Love Made Over

Love Made Over

Part 4

Cast of Characters:

Wendell Davis Anders

Gwendolyn Rene Jacobs

Marylinn (fellow waitress at the diner where Gwen works)

Doctor Cassidy oncologist

Life is full of twists and unexpected turns of events. Often, they are not welcomed or even wanted, but sometimes they are truly amazing... Such are second chances... An opportunity to set wrongs right, to make amends and to experience happiness and joy. For Wendell and Gwen, it might be life changing.

"So, tell me, what's married life like?" Marylinn asked dreamily as she leaned against Gwen at the counter as the two were refilling salt and pepper shakers during a lull in the afternoon.

Both were watching the clock for pretty much the same reason. It was getting close to time for Gwen to end her shift and for Wendell to pick her up. Gwen had cut back on her hours but still worked four or five days a week to help out at the diner, usually on days that Wendell was working on the base or busy in his home office. It wasn't that Gwen was bored at home, but she did miss the interactions with her regular customers, and she had been working for the biggest part of her life, so she only felt right when she kept busy. Even if it was just a few hours a day, and she felt like she was contributing. Wendell wouldn't mind if she stayed at home every day, but he wouldn't take away her pride and sense of self. He did, however, insist on at least picking her up at work after she got off shift.

"I still think I'm dreaming, Marylinn. I never knew I could possibly be so happy." Gwen waxed dreamily with that smile that told everyone that she was as content as she was happy.

"Girl, I am so jealous. I remember what it was like after my Dave and I first got married. Seems like that was forever ago now though." Marylinn said with a smile.

Gwen had told Marylinn all about the whirlwind romance and wedding plans and the wedding itself weeks ago of course. How Wendell had invited his parents, his brother and sister and their families, a couple of his Army buddies and even a few of their friends from high school attended. Gwen felt both overwhelmed and blessed that Wendell's family all treated her like family and were truly happy for the two of them.

The day of the wedding, after the ceremony. Wendell made it a point to stop by the cemetery so that he and Gwen could visit her mother's grave. They left a wedding bouquet on her marker stone. Some might have thought that was odd, but Wendell knew that it meant the world to his new bride. Kind of her (and him) letting her mom know that she had turned out okay. That she would be happy now.

They had honeymooned in a small Challet in Gatlinburg Tennessee. The trip to the Smokey mountains had been a first for Gwen. Seeing black bears up close and personal was thrilling but not something she would want to do again. They had made love every day and night, often several times a day. They were both exhausted when they finally returned home to begin their new lives as husband and wife. Wendell's consulting business kicked off soon after. Gwen went back to work at the diner, on her reduced hours of course, but it was good to be busy.

"Did I tell you that Wen's mom and dad invited us down to Florida for Christmas?" Gwen asked distractedly as she scanned out the windows of the diner looking for her husband.

"Christmas in Florida?" Marylinn asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I thought it was nice of them, but I was kind of looking forward to Christmas at our house this year anyway." Gwen said with a soft smile.

"Oh? Special plans?" Marylinn asked with a grin.

"Maybe..." Gwen answered and blushed a little bit before giggling.

"My, my, my... I wish I were younger again." Marylinn sighed and smiled... then perked up and elbowed Gwen to get her attention.

Gwen looked up and saw Wen's Jeep pull into the parking lot. Even now, she felt her pulse quicken and her heart did that little fluttery beat. Her man was here... to collect her. Glancing at the clock, Gwen grinned even bigger if that was possible, she wiped her hands on a bar towel and then reached behind her to undo the ties of her apron. Marylinn grabbed the strings and pulled the apron over Gwen's head and shooed her towards the end of the counter to go around and meet her man at the door. Gwen stopped and leaned in to kiss Marylinn on the cheek before grabbing her purse and skipping off towards the door.

Wendell didn't even make it to the door of the diner. Gwen all but exploded out of the door and into his arms. He caught her in mid-leap and spun her around, her feet in the air and her voice trilling a giggle of excitement. When he stopped twirling her, her feet set back onto the ground, and he leaned down to kiss her. Inside, still leaning on the counter watching the show, Marylinn sighed and shook her head in amusement.

"Hi gorgeous." Wendell spoke after Gwen pulled back from her enthusiastic kiss.

