Chapter 5

The holiday season was approaching rapidly.  Classes ended almost two weeks before Christmas and would not start up again until the fifth of January.  We were both happy that finals were over with.  Karen’s grades were actually higher than mine by a quarter of a point.  She held it over my head for a week or so and I had no problem with that at all.  I had made a 3.6 so I was very happy with that.  We did use the ‘down’ time to full advantage, sleeping in and making love on the mornings that neither of us had to work.

Karen insisted that we get a tree for our loft.  The weather had turned chilly and there was a skiff of snow on the morning that she wanted to go out, so we both bundled up and decided just to walk to the lot.

We did not have much room for a big tree so it was fortunate that the tree that Karen considered ‘perfect’ was only about three feet tall.  I paid the man at the lot and he promised to hold it for us since Karen had remembered we needed decorations and was pulling me toward the discount store up the block.

We both had a blast picking out decorations.  Each item was carefully considered since we did not have a lot to spend if we were going to buy presents for the family as well.  In addition to the glass balls and tinsel, Karen had picked out an ornament that she insisted we get.  It was brass, cut into the shape of a pair of doves ‘kissing’..  The vendor that had his booth set up to sell these was kind enough to put our names on one side and ‘First Christmas’ and the date on the other.  I think that Karen’s excitement and enthusiasm had an effect on him as well.  He wished us many more together as he handed over the ornament.

We grabbed the tree and were soon home and decorating it.  We strung popcorn and cranberries and put other decorations around the apartment while we had hot chocolate.  When we were done, the loft looked wonderful.  Karen was satisfied and very proud of herself.  We set back on the old couch and just watched the reflections of the lights in the ornaments.  I wrapped my arms around my lover and she melted against me with a contented sigh.  I had never felt so content myself.  Once again, I though how much Karen had completed something in my life that I had not even realized was missing.  I loved this woman so much, that it hurt sometimes.  I couldn’t imagine what I would be like without her.

I hugged her tighter and kissed her forehead.  She looked up at me.  “What was that for?”

“I was just thinking about how much I love you.”

“Oh.  Well, I love you too you know.”

“I do know and I am thankful that I’m the one you love.”

She leaned into me again.  “No one else but you, honey.”

Christmas Eve, we exchanged presents between us.  We would be going to my folks for the day tomorrow, but this night was for us.  She had bought me a sweater and jacket plus a few other items.  I had found an old volume of poetry that Karen had read from the library, but was no longer in print.  There were also some clothing and jewelry including Opal earrings.  We cleaned up the paper and sat back to watch the tree and finish our tea before we went to bed.

When we got into bed, Karen was very amorous.  She practically attacked me before my back hit the mattress, licking my chest and stroking my balls.  We kissed and made out for a little while.  I got one of her breasts into my mouth and was enjoying the texture of her hard nipple against my tongue as I caressed her smooth ass.  As my fingers moved closer to the separation between her cheeks, she moaned out loud.  Knowing that she liked me to caress her back opening, my hand strayed that way.

I was playing with her ass, rubbing just around her opening and teasing the center.  Karen sat up and stopped me.  I watched as she moved over to the nightstand.  She crawled back over me holding a tube of lubricating gel.  “I have one other present for you tonight.  My ass.  I want you to take my anal cherry.  You can use this to lube me up and get me used to it.”

“Are you sure?  I love your ass, but I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Oh I’m sure.  I have been thinking about it for a long time.  I always love it when you play with my ass.  And the lube will help.”

She turned around and started to lick my balls with her ass pointed toward me.  Taking the hint that she really wanted to do this, I opened the lube and put a large dollop on my finger.  I slid it between her cheeks lubing up all around her opening.  Another squirt and I pushed against her pucker, pushing the lube up inside her.  I did this a couple more times, pushing my finger deep into her ass.  While I was doing this, she was squirming around.  As soon as she loosened up a bit, I added a second finger, finger fucking her anus.

She now had me hard as a rock.  She moved off of me and grabbed the tube and smeared a liberal amount all over the head and shaft of my cock.  Then, she put her head on a pillow, and presented her virgin ass to me.

As I moved into position behind her, I had to marvel at the sight she presented.  Her buttocks were high in the air and her back was arched offering herself to me.  I caressed her ass a bit and then moved my cock up against her pucker.  She moaned as I started to push into her.  She was very tight and I was afraid that I was going to cause her pain.  I pushed a little harder and felt her relax and my head slipped past her anal ring.  She gasped and I quit moving.  She noticed the lack of pressure and grunted out to let her get used to it.

