked her reflection in her compact mirror.

            “It’s a beautiful day,” he said with a grin. “Plans are for suckers, let’s improvise.”
            Josie shook her head. There was no sense in arguing with him when he was being a flake.   Finally Nick pulled into the parking lot of the Bedford Springs, a spa resort nestled in the woods. Nick got out, walked around the car and opened the door for Josie.

            “What’s this? Why are we here?” she asked. 

            He said nothing as he guided her toward the entrance. Inside, the host escorted them through to an outdoor garden patio where a chorus of, “Surprise!” rang out.

            Josie looked around the room and saw many familiar faces¾her parents, sister and cousins, childhood and high school friends, her college roommate, Wendy, and even Marta and Oleg. “What is this?”

            “Our wedding reception,” he whispered in her ear. “We eloped remember.”

            “What?” Josie mumbled tearfully.

            “Happy Anniversary,” he whispered and guided her through the room.

             As the neared the front of the room, Rod Stewart’s,
You’re in my Heart
, began to play. Nick took Josie in his arms and started to dance.

            “You are such an asshole,” Josie cried quietly. “I can’t believe you did this.”

            “Do you think I could deny my wife a wedding dance,” he said.

            After the song ended,
You Can Call Me Al
, by Paul Simon played. Nick pulled Al from his high chair and handed him to Josie and then he lifted Yuri and carried him to the dance floor. Together as a family they danced. Josie waltzed Al around the dance floor and Nick flung Yuri around like Superman. Soon, everyone in the hall was dancing and having a good time.

            Once the dancing subsided, everyone returned to their seats for dinner. Josie noticed a package on her chair. “Is it safe to open here?” she asked Nick.

            “Of course,” he said with a wink, “the other package you can unwrap once we get to our suite.”

            Josie unwrapped the gift. It was a photo book Nick had put together. It had nearly two hundred pages of photos dating back to their high school days. The past ten years of their life together recorded in one beautiful book., Josie cried throughout the entire reception. Her eyes did not dry until they said their goodbyes and she and Nick retired to their suite.

            Josie held her hand over her mouth as she entered the room. The hot tub outside on the balcony had a view of the treetops. Nick walked outside and turned back to Josie. “What do you say we get naked?”

            She walked behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I was hoping you would say that.”

            They undressed and made love while the hot tub filled. Nick got out of bed and uncorked the champagne and poured two glasses. “Here’s to Mrs. Markovich.”

            Josie chuckled. “Back at you, Mr. Markovich.”

            He walked out onto the balcony and looked over the edge. “Can you imagine if there are bird watchers out there? They’d get quite a view seeing us up here.”

            “Seeing you,” said Josie as she got into the tub. “Step away from the edge sweetheart. Your privates are private to me.”

            Nick climbed into the tub and sat next to Josie. He put his arm around her shoulder and fondled her breasts. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been together like this, no kids, no parents—just the two of us.”

            She kissed his neck, reached down between his legs and rubbed the shaft of his penis. “I missed you.”

            He rose to his feet and guided Josie around so her back was facing him. She lifted her torso out of the tub and leaned over the edge for Nick to take her from behind. He caressed her between her legs until she was wet and her legs spread further apart. He drove himself inside her.

            She giggled as she rocked back and forth looking at the scenery over the balcony. 
I wonder if anyone sees us and what would they think?

            When he withdrew she got out of the tub and turned on her back. She spread her legs so he could enter her in a missionary position. The fresh air and his penis felt good as Josie looked up at the sky. After they both reached orgasm, they slid back down into the hot tub. Nick poured more champagne. They clinked glasses and relaxed, staring at the starry sky.

            “Never a dull moment with you, Markovich,” she said.

            Nick looked at Josie and smiled. “My purpose here is to entertain.”

            “I thought it was to observe,” she remarked.

            “Well of course, I need to observe to know how to entertain.”

            “I still can’t get over today. I can’t believe you had this all planned.” She looked at him harshly. “I can’t believe you lied to me.”

            “Lie to you, right. You’re just upset because I surprised you,” he said. “Bet you didn’t think I had it in me.”

            “No, every single moment you surprise me,” she joked.

 

            Josie woke early the next morning and had a cup of coffee on the balcony. She flipped slowly through the photo book and reflected on every memory—they had been through so much together. The past seemed like a dream. She could hardly wait for the next ten years.