"Hi handsome." Gwen responded.

"Wanna go somewhere for dinner?" Wendell asked with a grin, "I know this great little diner... with a good-lookin' little gal who works as a waitress there..."

"Actually, yeah I do wanna go somewhere for dinner." Gwen said matter of factly.

"Do tell." Wendell responded.

"I want you to take me home! Maybe whip up some eggs and toast or even some bacon... after you take me to bed and screw me silly." Gwen said with a giggle.

"Oh man! How could I resist an offer like that? Eggs, toast AND bacon?" He said with a cheesy grin.

Gwen rolled her eyes and swatted him on the shoulder but grinned mischievously. Wendell offered her his arm and she slipped hers into it and they turned and walked back to his jeep.

Later that evening, after actually having eggs and toast and bacon... they sat at the table sipping some coffee. Gwen was entertaining Wendell with anecdotes of some of her regular customers at the diner, Wendell told her of little events on the base and how working as a civilian contractor was so very different from when he was still in the service. He particularly liked that now he didn't feel the least bit pressured or beholding to officious assholes who simply wanted to pull rank or strut. He could call their bluff and put them in their place... point out that stupid is stupid despite their rank. Gwen laughed at that but winced momentarily. Wendell almost missed it, but Gwen brushed away his concerns saying it was just indigestion maybe.

They had just decided to clean up after dinner when the phone rang. Wendell answered it and excused himself to take the call in his office, it was a work matter from the base. Gwen shooed him off and cleaned up herself. With the dishes in the dishwasher and the food put away, Gwen went to their bedroom and pulled out her diary. It was nearly the size of a phone book, with years and years of entries and notes and letters to someone that she only met once.

She was writing down her entry for the evening when Wendell appeared in the doorway and stood there watching her. She blushed and looked up closing her book with a sigh. Her smile was both bright and still somewhat saddened. This puzzled Wendell and he moved to the bed to sit on the edge beside her and take her hand.

"What's wrong beautiful?"

"Nothing. Just jotting down some thoughts of the day." Gwen responded with a shrug, one hand running slowly over the cover of the diary as her thoughts were filled with decades of entries that were enclosed within.

"I remember you used to keep a diary when we were kids, but I don't remember it being that big." Wendell said as he placed a hand on top of Gwen's.

"Yeah, well... I got tired of putting everything in flimsy little notebooks. I found this right after we graduated high school, at a thrift store. I thought it would be perfect for keeping a journal." Gwen said with a thoughtful look, her eyes still on the book."

"Penny for your thoughts." Wendell said softly.

"I don't know... just..." Gwen looked up into Wendell's eyes and he saw an unspoken sadness there that almost took his breath away. "It's just that sometimes I wonder what she might have turned out like..." Gwen's bottom lip trembled slightly.

Wendell leaned closer and brought his hands to her shoulders and pulled Gwen into a warm embrace, her head going to his shoulder as she began to weep silently. This wasn't the first time he sensed an inner struggle in Gwen, concerning her one and only child that she had to give up for adoption so very long ago. He knew that it weighed heavily on her heart, the wondering and imagining.

"I wish I could tell you babe... but I know one thing, if she inherited even one ounce of your heart and strength, she would be awesome and of course, beautiful." Wendell spoke softly into her ear, one hand stroking her back gently.

"I'd like to know though. I can't help but to wonder." She said in a muffled voice into his shoulder. "I keep hoping someday, maybe, she might look for me. I've kept my journal, my diary, as much for her as for myself. I wanted her to know that even though I had to give her up, I have always loved her. Sometimes the entries are as much letters to her as they are just chronicling my day-to-day life."

"Wow! I would never have thought of something like that. That's very thoughtful... and special." Wendell admitted and kissed the top of Gwen's head.

Gwen turned her head and looked into Wendell's eyes for a long moment. She smiled that sad smile again but then her eyes took on a more determined look.

"Wen... I want her to have this journal. If ever she does look for me and finds me, no matter what else happens, I want her to have this. I want her to know... know me..." Gwen spoke, her bottom lip trembling again but her eyes had that determined glint that let him know she was serious.