I rubbed her back and down to her breasts while she got used to the feeling of my cock stretching her.  When she pushed back against me, I started to rock back and forth moving a little bit more into her with each thrust.  With her helping by thrusting back against me, I soon was buried into her butt as deep as I could get.  She felt my balls touch her pussy and she groaned.  “I can’t believe I took it all.  Now Dave, start to fuck me and I want you to cum in my ass.”

I pulled about a third of the way out and started thrusting.  She was matching my rhythm and I was soon giving her full strokes.  She reached back with one hand and jammed three fingers into her pussy, rubbing her clit with her palm.  She soon took off like a rocket, shuddering and gasping in her orgasm.  When she tightened her anus around my cock, it was all I could take.  I had been on the verge because of the soft tightness of her anal passage and this was all I could take.  I shoved hard into her and shot my load deep in her bowels. She must have felt the spasms of my cock because it sent her over again.

As she started coming down, she pulled her hand out of her pussy and her legs gave out.  She dropped down to lay flat on the bed.  I followed her down and lay on her back, my cock still trapped in her ass.  My cock finally went down enough to slide out of her and I rolled off her.  I could see her face now.  She was flushed from the excitement and was still panting hard.  She looked at me and grinned.  “Damn, I did it.  It felt so neat.  I felt so stuffed and then when I put my fingers in my pussy, it sent me over the edge.”

“That was fantastic.  I always wanted to do that, but didn’t want to ask.  Thank you.  That was one hell of a present.”

“It was great, but now I’ve got to go to the bathroom.  You are starting to try and leak out.”  She rolled off the bed and walked gingerly out of the door and into the bathroom.  I waited until I heard the shower start, and then went in to join her washing her violated ass very carefully while not neglecting the rest of her.  Then we dried off and went back to bed, this time to sleep.

The alarm went off at eight-thirty.  I shut it off and leaned over and gave Karen a kiss.  “Merry Christmas, Sweetheart.”  She returned the kiss and wished me the same.  I got up and started dressing, but I noticed that Karen was moving more gingerly.  I asked if she was all right.

“I’m a little sore back there.  I didn’t notice it last night, but I am a little bit tender.  I want to do it again, but not for a while.”

We finally got ready and put the presents we had for our family into the car and headed to Dad and Mom’s.  They were just getting coffee when we arrived.  Mom was in her robe and Mike was in his pajamas.  As soon as everyone had his or her favorite beverage, we adjourned to the den where the presents were located.

Dad had Christmas Carols on the stereo and I thought how I wished Karen and Mike could enjoy that part of the holiday.  There was something about the music that gave you a feeling of closeness with loved ones.  Their large tree was in the corner of the den and at its base was a pile of brightly wrapped gifts.  Mike did the honors of passing them around and soon we were buried in wrapping and boxes as the gifts were opened and praised.

Karen’s father had sent several boxes of gifts from where he was stationed.  We had sent a box to him earlier but had not thought about him returning the same thing since they had come to my parent’s house. There were some jade figurines for Mom and Dad, a collection of Japanese cartoons for Mike who had delved into Anime this year.  I received a silk robe and Karen, a Japanese kimono.  She couldn’t wait to get hold of Sumiko so she could show her how to wear it properly.

There were the usual gifts among the other family members.  Clothes and jewelry for the ladies and tools for the men.  Books and DVDs and all sorts of useful items were exchanged.  Our gift to Mom and Dad was well appreciated.  It was a certificate for dinner and a show with a note that we would keep Mike at our place so they would have the whole weekend to themselves.  They never took a night out alone, and this was a chance to get ‘acquainted’ again.

During the day, friends and colleagues showed up at the house.  We had always had an open house on Christmas after noon and during the evening.  A couple of the partners in Dad’s firm quizzed me on my classes and offered advice.  Karen was a little nervous with all the new people, but she held up well.  She spent a lot of time in the kitchen helping to keep the buffet full.  She was also fascinated in watching the conversations that were going on.  Most of the people didn’t realize that she read lips, and would know what they were saying from across the room.  I saw her blush a few times when she would ‘hear’ a juicy tidbit about some affair that was going on or when some of the men commented on ‘that pretty young gal that was helping out’ and realizing they were talking about her.

Halfway through the afternoon, she grabbed my hand and asked me to help her get something from upstairs.  I followed her up and she led me into my old room that was now a sewing room for Mom.

“What did you want me to help with?”

