Happy Anniversary, My Darling

Happy Anniversary, My Darling

“Donnie!” Laura called out as she quickly sat up in bed.
“Donnie,” she said weakly. She wept into her hands. “Why did you leave me?”

Her husband of almost 5 years, and love of her life had been gone nearly 3 months and still the memories of their life together consumed her. They had love each other all their lives and had decided to wait until they were each established in their own careers before devoting their lives together in marriage.

It had been such a shock to her. His death had come so sudden. She never expected to find him lying dead beside her in bed on that cold winter morn.
She had had another dream, and like the others, this one felt so real. She had been having these dreams a lot lately. She attributed it to the coming of what would have been their fifth anniversary.

Like so many of the other dreams, she felt so close to him. She felt his presence, like he was in the room with her, touching her, caressing her.

She laid back and swept a hand over her breasts. She could feel her nipples through her nightgown. Her nipples were already charged. If only it hadn’t been a dream. If only Donnie had been there. She let her hands wander down between her legs. She was damp with the state of arousal. How she longed for his touch.

She moved her hands back up and rubbed her flat belly. She felt so empty, so unfulfilled. They had been trying for a baby for the last three years without any results. Now she felt as if she would never know what it was like to feel the fruit their love growing inside her. How could she? Her true love was gone and she was alone.

Laura wept silently to herself. Why? She wondered. He had come to her so many times in her dreams. In her dreams they made love. And in her dreams, she bore him a child. Why had fate been so cruel to her?

Laura got up and reached for her robe. She knew she wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep anytime soon. She went downstairs and out the back door. She found herself walking out towards the seashore like she had so many sleepless nights before.

The full moon provided an iridescent glimmer on the water, and enough light for her to see by. The sand felt soft and wet with dew in the spring air. The spell of blooming flowers intoxicated her. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the seashore was soothing. The crisp night air felt good on her skin.

Her aunt had been good enough to let her stay at her summerhouse on the beach. She had to get out of the townhouse she had shared with her beloved husband. Too many memories resided there now. It was still too painful for her to face alone.

She walked along the seashore for what seemed like hours. She was lost in thought as she walked. Everywhere she looked, she could see Donnie. They had vacationed there a few times. Memories of him chasing her on the sandy beach overpowered her like the waves thundering onto the beachhead. She couldn’t escape them.
Tears welled up into her eyes as she began to run. She couldn’t think. She didn’t know where she was running from or going to. She just needed to run. In her mind she could see Donnie in the water showing her how to body surf, and up on the beach running with a kite trying to get it up in the air. She saw him up ahead in the distance wading in the shallow tidal waters.

Suddenly Laura stopped running. Through her tears she was sure she saw a blurred vision of him walking along the seashore. His pant legs were rolled up to almost his knees and his hands were in his pockets. The wind was coming from behind him and blowing his dark wavy hair. She tried to blink away the tears, thinking it must be a hallucination. She thought her fantasies were becoming real. But when her eyes were clear, he was still there.

From a distance, he looked so much like her Donnie. Her curiosity got the better of her and she ran to him. She knew it couldn’t be possible, but her heart leapt into her throat with excitement.

“Donnie” she called as she got near to him. She wanted to throw her arms around him and never let go.

“It’s a beautiful night for a stroll along the beach.” He spoke with a heavy French accent.

Laura’s heart nearly broke. She bit her bottom lip to hold back the tears. “I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” She directed her eyes down toward the sand and turned to walk away.

“This Donnie is a fortunate man” said the man with the French accent, “to have captured the heart of such a beautiful woman.”

Laura was now consciously aware of what she was wearing. She hadn’t planned on running into anyone on the beach in the middle of the night. She reached down and cinched the belt on her robe tight.

She turned to get one last look at him. Oddly enough he looked so much like Donnie, he could have been his twin. But she knew in her heart of hearts, her Donnie was gone, lost forever.

Slowly, sadly, she turned to walk away.

“If I have offended you in anyway, please accept my sincere apologies.”

Laura stopped in her tracks. Tears streamed down her face, as she was overwhelmed with grief. “It is not you, nor anything you have done. When I saw you strolling along the shore, I thought you were he. I should have known it couldn’t be true.”

“This Donnie, he is your lover? Your husband?”

