The Confession (32 page)

Jenny reached over to hold his hand.
“The children adore you John, and their mommy is crazy in love with
daddy.”

It was well after one in
the morning when John parked the car. He walked around to the
passenger side and opened the door for Jenny. Lifting her into his
arms, he carried her into the house. The sudden movement in
the
room
set off the sensors, and light illuminated the
first floor of the house. A banner that said “congratulations” hung
over the entryway to the dining room, and fresh flowers,
strategically placed throughout the living area set the mood for
the evening. Propped up on one of the vases was a letter. It was in
Lydia’s handwriting. He gave the letter to Jenny. “Please read
the
letter,
Jenny. I suddenly feel nervous.”

Jenny sat down and opened the
envelope.

Dear John and Jennifer,

“First, I would like to say
that I am pleased you have accepted our invitation. Please make
yourself at home. Adam and I are happy to share our house with you.
John, for the first time since you returned to Philadelphia,
I
honestly
feel that we have become good friends. I was so
angry with
you
and feared I would never accept what happened
between us. My first concern is and will always be my
daughter.

She told us she went to see you. At
first, I was surprised, knowing how she’s felt this past year. Her
relationship with you is new, and I feared she would be hurt if she
got too close to you. Gail told me what the two of you discussed,
and I have to say I am relieved she has accepted the situation for
what it is.

I’ve watched you this past
year, and I know you are a changed man. Your faith has never
faltered. Your commitment to the word of God is
strong
. The love
you feel for Jenny and the children is tangible. Everyone sees it,
and we are happy you have found what your soul desperately
needs.

We all mistakes John, some more
grievous than others, and in the light of day, my heart no longer
fears you. I embrace who you are now, and through God’s glory, I
have forgiven you. Be happy John. Love you family, live life to the
fullest, and through God’s mercy, we will cherish this time on
earth.”

With
profound
respect
and love

Lydia

Unable to speak, John
walked into the kitchen. Jenny followed him, and when he turned to
face her, his eyes glistened with tears. “I am overwhelmed Jenny.
God has bestowed a precious gift upon me. For the first time in
many years, my heart does not ache with remorse. I prayed every
day, hoping Lydia would see who I am now and forgive me. I am so
very grateful for her forgiveness and love. It humbles
me,
Jenny. It humbles me to tears.”

Jenny reached up and wiped
the tears that now ran down his beautiful face. “I want to tell you
the story of a kind,
gentle man
who called me one night,
seeking a friend. This man had a tortured soul, and in his hour of
need, he called me. He told me the story of his life, and I could
hear the fear in his voice. He feared my rejection. We became great
friends and to my delight, I fell madly in love with him. My
children adore the ground he walks on.”

“And as the story goes,
they lived happily ever after. The lonely woman found her
prince
charming, wrapped in clerical cloth. My love and my faith in
my husband never waver. It grows stronger every day. You have
proven through words and deeds how much you love me, how much you
love Olivia and Jason. Hopefully one day soon, we will embrace our
child, a child conceived with love.”

John wrapped his arms
around his wife and pulled her closer to him. “Nothing would make
me happier than seeing you
carry
my child. I have waited
so long for this day. I have patiently waited to make love to you
as your husband.”

Jennifer held his hand in
hers, and they walked through the house, and up to the guest
bedroom. Upon entering the bedroom, the scent of fresh flowers
swirled around them. Their suitcases sat in the corner of the room.
Suddenly nervous, John sat on the edge of the
bed
and
instinctively reached for his rosary beads.

“Are you nervous?” she asked quietly as
she knelt before him.

“Yes. I want you so much it scares
me.”

“We don’t have to do anything tonight
but hold each other. When you feel ready, we can make
love.”

“Believe
me; I am ready now.”

Jennifer leaned into John and kissed
his neck, her teeth gently biting his earlobe. Lust shot up John’s
spine and he reached out for her. “Make love to me Jenny
sweetheart. Show me how much you love me.”

Rising from her kneeling position, she
walked over to retrieve her overnight bag. “I have a surprise for
you. Give me ten minutes,” she said as she left the
bedroom.

John continued sitting on the bed,
suddenly afraid to move. He retrieved his overnight bag and when he
opened it, there was a present inside for him. “Wear this for me,”
the card said. When he opened the box, inside was a pair of black
silk boxers. John smiled as he quickly undressed. He was lying on
the bed when he heard the door open. The vision of beauty that
stood before him astounded him.

Jennifer stood before him
in a peach sheer floral-laced
babydoll
with a matching
G-string. Her brown hair flowed freely down her back and shoulders,
and the sight of her standing before him stopped his
heart.