She lifted her skirt.  “I need you to help with this.  After seeing some of the conversations today I got so horny I’m about to burst!”

I slid my hand inside her panties and she was soaked.  I started to play around her clit as she pulled me into a tight embrace and locking her mouth to mine.  It didn’t take long before she was spasming in orgasm.  As soon as she came down, she unzipped the front of my slacks and pulled my cock out.  She latched onto the head with her mouth and went to work.  I came in her mouth and she swallowed it, and then continued to suck me until I started to lose my erection.  She tucked me back into my pants and then licked her lips.

Then she wandered back downstairs, leaving me to try and absorb what had just happened.  I decided that she would have to tell me what she had ‘heard’ that had gotten her so worked up.  After a couple moments, I checked to make sure I was presentable and made my way downstairs.

I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the day.  I know that Grandma and Grandpa A came and stayed for a couple of hours, but other than the thanks for the gift, I couldn’t tell you what was said.  That spontaneous blowjob was on my mind the rest of the day.

Later that night after making love, we were snuggling up together when Karen told me about what had made her so hot.  “One of the wives of a senior partner in your dad’s law firm was talking to another woman about having a threesome with the nanny that worked for them.  The two women were lovers, and they surprised the husband by coming into the bedroom with both of them dressed in the same outfits.  She got very detailed, but they ended up wearing her husband out and then doing each other until they were exhausted.  I got to thinking about what she was talking about and I would get more excited.  The more excited I got the more I thought about it.  I couldn’t stand it any longer and just had to find you.” 

Thinking about what had turned Karen on so much combined with her warm body pressing against me, gave me another erection.  Karen felt it against her tummy and reached down squeezing me gently.  “I must have made you excited as well.  Let’s take care of that right now.”

She pulled me over on top of her and I slid into her soft, wet tunnel.  She must have been turned on as well because she started moaning as soon as our pubic hair met.  Since I had climaxed twice today already, I could go for a while before exploding again.  I settled into a slow rhythm and moving my hips to try different angles.  I was rubbing against every nerve ending in her vagina and Karen came three times before I shot off inside her.  She was exhausted because she had never really come down before she would start the climb to another orgasm.  It was almost like coming for 20 minutes straight.

I pulled my shrinking cock out of her and gently gave her a kiss on each of her pussy lips before moving up to kiss the other set.  She returned the kiss and lay back almost asleep already.  I put a hand towel between her legs so it would catch our juices as they drained out of her and then turned off the light and fell into a dreamless sleep.

We had a small party at our loft for New Year’s.  Dad supplied a couple of bottles of champagne and those arriving brought the liquor they preferred.  Karen’s study group was there along with Larry and Lisa.  Francine and Dana had brought dates and were not staying too long.

At the stroke of midnight, we all gave a toast and I got a great kiss.  Then we all kicked back.  Larry and Lisa were staying the night and Sumiko and Ayelen decided they would camp out on the floor as well.  Since the old couch pulled out as a bed, we had room, but barely.

After finding something for the girls to sleep in, we all relaxed in the living area.  We all came to know one another better after that night.  It started by Lisa calling for a truth or dare game but just skipping the dare part.  Everyone was lubricated with enough booze to agree though we had to explain to Karen how the game worked.

The truths were mild at first. ‘Who was your first kiss?’ and ‘When did you first start thinking about sex?’ were the style.  Ayelen broke the ice by asking Karen if she preferred giving or receiving oral sex.

“Receiving definitely, but that is because Dave is so good at it.”  That got a round of laughter from the girls and a red face from me.  From there it got more interesting.  We found out that Sumiko was still a virgin, that Ayelen was bi-sexual, Karen told of our first time, and Larry admitted that Lisa had been his first.  

I think Lisa had the shocker of all of us.  She admitted to being abused by her uncle for three years from the time she was 12.  Her mother had never believed that her brother would do such a thing until she found him holding her daughter down and shoving his cock into her mouth.  He was tried and found guilty, but Lisa said that it was horrible.

I did some math in my head.  “Was that why you turned me down when I asked you to that junior high dance?”

“Yeah, I was afraid you would find out my secret.”

“I’m glad it just wasn’t me, but I wish you would have said something.  Maybe I could have helped.”

“I know, Dave.  You were always trying to right the wrongs of the world.  I remember when you beat up Ricky Martin for trying to yank my panties down on the playground.  But this was something that was too big for you to handle.  I was just glad that you were a friend to me.  Then, you introduced Larry and me and we have been together since.”

