Rollie and Mangela stopped to pick up Angie, then took the long drive to Harlan’s estate.  By the time they got there, it was well past dark.  The guards, having been informed that they would be coming, let them through the gate without question.  Parking the car in front of a side route that Harlan had said would lead them directly to the garden, the three got out.  The soft whispering of the trees and the songs of crickets filled their ears.

Tied around Mangela’s waist was a leather pouch.  In his hands, he held two unlit torches.  Rollie took one of them, and Mangela handed the other to Angie.  The Aussie gave his lighter to the Aborigine.  Mangela lit Rollie’s torch, then Angie’s.  By the flickering light of the flames, they all walked down the narrow, paved drive.  Mangela would have preferred walking through the trees, but the danger of fire was too great.

After about twenty minutes, they came to the high fence that surrounded the garden to keep the deer out.  Rollie opened the gate, and they all passed beyond.  They walked a few more feet and came to the end of the trees and the road.  Sticking his torch in the ground, Rollie took his shoes and shirt off, as did Mangela.  Having been told this was coming, Angie did the same, stripping down to her sports bra.  If they were Aborigines, both she and Rollie would be stripped naked, but Mangela had agreed to make allowances.

They walked down the gentle, grassy slope to the garden.  The sound of the waterfall grew louder as they progressed through the garden.  At last, they saw it glinting in the moonlight.  Making their way behind the miniature mountain, they began to climb.  Not a hard climb, it was made more difficult by the fact that Rollie and Angie were carrying the torches.  As they reached the top, they looked out across the garden.  The roar of the waterfall was loud in their ears.  Rollie and Angie turned to Mangela.

Shoving the torch in the earth beside him, Rollie sat cross-legged on the ground.  Angie did the same, sitting directly in front of him, their knees touching.  Mangela sat beside them.  He removed the pouch from around his waist and pulled out its contents.  A small wooden bowl, a pestle, and some leaves and berries were placed on the ground.  Mangela put the berries and leaves into the bowl and began crushing them with the pestle.  Soon he had a thick liquid.  Laying down the pestle, the Aborigine picked up the bowl.

“In the beginning, when the world was sung into being, the Ancestors created man and woman, who, in turn, gave birth to the race of Man,” he said.  “Each of their children, their children’s children, and the generations that came after chose a songline to follow, a life’s path to put their feet upon.  Each of these songlines is crossed by others.  Often, it is just a brief touching, a moment’s blending of the songs.  But there are other times when the songlines meet and remain together, each one touching the other.  Sometimes, as the songlines meet, they become no longer two, but one--a single songline where there once was two.  And so it has become with you.  Your songlines have joined in the true union of the spirits within you.  You are not two hearts, but one.”  Mangela dipped his fingers into the liquid and touched them to Rollie’s chest over his heart, then to Angie’s.  “You are not two minds, but one.”  The Aborigine’s fingertips brushed the liquid across Rollie’s forehead, then did the same to Angie’s.  He set the bowl down.

“You have each found the one whose songline has become yours.  Together, you will begin a new, stronger songline that is all that the others were and more.  Tomorrow, you will cease your journeys alone.  Together, your feet will walk until your songline reaches its end.”

Mangela looked deeply into Rollie’s eyes.  “Are you prepared for this journey that you will begin?”

“Yes,” Rollie replied.

“Are you prepared to give your life to her and accept her life being given to you?”

Rollie’s eyes went to Angie.  “Yes.”

“Are you prepared to join your mind, body, and spirit to her until you pass into death?”

“Yes.”

“Are you prepared for the sacrifices that you will need to make and the hardships that will befall you both?”

“Yes.”

“And are you prepared to give of yourself unselfishly to the children that will come of this joining?”

“Yes.”

“Then you are ready to begin your new life and join with her in this complete union of spirit.”

Mangela turned to Angie.  He repeated the questions he had asked Rollie.  Softly, Angie answered yes to each one, her eyes never leaving Rollie’s.

Mangela held a hand out to each one of them.  Rollie and Angie took the offered hands.  The Aborigine joined Rollie’s and Angie’s hands together, entwining the fingers.

“Just as the fingers of your hands entwine with each other, so too will your lives be joined together.  The strength of that union will be within your power alone.”

Rollie and Angie tightened their grip.  They held it like that until Mangela laid a hand over theirs.

“The Ceremony of Preparation is now at an end.”

In silence, they made their way down the hill and back to where they’d left their clothes.  On the long drive back, none of them spoke a word.  A great calmness and sense of peace had come upon Rollie and Angie.  They both knew that they were now ready for what tomorrow would bring.

The day was sunny and clear.  Rollie looked up into the great blue expanse overhead, feeling calm and prepared.

“I guess we’d better get going now,” Francis said.

With a smile, Rollie got into the detective’s car.  Since Loubar was in custody, the helicopter flight had been canceled.

Not much was said on the drive over to the estate.  Both men were busy with their own thoughts.  As they pulled up to the gate, the man who had been stationed outside it smiled and waved them on through.  By now, every one of Harlan’s staff members knew Rollie’s face.

Harlan met them outside the house.  There was a huge grin on his lips.

“Has Angie arrived yet?” Rollie asked.

“Oh, yes.  About an hour ago.  Many of the guests are here, as well.  Come on.  I’ll take you down there.”

They went around the back of the house.  Rollie paused as he saw the fleet of chauffeured golf carts parked on the lawn.

“What’s all this?” he asked

“Well, we couldn’t have your guests walking all that way, could we?” Harlan replied.

“Thank you, Harlan.  This is great.”

“Think nothing of it.”

They got into one of the carts, and the driver took off for the garden.  Rollie was amazed at the transformation that had taken place there.  Rows of folding seats sat on the big lawn.  Flower arrangements decorated the area around the bridge.  The bridge itself was adorned with ribbons, sprays of white flowers, and English ivy. At its crest, a lattice arbor had been placed.  Like the bridge, the arbor was covered with ribbons, flowers, and ivy.  Over to the left, a table had been set up with champagne and punch.  A waiter stood behind it, serving the guests.  To his surprise, Rollie saw a six-piece orchestra busy tuning their instruments.

“Harlan, we didn’t order that orchestra.  Where did they come from?  All we’d arranged for was a violinist and a cellist.”

Harlan smiled.  “I’m afraid you can blame me for that.”

Rollie shook his head.  “Harlan, you’ve really got to stop doing these things.  Angie and I already owe you so much for what you’ve done.”

“Now, you wouldn’t want to deny an old man his pleasures, would you?  This is probably the only wedding I’ll ever get a chance to have a part in.  This is the most fun I’ve had in . . . well, a lot longer than you’ve been alive.  So, I don’t want to hear any more of this talk about me doing too much for you.”

Rollie looked into the man’s eyes. “Thank you, Harlan, for everything.”  He looked back at the orchestra.  “There is one thing I have to know, though.  How on earth did you get the piano out here?”

The older man laughed.  “Ah, now that was a sight to see.”

Just then, Rollie saw Dingo and Mangela, who had come earlier to help set things up.

“Rollie, my boy!  So, you made it,” his father called as they walked up.  He then lowered his voice.  “How do you feel, Son?”

“I’m feeling good, Dad.  A little dazed, I guess.  Part of me still can’t believe this is happening.”

Dingo chuckled.  “Just wait until you see Angie walking toward you in that wedding dress.  Try not to faint like Joe Clancy did at his wedding, though.  Come on.  We’d better get you into that penguin suit.”

With a parting smile to Harlan, Rollie walked across the lawn with Frank, Mangela, and Dingo.  As he did, he was greeted and congratulated by all the guests there.  Passing beyond the seating area, the four men came to the cottage.  Dingo knocked and poked his head in.

“We’re coming in, ladies,” he called.

Lucinda came out of one of the two bedrooms.  As the men came in, she pointed to the other bedroom.  “You get that one,” she said.

Dingo smiled in appreciation at how she looked in her dress.  “You look terrific, Lucinda.”

The actress smiled with pleasure.  “Why, thank you, Dingo.”  She turned to Rollie.  “Now, don’t you come anywhere near this other bedroom, you hear?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Luce.  I promised Angie I’d stay all in one piece for the wedding.  And I think you look great, too.”

With a final smile, Lucinda returned to the bedroom.  The four men entered the room on the right.

In the women’s changing room, Angie was staring at herself in the mirror.  She turned to Lucinda.  “Was that Rollie?  How did he look?”

"Like a rabbit about to be dropped in the pot," the actress said with a smile, then, at the look on Angie's face, hastily added, "I'm just kidding, Angie."  She patted the bride-to-be’s arm.  “He looked fine, quite calm actually, except for a slightly befuddled look in the eyes.”

“I’m glad that at least he’s calm.”  She turned back to her reflection.  “I know I gained weight, I just know it.  The dress isn’t going to fit.”

Joyce walked up to her.  “Angie, you haven’t gained an ounce.  The dress is going to fit perfectly.”

“But what about this bruise?  I can still see it, even with all the coverup makeup.”

“I can’t see it,” Mira said.  “The bruise isn’t really that bad, Angie.  It could be a lot worse.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Angie whispered.  “I’m really getting married.  I’m marrying Rollie Tyler.  If you’d told me this was going to happen seven, eight months ago, I’d have said you were stark, raving mad.”  She sat at the vanity.  “Mrs. Tyler, Mrs. Angela Tyler . . . Angela Tyler.”  Her eyes lit up with a smile.  “That sounds nice, doesn’t it.”

“Yes, it does,” Joyce agreed.  “Come on, Girl, it’s time to get you into that gorgeous dress.”

Over in the men’s changing room, Rollie was also staring at himself in the mirror.

“I don’t know.  Do you think I picked the wrong tux, Dad?  It just looked so different at the store.”

“You’ve never looked more handsome, Son.  I wish your mum was here.  She’d be so proud.”

Rollie looked at his father.  “You look good too, Dad.”  He smiled.  “Very dashing.”

Dingo tugged at his collar in discomfort.  “I really hate these damn things.  Whoever invented tuxedos should have been hung.”

Rollie chuckled and looked at Mangela, who was suffering in silence over having to wear the tux.  The Aussie had to admit that it was very strange to see the Aborigine wearing the formal attire.  Not bad, just strange.

Rollie turned back to the mirror and gazed into the reflection of his own eyes.  “This is really it.  It’s really happening.  I’m going to be a husband.”

Dingo clapped a hand on Rollie’s shoulder.  “It happens to the best of us, Son,” he replied solemnly.  Then he grinned.  “Okay, let’s get that boutonniere on you, and let me straighten that tie.”

A while later, the four men came out.  Rollie looked over at the other bedroom, hearing laughter coming from behind the door.

“You guys go on out there, I’ll be waiting here for Angie,” Mangela said.

Rollie nodded.  He glanced down for a moment.  That’s when he noticed something.  “Mangela, where are your shoes?”

“I can’t feel the earth with shoes on,” the Aborigine complained.

“Mangela, you can’t walk barefoot down the aisle with Angie.”  Seeing the expression on Mangela’s face, Rollie sighed.  “I’ll make a deal with you.  Just wear the shoes for the length of the ceremony and for the photos that will be taken afterwards.  After that, you can take them off.”  He looked back and forth between the Aborigine and his father.  “And you can both remove the bow ties after that.”

Mangela nodded, accepting the compromise.  He got his shoes and put them on.

Rollie left the cottage with Frank and Dingo.  Looking around the lawn area, he saw that virtually all the guests had arrived.

“Hey, Rollie!”

The Aussie turned to see David coming toward him, grinning.

“David!  Glad you could make it.”  The two men shook hands.

“There’s no way I was going to miss this.  So, how are you feeling?”

“I’m all right, better than I could be.  You should have seen me yesterday, though.  I was climbing the walls.”

