Waiting for You - Chapter 31 -- The Mike and Carrie Fan-Fic Board

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Date Posted: 21:31:04 01/14/04 Wed
Author: Lakota
Subject: Waiting for You - Chapter 31

Waiting for You � Chapter 31

Telephone poles, light standards, pedestrians and mailboxes all went by at steady intervals as Sami continued staring out the passenger side window not really seeing anything, her mind somewhere else.

�They�ll be all right.�

Sami vaguely was aware she was being talked to but had no idea of what had been said.

�Sami?� Lucas said unsure if she hadn�t heard him or had and was ignoring him.

�What?� she asked, still not looking in his direction.

�I said they�ll be all right.�

�How can you say that? None of us knows what will happen. We don�t even know where Jack and Mike are headed.� There was a tone of agitation in Sami�s voice.

�I meant Carrie and Jennifer,� Lucas explained. He knew Sami well enough to understand she wasn�t angry at him. Something else was bothering her.

�Oh��sorry.�

�Do you want to talk about it?�

Sami shook her head and continued staring out the window. Some ten minutes went by before she sat up and looked at a few of the buildings.

�Lucas, this isn�t Manhattan.�

�I know.�

�But�..I thought we were going to the hotel.�

�We will a little later. There�s something I want to show you first.�

�What?�

�You�ll see.�

�Just tell me where we�re going,� she ordered with irritation. �I�ve had all the surprises I can take for one day.�

�We�re almost there,� Lucas responded in a never-changing calm voice.

Sami crossed her arms, sat back and fumed. The business streets became residential for a few miles and after that, open fields on either side. Sami remained silent, dueling with the emotions she refused to talk about. The car came to a four-way intersection bisecting fields overgrown with weeds. Lucas turned to the right and traveled another couple of miles before stopping the car in front of a mesh fence topped with three angled tiers of barbed wire.

�Okay, we�re here. Come on, get out and stretch your legs. I�ve got something to show you.�

�Where exactly is �here�?� Sami asked looking out the window at the endless fields divided by the fence. �I don�t want to get out of the car, Lucas. I�ll probably get a run in my stockings from the weeds, ruin my last good pair until pay day�.or worse, I�ll step on a rock or in a hole,�sprain or break my ankle��

��will you just shut up and get out of the car?� Lucas said in a firm voice, conveying in it he had held his temper in check far longer than he probably should have given Sami�s behavior.

She caught a glimpse of Lucas�s face from the corner of her eye and saw the firm set of his jaw. Demurely, she looked for the handle to open the car door. Lucas got out, came around and held his hand for her to take as she stood up. Sami found it difficult to look him in the eye. She knew it was wrong to be taking out whatever was bothering her on him but she couldn�t seem to help herself. Lucas looked up into the sunlight, shading his eyes with his hand.

�It shouldn�t be long.�

Sami looked at him hoping for an explanation and got none. She shook her head and stared back at the car growing more impatient.

�There! There comes one!� he shouted. He pointed through the fence at something shiny that kept growing larger as it approached.

�Lucas, what are we doing out here��..Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!�

Drowning out her last word was the sound of aircraft engines as the plane roared over them only a couple of hundred feet into the air, casting its shadow along the road they had recently taken to the spot where they stood.

�Here comes another one!� Lucas warned before waving and giving a �thumbs up� to it as the bomber passed over them. It seemed so near Sami instinctively crouched down momentarily. When she looked back at Lucas she saw a huge smile on his face � like that of a little boy on Christmas morning.

�That�s the kind of plane I fly in, Sami, a B-17� he said still watching the two planes climb as they grew smaller, melding with the sky until they became invisible.

�I know. I helped build some of them.�

Lucas looked over at her and grinned.

�That�s right. I used to wonder if one of them I was in had rivets driven in it or welding done by you.�

�Did you?�

�Uh-huh. I figured I�d be safe if you had.�

Sami looked away pretending to be interested in seeing if another Flying Fortress was preparing for take off, Lucas�s remark touching her more deeply than she understood. A minute later one zoomed over them.

