Susan finished setting the picnic table just as Robert stepped out the door with the platter of potatoes sliced and wrapped in foil, burgers for the girls and steaks for himself and her. They exchanged a quick and easy smile. They still had three days of their week at his brother George’s cabin ahead of them, and Robert didn’t have to return to work until Tuesday.
The twins dashed around the lawn like butterflies in the sundresses and bonnets their grandmother had sent them from France. Despite the fact that Susan was still recovering from surgery the family had experienced a busy summer. Her parents had stayed here until Susan was on her way to recovery, then they had unexpectedly announced they were planning a trip to France. They had rented a villa for the summer with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean and then sent for Susan and her family to come over for a couple of weeks for the twins’ birthday at the beginning of August. Upon their return, George offered them the house at the lake for the last part of August and Susan had quickly agreed, despite the fact that Robert wouldn’t be able to get any more time off. She and the girls remained at the lake and Robert joined them for the long summer evenings, then rose early in the morning to return to the city and his job.
He had arrived early this afternoon. Eager to escape the Labor Day traffic, he left work at noon. And he had volunteered to cook on the large brick grill built into one end of the patio. They shared a bottle of wine while the coals heated to the appropriate temperature, then she set the table while he fixed the meat and potatoes.
The girls dashed by their father for kisses and returned to their game on the lawn. Unlike Texas where no lawn was immune to ants or cactus, the girls could dash around in bare feet and they always loved it. Susan was a bit nervous when they strayed too close to the lake, but they usually stayed in the boundary of the lawn and didn’t venture into the sand at the edge of the water-- at least, they hadn’t since Missy had been caught the second day here and both girls had lost swim time for the afternoon.
Although it was late summer, the evening was still a long one. Their picnic was over well before sundown and Robert took the girls for an additional swim while Susan cleaned up. They climbed from the water chilled and tired but happy, just as the sun was setting. There was supposed to be a meteor shower that night according to the newspaper, so Susan brought a quilt out from the house and laid it down by the water. Wrapped in large beach towels, the girls looked like cocoons laying beside their parents on the blanket while they all watched the sky.
A crescent moon hung next to Venus in the western sky. They talked about the astronauts who were going to go to the moon some time really soon and what they might find there. Robert teased the girls, telling them it was made of green cheese and the astronauts would be greeted by little green men who would let them eat pieces of their houses. Missy wanted to know if there would be cheese curds on the moon, one of her favorite snacks. Helena asked if she could go there someday.
“I thought you wanted to be a doctor, Cupcake?” Robert asked his daughter.
With serious green eyes Helena turned to him and said, “Daddy, you never know when you might need a doctor. They might get a tummy ache from eating all that cheese.”
Susan had to stifle her laughter as Robert assured the child that she was right, and doctors would be needed everywhere.
“I’d rather go back to France,” Missy said. “J’aime le café au lait et les croissants.”
It had surprised them all at how much of the language Missy had picked up in a few short weeks, tagging after her grandmother like an apprentice power-shopper. She had charmed everyone up and down the hill where her grandparents were staying and by the end of the visit was chattering like a native to people on the beach.
“Can we visit Granny and Grandpa there again?” Missy asked.
“They’ll be back home in Texas by the end of this week, honey,” her mother reminded her. “We’ll see them there at Thanksgiving.”
Robert suppressed a sigh at the thought. He had appreciated the trip to France, even though he was sure he had been invited as an afterthought. With the aftermath of Susan’s last and final pregnancy, he had managed to incur their ire once again and they had made that plain.
But the trip to France hadn’t been all that bad. Unlike Miller’s Bluff, which was in the middle of nowhere and the only company who arrived were all friends and allies of the Millers, the villa in France had been in the city of Nice, and he and Susan had frequently dined in little restaurants, gone for strolls together, taken the girls to the beach, and had even driven over to Monaco one night to try their luck at the casino. It had been an excellent vacation and the twins had proved to be wonderful travelers. Of course they had spent their short lives flying to Texas several times a year, so they did have some experience, even though this trip had been so much longer.
“Look! There’s one!” Helena exclaimed.
Robert just barely saw the flash of the first meteor of the shower, but more were to follow. Some were very bright. Others were mere sparkles, leaving you to wonder if you’d really seen one or not. Both the girls enjoyed the natural fireworks and they all exclaimed over and over as they watched the rocks burn in the upper atmosphere. But it was getting late and the girls were getting sleepy. Missy dropped off first, curling herself up against her mother with a relaxed sigh. Helena fought a while longer, but finally went quiet by Robert’s side, leaving him to enjoy the show with his wife. They held hands under the stars while the girls slept on either side of them.
Susan scooted closer to Robert and used his shoulder as a pillow. He kissed the top of her head. “How about a swim Susie?”
“Now?” Susan asked softly.
“Why not? The girls are right here where we can keep an eye on them.”
“I suppose so…” she said hesitantly.
“Come on.” Robert sat up, pulling her up with him. They stood slowly and watched the girls for a moment to make sure they were soundly asleep before Robert led her to the water.
Susan was wearing a swimsuit underneath her shorts and cotton blouse. She paused at the beach and slipped out of both then took Robert’s hand and the stepped into the water together.
Sun-warmed, the shallow water was almost tepid, but it cooled off as they reached the end of the dock where the water was up to their shoulders. Robert pulled her into his arms and they floated together in each other’s arms. A particularly bright meteor flashed across the sky and they both looked up to watch it.
Susan’s eyes sparkled. “Beautiful!”
“Yes, you are,” Robert deliberately misunderstood her and bent to kiss her lips.
They lost themselves in the kiss and Robert’s hands began roaming over her body.
“Robbie,” she murmured against his lips. “You’re being naughty.”
“They’re asleep,” he assured her, whispering in her ear then nibbling at her earlobe. He pulled down the strap to her suit. “You used to always wear bikinis.”
“Next summer,” she assured him. Her legs were wrapped around him. “I’ll have that scar taken care of by then.”
He nodded and she laid her head against his shoulder, luxuriating in his touch. “But I won’t forget him.”
“Of course not, my darling Susan. Neither of us will.”
She hugged him with her whole body, an action that left her well aware of his intentions. With a smile, she decided to cooperate. She floated away from him and removed her suit in a fluid motion, then lowered his swimsuit and helped him step out of it. She secured both suits around her arm so they wouldn’t float away and moved back into his arms.
He welcomed her into his embrace and she opened herself to him with a sigh of pleasure. She couldn’t completely lose herself in the sensation because she had to struggle to remain silent. She didn’t want the girls to interrupt this.
When her climax came, it was breathtaking. She arched her back as he burst inside her with a gasp of his own. Both looked up as one more meteor burst spectacularly overhead.
“Wow! Fireworks!” Susan murmured.
Robert held her close. “Every time.”