David chuckled.  “Well, pretty soon, it will be all over and done with--then the real adventure begins.”

“You got that right.”  He looked at his watch.  “Well, I’d better get over there.  I just hope that I don’t forget my lines or trip over Angie’s gown or something.”

David patted his shoulder, laughing.  “You’ll do fine.”

As Rollie walked toward the bridge, he saw Charlotte and Lee coming toward him.

“Hey, there you are,” he said.  He gave Charlotte a hug and shook Lee’s hand.

“Oh, Rollie, I am so happy,” the woman said.  “You look marvelous, so very handsome.”

“Thank you, Charlotte.  Did everything go well with the food?”

“Oh, yes, just fine.  I had to cook some of the things here because of the long drive, but Harlan’s cooking staff was very helpful.  You should see the kitchen!  What I could do in a place like that.”

Rollie laughed.  “Yeah, I saw it.”  He turned to her husband.  “So, no houses to show this weekend?” he said jokingly.

The man laughed.  “Are you kidding?  I wouldn’t trade watching this for a chance to sell the White House.  Besides, if I had agreed to show a house today, Charlotte would have skinned me alive.”

“Then boiled him in a vat of oil,” his wife added.

Lee smiled down at her fondly, then returned his attention to Rollie.  “Actually, I don’t work on weekends very often.  That Sunday you came to dinner was a rare case.  It was the only day of the week that the people could look at houses.”

“Well, we’d better let you get up there to the bridge,” Charlotte said.  “It’s almost time.”

“Yeah, it is, isn’t it,” Rollie said, feeling his nervousness escalate.  He resumed his journey, stopping periodically to speak to well-wishers.  At last, he made it up to the foot of the bridge.

“Good afternoon, Mister Tyler,” said the minister.  “It certainly is a wonderful day, isn’t it?”

“It’s an incredible day.”

The minister studied the expression on his face.  “Would you like a little piece of advice?  I’ve done quite a few of these, you know.”

“Please.”

“When the music starts, just before the bride comes out, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think of all the reasons why you love her so much.”

“That would take a week, Reverend.”

The minister smiled.  “Well, then just think of the most important ones.”

“I’ll do that.  Thanks.”  He took up his position at the left side of the bridge as the minister went on up to the top.  Francis and Dingo both stood on his right.  The guests all took their seats.

A couple of minutes passed, then the orchestra began playing.  As the minister had suggested, Rollie closed his eyes and took a deep breath.  To his mind came the wonderful things about Angela Ramirez that made her so precious to him.  As his eyes opened, a gentle smile came to his lips.

The first down the aisle were Frank and Sarah’s three daughters, the youngest out in front.  They were all bearing baskets of rose petals and were tossing them on the ground.  Their addition to the ceremony had been Sarah’s idea, knowing that the three girls desperately wanted to be a part of the wedding of “Uncle” Rollie and “Aunt” Angie.  Mira came down the aisle next, looking beautiful in the blue-violet dress.  A few paces behind her, was Lucinda.  After her, came Joyce.  Then he saw Angie, and the breath stilled in his lungs.  Awed beyond thought, Rollie watched the indescribably beautiful creature that slowly glided toward him.  Her dress, shimmering in the sunlight, seemed to float about her like mist from the waterfall behind them.  Her hair, shining like spun gold, framed her face with soft curls.  Crowning her head were tiny snow white flowers and pearls blending into a veil that looked as if it had been made from spider webs.  Her intensely blue eyes looked huge, doe-like.  She looked utterly unreal, like some incredible, unearthly being from a fantasy.

Trying to breathe, to get his heart started again, Rollie watched her coming toward him, completely bewitched by the sight of her.  Every other person there faded away to nonexistence.  In the whole world there was only Angie.

Angie looked at the tall, dazzlingly handsome man standing at the bridge.  The warm, dark depths of his eyes filled her vision.  They caught her and held onto her, making her experience the most incredible feeling of peace and joy that she had ever known.  She continued forward, everything else around her becoming nothing but a fog.

At last, Angie and Mangela drew up to the bridge.  The Aborigine released Angie’s hand and placed it in Rollie’s.  He then went to stand beside Dingo.  Their eyes locked upon each other, Rollie and Angie made their way up to the crest of the bridge.  As if from a distance, they heard the minister’s voice.  Tearing their eyes away from each other’s faces, they turned to the man.

“From the beginning of creation, God placed Man and Woman together on this earth to live not as two, but as one, to join forever and fill the earth with their seed.  When a man and a woman are blessed with the gift of finding that one person with whom they wish to share their lives, then do they choose to show the world the depth of their love with the ultimate commitment.  This, then, is what marriage is.  It is more than just a symbol, more than a ritual.  It is the truest and purest expression any two people can give of their love for each other.  It is a declaration to the world that these two people have chosen to dedicate their lives to each other.”

Rollie and Angie turned to each other as the minister continued.

“Standing before you now is Roland Nathaniel Tyler and Angela Kathleen Ramirez, two people who have come here today to be joined as one.  In their hearts are the truest words that can be spoken this day.  So it is that they have each chosen to speak their vows in their own words.”

Rollie and Angie moved closer together.  They clasped their hands together and raised them to chest level.  Their bodies lightly touching, they gazed deeply into each other’s eyes.

His voice soft and deep, Rollie began to speak.  “From the first moment I saw you, I knew that my life would never be the same.  Only a child, you captured my heart with your smile, your laugh, your love for life.  As you grew to womanhood, I held onto the image of the child, for, as long as you were a child, I knew that you would never leave.  But the passage of time cannot be stopped, and eventually the day came that I had to see you as you are.  Then it was that I found a new and wonderful thing in my life.  Then it was that I realized that I no longer wished for you to be a child.  I discovered a love that I never knew could exist, a love more precious and rare than any jewel.  I knew, at last, the joy of finding someone whom I wished to spend eternity with.  And so, today, I say to you, Angela Ramirez, that you are and will always be the greatest treasure in my life.  I dedicate all that I have and all that I am to you until the day I die.  No matter what the passage of time may bring, I am yours alone.  I will stand by your side through all that life sends us.”

Fighting back the tears, Angie spoke the words that had come from her soul.  “On that day so long ago, when I first saw you, I felt something take hold of me that I’d never known before.  I found myself watching your every move, your every look.  I did not know that it was love I felt, only that I never wanted to be anywhere else except where you were.  As time passed, those first feelings changed.  I began to look upon you with different eyes, and I realized that you were more precious to me than just a childhood crush.  You had become a huge part of my life, a part that I could not bear to be without.  I had come to love you in a different, deeper way.  Yet those first feelings I never truly went away.  They lay hidden deep in my heart, where even I could not see them.  Then that day came when my life changed forever, and I knew that I could no longer deny the truth of what I felt for you.  When you were almost taken from me, I knew that you had become my life, my heart.  I could not survive without you in my world.  Roland Tyler, I give to you this day, all that I am or will ever be.  I give you my love and my life forever.  Through all the pain and hardships, through all the joy and triumphs, you and I will stand together as one.”

“Roland Tyler, you have pledged yourself to this woman.  As a symbol of this pledge, now place the ring upon her finger,” said the minister.

Francis handed Rollie the ring.  With a hand that shook ever so slightly, Rollie placed the platinum and diamond band on Angie’s finger.

“Angela Ramirez, you have pledged yourself to this man.  As a symbol of this pledge, now place the ring upon his finger.”

Mira gave Angie the ring.  Her hand also trembling, she slid the matching ring on Rollie’s finger.  Her eyes rose again to his.

“It now gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.  May this be the first day of many joyful days to come.”

Rollie’s and Angie’s lips came together, and their arms slid about each other.  Lost in the kiss, they were only vaguely aware of the cheers and applause that rose about them.  Finally, they drew apart and smiled out at the cheering crowd.  They descended to the ground and were instantly mobbed.

After being hugged, and kissed, and patted, and their hands shook for the two dozenth time, they were ready to run away and hide somewhere.  Seeing that they needed rescuing, Harlan stepped forward and took control.

“All right, everyone, let the newlywed have a breath of air.  Food is being served up at the main house.  There are carts waiting at the head of the garden to take you there.  Take your time, though, there’s plenty of food for everyone.”

Slowly, the crowd around Rollie and Angie broke up and spread to other parts of the garden, until the only ones left with them were the members of the wedding party, Harlan, Sarah and the children.

“Thank you, Harlan,” said Rollie.  “We were beginning to feel smothered.”

The man laughed.  “Well, I had to get in here to do my own congratulating.”  He shook Rollie’s hand heartily, then gave Angie a hug and a kiss on the cheek.  He then put a hand on each of their cheeks and murmured, “You two have brought a lot of joy to me this week.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”  Blinking back the tears that had come to his eyes, Harlan then said, “Well, I had better go on up to the house and deal with the minor crises that will no doubt arise.  Take your time getting up there, you two.”

Rollie and Angie watched the man leave, both feeling a little sad that he’d spent so many years alone.  Then they turned to the remaining ten people.  Seeing their chance, the three Gatti children immediately ran up and hugged Rollie and Angie.  Rollie stooped down and lifted the littlest one into his arms.

“I knew, I knew you were going to get married someday!” Jessica announced, her face beaming.  “Mommy and Daddy said that you were made for each other.”

Rollie and Angie laughed.

“Well, they were right, Jess,” Rollie told her, “and so were you.”  He put Bethany down.

“Oh, the wedding was so beautiful.  I just cried like a baby!” declared Lucinda.  Sure enough, there were tear stains on her cheeks.  Sarah, too, showed signs of having shed a few tears.  Francis had his arm around his wife’s waist.  With his free hand, he shook Rollie’s hand.  A bit shyly, he looked over at Angie.

“Well, come on, Frank.  I’m not going to let you get away from me without a kiss,” Angie said.  She moved forward.  Frank gave her a peck on the cheek, blushing slightly.

“My turn now, Daughter,” said Dingo with a grin.  He gave her a tight hug and planted a big kiss on her cheek.  Mangela was next.  Then it was Rollie’s turn with the women.

Joyce looked over and saw the photographer patiently waiting.  “I think it’s time for the pictures, everyone.”

“Oh, no, my face!  I look horrid!” Lucinda exclaimed.

“You look fine, Luce,” Rollie said.

Sarah fished into her purse and pulled out some face powder and a mirror.  The actress gratefully accepted them and touched up her makeup.

The whole time that the photographs were being taken, the photographer kept saying over and over again that they were going to look wonderful.  She was apparently ecstatic to have such beautiful surrounding for a change.  At last, she was finished and went off to take more photos of the garden and house.

Dingo looked around at everyone.  “Well, we’re all going to go up to the house now, right everyone?”  Not waiting for a reply, he continued.  “You two lovebirds just take all the time you want.  We’ll still be there when you arrive.”

They all crossed the bridge and disappeared up the path.  Alone at last, Rollie and Angie put their arms about each other.  The Aussie touched his wife’s cheek in wonder.

“Married.  We’re actually married,” he murmured.  “A part of me still can’t believe it.”

“I know what you mean.  I feel the same way.”  Angie gave a happy sigh.  “Angie Tyler.  I really like how that sounds.”

“Yeah, me too.  So, Mrs. Tyler.  What shall it be?  A slow walk through the garden or shall we get more intimately acquainted with each other in one of the cottage bedrooms.”  One of his fingers slid down her neck to the curve of her breast.

Angie breath drew in.  “Oh, I like the bedroom idea, but once we got in there, we’d never come out.  And we do have guests waiting for us.”

Rollie sighed.  “Yes, you’re right.  I guess that part will have to wait for later.  A walk, then.”

Slowly, they strolled through the garden, their arms about each other.  Occasionally, they saw a wedding guest or two, who were also out enjoying the beauty of the place.  After about an hour, they finally decided that it was time to go up to the main house.