�What are they doing flying today? It�s Easter Sunday,� she practically screamed to be heard.

�Getting in practice time�..learning to work as a crew. The guys are probably far from home so they�ll log some flight time, eat in the mess hall and try to call family later. Do you know when you�re in the plane, by the time you get to this spot you can still make out the faces of people on the ground?�

�I would guess so. I can see the guys, especially in the gunnery positions,� Sami said.

�Sometimes, kids on bikes will be out here. They wave at us. They�re far enough to the side there�s no danger of them being hit if the plane ditches.�

Sami walked a few steps away from him as he said the last remark trying to rid her imagination of the picture his words created in her mind.

�From my position as tail gunner I see everything last�looking backward so I always wave or do something so the kids know we�ve seen them. They get a kick out of it.�

�You really do love flying, don�t you?� Sami asked.

�Yeah, I really do,� he answered with sincerity. �Just thought I�d bring you to �my office� so you could see where I work.�

Sami smiled moments before a wave of emotion passed through her and she began to involuntarily sob. Lucas hadn�t been prepared for this reaction. He quickly put his arms about her. He suddenly remembered she hadn�t cried at the docks, remaining strong for Carrie and Jennifer the whole time. He let her cry for several minutes without interruption, soothingly running his hands up and down her back. Taking gasps of air Sami took the handkerchief Lucas offered her.

�I�m sorry�.I so sorry.�

�It�s okay.�

�No, it isn�t. I�ve been terrible to you ever since we left the apartment this morning.�

�I didn�t notice��much.�

Sami felt a small smile lurking at the corners of her mouth.

�It�s�..it�s just�.just that�.�

��come on, let�s go have you sit in the car before you talk��

She sat on the passenger�s side with the door open. Lucas squatted down on his heels, like a baseball catcher, in front of her and let her feel free to talk when she was ready.

�I had such a nice day planned. I was thinking Mike and Carrie would see each other and get back together��

��which they did�.�

�True, but I didn�t want it to happen that way. Now, they�re going to be apart again�.so are Jennifer and Jack. I know that what we�re doing is right�.the allies, I mean. Hitler, Mussolini and Hirohito have to be stopped. I am a patriot. I volunteer at the USO, I save rations coupons, buy war stamps and bonds, but��..I can�t help it. I want this war to end. It�s gone on over two years for us�.and the allies, it�s been four. I just feel like it�. keeps coming closer and closer to us�..to me I felt it today when I watched those four ships sail and thought that not only did I know and love two people on board but thousands of other people had their sons, brothers, husbands, boyfriends�.fathers on those ships, too. I got scared.�

�Scared,�.of what?� Lucas quietly asked � taking her hand and holding it.

�Not all of those men are going to come home, Lucas. We�ve been lucky�.our family and friends, so far�..except for Austin dying on Bataan. But, the more of you that go, the odds of something bad happening increase, too. The other part of it is that sometimes I want to talk about the fear I have but I can�t. On the phone Mom gets upset thinking of Eric at sea and, now, Brady�s pushing them about enlisting.�

�I didn�t know that. When did that happen?�

�Last month. John says Brady has to do what he thinks is right which doesn�t make Mom happy though she realizes Brady will do what he wants. Now�..Mike and Jack are headed for some place over there and then�..it�ll be you. I know those of us on the home front have to be strong, confident, positive and supportive.�

�You did that today�at the docks.�

�Yeah,�now look at me.�
�Baby�..everyone�and I mean, everyone�.has to live with the fear. You aren�t alone in that nor are you alone about wanting the war to end. I�d end it tomorrow if I knew how. Until it does�.we�ll get through it as family, friends, neighbors, citizens�..and for us, lovers�together.�

Sami blew her nose and took a deep breath closing her eyes in the process.

�I know�.I do believe that�.it�s just that I wanted�.�

She stopped thinking it was selfish to continue.

�What did you want?�

Lucas waited.