John moved to the edge of
the bed and opened his arms. Jennifer walked to him and drew him to
her breast. He inhaled her sweet scent, a combination of almond
and
cherry,
and kissed the crevice between her breasts. “God
has blessed
me,
Jenny. I feel as if I’ve been re-born. You stand
before me as my wife, the love of my life, and the only woman who
has completely stolen my heart. I pledge to you my undying love,
now, and for all eternity.”

“I love
you,
John. I knew
it the first time you kissed me. This past year has been the
happiest of my life. It still amazes me how much my children love
you. It amazes me how much you love us. I want to make love to you
John. I want to show you the depths of my love.”

With bodies entwined, and souls joined
for a lifetime and beyond, John closed his eyes as he slowly made
love to his wife. “Oh Jenny, I’ve waited so long to feel this, to
share this intimacy with you.” Lost in the emotions that
overwhelmed him, John had his first climax with his
wife.

Later, as they lay entwined with each
other, Jennifer whispered to him, “You are awfully quiet. What are
you thinking?”

“I love holding you like this. I
imagined so many times what it would feel like when we made love
for the first time as husband and wife, and I had it so incredibly
wrong. Never again will I have to leave you at the end of the
night. It broke my heart leaving you and the children. I am excited
to start our new life as a family. Let’s call Mom and Dad tomorrow
morning. I want the children with us this week.”

“I think that’s
an excellent
idea. They love the beach. It was so generous of
Lydia and Adam to share their home with us.”

“Roll over onto your side honey. I want
to hold you as I fall asleep.”

John and Jennifer spent their first
night as husband and wife wrapped around each other.

The next morning at precisely five
thirty AM, John’s cell phone rang. He fumbled for the phone and
became concerned when he saw his father’s name on the call screen.
“Dad, is everything ok? Why are you calling so early?”

“Well
hello
to you too,
son. Sorry to wake you, but Jason has been screaming for his daddy
for the past half hour. Please talk to him before he makes himself
sick. He has Olivia all riled up as well. Those kids miss their
parents.”

John laughed, which prompted Jenny to
open her eyes. “Who are you talking to at this ungodly
hour?”

“It’s my father. Jason is having a fit,
and he wants me to talk him off the ledge.”

“Put him on the phone Dad.”

Several seconds had
passed
before John heard sniffles. “Daddy, where are you?”

“Mommy and I are at Uncle Adams house.
Why are you crying little man?”

“I was scared when I woke
up.”

“Why were you scared? Granny and Gramps
are with you.”

“I miss
you,
Daddy. Can
you come home now?”

“Can you hand the phone back to Gramps?
I want to talk to him.”

“Ok, bye Daddy.”

Several seconds later,
Colin had the phone. “Dad, pack a bag for the children. We already
miss
them
and want them with us this week.”

“Are you sure about this
John? It is your honeymoon. Do you want
two
five-year-old
children underfoot for an
entire week?”

He looked to Jennifer and
she nodded her approval. “Jenny just agreed with me. Yes, I want my
children
to be
with
us this week. We’ll go to the grocery
store and have the house stocked with enough food to feed an
army.”

“That’s very magnanimous of you son.
We’ll see you in a few hours.”

John disconnected the call
and placed his phone back on the nightstand. Rolling
over
to face his wife, he planted little kisses up and down her
cheek and neck. “We have approximately three hours to ourselves.
How should we pass the time?”

Wrapping one of her legs around his
body, Jenny whispered, “Oh, I can think of a few things to occupy
the time.”

John’s family arrived around noon. John
and Jenny were sitting outside waiting for them. “Daddy, Daddy! We
missed you!”

John knelt down, opened his
arms, and they ran to him. Jenny stood in the background and
watched her family. She felt Margaret’s hand on her
arm
and turned to face her new mother-in-law.

“I have never seen my son
so happy. He loves them so much. How are
you,
honey?”

“Oh Mom, last night
was
incredible
.”

Margaret wrapped an arm around her.
“The children talked non-stop as soon as we got in the car. Daddy
this, Daddy that. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.”

Jenny laughed. “I know.
They do the same thing every night at bedtime. Daddy,
read
us a story. Daddy, when can we go to the zoo? Daddy, why do
you have to leave every night? It’s going to be so different once
we get home. John
repainted
our bedroom a couple of weeks
ago, and I bought new bed linens. I want him to feel comfortable in
his new home.”

“Wherever you and the children are,
that’s home to him. Why do you think he wants the children with him
this week?”