Every room in the house was lit, and the place was filled with the sound of music and laughter.  Rollie saw Harlan in a conversation with several other people.  He looked very happy.

The newlyweds made their way over to the buffet table.  Their eyes opened wide at the banquet laid out before them.  Charlotte had outdone herself.  Grabbing plates, they progressed down the table, take samples of everything that looked good, which was pretty much everything there.  Taking a seat at one of the tables that had been set up, they began to eat.

“Wow.  This is fabulous,” Angie said.

“You’re not kidding.”

Enjoying every bite of the meal, Rollie and Angie then mingled with the crowd.  At last, the time came for the first dance.  As everyone watched, Rollie took Angie’s hand and led her onto the dance floor.  The singing duo that Rollie had hired began the first song on their list, one of the two songs that Rollie had added without Angie’s knowledge.  His wife’s eyes widened as “Right Here Waiting” began to play.

“Oh, Rollie,” she said, smiling brightly.

“This is the first and only song I’ve ever sung for you.  It should be the song that we share our first dance as husband and wife to.”  He kissed her hand, and they began to dance.

Moving alone across the dance floor, they lost themselves in each other’s eyes.  The voices of the male and female singers rose in perfect harmony, singing the lyrics of love.  Before the couple knew it, the song was over.  As the next one began, other dancers joined them on the floor, but it made no difference to Rollie and Angie.  They might as well have been alone for all the attention they paid to the others.

As the evening passed, the guests gradually left, each person giving their best wishes to the newlyweds.  As the reception drew to a close, with only a handful of guests left, Rollie got up from the table he and Angie were sitting at.  He walked over to the singing group, who were taking a break, and said something to them.  The man and woman smiled and nodded their heads.

As Rollie came back to Angie, the band began playing another song.  The gentle sound of a lone guitar carried above the other instruments.  Rollie reached for Angie’s hands and pulled her to her feet.  As they walked out onto the dance floor, the female singer’s soft voice began the tender ballad “Born to Give My Love.”  Gazing into each other’s eyes, Rollie and Angie moved across the floor, the words of the song echoing their feelings for each other.
 

I don’t know what brought us here.
Something in the stars said you and me.
I don’t know where this feeling comes from,
But, surely, it was meant to be.

For I have known you, even in my dreams.
My eyes are opened, my heart can see.

The man’s voice joined the woman’s as they moved into the chorus.
 

As sure as stars light the midnight sky,
As sure as children wonder why,
As sure as newborn babies cry,
I was born to give my love to you.

Born to give my love to you.

The man fell silent as the woman continued into the second verse.
 

Heaven must be holding on,
For all the love I’m feeling right now.
Here we are, this is the moment.
I believe it’s our turn somehow.

Hearts together, hands across the night.
One forever finally in sight.

Again, the man’s and woman’s voices rose in harmony through the chorus.
 

As sure as stars light the midnight sky,
As sure as children wonder why,
As sure as newborn babies cry,
I was born to give my love to you.

I was born to give my love to you.

As the last of the music drifted away, Rollie’s lips came down on Angie’s.  Minutes later, they separated to find themselves alone.  Even the members of the singing group had slipped away.

The newlyweds came out of the ballroom and looked around.  The place was empty except for Harlan, Sarah, David, Charlotte, Lee, the kids, and the wedding party members.  The two youngest children were asleep on one of the lounges.

“Everyone else is gone?” asked Angie.

Mira nodded.  “They all told us to wish you goodnight for them.  They didn’t want to disturb you.”

“We’ll be heading off, too,” Lee said.  “We need to relieve a babysitter of her two charges.”

Harlan looked down at Charlotte.  “If you change your mind about my offer, please let me know.”

Rollie looked curiously at the man and woman.  “What’s this about?”

“I asked Charlotte to come work for me as my chef.  My present chef will be leaving in a couple of months.  Charlotte is an excellent cook, and I think she should be paid for her talents.”

The woman blushed at the compliment.  “Thank you, Harlan.  That’s really sweet of you to say.  But our life and Lee’s job is in the city.”

“Well, you give it some thought anyway,” Harlan told her.

Charlotte and Lee said goodbye to everyone and left.

“I need to head off, too,” David said.  He shook Rollie’s hand.  “I know you two are going to be happy together.  That’s obvious just by looking at you.  You’re both very, very lucky.”  There was a trace of sadness in his eyes and his voice as he spoke.  Then he looked over at Lucinda, and the sadness faded.  The actress smiled at him.

“Hey, David.  Why don’t you drive Luce back to her hotel?” Angie suggested.

The faintest of blushes colored the agent’s cheeks.  “Um, yeah.  I’d . . . I’d like that.”  His eyes returned to Lucinda, who was smiling even more brightly.

“Don’t you want me to help you get undressed and everything?” the actress asked Angie.

“I think that Mira and Joyce can handle it.”

“Sure we can,” Joyce quickly agreed.  “You go on with David.”

Luce positively beamed.  She kissed Angie on the cheek and gave her a hug.  “Have a wonderful weekend, Angie.” She glanced at Rollie.  “But then, I know you will.”

David offered her his arm, and the two left.

“We brought your clothes up here in case you’d like to change,” Harlan told the newlyweds.

“I guess we should get out of these before we head back home,” Rollie said.  He thought he saw funny little smiles flash across a couple of peoples’ faces, but decided that it had just been his imagination.  He and Angie were led to separate bedrooms to change.  Joyce and Mira went with Angie to help her get out of the wedding dress and to change out of their own dresses.  Rollie, Frank, Mangela, and Dingo all changed out of their tuxedos.

As Rollie waited back downstairs for Angie, he saw one of Harlan’s staff members come up to the man and whisper something in his ear.  Harlan nodded and smiled.  Just then, Angie came down.

“Are you ready to go?” Rollie asked her.

She nodded.  “Joyce and Mira said they would take care of the dress.”

“Dad and Mangela said the same thing about the tux.”

“Before you go off, I’d like to show you something,” Harlan said.

Rollie looked at Angie, and she nodded.  Harlan led them out to the backyard.  Just as the door closed, Rollie could have sworn that he heard someone giggle.  Then he saw what sat on the lawn.  One of the golf carts had been bedecked with ribbons and flowers.  No one sat in the driver’s seat.

“What’s this?” Angie asked.

“Wait and see,” Harlan replied with a smile.  Sitting in the driver’s seat, he motioned for the couple to get in.  Then he drove them down into the garden.  Tiny colored lights along the path lit their way.  Harlan drove across the temporary bridge crossing the stream.  Rollie could see that the arbor on the bridge where the ceremony had taken place was still up, but everything else from the wedding had been cleared away.  The lawn was empty.

The three continued down the path to the cottage.  A soft light was flickering behind the curtains.  Harlan opened the door, then stood aside for the couple to pass.  Rollie’s and Angie’s mouths opened as they saw what had been done inside.  The room was filled with hundreds of candles, their tiny flames bringing a golden light to the place.  The couple turned to Harlan.

“This cottage and the garden are yours for the rest of the weekend, if you want them,” the man told them.  “The refrigerator has been fully stocked, and you will find clothing in the closet of the left bedroom, which has been prepared for you.  I have left strict orders that not a soul is to set foot near the garden for the remainder of your stay.  You will be completely alone.”

“Harlan, we don’t know what to say.  We never expected this,” Angie said.

“There’s no need to say anything.  I will leave you now.”  He smiled gently.  “Until Monday morning, then.”

The couple heard the golf cart drive away.

“Come on,” Rollie said.  He led Angie outside.  Then, lifting her into his arms, he carried her over the threshold.  Shutting the door with his foot, Rollie gave Angie a long, slow kiss.  “I love you, Angela Tyler.”

Smiling at the sound of her new name coming from her husband’s lips, Angie whispered back, “And I love you, Roland Tyler.”
 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN -- CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Rollie carried Angie into the bedroom, feeling his pulse quicken.  In the soft candlelight, they saw a package lying on the bed.  Reluctantly, the Aussie put his wife down.  A smile came to her lips as Angie read the card on the box.

“It’s a present from Lucinda.  She says I have to go in the bathroom to open it.”

“That sounds interesting.”  He pulled Angie close and kissed her neck.  “Hurry back.  I’ve waited a long time for this, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.”

With a sultry smile, Angie picked up the box and slipped into the bathroom.  Rollie wandered around the room, trying to find things to distract him, but it was no use.  All he could think about was Angie and his overwhelming desire for her.  He’d been with other women, but none of them had ever made him feel the way Angie did with just a kiss.  Some instinct told him that more than the consummation of their love was going to happen tonight.

Not knowing what else to do, Rollie sat on the corner of the bed and took off his shoes, which had begun to bother his feet, being new.  He stared at them unseeingly for several seconds, then set them down and removed his socks.  His eyes went to the bed.  It had already been turned down, waiting for them to use it.  That thought sent him hopping back to his feet nervously.  It was Angie he was waiting for, Angie whom he would be making love to in this bed.  That thought made him go to the window to stare out sightlessly into the darkness as he tried to calm the trembling feeling inside him.

In the bathroom, Angie stared at herself in the mirror, trying to get control of her breathing and her nerves.  Not even with her first time had she been this nervous.  She kept thinking about the fact that it was Rollie in that bedroom, Rollie whom she was about to make love with.  Yet, no matter how hard it was to believe, she knew that this was the way it was meant to be, right from the start.

With that thought in mind, Angie took a deep, steadying breath and opened the door.

Rollie turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening.  His eyes widened, and his breath drew in sharply as he stared at Angie in a filmy white teddy.  The fabric was incredibly sheer and showed every glorious curve of her body.  Dragging his eyes upward, Rollie looked at her face.  Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shining.  Closing his mouth, Rollie swallowed heavily and watched the most beautiful creature on Earth move toward him.

Angie felt feverish.  Her breath was coming short and fast.  Tiny tremors kept running through her body.  Rollie’s eyes were burning her like fire, almost black with desire, as she approached him.

Finally, standing mere inches away, she turned her face up to his.

For a moment, Rollie was afraid to touch her, afraid that the desire that had taken control of him would cause him to be too rough with her.  Even now, he was fighting the urge to grab her and throw her on the bed.  She was so beautiful, so desirable, so. . . .  Rollie swallowed again and fought to regain a tiny measure of control.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, his voice rough with the emotions burning inside him.  He reached up and touched her face.  Then he slid his fingertips, feather-light, down her arms.  Angie’s eyes closed, a small shudder going through her.  When she opened them again, she found that Rollie’s gaze was traveling down her body, his eyes even darker than before.

“Rollie,” she whispered.

The Aussie’s eyes returned to hers.

“Make love to me,” she told him.

Go to PG-13 version

A tiny sound issuing from his throat, Rollie pulled her into his arms, his mouth descending upon hers hungrily.  Wrapping her arms around his neck, Angie returned his kiss with her own insatiable hunger.

In seconds their need for each other had grown into an unquenchable bonfire.  Rollie slid the teddy off her shoulders and down her body.  As the material fell to the floor, his hands moved across her skin, stroking, caressing.  Angie gasped as the touch sent a thrill of pleasure through her.  The gasp turned to a moan as he took her breasts into his hands.  In almost desperate haste she stripped off Rollie’s shirt, then his pants and boxers.

Their mouths parted wide in deep, searching kisses, Rollie lowered Angie onto the bed.  Maddened with desire by the feeling of her nakedness against him, Rollie slid his mouth down her neck, his tongue, lips, and teeth ravishing it while his hands kept touching her, unable to stop their search of her body.  His mouth traveled on down to her breasts.  Bold and hungry, it moved across their softness, seeking and finding her nipples.  Moaning, Rollie pulled one of the peaks into his mouth.  Angie gave an answering moan, her breath coming in short, heavy gasps as waves of ecstasy spread throughout her.  She pushed her body upward, holding him to her as they both began a slight rocking motion.