We looked over at Larry who had fallen over against the end of the couch.  A loud snore came from him just then.  That effectively ended the evening.  Lisa slid him down until he was laying flat and covered him up.  Karen and I headed to our bed and the other two made up their cots.  One final kiss and we went to bed.

I had to get up to drain my bladder an hour later.  I stumbled into the bathroom and as I was finishing up, I thought I heard a low moan.  I made my way back to our room and I looked over to where Ayelen and Sumiko were lying together in a tight embrace.  They were talking by then and could have sworn that there were some kisses along the way.  As quietly as possible, I made it back to our bed but I dreamed about those two lovely women.

The next morning I woke up hung over.  I found the acetaminophen and some orange juice, and then started a pot of coffee.  Sumiko smelled the coffee and got up next.  I handed her the bottle of pain reliever.  She gave me a grateful smile and swallowed them on her way to the bathroom.  She came back out and asked if we had any tea.  I was doing a little better so I started the water and got out the loose tea.  Once her tea was ready, we sat at the table talking quietly.

“Did you get up last night?”  She was looking down at her cup when she asked.

“Yeah, it was me.  That booze doesn’t stay with me very long.”

“I was hoping it was Karen.  She wouldn’t have heard.”

“Heard what?”

I could see her turning red.  “Ayelen and I.  We were just talking after everyone went to bed.  Then she offered to show me what kissing felt like.  And we just went from there.  I guess I got a little loud.  I am embarrassed now.”

“Sumiko, you have nothing to be embarrassed about.  You were curious and you found out that it was enjoyable.  Nothing wrong with that.”

“But you must think badly of me now.”

I put my hand on her arm.  “We don’t think any different about you.  You are still the same person that you were yesterday.  A person who Karen adores and I care a lot about.  What you do and who it is with is not our concern.  As long as it is your decision.”

She smiled at me then and gave a quiet thank you.  We didn’t say anything else since the rest of the group was starting to stir.  One by one, they hit the Tylenol and the bathroom then came in to get their beverage of choice.  Karen offered to make breakfast but the group begged off.  By noon, everyone was gone and Karen and I cleaned up and settled down to watch TV.  

Karen asked why Sumiko was acting a little strange before she left.  I explained what I had heard during the night and the conversation we had this morning.  “Oh, is that all?  No need to for her to feel bad.  I’m a little curious how different it would be from when you kiss and other things.”  She snuggled down against my chest and in a few minutes she was asleep.  I pulled a cover over her and went back to the game that was on.

The next semester was a killer for me.  I took Constitutional Law and Contractual law at once.  I felt buried in homework.  About five weeks into the courses, I was close to burnout.  I had also put Karen off many more times than I should have.  I really felt bad about that and kept apologizing to her for ignoring her.  She told me not to worry about it, but it was completely unfair.

One Thursday, she found me once again asleep on my books at the table.  She had gone on to bed a couple hours before and woke up without me in the bed with her.  Unknown to me, this was the last straw for her.  She steered me into bed and shut off the alarm.

I woke up late for class the next day.  I was really pissed off about not hearing the alarm and missing half my class.  I started to jump up and shower, when Karen stopped me.

“You are not going to class today.  Furthermore, you are not going to pick up a schoolbook all weekend.  It is about time you stepped back and looked at what you are doing to yourself..”

“Damnit Karen, I can’t afford to do that!  I have to get these classes done and I have to get top scores.  It’s important!”  I was almost to the point of yelling.

“Are your grades more important than everything else in your life?  How about your health?  I’ve been watching you drinking coffee by the gallon and eating those ‘legal’ pep pills.  I know what’s in those things.  That much ephedrine could KILL you.  Your hands shake and you are snapping at everyone around you.  

Now you listen to me, David Dawson, and you listen good.  I won’t stand by and watch you destroy yourself just to get good grades.  Your GPA is high enough to withstand a minor drop if it comes to that.  But don’t forget about the rest of your life.”

I wanted to lash out at her, but her words stopped me.  I sat down on the bed in full realization that everything she had just told me was true.  I hadn’t told her about the chest cramps and the feeling that my heart was coming out of my chest.  How I would come to bed and not be able to sleep because my mind wouldn’t let me. And how I would pass out in class from exhaustion.  But mostly, I hadn’t told her that one of the guys in my class had got some of the real thing since the other stuff wasn’t working.