�It�s Easter Sunday. Just on this one day�..it�s such beautiful weather�..we could have made it a day like we used to have in Salem �.. I thought we could dress up�.enjoy the flowers�.I don�t know�.it�s about bunnies, duckys, hope�..stop me, Lucas, because I�m being sappy.�

Lucas shook his head and grinned.

�Oh, you are not being sappy. I know how much the holidays always mean to you.�

He stood up and kissed her on the cheek.

�I have an idea.�

�Another one?� Sami looked up at him with uncertainty.

�Yup�.I know some place that will make you feel better before we head to the hotel. Are you game?�

�Okay.�

�That�s my girl.�

An hour later they sat in silence, Sami with her head bowed. Eventually, she looked at Lucas and whispered.

�I�m glad we came here. You were right. It was what I needed. I know we didn�t get to St. Thomas�s for Easter services but just sitting here inside St. Patrick�s makes me feel calmer.�

�Good. Is this the first time you�ve been here?�

�Yes�.it�s beautiful. Look at the way the light coming through the stained glass windows is leaving color on the lilies in front of the alter. It�s like��

��a blessing.�

Sami agreed with him in a smile.

�We can sit here as long as you want.�

Some twenty minutes later Sami rose in the pew.

�Before we go, I want to light a few candles.�

Lucas followed her to a small area. Placing their money in the box Sami reached for a long wooden match and lit it with a candle already glowing. She found a short row of red-tinted glass votive holders and began lighting one candle after another.

�This one is for�..Eric��Mike��.Jack��Brady��.Austin�..and,�..you.�

Her task finished Sami reached for Lucas�s hand as they made their way down the center aisle and exited the cathedral. The late afternoon sun still warmed them as they emerged from the stone building. They headed for the hotel. The valet took the car as their bags were whisked into the lobby. Lucas registered them and received the room key. The bell boy escorted them to the elevator and opened the door of their room. After receiving his generous tip, he closed the door behind him leaving the couple in their suite.

�Lucas, the room is so big�.is it the bridal suite?�

�No�..I�m saving that for our honeymoon, but you�re right it is a lot bigger than your bedroom in the apartment�.especially the bed. Lots more room to maneuver around��

��Lucas!� Sami could feel her cheeks redden.

�Oh, you weren�t thinking the same thing?� he said with a knowing smirk.

�Maybe�..but I wasn�t going to say it.�

Sami removed her hat and gloves before opening her bag to remove toiletries and her outfit for Monday. A knock on the door made her look up.

�That�s probably part of my surprises I have planned,� Lucas said jogging to answer the door.

A table with a white linen tablecloth, candles and dome-covered dishes was rolled into the room by a room service waiter. Lucas signed the check, tipped him and locked the door once the man had retreated. Sami walked over to the table and noticed another touch.

�Oh, Lucas��violets�.you always remember they�re my favorites. When I saw you at the train station last November and you had some with you, I knew then, you had me.�

�Just so you know, you�re not the only sappy one about holidays and traditions.�

�I love you,� Sami said. She kissed him several times before removing her arms from about his neck.

�Wow�..if a little nosegay of violets does that to you�.�

�Oh, shut up and kiss me again.�

Separating from their embrace, Sami slipped off her shoes and loosened Lucas�s tie.

�For the next few hours - - until tomorrow morning, Miss Brady, you and I are not going to leave this room.�

�We aren�t?�

�No, we are not. You and I will be in here and the rest of the world will be kept out there�where it can�t intrude on us for awhile. You and I are the only people who inhabit this room�.this place�.this�..time.�

Kissing her on the lips, neck and chin, Lucas removed his jacket. He pulled out the chair and seated Sami, lit the taper candles, turned off the lights and tuned in the radio and took Sami in his arms to slow dance to a favorite of theirs that was playing.

�Blue moon,
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own.

Blue Moon,
You knew just what I was there for
You heard me saying a prayer for
Someone I really could care for.

And then there suddenly appeared before me
The only one my arms will ever hold.

I heard somebody whisper, �Please adore me�
And when I looked the moon had turned to gold.