Laura took a minute to answer that. At last, she drew in a breath, and quietly said, “Was. He was my husband, I mean. He’s gone now though. He passed away 3 months ago.”

“Oh, you are still grieving. Forgive me. I have seen you walking along the beach quite often lately. I did not know.”

Laura turned to face him; her sandy blond hair blew in the breeze. “I came here to get away for a while and now, more than ever, I find myself thinking and dreaming of him.”

“You have suffered a great loss. Your heart is weeping. This is not something that will heal overnight.”

Laura found herself looking into his eyes. Even in the moonlight, she could tell he had the same compassionate green eyes that Donnie had.

“But of course, you want to be alone. I will go. Forgive my intrusion on your memories.”

Laura reached out and grabbed his hand. “No, wait. Please. I have been alone in the house with my memories for several months now. I wouldn’t mind the company.”

The Frenchman looked down at her small hand holding his large hand and smiled at her. “Well, alright then. But if I am to keep you company, then I insist on knowing your name.”

Laura smiled a sincere smile for the first time in a long time. “It’s Laura, Laura Brightman.”

The Frenchman took her hand and kissed it. “How do you do, Madame Brightman. I am Philip DuRoult, but I insist on Philip.”

“Philip,” she repeated as she looked deep into his eyes. There was something so familiar in them.

Laura and Philip started walking back in the direction of her aunt’s house.
“We met here, ya know, right about there on the beach. I was 10; he was 12. I was building a sandcastle, and he nearly smashed it when he ran by catching a football. I was visiting my aunt Beth, and he was vacationing with his family and staying in one of those rental cottages down the street.”

Philip laughed to himself at Laura’s recall. What a pleasant childhood memory.

“When I went back home after the summer, I saw him in school. It turned out we lived a mile away from each other.”

“And, yet, you met all the way out here by the sea.” Philip added.

“Yes. And we were friends from then on.”

“Does it bother you to talk about it?”

“Not those memories. Those are bittersweet ones. Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days. Life was simpler then. All you needed to know was that boys had the cooties, and a circle and a dot could protect you from them.”

As Laura walked along talking to Philip, she felt at ease with him, like she was talking to Donnie. Even his presence next to her, she could almost sense she was next to Donnie.
“How long were you married?”
“Almost five years.” She said. “Tomorrow would have been five years...” her voice seemed to trail off.
Philip could sense the regret in her voice; regret that they did not marry sooner.
“Did you have any children?”
“No.” she spoke softly, “No, children. We wanted them; we just weren’t blessed by them.”
“We waited until we were finished with college and established enough in our careers before we got married. If I could take it all back, have it all to do all over again,” Laura stopped. Her voice cracked and trembled. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

Philip wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. Her stroked her long sandy blonde hair smooth. “We cannot think about what might have been, for we never know where we will find ourselves tomorrow.”

His words were like a soothing blanket to her. Laura felt his warmth. She felt the steadfastness of his heartbeat. She knew he was right. She knew that Donnie would not have wanted her regretting their time together.
They strolled along in silence as he embraced her, and she leaned in to his gentle strength.

When they came to Laura’s aunt’s house, she stopped. “Thank you, Philip. It has been very comforting talking to you. Your kind words have helped to strengthen me.”

Laura stood there for what seemed like hours, but only just a second or two, staring into his face. His eyes and his smile reminded her so much of Donnie. But it wasn’t just the color of his eyes, or the shape of his lips. It was something more, something deeper that seemed to capture Donnie’s spirit.

“It’s getting late. I should let you get back to your home.”

Philip took her hand again and kissed her goodnight.

“Would you like to come in for some coffee?” She said quickly before she changed her mind. “I mean, I don’t think I will be able to go back to sleep anytime soon.”

Philip smiled his smile that made her think she was talking to Donnie and not Philip. “I would love some, but I do not want to wake your aunt.”

“Oh, she’s not here. This is her summer home. She let me stay here for a while until I am ready to face life at home again.”

“Well, then, shall we?” He said as he extended a hand to her.

It felt good to be inside. The sea air had been bit chilling.