Damn, I was becoming obsessed with the work and blind to all else.  I was being a total ass.  As it sunk in what Karen had said to me, I started to shake.  Tears that I had not felt in years were trickling down my face.  This woman that I loved so much was trying to keep me from destroying myself and I was jumping down her throat because of it.

Karen came around the bed and put her arms around my shoulders.  I felt her tears drop onto my shoulder.  Looking up I saw something that I had not seen in her eyes before - fear.  Fear that something would happen to me and we would no longer be together.  I think that raw emotion, one of our most basic, finally got to me.

“I don’t know what to do but I need to do something.  I am not sure if I can stop.”

Karen gave me a hug.  “You will have me here to help.  And that is all that matters.”

And help me she did.  I was surprised at how much I had been depending on the speed to keep me going.  We both stayed home that day.  My body, without the junk in my system, started to go through withdrawals.  The first day I slept a lot.  But it was broken with the craving that I needed the drug.  I crashed-HARD.  I tried to control my mood swings, but I know I lashed out at Karen.  I was depressed.  The only bright spot was that I was starting to eat.  By the end of the weekend, I had passed through the worst part of the withdrawal.  Karen emailed my counselor and told him that we had a family emergency and that we would not be in for a week.  Then she made reservations for a cabin in the mountains.  She packed us both up and drove us up to where there was no phone, no textbooks and nothing but us.

That week was precious and very healing to me.  We walked through the little town nearby, checking out the shops and enjoying the locals.  We watched the late February snow fall onto the evergreens.  We hiked all around the cabin.

But most of all, we talked.  Honest talk about our future together.  She got me to realize that school and a career would be worth nothing if I were not around to enjoy it.  And I wanted to enjoy my life.  A life that included Karen.  She had stood by me through this and she did it out of her love for me.  I promised myself to repay her for it if it took the rest of my life.  

I started by promising myself that Karen would always come first from now on.  I wouldn’t ever take her for granted again.  My priorities in order now, I started on the first part.  Karen and I reconnected that week.  We made love as often as we could.  We gave each other massages and foot rubs.  We did little things for each other.  And we laughed more than we had since the semester started.

We went back to our loft having found ourselves again.  I struggled to keep up but did it without the pills and with time for Karen and myself.  And my grades didn’t really suffer.  In fact, by managing my time better, I was able to make the studying more worthwhile.

Spring break was spent at home for us, since we had spent our vacation money during my crisis.  The night out that we gave my parents for Christmas went so well that we took my brother off their hand a few more times.  He loved coming over to our loft, especially when one of Karen’s study friends was there.  They all thought he was adorable and he was in hormone-filled heaven.  He would sit quietly and watch their every movement, all the while dreaming what all fourteen year olds dream about.

One evening, Dana was over while Mike was spending the night.  She had been out on a date and she really looked hot.  She had on a skirt that barely covered her ass and a blue silk top that the neckline showed an ample amount of cleavage.  To top it off, she had on a demi-bra and her nipples would occasionally make themselves known.  Poor Mike could barely keep his eyes off her when she came in.  Mike was on the floor and when Dana sat in the only easy chair we had, she was showing her leg up to her hip.  By then, Mike must have been sporting a painful erection that he was trying to hide with a throw pillow.  When Karen leaned across from the couch to hand a paper to Dana,  the space was enough that Dana had to stretch and in doing so lifted one leg for balance.  Mike’s eyes got HUGE and then he jumped up and ran for the bathroom.  Dana and Karen watched him go with questions on their faces.

“Dana, he has been watching you since you walked in.  He wasn’t just holding that pillow in his lap to have a place to put his hands.  And when you leaned over, I think he got a peek at your underwear.  I think it was too much for him.”

Dana then cracked up.  “I was feeling a little naughty tonight, so I didn’t wear any.”

“Damn, you gave him a free shot of your pussy.  No wonder he took off like that.  At his age, I would have too.”

“Well, that wasn’t fair to him.  Even if it was accidental.  I’ll try and be careful.”

We had calmed down enough to hold a normal conversation by the time Mike came back in.  I wasn’t the only one who noticed he had changed pants, but nobody said a thing about it and he settled back down.

When Dana got ready to leave, she went over to Mike and gave him a nice kiss on the cheek.  His eyes went down to her cleavage but pulled back in time to think he hadn’t been caught.  “Thanks for the compliment, Mike.” she said as she stood to walk to the door.  He turned red, but still had his hand on his cheek where she had kissed him.

With a cheerful wave, she headed back to the dorm.  I knew that Mike had enough fantasies now to last him a long while.  Karen and I turned in shortly after that to give Mike enough time to get rid of the erection he was still sporting from Dana’s kiss.

