For those who enjoy a honeymoon ending ... and thank you, as ever, for your supportive comments and constructive criticism.
*****
June was an incredibly busy month: final report cards, packing, and driving home on the weekends to see Sarah. I couldn't bear not seeing her. It was astonishing, really - I couldn't tell where this outpouring of passion had come from. No complaints, though.
Sarah came down to see me one weekend, to spare me the drive. Well, it saved me ten hours on the highway. Of course, I got absolutely nothing done that weekend.
Actually, that's not entirely true. I learned a great deal about my girlfriend. My lover. I already knew that Sarah was smart, and kind, as well as lovely. But there was no way I could have known that her libido was a match for mine.
She got a tour of Pinecrest (half an hour), and saw the school where I had had my very first class. She liked the way I had set up the room. Sarah also met Antonia and Martin, when we went out for dinner and a few drinks. The women got along extremely well, despite the ten year difference in their ages.
Otherwise, Sarah spent the weekend undressing me - and herself - and making love to me in every corner of my apartment: on the couch, on the floor, in the kitchen (standing), on my tiny balcony, at night, and in my shower. Once or twice, we even did it in my bed.
Except for that one night when her parents were away - the first time we slept together - we had never had this much privacy, or this much time. We took full advantage of it.
I got to watch her sleep, and to truly admire her lovely features at my leisure. I was surprised to wake up on Sunday morning, to find Sarah watching
me
while I slept.
- "
Morning
." she said, softly.
- "Morning." I said. "Was I snoring? Or drooling?"
- "No. But you talk in your sleep."
Uh-oh. "What did I say?"
- "You said my name." she whispered. "I think I'm in love."
The weekend came to an end all too soon, but our parting was only for a short time.
I packed up the last of my things, and said farewell to Antonia. She and Liz were the only two adults in Pinecrest that I would miss. But Antonia had been a godsend, in terms of helping me get through my rookie year. I thanked her for the hundredth time.
- "Pay it forward, Chris." she said. "That's all you have to do. We're going to miss you - the kids and me."
- "I'll miss all of you, too."
The drive home felt strange. It was something I'd done dozens of times, but this particular trip was very different. For one thing, I was driving a cube van with most everything I owned in it. And for another ... Sarah was waiting for me.
Steve and Kim also helped me move in. There wasn't all that much, to tell the truth. Rookie teachers don't make enough money to splurge on fancy cars or fine furniture. Much of what I had was bargain-basement, or second-hand. A lot of it I gave away before moving home.
I had lived pretty frugally in Pinecrest. In the next few years, I could look forward to finally buying some decent stuff - especially with my girlfriend's advice. I know what I like, but Sarah had excellent taste.
After pizza and a few beers, Steve and Kim went on their way. Sarah and I christened the new apartment.
- "I plan to make love with you in every single room." she said. "Including that closet."
- "Tonight?" I said. "I don't know - I have a lot of unpacking to do tomorrow."
That earned me a punch on the arm.
And then the wildest sex I've ever had in a closet - empty or not.
***
I had two days to begin unpacking, and to make my apartment barely habitable before Steve's stag. Sarah was a big help, in many ways, but she also insisted that we christen three more spots: the kitchen, the bathroom, and - most exciting of all, the bookshelves.
It was still a marvel to me, at that point, that her sex drive was very nearly the equal of mine. Apparently, women hit their sexual peak around 30 - if the experts are to be believed. Sarah was obviously well off the bell curve.
The stag turned out to be a great success. A few of the guys were a little put off, at first, to have the women along. It put a damper on burps, farts, and crude jokes. It was also a clear indication that - as advertised - there weren't going to be any strippers or hookers.
On the plus side, there were eight attractive women matching us drink for drink. The ladies were also keen to explore the male psyche: what did we like, what turned us on, what were we looking for in a bride, or even in a one night stand ... Two of Steve's friends got lucky that night - and I'm not including myself.
I also discovered something amazing about Sarah. Truthfully, I already knew this, but it was fascinating to see it displayed.
She didn't need me.
I mean that in the most positive sense. I didn't have to hold her hand, or finish her sentences. I noticed it in the third pub we hit. Once inside the door, Sarah went right, while I went left. I was trying to make sure that I spoke to all of Kim's friends, and to all of Steve's buddies - especially the guys he worked with that I didn't know very well.
At the same time, Sarah was getting to know Steve's male friends, and Kim's girlfriends.
We crossed paths about fifteen minutes later, as we worked the room, in opposite directions.
- "Fancy meeting you here." she said. Then she grabbed my head, and planted a wet kiss on my lips.