At last releasing her nipple, Rollie’s mouth continued its downward journey to the smooth skin of her belly as his hands sought out her most secret places, making Angie cry out with the rapture of his touch.  Hearing the cry, Rollie slid back up to take her mouth with his.

With a quick movement, Angie rolled over on top of him.  Her mouth then went to his neck, as hungry for the taste of his skin as he was for hers.  She moved on downward to a nipple.  Rollie moaned her name as she took it into her mouth.  Her hands traveled on down his body, finding the places that made him cry out with an ecstasy to match her own.  Wild with the pleasure of tasting and touching him, Angie slid further down his body.

With a ragged groan, Rollie grasped Angie’s shoulders and pulled her up, his mouth plundering hers as he rolled on top of her, Angie’s legs wrapping around him.  Their eyes locked upon each other, Rollie at last joined his body with his wife’s.  They both let out a wordless cry at the feeling of finally becoming one, their hearts filled with the joy of it.  Lying still for only a moment, they began to move.  In perfect unison, they rocked with each other, the ecstasy building with each passing second.  Lost in a feeling unlike anything they had ever known before, they clung to each other, their movements growing ever faster.

Then, suddenly, something happened.  All at once, it was as if they had ceased being two people.  Angie’s thoughts, her emotions, her ecstasy were Rollie’s and his were hers as they shared each other’s bodies and minds in a connection beyond understanding.  Not questioning what was happening, they grasped each other more tightly as their combined rapture soared upward.

Deep inside, they felt the tide rise higher and higher, the heat inside them growing incandescent.  And then, their climax was upon them.  Crying out, they felt their bodies erupt in the final, consuming rapture of culmination, each of them experiencing not only their own release but also the other’s.  For seconds that were eternity, they became consumed by the awesome power of it, seeming to touch heaven itself.

At last, they slowly descended.  Chests heaving, convulsive shudders passing through their bodies, they clung to each other, both of them overcome by feelings of utter fulfillment and completion.  Rollie felt tears come to his eyes.  Not stopping them, he let them flow, his breath catching.  He pressed his cheek against Angie’s, feeling her tears mingle with his.

“Angie, Angie,” he breathed, hearing her murmur his name in return.

The Aussie lifted his head and looked into his wife’s eyes.  Shining in their blue depths, he saw the same awe that he was feeling.  He cupped her face in his hands and gave her a long, slow kiss.  Holding on to her, he rolled over onto his side, carrying her with him, keeping their bodies joined.  Caressing her face with his lips, Rollie held her close.

“God, I love you so much,” he whispered, his voice trembling.

Angie’s hand came up and caressed his cheek.  Like his, her voice was soft and trembling.  “I never dreamed that it could be like this with someone.  I love you more than I could ever find words for.”  She laid her head against his chest.

“He was right,” Rollie said after a few moments, a note of wonder in his voice.

“Who was right?”

“Mangela.  He once told me that when I found my lifemate and we made love, our spirits would join completely.  At the time, I believed him, but, later on, I stopped believing in those things.  But then, when I kissed you for the first time, and every time after that, I felt us join in a way like I’ve never felt before, and I began to think that, maybe, he was right.”  He turned her face up to his.  “But I could never have dreamed that it would be like it was.  I . . . I just can’t describe it.”  Rollie felt tears prick his eyes again.

“I know,” Angie murmured.  “I felt it, too.”  A smile came to her lips.  “I think they probably felt the earth shake all the way to Miami.”

Laughing softly, Rollie replied, “I guess we should have gotten that addition to our insurance after all.”  He pulled her close.  With a deep, shuddering sigh, he laid his head upon her breast.  Holding each other close, they slowly drifted off to sleep.

It was still dark when Rollie awoke sometime later.  He looked down at Angie’s sleeping face, awed and humbled by the love he felt for her and could sense that she felt for him.  What had happened that night, the way that they had melded into each other, should have frightened him since it confirmed at least part of what Mangela had claimed when Rollie was a child.  But he couldn’t be afraid, not about that.  It had been the most amazing, beautiful thing he’d ever experienced.  He wanted it to happen again.

Rollie continued lying there in the darkness, drinking in the sight of his wife and lover.  He had no idea how much time had passed when Angie’s eyes opened and met his.  Speaking not a word, their lips came together.  Instantly, the flame of desire roared back to life.  The kiss deepening in intensity, Angie rolled over on top of him, straddling his thighs.  Her mouth and hands sought out the places they’d found before, seeking new ones to explore.  Again, she slid down his body, feeling Rollie shudder, a groan coming from deep in his throat.

Rollie’s hips bucked upward, his mind and body consumed by the fire that Angie was building with her mouth and hands.  His hands latched onto the bedcovers as his hips bucked upward again.

Angie’s eyes rose to Rollie’s sweat-beaded face, seeing his rapture reflected there.  Wanting to taste his mouth again, she slid back up his body.  He grabbed onto her and pulled her even farther up, his lips now upon her body.  Angie cried out as his mouth found a nipple at the same time as his hand found a place that made her ecstasy skyrocket upward.

Not able to wait a second longer, Angie moved back down and joined her body with Rollie’s for the second time.  Passion exploded inside them as they made love wildly, deeply.  The minutes stretched to eternity as they became drunk with the ecstasy that was burning through their veins.  And then it happened again, their minds and souls becoming one in a connection beyond the physical.  Crying out as their rapture multiplied, they moved together with wild abandon, reaching their climax in the same moment.  Once it was over, Angie collapsed upon Rollie.  He held onto her, unable to do more than fill his starving lungs with air.  Several minutes passed before Angie slid off Rollie.  She lay against him, her body still quaking.  Rollie gazed down at her, stroking her cheek.

“You are amazing,” he murmured.

“I’m not the one who’s amazing, Rollie.  You are.  You make me feel so incredible.  This,” she pulled him more tightly against her, “is incredible.  No one else could make me feel like this.”

“And no one else could make me feel like this.”  A smile filled his eyes.  “I think they felt that one in L.A.”

“L.A.?  I’d say that Mexico City is still shaking with the aftershocks.”

The Aussie pulled her even closer.  “Next time, we’ll have to try for Australia,” he whispered in her ear.

Smiling, Angie closed her mouth over her husband’s.

For long minutes, they kissed and caressed, building the fire back up slowly.  In less time than either of them had thought possible, it flared brightly yet again.  Rollie sat up, pulling Angie with him.  She wrapped her legs tightly about him.  Rollie’s mouth took hers prisoner, then traveled back down her neck to her breasts, his tongue roaming across her.  With a sound that was half gasp, half groan, Angie’s body arched and rocked against Rollie’s.  Almost desperate with their need, they joined a third time, engulfed in the white heat of their passion.  And, again, they melded as one, overwhelmed by the strength of their union.

Finally, they fell back, utterly exhausted.  Sleep came almost instantly.

The sun was brushing the treetops with gold when Angie awoke.  She looked up at Rollie’s face.  An overpowering tenderness filled her as she watched the innocent peacefulness of his sleeping features.  She lay a hand on his chest, feeling its slow rise and fall.  Her thoughts went to their night of passion, awed by it.  No words could describe the completeness of their union.  It was beyond understanding.  Angie had heard people talk about how they felt when making love to someone they loved, the depth of the union, but what had happened between her and Rollie was far more than that.  She knew that Rollie would wince at the term, but what they had experienced was a complete psychic connection.  Even now, she could still sense it faintly.

‘Rollie.  My love,’ Angie said silently in her mind.

As if hearing her, Rollie awoke.  His eyes went to hers, and he smiled.  “Good morning, Wife.”

Angie smiled, loving the sound of Rollie saying those words.  She pressed her body closer to his and murmured, “Good morning, Husband.”

“Mmm.  I like the sound of that.  I’d love to hear that again.”

“I’d rather use my mouth for something else,” she said as she slid upward to meet his waiting lips.  Sighing with contentment, the newlyweds kissed slowly and deeply.

“You know what I want?” Angie whispered against her husband’s lips.

A grin spread across the Aussie’s face.  “A shower . . . with me.”

“Hey, no fair.  You guessed.”  She pouted.

Rollie met her eyes, completely serious.  “It wasn’t a guess.”

Realizing what he was saying, Angie gazed at him for several seconds.  “Can you do that all the time?”

“No.  It only happens sometimes.”  He looked vaguely uncomfortable about the confession.

“How long has this been going on?”

“I’m not sure.  I became aware of it only a few weeks ago, but I think that it might have been there before then.”  He searched her eyes.  “Does it bother you?”

“I suppose that it should, knowing that someone can pick thoughts out of my head.”  She stroked his cheek.  “But, because it’s you, it doesn’t.  I trust you, Rol, in every way.”

A relieved smile filled Rollie’s face.  “I was worried about how you would react.  That’s why I didn’t tell you before.”

“You don’t have to be afraid to tell me anything, Rollie.”

The Aussie pulled her close, kissing her deeply.

“It does give you an unfair advantage, though,” Angie said when their lips separated.  “You’ll always know how I plan to make love to you before I do.”  She suddenly slid her hand down between them to an extremely sensitive portion of Rollie’s anatomy.  The Aussie let out a choked cry, his body reacting instinctively by bucking against her.

“Oh, did I surprise you?” Angie asked with feigned innocence.

Rollie crushed her to him as his hand did to her what she had done to him.  Angie moaned loudly, feeling her need for him rising rapidly.

“I think we’d better hurry up and get in that shower.  Otherwise we’ll never make it out of this bed,” she gasped.

Relieving themselves first, the newlyweds entered the shower stall.  They washed each other’s bodies, gentle hands sliding over wet skin.  The sight of Angie there in the shower with him and the feel of her skin as he ran the soap over it was making it hard for Rollie to concentrate on what he was doing.  Angie was having the same trouble.  The Aussie turned her around so that her back was to him and, fighting to focus on the task, began washing her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp.

“Oh, that feels wonderful.  I’m going to let you do this every morning.”

Angie’s body brushed against his, and Rollie felt his control slipping.  Giving into his desire, he said, “Unfortunately, if we did this every morning, we’d never get anything else done.”  Then he demonstrated the meaning of his words by sliding a soapy hand across her breasts and down to the inner juncture of her thighs.

Rendered instantly breathless, his wife gasped, “I see what you mean.”

Angie quickly turned around in his arms, and Rollie bore her up against the wall, lifting her onto his hips.  She wrapped her legs around him and surrendered to their passion.  As the hot water cascaded over them, they lost themselves in the rapture of their lovemaking, their ardor knowing no limits.  Caught in the wildfire of their passion, they felt themselves become one again.  Enveloped in her body and soul, Rollie felt their connection deepen even further.  He could feel her heart beating, the blood pounding in her veins, her muscles bunching and stretching, all as if they were his own.  He could feel her skin touching his and his touching hers.  He was experiencing the physical connection of their bodies not only from within his own body, but also Angie’s.  And he knew, beyond doubt, that Angie was feeling the same, for their minds were one as well.

Crying out each other’s name repeatedly, they exploded upward to their climax, a hoarse scream ripping from their throats.  When it was over, Rollie sank with Angie to the floor, his shaking legs unable to bear their weight.  For several minutes, they just held each other as their trembling bodies quieted.

“Rollie, what’s happening to us?” Angie asked weakly.  The completeness of their union this time was scaring her a little as she thought about it.

“I don’t know.  I had no idea it would be like this.”  He cupped her face.  “But I know in my heart that this is the way it’s supposed to be.”

Gazing into the soft brown depths of Rollie’s eyes, Angie felt her fear vanish.  How could she be afraid of something so incredibly wonderful?