As soon as we closed the door, Karen dove on the bed to smother her laughter.  “I kept glancing over at Mike after I saw he was fidgeting.  That kid didn’t stand a chance the way his eyes were following her every curve.  And she is pretty which made it that much worse.  What you don’t know Dave is that she shaves completely.  There was nothing to interfere with his view.”

While I was listening to her I had been undressing.  I will admit the last part intrigued me as well as I imagined Dana’s naked, wet pussy.  My cock twitched and Karen saw it.

“I see you find that interesting too.”

“I won’t lie, I wondered about what he saw.”

“Tell you what lover, I’ll shave sometime so you can get a close look.  It won’t be Dana but you can get the idea.”

“I like yours better anyway.  With you I get a close up view - and a taste as well.”  Karen giggled as I tackled her on the bed.  We started kissing and ended up making love, but keeping quiet so we wouldn’t disturb Mike.  That is if he wasn’t lost in his own little world.

For some reason, Karen picked up an admirer during the semester.  It sure wasn’t her idea.  She had finally got to where she took the guy’s looks in stride and the ring on her finger made sure that most guys stayed away and just looked.  However, this guy thought he was something special and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

When he tried to ask her out, she told him she was flattered, but that she was already very involved.  He couldn’t take a hint, a very bold hint at that.  He started to follow her around.  Now Karen was starting to get frightened.  We talked it over and she agreed to talk to campus security and get an escort when I couldn’t be there to walk her to her next class.  He then started to follow us staying far back that we couldn’t really catch him at it.  Whenever he could catch her going in or out, he would try and rub against her.  He would leave her notes on the seat she was assigned to.

I wanted to confront him, but Karen knew what I would probably do.  She convinced me to let her handle it.  It got to the point that she finally had to get a restraining order against him that he had to stay at least one hundred feet away.

That was when he started calling the loft.  I had an answering machine on the line so I would know who called since Karen couldn’t hear the phone and she often didn’t see the light attached.  The calls were filled with anger about Karen’s rejection of him.  Then he would declare that she would realize soon that he was the one for her.  I changed the tapes frequently, labeling them in the event that we would need evidence against him.

When the threats turned violent, we contacted the police.  They told us that there wasn’t much they could do until he tried something,   but that they would open a file and make copies of the tapes from the answering machine.  We needed more proof of stalking before they would act.

It was a Saturday night and we had Mike over again.  We were both working on assignments on the kitchen table and Mike was laying on the couch reading.  Karen convinced me to run to the store and grab her some chocolate-chocolate chip ice cream.  I slipped my shoes on and went in and asked Mike if he wanted anything.  Receiving a negative reply, I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.  I got to the bottom of the stairs and everything went black.

I came to in the back of an ambulance.  Karen was sitting next to the EMT across from me.  My head hurt like hell.  I could see that her clothing was ripped and that she had been crying.  I tried to sit up but found out that I was strapped down and had a neck brace on.  Karen saw that I was conscious and reached over to take my hand.  When we got to the hospital, they checked us both out.  I had a slight concussion, but other than that, I was all right.  Karen had some scratches and bruises but otherwise she was in good shape, at least physically.  As the doctors finished up, a large man entered and identified himself as Inspector Carlton.  Then he looked closely at Karen when she didn’t acknowledge his presence.  She had been looking at me and didn’t see him enter.

He thought for a moment, and then when I got Karen to look up at him, his face took on a look of recognition.  “I remember you from last year.  Domestic violence, mother/daughter.  How have you been, Karen?”

“Much better until tonight.”  I could feel her hand shaking, but she was trying to keep an appearance of composure.

“I’m sorry about that.  But that is why I am here.  I need statements from both of you.  Just tell me what you remember.”

My statement didn’t take long since all I could remember was walking down the steps.  However, between Karen’s statement and what Inspector Carlton could tell us, I got a good idea what had gone on.

Miguel Ramos, Karen’s stalker, had been outside when I started to leave.  Seeing his chance to make good on his threats, he had beaned me with a baseball bat.  He snuck up the stairs and jimmied the bottom lock on the door.  He snuck up behind Karen while she sat at the table and pulled her out of the chair, trying to rip her clothes off with one hand while the other was around her throat.  He wasn’t getting anywhere so he threw her onto the floor and started to take off his pants.