When Wendell nodded in understanding, her eyes softened, and she brought her lips to his. It was a soft gentle kiss, one full of thanks and gratitude for his understanding. Wendell melted into the kiss, and they began rocking gently in each other's arms, relishing the closeness and love shared. After a while Gwen pulled back and wiped her eyes and smiled.

"Let me get up. I have to go pee then I'm going to get dressed for bed." She said with a smirk.

"Go ahead, I'll change and get ready for bed too. I have an early day tomorrow. Someone made a mess of the project we are working on at the base. I'm just glad I don't have to answer to brass for it now. I'll get it straightened out and squared away though." Wendell said, standing and offering his hand to his wife to assist her off the bed.

"I have no doubt that you will get it fixed." Gwen said. "Call the diner if you're going to be a little late tomorrow... I can walk home and fix dinner for us." She added as she stepped through the door to go to the bathroom.

"I will. It shouldn't be that late though. I hope."

"Gwen! It's your man... he wanted to talk to you on the phone." Marylinn told Gwen as she came around the counter with another carafe of coffee for the customers in the dining room.

Gwen glanced up at the clock and sighed, then excused herself from a customer at the counter saying she'd be right back. She picked up the phone at the end of the counter and stepped around the corner for a little privacy.

"Hi babe" she said into the phone.

"Hi gorgeous... Um... I think I'm going to be just a little bit longer yet. We've about got it licked but I wanted to make doubly sure before I signed off on it. I hope you will forgive me." Wendell said on the other end of the phone line.

"Oh... I might forgive you... maybe." She said playfully and laughed softly. "It's okay Wen, I've walked home many, many times. The exercise will do me some good. I'll have dinner ready for you when you get home. I love you babe!"

"I love you too... See you a little later Gwen." Wendell said with a smile in his voice.

With a smile and a sigh, Gwen came back around the corner and hung up the phone. She took a moment to straighten her apron and then started towards the counter to resume waiting on the customer she left a minute ago. Three steps and she nearly doubled over from a searing pain in her gut. It took her breath away and she staggered to catch herself on the edge of the counter for support. Marylinn witnessed it and was at her side in a flash

"Gwen? Are you okay girl? You're as pale as a ghost." She asked with concern in her eyes.

"I... I don't know. I just felt a pain and nearly fell down." Gwen said with some confusion and worry in her voice.

"Why don't you just sit down and take a minute. I'll cover the customers." Marylinn said still looking worriedly at Gwen's face.

Gwen did have a seat in the booth at the end of the counter. The pain had gone away but her hands were still shaking, and her heart was racing. She knew something was wrong. She didn't know what it was, but something was definitely wrong. Gwen sat there for almost half an hour before she felt steady enough to go back to work.

Marylinn practically hovered over her until the end of Gwen's shift. Gwen didn't have any more spells or pains, but she was paying very close attention now to how she was feeling. When the time came, she bid Marylinn good night and left the diner to begin her walk home. Yeah, the walk from the diner to their house was considerably longer than the one she used to make to her rented apartment for so many years, but not too difficult. She got home just under an hour after leaving the diner.

Gwen changed her clothes after reaching home, then began making dinner. It was pasta tonight, with ziti and marinara sauce with toasted garlic bread and a salad. Filling but not too heavy. She had just pulled the bread out of the oven when Wendell walked through the kitchen door from the deck. He didn't even wait for her to set the pan on the counter before he wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck.

"Perfect timing." Gwen said with a giggle, relishing his affections and the feeling of him wrapping her up so warmly.

"Smells good.... So does the food." Wendell said playfully again kissing her neck and squeezing her close to him.

Gwen moaned softly and smiled, turning in his arms to bring her own arms up and around his neck to pull him down into a steamy kiss. This had Wendell sighing and emitting a soft moan himself. They kissed for a moment or two longer before she pushed him away playfully.

"Go get washed up while I set the food on the table." Gwen said and swatted him on his hip to get him moving.

"Yes ma'am." Wen said with a smile and headed down the hall to the bathroom to wash his face and hands.

