"Show me," she whispered. "Touch me the way you did that night." Sharon had been frightened by the storm and her own emotions the first time they'd made love, but she was no longer afraid.
As she slipped out of her clothes, she marveled at how brave this new love had made her. She felt wanton, passionate, and very much in need of the man standing before her. When he reached into a drawer for protection, her tenderness for him swelled.
She still hadn't told him everything. Then, as he reached for her, she forgot about everything but Joe.
His hands moved with reverence over her body, worshipping. "You're so beautiful," he said in a husky voice.
"You make me feel beautiful, Joe." She realized it was true. Sharon showed him that he was beautiful, too, not only in body, but in soul.
She guided him to the secret places he already knew as her hair fell forward, brushing his skin.
"You take my breath away," he said. Then there were no more words.
Sharon moved through the next few days as if in a trance. An uneasy feeling swept over her each time she remembered that Joe hadn't said he loved her. She felt especially vulnerable since she'd given herself so freely, but she pushed her anxiety to the back of her mind.
It was only natural that she and Joe had been self-conscious afterwards. They were still brand-new to one another, and both so vulnerable.
With all the end-of-the-year activities, she and Joe had found little time to be together, so she was especially looking forward to Senior Sunrise. Her father picked up Luke after school the last day so they could spend the weekend fishing.
Sharon wondered if she should confide in her father that their lives may be changing, but something held her back.
David went to the graduation ceremony with friends while she completed the last-minute preparations. It was nearly ten o'clock before he came home to change and they left for the campsite. They took a small tent for Sharon, and David would use his sleeping bag outside.
When they arrived, there were so many kids it was hard to tell who was who among the twinkling lamplight. They looked like shadows moving in a bizarre dance. More importantly, Sharon couldn't find Joe.
She found it difficult to think of anything but the way he'd loved her. Her body tingled instantly at the vision of what had happened between them. She longed to be with him again, and the strain was getting to her.
Sharon and David worked together to set up their own section of the camp, with Paula and Melanie settling next to them.
Paula laughed. "Is this the only way we get to see each other anymore? Camping?"
Sharon joined in her laughter. "It seems that way, and I have
so
much to tell you."
Paula leaned closer. "Could it have anything to do with that tall, dark, handsome teacher we know?"
"Maybe..." Then Sharon told her friend she was in love.
"Oh, honey, I'm so happy for you both. Does that mean...?"
Sharon sighed. "I'm not sure what it means yet, Paula, but he isn't getting away from me, no matter what."
"Smart girl."
Sharon's gaze went in search of Joe every chance she got, but there was no sign of him. She and Paula threw some dried twigs on the fire over which they'd roast a late supper of hot dogs.
David and Melanie said they were eating on the other side of the camp.
The two mothers quirked their eyebrows. "So much for togetherness," said Paula. "Guess what happened today?"
"What?" Sharon could see how happy Paula was.
"Ty was hired by the school district to run their maintenance program. We're staying!"
"That's wonderful," Sharon said, then frowned, puzzled. "I wonder if Joe's still going back to California."
"You haven't asked?" Paula teased.
Sharon shook her head, wishing she knew more about what was in his heart and head.
As she stared into the leaping flames, Sharon listened contentedly to the sounds of laughter, teenagers running in the sand, teasing and retorts, and suddenly she tuned in on Joe's voice.
She peered into the darkness, trying to separate one shadow from another. When his form emerged into the light from her campfire, Sharon's heart jumped for joy. Was he as glad to see her?
She felt a little shy and smiled foolishly up at him.
Joe hunkered down beside her, his face close to hers. "Hi, beautiful." He glanced over at Paula. "Oh, and you, too."
Paula got up and walked away, calling over her shoulder, "I can take a hint."
Taking in his dark hair and eyes, Sharon said, "Hi, handsome."
Everything and everyone else faded as Sharon remembered the time they'd spent together as her body ached for him. "Think we'll have any time together tonight?" she asked hopefully.
Someone called his name, and his shoulders sagged. "I'd better do my duty, but if I don't see you later, meet me by the river at sunrise."
There were promises in his eyes, but Sharon felt utterly alone as he walked away. Would she have to wait until then to be with him? Would he tell her he loved her or say his final goodbyes?
She realized her confidence was at a low-level.
Sharon hadn't needed to worry about keeping busy or the time passing swiftly. As one of the parents, she was called upon to attend to burns on careless fingers, listen to a lovelorn teen, figure out sleeping arrangements, then quiet things down around two a.m., after the last sing-along.
Paula was just as busy, but Sharon knew she'd nag her for more details when the opportunity arose.
She was especially glad she'd come for David's sake. It wasn't that he paid her much attention, but at least he seemed comfortable with her along.
By the time the kids' chatter had tempered to a low murmuring throughout the camp, Sharon said goodnight to her son and the others and crawled inside her tent, feeling weary. Even summer nights were cool in Idaho, and she snuggled deep inside her sleeping bag.