Mike felt the vibrations when Karen was shoved to the floor.  He looked up and saw what was going on.  He picked up a lead crystal vase and broke it over his head.  When he hit the floor, the two of them ran to Grandma A’s back door and got their attention.  Grandma called for help while Grandpa took a shotgun and went into the loft to make sure Miguel stayed where he was.

The four police cars got there in minutes.  They found me by my car, unconscious, and Miguel was just coming to upstairs.  Grandpa A. let them take care of him and the police had him in custody on the prison wing in the hospital.

Since Karen had scratched him, they took samples from under her fingernails and pictures of the scratches and bruises on her body.  Then they let Mike in with us.  About a half-hour later, Mom and Dad showed up looking all worried until they saw us all sitting up and talking.  Karen and Mike gave them the rundown on what had happened.  They were aware of the situation, but couldn’t believe that it had come to this.  Mike was the hero of the day and he was soaking up the attention he was getting.  Then we went home with mom and dad for the night.

We had to go to the police station to do the formal statements with the DA.  After we all finished, he told us that Miguel would be charged tomorrow with attempted murder and assault to commit murder for his attack on me and attempted rape, stalking, and breaking and entering.  There was also a good shot at attempted murder, pre meditated because of the tapes we had give the police.

“That was a very brave, but dangerous thing you did, young man.” the ADA told Mike.  “You prevented a very bad thing from happening.”

Mike looked very serious at the man.  “I had to protect my sister.  I couldn’t let him hurt her.”

Karen had tears in her eyes as she smiled at him.  By calling her his sister, Mike had let her know how he really felt about her.

For the next few weeks, Mike was a hero at his school.  He even got mentioned in the papers for having saved Karen’s life.  He took it well and it soon died down.  He didn’t know that Mom told us later that he had been having nightmares about it.

I was back in shape within a week.  I had a bald spot on the back of my head where they had shaved my head to put the eight stitches in but otherwise I was normal.  Karen’s bruises and cuts healed, leaving no mark.  She felt some fear about what had happened, but made herself face it and get on with her schoolwork.  She had bad dreams off and on, waking up screaming, but these started to fade as well.  Grandpa A had a new door with double locks and a peephole in as well as a doorbell that had a flashing red light along with the chimes.

Miguel was held without bail.  It seemed he was linked to two other rapes that had happened on campus last year.  With him behind bars, we could rest easier at least until the trial.

Besides, we had other things to worry about.  School was ending for the year and there was going to be a wedding at the end of June.   Mom and Karen had been working on how they wanted everything.  They arranged for a small chapel that was sitting in a park.  It was non-denominational and often used for weddings.  The plan was then to use a ballroom at one of the hotels for the reception.  Dad and Mom set us up on a honeymoon cruise.  There were hundreds of details that I was not privy to which really suited me just fine.  I still had to finish my term papers and both classes were still killing me.

We both passed our finals with no problem.  I had passed with enough points to keep my scholarship for the next year.  Karen’s were very close to mine so she was fine as well.

We held a small get together at our loft, sort of a ‘we survived the year of college’ party.   Dana came with her boyfriend, as did Francine.  Ayelen showed up by herself as usual.  She was enjoying the freedom of dating both boys and girls too much to settle on just one person.  When Karen asked her about it, she told us that her parents lived on the reservation in South Dakota and were strict about who she was allowed to see.  “I want to enjoy my freedom while I can before I settle down.  You two have something special, but I haven’t found it yet.  Until I do, I might as well have some fun.”

Sumiko had left immediately after classes were over.  Her Grandmother in Japan was dying and she wanted to see her.  She had wanted to leave once she had heard, but her parents had insisted that she finish the year.  Her grandmother was so proud that she was attending an American school that she needed to finish.

There wasn’t any booze other than a couple of beers Dana’s boyfriend had with him. We used the patio and driveway and borrowed a grill for burgers and dogs.  It was an easy day but filled with goodbyes, some tearful, and promises of getting back together the next year.  One by one, they left returning to their homes and families.   Ayelen was coming back after a visit home since she had found a summer job here and was to be Karen’s maid of honor.  The other girls were to be bridesmaids, so they would all be flying back in about 5 weeks.  Larry was going to be my Best Man, even though nobody had seen him in a suit since the senior prom.  Even at graduation, he had worn cutoffs and a t-shirt.  

After the party, I was cleaning up the grill while Karen picked up the plastic glasses and the used plates.  She came over and gave me a hug from behind.  I turned around to return the affectionate gesture and saw a look of reflection on her face.  I asked what was the matter.