Smiling, she snuggled against him.  After a few moments, they became aware of the fact that the water was growing cold.  Turning it off, they got out of the shower and dried off.  Still feeling a little weak, they crawled back into bed and just held each other.  An hour passed in complete contentment.

Slowly, gently, Rollie’s hands began exploring Angie’s body, his lips covering her face and neck with soft kisses.  They made love again, slow and tender, whispering endearments to each other.  As they joined this time, there was no overwhelming explosion of sensations.  With wonder, they explored the connection of their minds and bodies, feeling each touch, each kiss from both perspectives, learning as no others could how to give each other the most pleasure.  When they finally reached their culmination, they were so completely united that they could no longer tell whose body was feeling what, experiencing each climax--first Angie’s, then Rollie’s--as if it was their own. 

Warm and content in the afterglow, Rollie drew in a deep breath, feeling Angie’s body still surrounding him, her spirit still merged with his.  He slipped into sleep, and then into dreams, sensing Angie come into the dream with him.  They were sitting on a beach looking out over the ocean, his arms around her.  Angie was sitting between his legs, her back against his chest.  Rollie slid his hand over Angie’s stomach, surprised to find that it wasn’t  flat and toned as he remembered.  He looked down to see it swollen in pregnancy.

“Ange,” he whispered, cupping her belly in both of his hands with wonder.  He suddenly felt movement within it, two tiny kicks, testaments to the new life growing there.

“Rollie,” Angie murmured.  She covered his hands with hers, awed by the feelings inside her womb.

“I want this, Angie,” Rollie said softly, vibrantly.

“I do, too.”

They laid down on the sand, their hands upon Angie’s swollen belly.  Rollie awoke to find himself as they had been in the dream, his body spooned behind Angie’s, their fingers entwined over her flat stomach.  He felt Angie awaken with him.

“Rollie, I . . . I had a dream,” she said.  Her voice was trembling.

“I know.  I had it, too.”  He stroked her stomach.  “We had it together.”

Angie turned around in his arms to face him.  “We’ve never talked about that.”

“Children?”

Angie nodded.  “We should, you know.  I’m not on any kind of birth control.  The Pill always made me sick.  Whenever I was with a man, I had him wear protection.”  She blushed faintly, realizing that she was talking about past lovers while in the arms of her husband.

The Aussie smiled.  “I don’t think that birth control method would work well for us, not with our . . . spontaneity.”  He was surprised that he felt no jealousy when thinking about the other men whom Angie had been with over the years.  Perhaps it was because he knew that none of them had made love with her in the complete way that he did.

“No, I don’t think it would.”  Angie searched his eyes.  “Do you want children?”

“Yes, very much.  I want to see you like you were in that dream.  I want to feel for real what I felt when I touched your stomach.”  He ran a hand across her belly as if seeking the movements of a tiny life within it.  “But . . . I think we should wait, at least for a while.  I think we should concentrate on just being husband and wife before we step into parenthood.”  He looked deeply into her eyes.  “Do you want children?”

“Yes.  Yes, I do.  But I think we should wait, too.”

Rollie smiled again.  “For all we know, waiting might no longer be an option, Mrs. Tyler.”

Angie shook her head.  “I don’t think we have to worry about that.  I’m pretty sure that I’m in the wrong stage in my cycle.  You can’t get pregnant at any old time, you know, despite what most people believe.”

“No, I didn’t know that.  Thanks for the education.  Now I know that I can ravish you nonstop for the rest of the day and night without having to worry about us ending up with another Tyler in nine months.”

“Nonstop, huh?  Well, I sure hope you have lots and lots of stamina.”  She slid her hands down his back to his buttocks.

Rollie grinned wickedly.  “Just wait and see,” he murmured as he captured her mouth with his.

It was well into the morning by the time their thoughts turned to food.  Fixing a quick meal of fruit and English muffins, they ate it on the bed.

“It’s a good thing Harlan thought to have the kitchen stocked, otherwise we’d starve to death,” Rollie commented.

“So, what do you want to do today?” Angie asked.

A slow, meaningful smile spread across Rollie’s face.

Angie gave his arm a light slap.  “Besides that.”

Rollie’s brow furrowed with thought for about five seconds, then he shook his head.  “Nope, it’s no good.  I just keep thinking of that one thing.”

Angie shook her head and sighed with mock disapproval.  “That is just so like a man.  A one-track mind.  Day in and day out, they can think of just one thing.  What we women have to put up with.”

Rollie pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “Oh, my heart bleeds for you.”

With a laugh, they both fell back on the bed, their food forgotten.

It was quite a while later when, with the sun high in the sky, they got dressed, packed a picnic lunch, and walked down to the waterfall.  They spread a blanket out on a small section of grass beside the pond and settled down to enjoy their meal.  For obvious reasons, they were both ravenous.  Finishing every crumb of food they’d brought, the newlyweds stretched out on the blanket.  Angie looked up into the sky, watching the white clouds float lazily past.  She sighed with contentment.

“This is nice.”

“Yeah.  I could stay here for a week.  But then, just think.  In eleven days, we’ll be on our way to sunny Arabia.”

“Sunny is right.  I’m going to have to bring a gallon of sunscreen.  I wouldn’t want to get burned.”

“Definitely not.  That would cause all kinds of hindrances.”

Angie shook her head at the expression in Rollie’s eyes.  “There you go again with that one-track mind.”

“Sorry.  I guess I’m really going to have to work on that.”

“Well, you don’t have to start right away.”

With a grin, Rollie pulled her into his arms.  Their lips met hungrily.  In a matter of seconds their clothes were off and they had rolled off the blanket.  With the sun-warmed grass beneath them, Rollie and Angie again explored the depths of their passion and their union.  Afterwards, they lay entwined in each other’s arms and legs.

“Rol, there’s something that I need to tell you, something that happened when you were in the coma,” Angie said hesitantly.  “I had a . . . a dream.  I dreamed that we made love.  It was so real, so intense that, even after I woke up, part of me still felt like it really happened.”

Rollie stared at her.  “I had the dream too, Ange.  I didn’t remember it until weeks after I emerged from the coma, but when I did, I could have sworn it was something that really happened.”  Amazed, he gazed at her.  “This is incredible.  We shared a dream while I was comatose.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know.”

An expression of realization spread across Rollie’s face.  “That was it, Angie.  That was the moment it started.”

“The moment what started?”

“This.  This connection, this thing that allows me to sense your presence, hear your thoughts, and feel your emotions even when you’re miles away.  It started at that moment, when we made love in that dream.  Something happened.”

Angie remembered back to the dream, Rollie’s words to her.  “There will always be a part of you within me,” she recalled aloud.

The Aussie nodded, remembering the words.  “It was more than a dream,” he said, feeling a little scared.  Rollie was certain that what he and Angie had experienced all those months ago wasn’t the same as a Dreaming.  It was something else, something that Mangela had never told him about.  But what about the dream they’d shared a few hours ago?  Had that been a Dreaming?  Had he and Angie witnessed their future?  Or had it been just a shared dream?  He didn’t know.  There were so many questions that he did not know the answers to.

“What about the other things?” Angie asked softly, still trying to absorb what Rollie had just said.  “I heard you in my mind, twice.  That was before the dream.  And you said that you sensed when I was thinking of taking my own life.”

“In a way, we’ve always been connected, Ange, from the time we first met.  I came to feel so close to you so quickly.  I think I loved you from the very first day.  I know I loved you not long after that.  You are what Mangela called my lifemate, my spiritual mate.”

“Soul mate?” she said, smiling faintly.

Rollie returned the smile.  “Yeah.  Only, with us, it isn’t just some silly sixties phrase.  It’s real, and it’s true.”

“What does this mean?”

“It means that things will be like this with us for the rest of our lives.  This connection will never go away.  It’s forever.”

“Forever.  I like the thought of that.”

Rollie pulled her close, kissing her gently.  He then stood up and held out a hand to his wife.  Angie took it and rose.  “Let’s go exploring.”

“I assume you mean a type of exploring other than what we’ve been doing since last night.”  Angie smiled suggestively.

Rollie laughed and pulled her to him.  “We’ll do more of that later.  Lots more.  Right now, I’m talking about exploring Harlan’s forest.”

“That would be great.” She smiled mischievously.  “I think we need a little break from that other exploring.”

“Yeah, better take a break while we can.  Once we get back to the cottage, there won’t be many more of them.”  His eyebrows waggled meaningfully.

“Oh yeah, you did say something about ravishing me nonstop, didn’t you.”

“And I intend to live up to that.”

They got dressed and headed off in the direction of the trees.  Finding the gate they had used the night before the wedding, they passed beyond the sunlit outer fringes into the dense, shadowy depths.  The tranquility of the place enveloped them.

They had been wandering for perhaps an hour when they spied a doe and fawn in the distance.  The deer looked at them a moment, then chose to ignore them.  Not wishing to disturb the creatures, the couple altered direction.

“I wonder what Harlan does about the deer population?  Without any natural predators or hunters around, I can imagine it grows pretty fast,” commented Angie.

“I asked him about that.  He said that, every fall, they round up a bunch of them for release into the wild.  There are some smaller predators around, though.  He has some badgers, weasels, and foxes to help with the squirrel, rabbit, and mice population.  Then there are all the birds.  He has his own little mini ecosystem here.”

“I wonder why?  I mean, why have all this here?”

“I asked him that, too.  Back when he first came here from Australia, this area was just starting to be cleared for development.  There were still huge sections of forest land.  Harlan fell in love with the trees.  He bought this land, then hired a company to start building the wall.  Considering how big this place is, it took quite a while for it to be finished.  By that time, the rest of the trees in the area were all but gone.  After the wall was finished, Harlan had the road put in, then the house, and, finally, the garden.  With the permission of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, he brought more animals in, adding to the population that was already here.  The whole thing took quite a while to complete.”  He paused.  “I found out what the cottage was for.”

“I thought that maybe a gardener and his family had lived on the estate once and that was their place.”

Rollie shook his head.  “Thirty-four years ago, when Harlan’s wealth was really starting to amass, he met a woman.  She was beautiful, charming, and from the higher echelons of society.  He fell head over heels for her.  He proposed to her, and she accepted.  Then, one day, he came home unexpectedly, and she was there.  She was on the phone to a friend, talking about how big she had scored, that she would be set for life, and that she planned to ‘put up with’ Harlan for a year or two, then divorce him and take half of everything.”

“How horrible!  Poor Harlan.”

“Yeah.  He suddenly knew that she had never been interested in him.  Once again, it had been the money.  He broke off the engagement and told her he never wanted to see her face again.  She ended up marrying a rich banker who lost everything a year later.”

“What about Harlan?”

“He came here and built his Fortress of Solitude.  He’s been walled away ever since.”

“And the cottage?”

“When they got engaged, he had plans drawn up for a little honeymoon and vacation cottage that he was going to have built on a piece of land he owned in France, a place for them to go to get away, eventually with their children.  It was never built, of course.  Then, around three years after this place was finished, he found out that his former fiancée had died.  He had the cottage built here in her memory.  Even after all those years, knowing what he did, he still loved her.  We are the first people to stay there.”

“If I had known this, I don’t know if I could have accepted his offer.  It just doesn’t seem right.”

“Yesterday, Harlan told me something that makes more sense now that I know what he was planning.  He said that it was time the cottage stopped being a memorial to the dead and became a place to celebrate life.”

Angie smiled.  “A celebration of life.  That makes me glad we had our first night there.”  She took his hand in hers.  “I’m glad we waited, Rol.  I’m glad that last night was our first time.”

Rollie took her in his arms.  “Yeah.  I’m glad we waited, too.”  He smiled.  “Even though you did make it bloody hard sometimes.”

“I’m not the only one,” Angie replied as Rollie’s lips came down on hers.  Minutes later, he raised his head and commented, “I wish we’d brought a blanket.”