Gwen smiled as she watched him walk down the hall, then turned and moved the food to the table. Setting the plates down she was again struck by an agonizingly sharp pain in her abdomen causing her to gasp and bend over double, nearly falling to her knees beside the table. Gripping the edge of the table with one hand and her stomach with the other she reeled for a moment before the pain began to ebb. Not trusting herself to walk, she sat in her chair and tried to understand what was causing this pain. She knew that she needed to see a doctor to be checked out, but she didn't want to worry Wendell just yet, maybe it was just really bad menstrual cramps. Gwen had heard that some women experienced really bad cramps just prior to their periods, but she had never been one to suffer from cramping. At least, not like this.

She was still feeling a little shaky but otherwise okay by the time Wendell re-entered the kitchen. He bent down to kiss her on her cheek before taking his own seat at the table. It was then that he noticed that Gwen was looking a little pale and... maybe a little worried.

"Babe? Are you okay? You look a little pale." Wendell said, his napkin halfway to his lap as he paused to ask her.

"I'm fine, I think I'm having some menstrual cramps. Just a little uncomfortable." Gwen said, avoiding looking Wendell in the eyes.

"Okay, if you're sure." Wendell responded not sounding entirely believing.

Wendell offered her his hand and then bowed their heads and said grace. Gwen's hand in his squeezed gently as if reassuring him. They then began to eat. Wendell telling her of the fiasco that he had to deal with this morning and taking all day to correct. Apparently a newly stamped Lieutenant invoked rank on the team of enlisted men already working on the project and made changes of his own. Of course they didn't work, hence the botched rebuild and the emergency call to Wendell for guidance and rebuild. It seems that the new Lieutenant got reassigned by the end of the day.

Gwen didn't really have much to talk about her day at work, pretty usual and uneventful. She did mention that she was going to set up an appointment with her doctor tomorrow, to get in to see him sometime this week. Again, Wendell paused and studied Gwen who was avoiding his gaze, focusing on her meal instead. He couldn't help but think that there was more going on but would leave it for her to share when she was ready. Still though, it didn't sit well with him for some reason.

Dinner was over, and they both cleaned up, and loaded the dishwasher before again attending to their after-dinner routine. Paperwork for Wendell and getting ready for bed and making a journal entry for Gwen. Wendell had just got into the shower as Gwen was clicking off her pen and closing her journal. She looked down at the volume and ran her hand lovingly across its cover as if blessing it or saying a prayer for the one she had been keeping it for all these years. If only she could send her love and hopes in another way other than just her words.

Tonight's entry told her of the pains that she had recently begun having and that she was worried about it being a premature change of life. She thought she was far too young yet to be entering menopause, and the fact that she was still having periods made her think that there were other things going on in her body. Only time and medical attention would tell for certain though. She also mentioned for maybe the thousandth time, or maybe ten thousandth time, how wonderful and loving that Wendell was. How lucky she was to have him back in her life again. If only she could have given him a child, life would be perfect... or to have her one and only child to reconnect with her, with them... A single tear broke free and ran down her cheek before She wiped it away and stood up to put the journal away and join Wendell in the shower.

Wendell was not surprised when the sliding glass door of the shower slid open, and a cool draft blew across his body as he was rinsing the shampoo from his hair. He felt the warm soft hands of his lover, glide across his back and wrap around his waist to hug him tightly.

"Mmmmm... Hi there." Wendell half moaned and half spoke.

"Hi babe. Mind if I join you?" Gwen said in a purring voice that promised so much more than just company in the shower.

"Don't mind at all babe. I love your company, anytime, anywhere." Wendell replied turning with his hands and arms still over his head, to come face to face... or perhaps face to chest, as Gwen was just a bit shorter than he.

Tilting her head up to look into his smiling face, she turned her head just slightly so that their noses brushed alongside one another as their lips met. Wendell felt Gwen's hands slide down his back and onto his ass before they gently but firmly gripped them and squeezed. He lowered his arms down encompassing her shoulders, his hands splayed on her back before splitting directions. One hand drifting down to her own gorgeous little rump and the other sliding up the back of her neck to gently cradle the back of her head as they continued to kiss and duel with their tongues.

Gwen moaned and felt herself melting into Wendell's embrace and his kiss. Then she giggled when she felt his manhood coming to attention like a soldier, between them. She simply heated up her own kiss and gripped his ass cheeks all the more firmly as she ground herself against his torso and his very happy soldier. Wendell let out a low growling moan as well. God! What was it with this woman that such a simple thing like a kiss in the shower could turn so hot so fast?