“When I was a little girl, I would dream of having friends, a husband, and kids.  Mother convinced me that I could never lead a normal life.  Nobody would want a ‘retard’ as she so nicely put it.  When we met, I was scared to even hope for a friendship, much less a love life, even though I thought you were the most gorgeous man in the world. 

Then you actually came over and talked to me.  You can’t believe how scared I was, but there was also a lot of excitement mixed in.  Then, we started to go out and I started to believe.  That spark of believing in myself, in my dreams, started to grow and I just realized that they have come true.  You have made them all come to life and helped me to live them.  And I love you so much for that.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”  I could have argued that she was the one who took the chance and allowed herself to believe in her dreams again, but when you have a beautiful woman holding you and that look of love in her eyes, you just go with it.  Sometimes words are unnecessary.

The next weeks were a blur of helping with the arrangements.  Sampling the food from different caterers was a blast as was finding a baker for the cake.  I begged off the trips for the flowers, gowns, color choices, and all those other decisions that really didn’t need my input, which would have earned me a look of scorn if I had said anything.  

All the men in the wedding party met at the rental place to be fitted for our tuxedos.  Then we went to a couple of bars for a makeshift bachelor party.  They got me well lit, but not stumbling drunk.  Dad got me home and apologized to Karen about my condition.  She just shook her head and smiled as she helped him to get me on the bed.  When she came back in from letting Dad out, she found me struggling to remove my clothes and laughing at my own inability.  Giving a big sigh, she finished undressing me, made me take a couple of pain killers and a big glass of water and put me to bed.  I immediately fell into a sleep that only alcohol can produce.

The next day, she gave me hell about my condition.  Not angry, but giggling about how silly I looked and sounded.  According to her, I was singing throughout the undressing and she was very glad to be deaf for once.  She could just imagine how I sounded from the contortions my mouth was going through.

The day finally arrived.  The wedding guests had grown to fill the church.  I was standing next to the altar shifting my weight from foot to foot and fidgeting, trying to get rid of the case of nerves that I had been trying to dispel since I woke up.  The preacher was on my right and Larry on my left.  I figured if I passed out they would catch me.

I heard the organ start the music and the procession started.  After I saw Karen in her gown, I forgot everything else.  She moved down the aisle with a grace that amazed me.  I briefly glanced to her father who was wearing an expression that was a mixture of pride and perhaps a bit of loss.  His little girl was getting married.  When he brought her up to the front, I noticed a tear in the corner of his eye.

Then my eyes were on Karen only.  She turned to look at me smiling, then turned her attention to the minister.  She watched closely, reading his lips as he did the standard service.  During the vows, we had worked out a signal that when he was finished with her part, I would squeeze her hand so she would know when to say, “I do.”

I was so involved watching her I almost forgot to give the signal.  When I realized the minister was waiting for her answer, I squeezed and she said the words.  Then I slipped the ring on her finger and got to kiss my wife.

We got through the reception just fine.  Our first dance as husband and wife, the father/daughter dance, and the speeches.  Larry did a good speech wishing us well as did my dad.  Then George stood for a toast.

“Dave, Karen, ladies and gentlemen.  I remember my first sight of my daughter.  She was a bundle of joy and I instantly loved her.  And in her eyes, you could see that she loved me too.  I fixed her scraped knees and hurt feelings.  And she always loved her daddy.  I turned around and suddenly she was no longer the little girl in pigtails but a beautiful young woman.  When Karen met Dave, I was torn.  I was happy that she had found her soulmate, but I knew I had to share the love of my little girl.  And now, when I look at the beautiful woman who is now married and will have children of her own someday, I will always remember that little girl.  I love you Karen, and I wish you and Dave all the best.”  Then he signed ‘Love you Babygirl’.

Karen walked over and wrapped her arms around him.  “I love you too, Daddy.”  Their embrace ended with tears and a smile.  The band started up again and we got ready to leave.  Karen went to our suite to change and I followed.  Our bags were already at the airport where we would shortly be heading.  George planned to use the suite for the night and then he was going to stay at our loft for a few days before heading back.  He would return my tux and get Karen’s dress taken care of.

The limo was ready to take us to the airport for the flight to Los Angeles where we would be boarding another plane to Tahiti.  Karen leaned over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.  Then she put her head on my chest.  She felt the beat of my heart.  “My life is now complete.  I can feel the sound of your love for me and that is all I need.”

I put my arms around her and just held her.  I had the rest of my life to let her know that I felt the same.

----------===== FINIS =====-----------