Laughing, Angie grabbed his hand and pulled him in the direction they had come from.  “Let’s go back.”

With a grin, Rollie said, “I’m all for that.”

The return trip was made in a lot less time.  Passing through the gate, they ran down the slope, laughing like children.  Bypassing the garden entirely, they cut through a narrow space between it and the forest.  They barely managed to make it through the door of the cottage before their desire took control.  Tumbling to the carpeted floor, they made wild, passionate love, celebrating life in the most glorious of ways.

Sometime later, Rollie said, “You have no idea how much I wish we could forget everything and just hide away here all next week.”

“Oh, yes I do.”  Angie smiled.  “Do you think Sheik Alafa would mind if his guests locked themselves away in their room and didn’t come out for the entire two weeks?”

“He may not mind, but I think our stomachs would.  They’d have to slip food in under the door or something.”

“Hmm.  Well, we’ll have to see if we can figure something out.”

Rollie laughed.  “Now who’s got a one-track mind?”

Later, not bothering with clothes since they never seemed to stay on for long, the newlyweds lay down together on the grass just outside the cottage.

“I feel like Eve in the Garden of Eden,” Angie commented.

Rollie smiled and continued his activity of exploring the curves of her body with his fingertips.  “Yeah, but Eve never gave an eyeful to someone in a low flying plane.”

Angie’s gaze quickly moved to the sky, and Rollie laughed.

She punched him in the arm.  “You jerk.  Just for that, Rollie Tyler, you can forget about any lovemaking for. . . .”  Her voice trailed off as she decided on a suitable punishment period.

“Uh oh.  I’m in trouble now.  How long are you going to make me suffer?”

“Two hours.  Not a second less.”

Rollie gave a dramatic groan and lay back against the grass.  “Two hours!  How will I survive without you for that long?”  The corners of his lips trembled as he tried not to smile.

Angie saw the telltale sign and warned, “Careful, Bub.  I might decide to make it longer.”

“Oh, boy.  I’d better get out of here before I dig myself in really deep.”  Rollie stood up and went into the cottage, leaving the door open.  He came out a few seconds later wearing a pair of shorts.  He walked past Angie and headed off down the path.

“Where are you going?”

Her husband looked over his shoulder and said, “Come find me.”

Angie watched him pass out of sight.  She stayed where she was for all of ten second, then dashed into the house and grabbed the first piece of clothing that she laid eyes on, which turned out to be one of Rollie’s T-shirts.  Also grabbing her watch, she hurried back outside.

Barefooted, she ran down the path.  She stopped on the bridge and looked around.  There was no sign of Rollie.  Wondering how he could disappear so quickly, Angie continued down the path.  After spending half an hour searching for him, she began to wonder if he might actually have gone up to the main house, but then decided that he wouldn’t do that.  Refusing to call for him, she kept up the search, determined to win this game of hide and seek.  After another twenty minutes had passed, Angie stopped.

“All right, Angie.  Where would he hide?” she asked herself.  “Someplace he thinks I wouldn’t look.”  She studied a bridge up ahead.  Wading into the chilly waters of the stream, she checked underneath it.  She then went from bridge to bridge, looked beneath each one.

Less than half an hour was left of the two hours, when she thought of the waterfall.  Running back up the path, she went around behind the artificial hill and climbed it.  From the top, she could see the entire garden, but there was still no sign of Rollie.  By the time she made it back down, there were only ten minutes left.  She looked into the pond, but knew that, as cold as the water was, he wouldn’t hide in there for that long.  Angie had a feeling that she was very close to him, but there just wasn’t enough time left.

The final ten minutes ticked away as she looked around the area of the waterfall.  Still refusing to call for him after the two hours had lapsed, Angie just stood where she was and waited.

“That shirt looks a lot better on you than me,” said a low voice behind her.

Angie spun around.  She closely searched the area with her eyes, yet she still couldn’t see Rollie.

“What did you do, make yourself invisible?” she asked.

She heard a chuckle coming from a tree.  Angie stared into the shadows surrounding the tree and saw part of the tree move, then separate from the rest.  Rollie stepped away from the oak.  He had completely covered himself with dirt, transforming his skin to a rich brown.  Under his arm, he held a branch that he had used to partially obscure the line of his body.  The dark brown of the shorts he wore had completed the camouflage.

Amazed, Angie stared at him, “Wherever did you learn to do that?”

“Mangela.  When I was a kid, we used to play a game with the other kids to see who was best at hiding in plain sight.  My white skin was a big disadvantage, so I had to learn how to hide it.  I got pretty good at the game.  Then Mum died, and I just didn’t have the will to play anymore.”

Angie shook her head.  “Well, there is just no end to your talents, is there.”

Rollie smiled and took a step toward her.  “The two hours are up.”

“Don’t you dare, you filthy thing!  You’re not coming near me until you get cleaned up.”

“I see.  You’re sure about that?”

“Absolutely.”

Rollie shrugged.  “All right, then.”  He headed down the path in the direction of the cottage.

Surprised that he had given in so easily, Angie watched him for a moment, then hurried to catch up.  They both remained silent.  Occasionally, Angie glanced at Rollie.  Their game of hide and seek had reminded her how much she didn’t know about her husband.  She wondered if she would ever truly know everything.

Back at the cottage, Rollie headed off to the shower.  Angie sat and waited for him, wondering about his reaction.

Ten minutes later, he emerged, still damp and wearing just a towel.  Looking at her from across the room, he said, “So, am I clean enough for you now?”

“Yeah, but. . . .”

“But what?”

“I was just wondering why you gave in so easily.  What are you planning, Rollie?”

“Planning?  I’m not planning anything.”  He came up to within a hair’s breadth of her.  “Ange, it took every ounce of will power I had not to run all the way back to the cottage.”  His eyes were fairly burning with desire.

Angie smiled.  “Now that’s more like it,” she murmured.

Rollie snatched her into his arms.  He pulled off the T-shirt, then bore her to the floor, the towel being discarded somewhere along the way.

That evening, they had dinner by candlelight.  As the sky darkened to midnight blue, they went outside and lay down side by side on the grass.  Looking up at the stars, they lay together in silence.

“Rollie, earlier, I got to thinking about how much I still don’t know about your life before we met,” Angie said after a while.

The Aussie rolled onto his side and looked down at her.  “What would you like to know?”

“Everything.”

“Everything!  Well, that would take just too much time.  There are some things I want to get back to before Monday morning.”  He smiled meaningfully.

Angie returned the smile.  “Okay, we’ll have to limit it to a few things tonight, but, sooner or later, I’m going to get every last detail out of you.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will.”

Angie thought for a moment.  “To start with, you never told me about your first meeting with Mangela.”

“Well, I was six years old, almost seven.  We hadn’t been living in the area very long.  Mum and Dad knew that a band of Aborigines lived a few miles away.  Mum had great respect for their ways and culture and decided to visit them with me, sort of like a getting to know the neighbors kind of thing.  She wasn’t really sure how they would react to us, though.  Some Aborigines prefer to be left alone.”  Rollie smiled in remembrance.  “The first person who came up to us after we got out of the car was Mangela.  I remember him just staring at me with this odd look on his face.  Then he smiled at me, and, somehow, I knew that he was going to be someone important in my life.  He welcomed us with open arms.  After that, everyone else did the same.  It wasn’t until much later that I found out they had a reason to hate Caucasians.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah.  One of the women had been raped by a white man who came to do some trading.  She ended up getting pregnant.”

Angie’s body stiffened at the mention of rape, then her eyes widened.  “Luther Cale?  He was the baby?”

Rollie nodded.

“And the guy got away with it?”  The anger could clearly be heard in Angie’s voice.

“No, not really.  Months later, he was found dead by one of the People--or, rather, what was left of him.  The dingoes had gotten to the body.”

Angie shuddered.  “What killed him?”

“Short of taking the remains to a coroner, there was no way to tell.  The People chose not to do that.  They buried the body and left it at that.”  He was silent for a moment.  “Anyway, getting back to Mangela and me, for some reason, he took me under his wing.  He began teaching me their ways and beliefs.  I spent a good part of my time there.”

Angie was silent.  Rollie could tell that she wanted to ask something, but wasn’t sure how to approach it.  Though he was worried that she might ask more pointed questions about what Mangela had taught him, he leaned down, gave her a kiss, and said,  “It’s okay, Ange.  Whatever it is, you can ask.”

Angie propped herself up on her elbow.  “I was wondering about Cale.  Why did he try to kill you after your mother died?”

Rollie sat up, wrapping his arms loosely around his knees.  He stared down at the grass between his feet.  “I think he was jealous of me.  Mangela had spent a lot of time with him as he grew up, I think because of the circumstances of his birth.  But, after I showed up, Mangela devoted less time to him.  Cale blamed me for it.”  Rollie’s gaze traveled off into the distance.  “After Mum died, I was an easy target.  He used my grief and the things that Mangela had told me about death and the Dreamtime to lure me up onto that mountain.”

Rollie paused, and Angie sat up beside him, taking his hand in hers.  “I still don’t know how I survived that fall and those three days in that heat with no water,” he finally said.  “All I kept thinking was that I couldn’t die because Mum would want me to live and because Dad would be all alone.  I’ll never forget the look on Mangela’s face when he found me.  By then, I was almost dead.  I heard his voice saying my name over and over again.  When I opened my eyes, I found myself in his arms.  He was crying.  I’d never seen him cry before and never since then.  Then, later, when he found out what had happened. . . .  If Luther Cale had been a few years older, I really think that Mangela might have killed him.  Instead, he and the others shunned Cale, drove him out, though I didn’t find out about that until Mangela came here to get back the soul stones.”

“How old was he?”

“Fourteen.”

Angie squeezed Rollie’s hand.  “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For telling me all this.  It’s funny.  We’ve known each other all these years, yet it’s only been in the last few months that we’ve really started talking.”

Rollie raised her hand to his lips.  His gaze returned to the sky.  Angie looked at his face, sensing that there was something Rollie wanted to ask.

“What is it, Rol?”

He met her eyes.  “I didn’t want to bring up painful memories for you.”

“Rollie, there’s nothing you can’t ask me.  Don’t you know that?”

A brief smile touched Rollie’s face, then faded away.  “Neither you nor your father ever really talked about your mother, except that day you told me about how you got out of Cuba,” he said, then hastily added, “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to.”

Angie sighed.  “No, it’s time that I did.  After we heard that she’d been killed, Dad and I never talked about what happened, ever.  It just hurt too much.  I wish we had.  It would have helped us both heal.”

“She was American, wasn’t she?  Manny mentioned that once.”

“Yeah.  They met on location.  Mom was one of the spectators.  While they were trying to film this one scene, Dad got furious with one of the leading men because of the careless way the guy was handling an expensive piece of equipment.  He started yelling in Spanish, like he always did when he got really steamed.”

“How well I remember,” Rollie commented with a smile.

“The actor didn’t understand Spanish and neither did anyone else in the cast or crew.  The guy got really pissed off because he thought that Dad was calling him filthy names.  He demanded that Dad repeat what he’d said in English, and Dad, being stubborn, refused.  The director was right on the verge of firing Dad when Mom stepped forward and told them what he had said.”

“What had he said?”

Angie smiled.  “Well, she told them that he’d called the guy a clumsy fool.”

“What did he really say?”

“First, he told the guy that he had about as much grace as a drunken bull trying to walk across ice.  After that, he called the guy a horse’s ass, then took it back and said that a horse had more brains in its rear end than this guy had in his head.”

Rollie laughed with delight.  “That’s Manny, all right.  So, your mum didn’t really lie, she just toned things down.”