It seemed as if she'd only been asleep a short time when something startled her awake. At first, Sharon thought someone had tapped her on the shoulder, but no one was around. It was still dark, except for the faint light of an approaching dawn.
She was wide awake now and knew she couldn't get back to sleep. Easing out of her sleeping bag and past the small tent's opening, she smiled when she saw David. He was snoring peacefully, his arms over his eyes.
Sharon used her flashlight to check her watch and saw that it was almost time for sunrise anyway. She suddenly felt a sense of urgency to get down to the river.
As she slipped into her shoes, she checked the sleeping teenagers once more, and headed along the path. About halfway there, Sharon heard a low growling noise from a thick stand of trees. She stopped abruptly and tried to see into the darkness. What kind of animal was hidden in the shadows?
As Sharon stood frozen with fear, a coyote came out of the bushes, approaching her slowly, but steadily. Foam dripped from its bared fangs and its gray coat looked wet and matted. She wanted to scream, but any sound remained lodged in her throat.
As the rabid beast continued its advance, Sharon heard Joe's deep voice behind her.
"Don't move, Sharon," then, "Please, Serena, help me just once more." Joe stepped in front of Sharon as if moving in slow motion.
She begged him to be careful, and he silenced her with a glance.
Joe began to speak in low tones in a language Sharon had never heard before. The animal halted its forward movement as if listening, its head tilted to one side.
Joe spoke again, then reached out and touched the furred head.
The coyote's yellow eyes seemed to lose their crazed look just before it turned and bounded into the woods. Joe took Sharon into his arms and whispered her name.
"I won't ever let anything hurt you," he said.
Sharon couldn't stop trembling. "Wh...what happened? What if that coyote attacks one of the kids?"
He held her tighter and stroked her hair. "Don't worry. There's no more danger."
She leaned back to look into his eyes. They still glowed with an inner light. "Joe, who's Serena?" She knew now that was the woman's name he'd called out before.
He seemed to hesitate, then smiled and took her hand. "We need to talk."
When they reached the riverbank, Joe guided her to a length of driftwood where they sat with his arm around her. Sharon laid her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed as love for him welled up so intensely she could scarcely breathe.
Gradually, the sun peeked over the horizon with its promise of a new day. Silently, Sharon watched the great globe of light on its ascent into the morning sky as the clouds formed into pink cotton candy against the background of blue.
When he didn't say anything, she sat up straight, separating herself from him so that she could look into his face. "It doesn't matter who she is, Joe. I love you."
Joe closed his dark eyes, then turned his gaze upon her. "I know you'll find this very hard to believe, Sharon, but I was a guardian angel when I fell in love with you. Serena is the Head Guardian. I was asking for her help with the coyote."
Her eyes wide, Sharon listened, without moving, to Joe's tale. He spoke of his mission and how he'd fought against it. All the while, Sharon felt as if a strong wind were whistling through her head. Nothing seemed real.
When he'd finished, Sharon didn't know what to say, but for some reason, she had no doubt he was telling the truth. "I knew you were special. I just wish I'd realized sooner
how
special." She leaned back clasping her hands around her knees. "Imagine, my own guardian angel falling in love with
me
."
"That shows you how powerful true love can be," he said quietly.
Sharon hoped so because she had to tell him one last sorrow. "I'm so sorry about our baby, Joe." She paused, twisting her fingers until Joe stilled them in his grasp. He gave her the courage to go on. "Dr. Hanson told me I'll never have another child."
Joe bowed his head and rubbed his fingers over his eyes. Sharon knew he grieved for their lost child as she grieved with him, feeling inadequate, incomplete.
He took her hand and stared down at her fingers, caressing them one by one. Then he raised his gaze to meet hers, with no secrets left between them. "I've thought about that a lot."
He paused as she waited, her life and happiness in his hands.
"I'm only going to love one woman now and forever. If I can't be with you, then a dozen kids of my own wouldn't fill the emptiness."
Sharon's throat swelled as tears filled her eyes. "Do you mean that? Truly?"
He gathered her close to himself. “My darling, don’t you know by now how much you mean to me? Haven’t I proven my love for you?”
Her arms went around his waist to hold him as tightly as she could. “I don’t deserve you,” she whispered, afraid he might agree with her.
Joe's grip tightened. "You're everything I've ever wanted, Sharon, you and the boys." His voice was low and intense. "Do you love me enough to marry me? I thought we'd stay in Idaho, for now."
"Yes," she said with a smile, "and I'll make you so happy." She shook her head. "I've been such a fool."
He lifted her chin and brushed her lips with his mouth, rubbing back and forth. "No, my love. You were a woman who'd loved deeply and faithfully. You knew no other way, then you lost that love." He kissed her again, gently. "I understand, though it was killing me to try and be nothing more than your angel."
"I can't believe you gave up eternity for me."
A joyous light shone from his face. "We'll still have eternity...together."
Joe crushed her to him, his hands caressing her as if he thought she might disappear from his embrace. When his mouth found hers once more, Sharon responded without hesitation. There were no yesterdays, only tomorrows, and she knew she was the luckiest woman alive.