Laura led Philip to the sunporch off of the kitchen. It faced the water and you could still hear the waves crashing onto the shore from there. She left to go and fix the coffee and returned a few minutes later with the coffee and some toast.
The two sat for a while drinking their coffee and enjoying one another’s presence. As they drank, Philip talked and answered questions about him. He was here on vacation (vacance as he put it) from France (Lorraine). He was a doctor and had been married. But his wife left him for another man, taking their only child, a daughter, with her to Belgium. Lucy, his daughter, was 4, and went to live with her mother and her nanny. He hadn’t seen her in almost 6 months.

She listened as this man poured his soul out to her and felt his loneliness, his emptiness. As she listened to him talk, she couldn’t help but to let her eyes roam over him. He was a little taller than Donnie was, but basically the same build and stature. Dark complexion, thick dark wavy hair, green eyes with long dark curly lashes, stern looking nose, luscious lips (she always loved Donnie’s lips. She thought they were so kissable.) He had a large muscular chest, which she could see through his button down shirt, and large biceps. She didn’t dare venture any lower with her eyes. Everything but his voice told her that this man was Donnie.

Philip couldn’t help but notice Laura staring at him. He wondered if she had been listening to him. He looked at her beautiful sandy blonde hair. He had remembered how it shone golden in the moonlight. She had blue eyes and the palest most porcelain looking skin he had ever seen. He could tell she had been crying a lot, but when she smiled, her eyes looked brilliant like two star sapphires. Her lips were full and ripe, and her cheeks, although slightly sunken with the depression, were round and full when she laughed. Her features were small and delicate and her build was slim. He knew from putting his arm around her that her waist was small. She appeared to be about 30.

Philip stopped talking. Suddenly he felt very drawn to this woman before him. He felt he had known her all his life. He leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips. Laura tried to turn away, she knew she should have, but she too felt drawn to him.

She gasped and touched her lips with her fingers. Laura froze. It was as if a ghost was sitting right there in front of her. Tears filled her eyes.

“Laura, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. I felt something inside of me so strong, I could not resist.”

Laura reached for his hand, closed her eyes and kissed him again. There it was again. She felt it for sure that time. It was the same feeling she had experienced in her dreams. She put his hand to her bosom. Her heart was racing.

“Donnie, I’ve missed you. Kiss me.” She said.

Philip knew she was speaking to her dead husband, but for her sake, he did as she bid him. He kissed her more passionately this time. He looked at Laura who still had her eyes closed.

Laura was still in her robe and nightgown. She was still grieving the loss of her husband. He couldn’t. Not like this. But he couldn’t push away either. There was something else there, almost like a magnetic attraction.

He kissed her again. His tongue searched hers. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her into him. He drank of her sweet lips. He smelled her hair. He became enticingly aroused. He traced the outline of her face with his fingers. He rolled her hair between his fingers. It was soft and silky.

Laura was lost in passion. Her heart was racing; her mind was spinning. She could feel the heat mounting between her legs. Her thought screamed out to Donnie.

Philip scooped her up into his arms and carried her upstairs. He seemed to know just where he was going. Laura clung to him and snuggled into his broad chest. Philip reached her bedroom and stepped inside carrying Laura. He stood set her down next to the bed. He stood there and looked down into her sad blue eyes. Laura looked up at him and smiled.

She couldn’t explain it, but she sensed something deep within him. She reached out and started to unbutton his shirt.

Philip took that as a cue and reached for her robe. He undid the knot and the robe fell open exposing her thin white cotton nightgown. The bodice was pleated with flowers embroidered on it.

Laura finished unbuttoning his shirt and reached inside. His chest was hard and smooth. She drew near to him wrapping her arms around his back under his shirt and kissed his bare chest.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head.

Philip stepped back and reached inside her robe. He traced his hand along the edge of her nightgown at the neckline. It seemed to have a scooped neckline that revealed the very top of her bosom. He reached up to her shoulders and pushed the robe back dropping it to the floor. Laura stood before him in a white nightgown with thin lace straps at the shoulders. Her shoulders were square and tapered. He traced her collarbone. He felt her heart beating within her chest.

Laura pushed his shirt off of his shoulders revealing his rather broad shoulders and chest. Laura’s eyes widened.

“Laura’” he started to say. Laura reached a finger up and pressed it to his lips silencing him.

“I want this. I need this.” She said softly.

Philip reached down to the lace straps and slowly slipped them off her. Her nightgown fluttered to the floor revealing the loveliest pair of 34B breasts he had ever seen.

