At 4:30pm I was mid-email when I felt hands on my shoulders. I turned and Ava bent to kiss me. Not just a warm kiss, one with undercurrents of fire. My heart began to race.
“Come with me, Martin.”
Ava took my hand and we walked up the stairs. She steered us left. Closing the door of my bedroom behind her, she pulled her dress up and over her head. Unceremoniously, she unclipped her bra, and dropped her panties.
My clumsy words could not come close to describing my feelings.
“You are beautiful, Ava, just beautiful.”
She looked at me shyly, but with something else behind her eyes. Walking towards me, she embraced me and pushed our lips firmly together. Once more her heat. I felt my own heat rising, mirroring hers. Our shared desire beginning to spiral upwards.
Arms still round me, she leaned back a little and our eyes locked.
“I didn’t bring the jar or syringe, Martin. Is that OK? I can go get them.”
“It’s OK, Ava. It’s more than OK.”
I kissed her again. More forcibly. And, together, we removed my clothes. Urgently. With growing fierceness. Despite my aging body, I lifted her into my arms. I kissed her long and deep, the laid her down on the bed. Ava raised her knees and spread her legs; welcoming me, inviting me. I crawled between and was above her on all fours. My hands planted either side of her face, my knees between her thighs. My loins yearning for her. She pulled me to her and we kissed, and kissed again.
Ava breathed in my ear, “I want you, Martin,” electricity coursed through me.
I positioned myself, and my tip brushed her welcoming flesh. Every inch of me throbbed.
“Martin.”
“Yes, honey.”
“This isn’t just about the baby. Is that OK for you?”
Fighting back tears I said it was OK. I let my weight ease myself into her. Her softness yielded then held me in its warm grip. It felt like finding something long lost. As I slid inwards, she closed her eyes and breathed three words.
“Josh, my love.”
I felt a pang. A rising panic. But if that was what she needed. I steeled myself to give her what she wanted.
“It’s OK, Ava. Josh is here. Josh loves you.”
My voice sounded broken to me.
“No, Martin, no. I don’t want you to be him. I was… I was finally saying goodbye. I want you, Martin. I love you, Martin.”
Floods of tears sprang from my eyes.
“I love you too, Ava. I didn’t… I couldn’t say it first. I hope you understand. But I love you.”
She kissed me and grabbed my hips, pulling me deeper into her. Making me hers. Filling the vacuum in my soul. Beginning to make us whole again.THE END– – –EPILOGUE
Fairytales are one thing, Biology another. When Ava started to bleed, we held each other and cried. I was all for testing sperm counts, and maybe a more radical approach. But Ava calmed me. Ava knew the statistics. She was the rational one. So we agreed to give it a few months. It’s not like trying would be unpleasant. The next cycle also ended in disappointment. But, as Ava had said, third time is the charm. We stood close together, not quite believing the two pink lines.
“Human chorionic gonadotropin, Martin! It’s human chorionic gonadotropin.”