- "Oh, geez." I said. "Please tell me that you're coming home with me."
- "I have nowhere else to be." she said. "That I'd rather be ..."
I know that it's unwise to compare your current girlfriend to your ex - or exes. I did it anyway.
Sarah resembled Nina, in terms of physique. She was considerably shorter, but she had the same dark hair, brown eyes, and full breasts. She was also kind, and considerate, as Nina was. But Sarah had Moe's confidence and independence.
Sarah could have a good time without me - and yet I was the lucky bastard she wanted to go home with.
When we finally boarded the bus, to take everyone back to Steve's apartment, Sarah sidled in next to me, and planted a wet kiss on my cheek.
- "You were so sweet." she said. "To Kim's friends. They were all talking about how wonderful you were."
- "Well, I might have put a crimp in your love life." I said. "All of Steve's friends wanted to know if you were single. I told them that you most definitely were
not
. Hope that's OK with you."
I got wet, sloppy kisses from Kim,
and
Steve. Both the bride and groom went to bed tired and drunk - but happy.
Sarah and I zipped two sleeping bags together, to create a double for ourselves. We were both inebriated. Maybe not quite 'Too Drunk to Fuck', as the Dead Kennedys might have put it - but close. Besides, there were a dozen other drunks scattered around Steve's apartment.
Two heavy snorers, one reveller with bad gas, and another in the bathroom loudly vomiting ... not exactly conducive to a romantic evening. Sarah and I just held each other, tangled up in our double sleeping bag.
The wedding was fairly traditional, to please Kim's family. Steve's parents wouldn't have cared if they were married in a hockey rink by an Estonian guru. But it didn't really matter. The bride and groom were so radiant, so plainly happy, that it made all of their guests feel wonderful.
I had Steve dressed, at the church on time, with the ring. He wasn't exactly nervous ... more like paralytic. He kept thanking everyone he met. Steve didn't settle down until Kim arrived. Then he was just awestruck.
Kim looked wonderful. The bridesmaids were in satiny blue dresses, with their hair done up, and far too much makeup. Except for Sarah. Well, she might have had too much lipstick, and enough eye makeup to make Alice Cooper jealous. When a group of women decide that their makeup has to match, the results can sometimes be a bit scary.
But it would have been a crime to put Sarah's beautiful long hair into a massive pile atop her head. It was curled, but spilled over her shoulders - as it should have. The dresses were loose, but whatever they were wearing underneath most certainly was not. All of the bridesmaids must have been wearing corsets.
In Sarah's case, that flattened her already flat stomach, accentuated her flaring hips, and pushed her already spectacular breasts together, and thrust them upwards. The overall effect was certainly eye-catching.
It didn't help that most of Kim's friends, including the maid of honour, were ... how shall I put this? A bit plain. Sarah stood out like a penguin in a crowd of pigeons.
I don't remember much of the church ceremony. I was just praying that it would go off without any major bloopers. My prayers were answered, and the ceremony was concluded without any serious glitches.
Steve and Kim were blessed with excellent weather - bright sunshine, without the sweltering heat - and we spent a relatively painless hour and a half taking the compulsory photographs at the botanical gardens.
- "You look
incredible.
" I told Sarah.
- "Thanks. Too much makeup, though, I think. You look great." she said.
The reception was held in a downtown hotel, with maybe 120 people in attendance. The bar was open, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood.
It was a busy night, for me, playing the part of Master of Ceremonies. I did my best to keep the speeches short, and the embarrassment to a minimum. It was supposed to be a celebration - not a roast.
Kim's Dad was a bit long-winded, but I suppose it's forgivable in the bride's father. Steve thanked everyone for coming, and then invited both sets of parents to dance the second song with them.
Then he broke with tradition, and grabbed the microphone again.
- "Kim and I would like to dedicate this third song to the two people who helped to bring us together. We might not be here if it wasn't for these two. Sarah - Chris ... this one is for you."
The song they played was ... 'All I Want To Be Is By Your Side'.
I held the most beautiful girl in the room in my arms, and slow danced with her.
- "Who did you tell?" I asked.
- "I might have said something to Kim." she said, blushing.
The bride and groom joined us after a minute. Then they switched partners with us.
- "Thank you, Chris." said Kim. "For all you've done for us. And probably
will
do, in future."
- "You're one of my favourite people, Kim." I told her. "You make my best friend so happy."
We switched partners once more, and Steve danced the last few bars with me.
- "Can't you let me lead, for once?" he said. "It's my wedding day."