Blue Moon,
Now I�m no longer alone
Without a dream in my heard
Without a love of my own.

(Words by Lorenz Hart, Music by Richard Rodgers)

When the song ended they sat down to eat a slow, quiet dinner gazing at one another more than talking�or eating.

�That was good. I didn�t realize how hungry I was.�

�We haven�t eaten all day,� Lucas reminded her.

Folding her napkin as she talked, Sami said, �I think I�ll go change�.put on something�..you might like.�

�Far be it for me to stop you,� Lucas said, his pulse rate picking up at the look in Sami�s eyes. She smiled as she rose from her chair, walked by him, then, retreated. She placed her right hand beneath his chin and whispered in his ear.

�Be back soon � don�t go anywhere. You�re not the only one with plans I think you�ll like.�

She nibbled on his neck and bit his ear lobe slightly before heading into the bathroom with her bag. Lucas sat letting out a long, slow breath while attempting to keep his heart from racing. He pushed the table out into the hallway, retrieved the nosegay of violets and placed the �Do Not Disturb� sign securely on the exterior doorknob in record time.

�Ah! I almost forgot,� he said to himself. He retrieved something from his bag and raced over to sit on the edge of the bed � leaning back so as to appear less anticipatory about the night ahead. Moments later the bathroom door opened. The light from the room outlined Sami in back, leaving her in silhouette. She slowly walked toward Lucas until he could see her more clearly. A lavender, satin, floor-length nightgown clung to all her curves. Thin straps were all that held the gown onto her body. Sami didn�t miss Lucas�s eyes traveling up and down her frame as she pirouetted before him � giving him a complete show.

�Well?�

�I have only one thing to say��Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu, Easter Bunny, wherever you are.�

Sami broke into giggles � not having expected that as a response. She sat down beside him on the end of the bed.

�You like?�

�I LOVE.�

�Speaking of love�.�

Her voice trailed off as she began kissing Lucas�s other ear while carefully unbuttoning his shirt.

�Wait�.wait�.before I completely let you take advantage of me while you�re wearing that gown�.for a few minutes you will be, anyway �this is for you.�

Lucas held out a boxdone in wrapping paper printed with violets and adorned with a large yellow bow.

�Happy Easter.�

�Lucas�.how pretty. What is it?�

�Open it and find out.�

Sami carefully removed the bow and wrapping paper to save for in her cedar chest as a memory of the day.

�Oh�.oh�..he�s so cuuuuute,� she said lifting the lavender and white stuffed rabbit with the lop ears, prominent teeth and long lashes holding a small bouquet of fabric violets from the box.

�Look a little closer,�in the bouquet� Lucas hinted.

She looked and saw a small, shiny object. Pulling it out she realized it was a small amethyst heart on a gold chain. She hugged Lucas squishing the rabbit between them.

�Help me put it on,� she requested, turning her back to Lucas so he could place the pendant about her neck.

�How does it look?� she eagerly inquired.

�It�s as beautiful as the girl wearing it.�

She tilted her head shyly

�Thank you, Sweetheart.�

�You�re welcome, Baby.�

�I love the rabbit, too. In fact, I have an idea.�

Lucas leaned back on one elbow delighted to see he had been able to lift the somber mood Sami had been in earlier.

�This bunny rabbit is very special. What I�d like to do, if you don�t mind, is keep it in the box so it doesn�t get dirty and give it to our baby on their first Easter. That way I could tell him or her all about how it means so much to us - almost like they do and that we wanted them to have each other.�

Lucas watched how animated Sami was as she talked until he absorbed what had been said several sentences before. He sat up and tried to interrupt.

�Stuffed animals are so important as companions��

�S�..S��Sami�.�

�It�s bright and colorful. I love the lavender�and it�s perfect with the little violets��

�Sami�.�

�What?�

�Are��

He turned more toward her so he could look directly into her glittering blue eyes.

�Are�uh�.you�.pregnant?�

Sami looked at him and smiled.

TBC.

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