Gentle waves rose and fell from the lake. The sand was hot from the midday sun. Across the beach, in a cove formed in a rocky outcrop, a couple lay arm in arm upon an old yellow blanket. The remains of a picnic lunch were scattered at their feet. The white granite walls of the cove rose straight up for about fifteen feet, then leveled off onto a grassy field. Thin layers of reddish sandstone and clay scarred the rock like scabs. Earl seemed to be studying the rock, but his mind was far away.

"What are you thinking?" asked Edna. 

Earl shrugged and sighed. "Nothing, really. Just remembering the first time we came here." He turned and looked at her.

She smiled wistfully. "That was a long time ago."

"Yes, it was. You were so beautiful then."

"Were?"

"You know what I mean."

She nodded. "Yes, dear, I know." She pulled him closer. "And you were so shy."

"Yeah, I guess I was. I just couldn't believe you were letting me see you like that, touch you that way."

"I remember how scared I was. Good girls weren't supposed to do such things. I wanted to be a good girl, but I wanted you, too. It just felt so right."

"It was right, sweetheart." He touched her face lightly. It was an old woman's face now, just like his was an old man's. He peered into her eyes trying to find the girl he'd made love to here all those years ago. As he looked, the lines in her face seemed to dissolve, and her hair become full and dark brown again. Yes, he thought, she's still there. Satisfied, he lay back again and stared at the sky. Thick clouds were gathering quickly overhead. He studied them in silence, as he smelled the rain coming. 

Edna sat up and leaned over him. "I'm losing you again."

He blinked and looked at her again. "Sorry. I guess I... I don't know what's wrong with me lately."

"What's troubling you, dear?"

He took a couple of deep breaths. "I don't know if I can explain it. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night. I feel cold and afraid. I mean really afraid. Gut wrenching terror." He turned away from her again. "And alone, Edna. I feel alone, too."

"I'm right here with you, Earl." Her voice was full of concern.

"I know, I know. But... It's like I can see my own mortality right there in front of me. Like it's a physical thing I could just reach out and touch." His eyes were misting over. "But I don't want to touch it, Edna. I'm afraid to die."

She leaned down and kissed his cheek. Wrapping her arms around him, she held him tight. They lay together without speaking for several minutes. Words weren't necessary for him to know her love. 

In the distance, thunder rumbled ominously. A drop of rain fell on his shoulder, then another on his forehead. He started to rouse himself. "We'd better go before we get soaked."

She pressed against him, holding him down. She pulled herself awkwardly on top of him. "No," she said. "Not yet. You need something to get yourself out of that funk you're in." There was a twinkle in her eyes. "Let's make love. Right here and now. Like we did the first time." It had rained then, too. 

She started pulling at the buttons on his shirt. He shook his head. "Don't be silly. Someone will see us. We'll catch a cold." 

Undaunted, she kept going. She was suddenly laughing like a schoolgirl. "None of those things bothered you then. Now stop your worrying, you old goat." 

He complained again, but made no effort to stop her. Edna ran her hands through his chest hair, and kissed his nipples. Then she sat upright. Her fingers fumbled with the straps of her light summer dress and the hooks of her bra. Earl relaxed and let himself smile again. Maybe this was what he needed after all. His hands found their familiar place on her ample breasts. Her nipples were already hard, and he felt himself stiffen as though to join them. A brief vision of their four children, each in turn, suckling at those nipples flashed through his mind. But it didn't dampen his arousal as it once might have. Instead, he sighed at the miracles they'd made together, now all grown and on their own.

Edna rolled off him and reached under her dress to pull off her panties, while Earl pushed his pants down around his knees. Then she was on top of him again. She took him in hand. "My. So virile today." Their eyes met in an exchange of unbridled joy and relief. It wasn't so automatic anymore for his body to cooperate this way. He let her guide him in. She pressed down slowly, gently. His erection was quite serviceable as she'd noticed, but she didn't lubricate like she used to. He felt a slight resistance, then suddenly he was half way, then all the way in. 

She slid herself over his length with an easy rhythm, as he lifted himself to her. The rain was now a steady drizzle. It hastened them on. Earl reached down and fingered her nub until they both moaned and came together. Edna fell onto his chest once more, breathing heavily. She laughed softly. "Have you ever thought about how many times we've done this over the years?" 

He chuckled. "Not really, sweetheart, but I'm sure it's a big number." Suddenly serious, he looked at her earnestly. "Edna, I want you to know that no matter how many times we love each other, I treasure it like it's the first. Especially now, when each time might well be our last."

"Good heavens, Earl!" she scolded. "Why do you insist on being so morbid today?"

The question rung in his ears. Why had he been so morbid that day? It had been over a year ago, but he continued to relive those last moments again and again, coming back to the cove whenever he could. He knew now it hadn't been his own mortality that had kept him up nights, but Edna's. Somehow he'd sensed it, but had misinterpreted the sign.

Now he looked with empty eyes at the empty space next to him on the yellow blanket. Slowly, he gathered up the rain-soaked remains of his lunch, packed it away in the basket, and lifted himself wearily to his feet. He stood for another moment looking at the little cove. And as he turned to leave, he hardly noticed how the rain, stained red from the clay, flowed down the white granite like blood from an open wound.

Copyright © 2001 James V. Emanuel. All Rights Reserved. May not be re-printed in any form without express written consent of the author. Do not copy or post.

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James V. Emanuel aka Rod Harden  lives in Northeast Ohio with his wife, two teenage sons, and three cats. He began writing erotica on a whim, but soon discovered it was much easier when seated in a chair, and using a computer. His stories have appeared on the web at Erotica Readers Association, Dare Magazine, Peacockblue, Lady Jessika's Adult Story Corner, Mind Caviar, and Hellselevator. He has had two collections of short stories published by Renaissance E-Books. To read more of Mr. Emanuel's work, please visit his Rod Harden Website. Email  James V. Emanuel.

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