Angie nodded.  “Well, the director decided that the minor insult wasn’t worth firing Dad over, and told the actor to be more careful with the F/X equipment.  After filming was over for the day, Dad went over to Mom.  He’d cooled off by then and realized that his temper and stubbornness had almost cost him the contract.  He thanked Mom, and they got to talking.  He found out that her grandfather on her mother’s side was Cuban and was from a village near where Dad was born.”  She smiled fondly.  “And that’s how Mom and Dad met.”

“Manny said that you guys traveled back and forth between the states and Cuba a lot.”

“That’s right.  Dad had lots of family in Cuba, so he wasn’t willing to move permanently to the U.S., even though he hated Castro, like a lot of Cubans do.  Whenever he was in between movies, we lived there.  Then everything fell apart, and he realized that he had to leave for good.  You know the rest.”

Rollie put his arms around Angie’s shoulders and drew her close.  They were both silent for a long time, thinking of the loved ones they’d had who were now gone.  Then they both turned to each other.  This was not the time for sad thoughts.  As Harlan had said, it was a time to celebrate life.

“You know what I want?” asked Angie.

“What?”

She leaned forward and whispered in Rollie’s ear, “I want my husband to make love to me.”

Without a word, he picked her up and carried her into the house.  Rollie set her down on her feet before the bed, and Angie removed his shirt.  He pulled her top over her head, then got down on his knees and slowly slid her jeans off.  Slowly, tenderly, he kissed and caressed her body.  After long minutes, he raised his head to hers, and their lips met.  Rollie stood, lifted Angie up and carried her to the bed.

Their lovemaking was a slow and gentle thing, full of soft touches and whispered words of love.  Each time they made love that night, it brought to them moments of discovery and feelings of wondrous fulfillment.  For hours, they just lay holding each other, revealing their secret thoughts and feelings.  Not until the sun was peeking between the trees did they finally surrender to sleep.
 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN -- MATCHMAKERS

The sun was well above the horizon, before the newlyweds awoke. With a sigh of regret, they got out of bed and showered, separately this time since they knew that they had a full schedule that day and couldn’t afford any time lost due to ‘distractions’.  They ate a quick breakfast, then began packing the clothes that had secretly been brought to the cottage.

“I wonder where these clothes came from,” Angie mused.

“Well, Dad and Mangela probably got mine, and Lucinda or Mira most likely got yours.  They must have all been sneaking around behind our backs to do this.”

Angie grinned.  “Yeah, a conspiracy going on all around us, and we didn't have a clue.”

After packing, they straightened up the cottage and took a golf cart up to the main house.

Harlan beamed at them as they came in.  “So, did you have a good time?”

Rollie and Angie smiled brightly.  “We had a great time, Harlan,” the Aussie said.  “I wish we could stay longer.”

“Well, any time you want to get away, you’re welcome to come stay in the cottage again.  It’s about time the thing started getting used.”

Angie kissed Harlan on the cheek.  “Thank you for everything, Harlan.  You’ve been terrific.”

Touching the place where her lips had been, Harlan smiled softly.  “It has been my very great pleasure.”

“Do you mind if we call a cab?” Rollie asked.  “We’ve got a busy day ahead of us, and we need to get started.”

“A cab?  Don’t be ridiculous!  My driver can take you home.  No, don’t bother objecting.  I insist.  Besides, you don't want to cram all those wedding gifts into the trunk of a cab, do you?”

“Oh, we forgot about those!” Angie said.

“There’s also your suitcase, Angie.  Mira took it out of her car.”

Angie nodded.  She’d packed a large suitcase Saturday morning to take with her to the loft.  The rest of her stuff would be gotten from her apartment later.

Rollie and Angie spent the trip home in the back seat of a 1947 Bentley convertible.  Loving every minute of the drive, they were sorry to see the loft come into view.  They noticed that Dingo’s car and trailer was not parked in front.

“Home sweet home,” Rollie said as they went in.  Bluey was coming toward them, barking happily.  They greeted the electronic dog warmly.  With the help of the driver, they got the arm loads of presents out of the trunk and piled onto a table, as well as the clothes that had been in the cottage and Angie’s suitcase.

Rollie saw a note beside the telephone.

“It’s from Dad.  He says that he and Mangela will be back tomorrow.  They thought that we might like another day to ourselves.”

Angie smiled.  “So, do we open these gifts now or wait until later?”

“As much as I hate to say it, we’ve really got to get to work,” Rollie replied.  “We have a ton of work to do, and we need to get the rest of your stuff this afternoon.”  He smiled.  “We can open the gifts tonight.  Besides, a few of those presents might be something that we’ll be using tonight.”  His smile turned sultry.

Angie gave him an equally seductive smile, running a finger down her husband’s chest.  “That may very well be.  I haven’t yet shown you what I got at the bridal shower.”

Rollie put his arms around Angie, sliding a hand down her body.  “Mmm.  I can’t wait.”  His head lowered to her neck, his lips wandering down it to the curve of her breasts.

“Oh,” Angie breathed.  Reluctantly, she pulled slightly away.  “We’d better not get started with that or we’ll never get any work done.”

Rollie sighed.  “Yeah, you’re right.  This is not going to be easy, Ange.”

“You said it.”  Angie walked over to a workbench.  “I think it would be a good idea if I see about going on a regular form of birth control as soon as possible.  I’m going to call my doctor and find out what she recommends.  There might be a pill that won’t make me sick.”

While Angie made the call to her doctor, Rollie got started on the pile of work they still had to do for White Light.  Fifteen minutes later, Angie joined him.

“So, what did she have to say?” Rollie asked.

“She wants me to come in for an examination and consultation.  She needs to determine if there’s a chance that I might already be pregnant before we decide what to do.”

“How can you tell this soon?”

“Well, you can’t tell if I’m pregnant.  It would be seven days before we could find that out.  But she can determine what the chances are of me being pregnant by calculating how close I may be to ovulating, or if I already have ovulated, by counting the days since my last period, taking my basal body temperature, and measuring my LH levels.”

Rollie’s eyebrows rose.  “How do you know all this stuff?”

“A friend of mine was having trouble conceiving.  She and her husband really wanted a baby, so they went through the whole thing with finding out when she was ovulating to try and time things perfectly.  She was pretty depressed about everything, so she talked about it a lot.”  Angie grinned.  “One weekday afternoon, Tabitha took her tests and figured out that she was right on the verge of ovulating.  She went to her husband’s office and told him.  He couldn’t leave work, so they, um, found a closet somewhere and. . . .  Nine months later, they had a baby girl.”

Rollie laughed.  “I sure hope we don’t go through that when we decide to have a baby.  I can just picture us hiding in some corner of a set, trying to make you pregnant and having the director come upon us.”

Angie pulled Rollie close again.  “Why a set?  The van’s plenty big enough, and we could lock the doors and cover the windows.”

Rollie held her tightly as one of his hands began wandering over her body.  “Hmm.  Are you planning ahead for some future ‘breaks’ from filming, Love?”

“Could be.”  She brought her lips to her husband’s.  “Anyway, my doctor has an opening in her schedule tomorrow.  Do you think that you’ll be able survive without me for an hour or so?”

Rollie gave her a squeeze.  “It’ll be hard, but I think I’ll make it through.”  He kissed her again, then turned back to his computer.  That’s when he remembered something.  He smiled.  “There is one present I’d like you to open now.”  He went over to the cabinet where he’d hidden Angie’s gift.  Placing the wrapped package before her, he stood back and watched.

Angie smiled and unwrapped the gift.  She studied the item revealed.  An empty glass dome was mounted to a polished metal base.  Angie looked inside the dome and noticed circuitry and what looked like a lens recessed in the base.  She couldn’t see it well enough to tell what it did.

“Turn it on,” Rollie said.

Angie found a tiny switch.  She set the case down and turned it on.  Inside the dome, a single red rosebud appeared.  Slowly, the rose opened, spreading its petals out to their full crimson glory.  Dew sparkled on the petals.  The flower looked so real that Angie felt as if she could touch it.  She watched in fascination as a butterfly came down and landed on the rose.  The flower began to glow.  It and the butterfly vanished in a shower of sparks.  In their place, a tree rose up.  The branches spread out, covered with delicate pink flowers.  After a few seconds, the flowers floated to the grassy ground beneath the tree and were replaced by bright green leaves.  Moments later, the leaves began to yellow, and they, too, fell to the ground.  The bare branches of the tree turned to silver, then gold, and the tree vanished.  There was a pause, then the sequence of images began again.

Speechless, Angie stared at the gift.  Finally, she found her voice.  “Rollie, this is incredible.  I’ve never seen a hologram that was so perfect.  How did you--”

Rollie put a hand to her lips, silencing her.  “No.  No questions about how I did it.  I’ll tell you eventually.  For now, let it just be a gift.”

Angie wrapped her arms around Rollie.  “It’s beautiful, Rol.  Perfect.”  She kissed him.  “I have a gift for you, too.”  She opened her suitcase and pulled something out of it.  Bringing the package back, she handed it to him.  Surprised by the weight, Rollie opened it to find several books inside.  They all had the word “diary” on them.

“What are these?” he asked in wonder.

“They’re me,” Angie replied softly.  “Those are my diaries, the ones I’ve kept since I was ten years old.  I went searching for a present, but I couldn’t find one good enough.  Then I realized that this is what I wanted you to have, my thoughts and my feelings.  I didn’t make entries every day, but I wrote what was most important to me.  You’re on a lot of the pages.”

Rollie’s throat tightened, tears stinging his eyes.  “Ange, I . . . I don’t know what to say,” he murmured huskily.  “This means more to me than any other present ever could.  Thank you.”

Rollie pulled her to him, his lips descending upon hers.  The kiss quickly grew passionate.  Deciding that an hour or so lost out of their work schedule could be made up later, Rollie began pulling Angie’s top off.  Unfortunately, the phone chose that moment to ring.

“Remind me to unplug that thing next time,” Rollie growled.  With a sigh, he told Bluey to put the call on speakerphone.

“Hello, there!” said Mira’s cheerful voice.  “I see you survived the weekend.”

“Just barely,” Rollie replied.  Angie nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.

“Would you two mind some company for a few minutes this morning?  Frank and I have to go out that way and thought we’d drop by to say hi.”

“If you don’t mind us talking while we work, come on out,” Angie said.

The detectives showed up about twenty minutes later.

“Angie, you look wonderful.  You’re positively glowing,” were the first words out of Mira’s mouth as they came in.

Angie’s hands went to her cheeks.  “Am I?”

“Oh, definitely.”  Mira turned to Rollie.  “And you look like the cat that ate the proverbial canary.  I take it you must have had a very good weekend.”

Rollie smiled and Angie blushed.  “It was the best,” they said in unison.

The two detectives both grinned at them.  The newlyweds decided to change the subject.

“So, why did you really come out here?  Was it to probe us for details of the weekend?” Rollie asked.

“Actually, it was to give you this,” Francis replied.  He handed Rollie an envelope.

Rollie’s eyebrows rose when he saw what was inside.  It was a thousand dollar gift certificate for Bloomingdales.  “What’s this?” he asked in surprise.

“It’s a wedding present from the NYPD,” Francis replied.  “Everyone down at Midtown South, and a couple of the special units, pooled their money together.  We wanted to give it to you personally.”

“You guys shouldn’t have done this,” Angie said.

“Of course we should,” Mira replied.  “We’ve never really thanked you for all the help you’ve given us these years.  That doesn’t even come close to what we owe you.”

Angie hugged Mira and Rollie shook Frank’s hand.

“Be sure to tell everyone thank you,” Angie said.

After the detectives had left, Rollie and Angie got back to work.  They hadn’t been at it for very long when the phone rang again.  This time, it was Lucinda.

“Hey, you two.  How are you doing?”

“We’re doing great, Luce,” Angie said.

“Would you mind if I came over for a while?  I’m heading back to L.A. day after tomorrow, so it would be nice to spend a little more time with my two favorite people.”