He reached out to take them.

Laura let out a small gasp. She reached for his pants. She could see the bulge in them already starting to grow and harden. She went to release it from its confines when Philip stopped her.

Her pushed her shoulders back and laid her gently on the bed. Then passionately kissed her lips.

Laura felt the fires burning within her. She felt a stirring that was so foreign and yet so familiar growing deep inside of her.

Philip kissed his way down to her ripe breasts. He thought of them as succulent fruits. He kissed them then took each nipple, one at a time, into his mouth and suckled it.

Laura felt as if she was going to burst. She wanted to rip his pants off of him right then.

Philip felt her heart pounding in her chest. He could almost feel the pulse as it pumped freshly oxygenated blood, new life, so to speak, throughout her body. Her breathing quickened.

He ran his hands down her flat smooth belly. She did indeed have a tiny waist. He came to her panties. He could feel the heat radiating through them. He could almost smell her passion.

He traced along the edges of her panties and over the mound through the material. Laura almost held her breath. Slowly, he dipped a finger in through one of the leg holes. She was already very moist with anticipation. He ran his finger along her damp slit. He dipped a finger in slightly.

Another gasp escaped her lips.
Philip withdrew his finger and licked it. She tasted sweet.
Laura bent her knees up and Philip removed her panties. He ran his fingers down her milky thighs. Her slender legs were creamy and smooth. He turned his attention back to her flesh between her legs. He stroked each fold with long slow strokes. He brushed her clit and dipped a finger inside of her. So warm and moist. She was also tight. He would have to go slow.

Philip stood and removed his pants. His manhood sprang to life. A shiver went down Laura’s spine as she looked at it thinking about what he was going to do to her with it. The sensations she had dreamed about all these months were really going to happen.

Philip returned to her side and kissed her lovingly, tenderly. He looked into her eyes. They seemed to be pleading with him, almost begging him.

He knelt between her legs and rubbed his manhood up and down her slit. He touched the tip of it to her entrance. Laura felt as if she was going to jump out of her skin.

She looked into his eyes and saw the soul of her husband. “Take me,” she uttered quietly.

He entered her slowly pushing only the head in a little bit at a time. She was so tiny; he didn’t want to hurt her. He continued pushing a little bit at a time inside of her, stopping each time to let her adjust to his thickness. He wanted to run her through, but he knew he had to be gentle and take his time.
He wanted her so badly. He desperately needed her as much as she needed him.

When he had finally pushed all of his girth inside her, he felt her insides quivering against him. Laura moaned in passion. He kissed her as she continued to contract around him. When he felt she was finished he slowly began to withdraw from her almost all the way. Then he entered her again, slowly, but a little quicker this time. Each time he picked up the pace a little.

Laura was writhing and taking short breaths now. He knew she was close to another one. He wanted her to hold off and wait for him, but he knew that she couldn’t wait. He didn’t want to hold her back from such pleasure.

She had become accustomed to his size and he quickened the pace. He could feel his passion mounting in his loins.
Laura was now rolling her head back and forth and moaning loudly.
Philip continued a few more strokes, and then he felt himself stiffen inside of her. He pushed one final push and pushed as far into her as he could. He had to plant it deep, he thought. Laura wrapped her arms across his back, and drew her legs up around him.

Philip hit the end of her insides and lost it. Laura felt him touch her spot inside and screamed in passion. The two souls became one in an intertwined orgasmic wave that came crashing down onto the shore. Philip blasted her deep inside with hot seeds. Laura felt her insides receiving them. Her body jolted and tingled all over. Over and over he planted his seeds deep within her.

Philip kissed Laura tenderly as they began to come down from their precipice. Their souls began to separate.

As he collapsed in a heap beside her, she whispered, “I love you.” He knew she was talking to her husband, but he didn’t care.
That night in Laura’s dream, she was again visited by the familiar vision she had seen in her other dreams.
“Happy anniversary, my darling. Tonight I have given you something special. A gift for you to cherish always.”

When Laura awoke the next morning, Philip was gone. She was in her bed under her covers wearing her same nightgown she had on last night.
She smiled as she thought of her dream last night. She rubbed her hands over her belly. Smiling, she felt as if she felt a slight bulge there.