Deciding that work could wait after all, the newlyweds told the actress to come on over.  When she got there, she took one look at Rollie’s and Angie’s faces and knew that their wedding night had been fantastic.

Having lunch together in the loft, they chatted for a while.  It was not quite an hour after lunch when Lucinda said, “You know what I really have a yen for?  Some ice cream, something with lots of chocolate.  Hey, Rollie, would you mind going to get some?”

Rollie smiled, knowing full well that the ice cream was just an excuse to get Angie alone.  “Sure, Luce.  I can get some ice cream.  How long do you want me to be gone?”

The actress started to say that she didn’t know what he was talking about, but seeing the expression on Rollie’s face, the cocked eyebrow and amused smile, she didn’t bother.

“Forty-five minutes.  No, make that an hour.”

“An hour it is.”  The Aussie turned to his wife and pulled her close.  “Don’t let her pry too many details out of you, Ange.  There are a few things we did that I’d like to remain between the two of us.”  A very sexy smile curved his lips, and he pulled her a little tighter against him.  Angie promptly blushed.  Laughing, Rollie kissed her, then, grabbing one of the diaries, left.

“What things?” Luce asked eagerly.

“Things that you will not get out of me even with torture, Lucinda Anne Scott,” Angie replied.

“Well, you’re no fun.”  The actress pouted.  The pout soon cleared.  “I have to say, Angie, that I have never seen you looking so . . . radiant.  And Rollie looks the same.  I never thought a man could look radiant, but he does.  That must have been some wedding night.”

“Luce, you have no idea.  It was . . . it was the most extraordinary, beautiful night and day . . . and night of my life.”

“Really?” Luce said, her voice hushed.

“Yeah, really.”

“It was really that good?”

Angie nodded, smiling.

“Well, I am really jealous now.  You just have all the luck.”  The actress smiled to let Angie know that she was happy for her.

Angie sat on the couch.  “But it’s more than what you’re thinking, Luce, a lot more.”

Lucinda sat beside her.  “What do you mean?”

Angie paused.  “I don’t know if I should tell you this.  Rollie might not be too happy about it.”

“Tell me what?”

“There’s a connection between us.  There always has been, but it’s much, much stronger now.  It started when Rollie was in the coma.  Something . . . happened between us.  I can’t explain it.  After he woke up, he began to realize that he could sense my presence whenever I was near.  As time passed, it became stronger, and other things started developing.”

“What kind of things?”  There was a look of wonder in Lucinda’s eyes.

“He always knows when I’m looking at him.  He can feel my emotions, even when I’m miles away.  When Loubar tried to grab me, Rollie sensed that I was in danger and managed to get here in time.  He can sometimes even hear my thoughts.  And . . . we’ve spoken telepathically.  I’ve actually heard his voice inside my mind.  We’ve even shared dreams, one just yesterday.”

Lucinda’s eyes had grown huge.  “Wow.  That’s . . . wow.”

“When we make love, every time we make love, it’s like we’re not even two people anymore.  I feel everything that Rollie feels, and he feels everything I do.”

Angie hadn’t thought it was possible for the actress’s eyes to get any bigger, but they just did.

“Everything?” Lucinda whispered.

Angie nodded.

“You mean . . . you mean . . . everything?”

“Yes, everything, Luce.  Absolutely everything.  It’s. . . .  There just aren’t any words to describe it.”

Lucinda sat back, staring out into space.  “Wow,” she said again, awe in her voice and on her face.  She turned to Angie.  “You have got to be the luckiest woman on the planet, Angie.”

Angie smiled brightly.  “Yeah, I am.”   Her smile turned mischievous.  “So, now that you’ve found out about the rest of my weekend, how did Saturday night go with David taking you home?”

“Nothing happened, if that’s what you’re asking.  We talked on the drive home, David saw me to my hotel room, then he said goodnight and left.”

“Were you hoping for a goodnight kiss?”

Luce sighed.  “Yeah, I guess.  I’d have been more than willing to give him one, but he didn’t even make a move toward me.  You think that maybe he doesn’t like me in that way?”

“Trust me, Luce, he definitely likes you.  Maybe he’s a gentleman.  I mean, you haven’t even gone on a date yet.”

“Yeah, you’re right.  I was hoping he’d ask me out Sunday, but he didn’t.”  The actress sighed.  “I guess that won’t be happening now, will it.  I’m going back home on Wednesday.  Why do I always become attracted to guys whom I can’t have, or want only my body, or dump me, or--”

Or die.  Angie knew that those were the words that had gone through Lucinda’s mind.

“You’ll find somebody, Luce.  I know he’s out there.  Until I realized that I was in love with Rollie, I went through pretty much the same thing.  I was beginning to think that I’d never find someone whom I could have a meaningful relationship with even for a month, let alone a lifetime.  And there he was all the time right before my eyes.  You know what scares me?  If Loubar hadn’t done what he did and Rollie hadn’t gotten shot, I might never have realized the truth.  I might never have experienced this wonderful thing that I have now.”

Lucinda shook her head.  “I think that, one way or another, you both would have figured it out, Angie.  As much as you love each other, it’s inevitable that you would have seen the truth eventually.”

“You may be right.  What I’m saying, though, is that you never know what surprises may come your way when it comes to love.  You may have already met the guy you’ll spend the rest of your life with and just not know it yet.”

“Yeah, you’re right.  I’m still young.  I still have time.  Thanks for cheering me up, Angie.”

“You’re welcome, Luce.”

“Now, tell me more about that wedding night. . . .”

Rollie sat on the bench, watching the people in the park.  He had known that it wouldn’t take an hour to get the ice cream, so he decided to spend the extra time here.  The Aussie looked down at the diary that lay on his lap, running his fingers across it.  Angie would never know how much it meant to him that she’d given him this.  He wished that he could give her the same in return, but he had never kept a journal.  He wished that he could tell her everything, everything about his time with the Aborigines, what Mangela taught him, his mother’s death, what happened after Cale pushed him off Kata Tjuta.  But there were things inside him that he just couldn’t talk about, secrets that no one knew.  Maybe someday, that would change.  Maybe someday, he’d find the courage to stop hiding.

Sighing, Rollie opened the book.  It was the first of Angie’s diaries, the dates showing that she started it a few months before her eleventh birthday.  He glanced through the pages, curiosity driving him forward to a particular day in March of 1984.  At last, he found it.
 

Papa hired a new assistant today.  His name is Rollie, and he’s Australian.  He is so cute!  He has wavy brown hair and these wonderful brown eyes that light up when he smiles, and he’s got the best smile in the world.  He isn’t stuck up like that jerk that worked for Papa before, even though he’s a stuntman.  I really like him a lot.  He makes me feel funny inside, all hot and quivery, but it’s a good kind of funny.  I like the way he makes me feel.  I like it a lot.

Smiling softly, Rollie kept reading Angie’s comments about their first meeting.  It was the longest single entry up to that point in the book.  When he reached the end of it, he wanted to continue to what Angie had written about the next day, but, glancing at his watch, he realized that he needed to get going to the store.

After getting the ice cream, he headed for the loft.  As he drove, he thought about what he’d read.  The image of Angie back then was still so clear in his mind, her bright face full of a child’s innocence, yet reflecting her intelligence and the maturity she had gained through the pain suffered over her mother’s fate.  He remembered holding her in his lap, giving her hugs and kisses on the cheek or forehead, playing games with her, tucking her into bed.

Then he thought about the Angie of today, the Angie whom he had come to know in the most intimate of ways this weekend.  He thought of the beautiful body he had made love to, her face, no longer that of an innocent child, but of a passionate, brilliant, lovely woman, her lips no longer giving him innocent pecks on the cheek, but locked with his in wild, soul-deep kisses.  Thinking about it in this way, it was hard to believe that they were the same person, Angie the child and Angie his wife and lover.  But it was Angie the child whom he had loved first, and the memories of her like that would always be precious to him.  And, perhaps someday, another little girl would sit in his lap, and he would see in her face the child he had come to love so long ago.

As Rollie walked into the loft, he heard Angie and Lucinda laughing, the actress saying something about waking up to the sound of the guy she was with snoring like a grizzly bear with a sinus condition.

“Well, at least Angie won’t ever have that problem,” he remarked, making both women jump.  They hadn’t noticed him come in.  Rollie almost laughed at the sight of both women blushing furiously.

“Rol!  Um . . . we didn’t hear you come in,” Angie stammered, still blushing.

“Yeah, I gathered that.”  The Aussie’s mouth and eyebrows quirked in amusement.

“How long have you been standing there?” Luce asked, also still blushing.

“Oh, long enough to hear about the guy doing an impression of a bear.”  Rollie looked at his wife.  “Now, aren’t you glad I don’t snore?”

Angie grew mischievous.  “Are you sure about that, Rollie?”

The Aussie’s smile grew.  “Yeah, actually I am.  Dani told me that I--”  Rollie cut himself off abruptly.  Now it was his turn to blush.  What had possessed him to say that?  Embarrassed and ashamed, he cleared his throat and took the ice cream into the kitchen area.  “Everybody ready for some ice cream?”

Lucinda glanced at Angie, deciding that it was time to leave the newlyweds alone.  “I’ll have to take a rain check, Rollie.  I need to take care of some stuff.  I’ll see you guys tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure, Luce,” Angie said.  She and Rollie told her goodbye.  There was a moment of silence after the actress had left.

“Ange, I’m sorry,” Rollie blurted out.  “That was so stupid of me to say that.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” Angie said.  “We both know that we’re not the first relationships we’ve had.”  She put an arm around his waist.  “That’s all in the past, Rol.  All those old boyfriends and girlfriends don’t mean anything anymore.  You belong to me now, and I belong to you, forever.”

Rollie held her close.  “Yeah, forever.”  He gave her a gentle kiss.  “I love you.  That’s something I could never say to Dani.”

“I love you.  That’s something I could never say to any other guy I was with.”

“Really?  What about what’s-his-name in college?”

“Ted?  I only dated him for a few weeks.  He was fun, and I may have had a bit of a crush on him, but I never deluded myself into thinking that I was in love with him.”

“Even though he was Mister All American Quarterback and in your computer class?”

Angie wrapped her arms around Rollie’s neck.  “He couldn’t hold a candle to you, Rol.”

Smiling, Rollie crushed her to him, capturing her mouth with his.  Moaning, he lifted her up onto the kitchen counter.  Answering his moan with one of her own, Angie wrapped her legs around his waist.  Forgetting about the ice cream and the work that needed to be done, they made love, showing with every touch, every kiss the depth of their love and passion.  Afterwards, holding each other tightly as their bodies calmed, they both became aware that they were being watched.  Husband and wife turned to see Bluey staring up at them.  They looked at the electronic dog for a long moment, then burst out laughing.

“I guess I’m going to have to tell him about the birds and bees now,” Rollie said, grinning.

“You mean you haven’t already?” Angie asked teasingly.  “Kind of falling down on your parental duties, Rol.”

Rollie touched her cheek, smiling into her eyes.  “I promise to do better next time.”

Returning his smile, Angie hugged him close.  She gave a long sigh.  “I guess we should get back to work.”

“Um hmm,” Rollie mumbled as he began nibbling on Angie’s earlobe.

Angie’s breath caught.  “This ice cream needs to be put away.”

“Yeah,” her husband murmured as his lips moved down to suckle the skin over the pulse point on her neck at the same time as his hand covered her breast.

“Then again, we could just leave everything till tomorrow and go upstairs,” Angie gasped.

Smiling brilliantly, Rollie lifted his head.  “I like that idea much better.”

Laughing, the Aussie lifted his wife into his arms and carried her upstairs as Bluey stood and watched them, his tail wagging.

It was two hours later before