Rememberances
part 5
"Good Times and Bad"
By Pat
“I think maybe we need to call it a night.” He laughed, nodding at the sleeping child.
“You’re so right, Luka,” Melanie noted, “we have kept him up past his bedtime, haven’t we? Time to take him home and put him to bed.”
“Before you take Melanie and Davie home, Luka,” Duncan spoke up, “why don’t you drop Amanda and I off at your place. I left the rental car there, and I can pick it up and go back to the hotel.”
“But Duncan, I won’t hear of you staying at a hotel.” Luka protested. “I’ve got an extra room, you know you are welcome to stay at my place.”
“That’s ok, I wasn’t sure if I’d find you home or not, so I just went ahead and checked into the hotel before coming over to your place.” Duncan explained.
“But Duncan, you know…ouch!” Luka’s words stopped as he felt Melanie’s elbow connect with his ribs. “Okay, Duncan, that’s the plan then, we’ll drop you and Amanda off first.”
“Why did you elbow me?” Luka whispered to Melanie as they carried a sleepy Davie towards the car.
“Because you weren’t stopping to think, sweetheart, I think Duncan and Amanda wanted to be alone for awhile.” Melanie stated. “Didn’t you notice the way those two kept looking at each other all evening?”
Luka had to admit he really hadn’t. But he did agree with Melanie’s assessment of the situation. Of course, he also had some plans for the rest of the evening that required her presence and a locked door.
As the hotel door closed behind them, Duncan pulled Amanda into his arms. “Now lets continue that conversation we started earlier.” He murmured as his lips caressed her throat and upwards until he captured her lips. Wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body even closer to his, Amanda returned the kiss in full measure. This is what she had been waiting for; there really was no other place she wanted to be than in MacLeod’s arms. She really did love this stubborn Highlander and she knew in his own way, he loved her as well. He was the one constant in her life, the one person she could depend on above all else.
“So what did you want to talk about.” She whispered back when Duncan released her mouth. She could feel his hands undoing the zipper on her dress and she felt it slide from her body and fall to the floor. She removed her hands from around his neck, so she could undo the buttons on his shirt, pulling it loose and sliding it off his broad shoulders. Her hands caressed his chest, feeling the rippling of the muscles under the skin.
Duncan pulled her even closer so her breasts were pressed against him. “We could talk about the weather, how beautiful you are, or did you have something else in mind?” he inquired huskily as he gently teased an ear lobe with his tongue.
“Surprise me!” Amanda replied.
And he did, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her to the bed….
~~~
With a sigh of contentment, Melanie snuggled closer to Luka’s side, laying her head on his shoulder, savoring the afterglow of their lovemaking.
“A penny for your thoughts, my love.” Luka offered as he gently stroked the soft hair that lay spread across his chest.
“Oh, I was just thinking about Duncan…” Melanie started to reply when Luka interrupted.
“MacLeod!” he voiced his surprise. “You better not be thinking about another man while you’re in my arms, lady.” He teased, reveling in the sound of Melanie’s giggles.
“And I better not catch you staring at Amanda’s behind again!” She playfully countered his remark.
“You’ve got a deal.” Luka laughed, pulling her even closer to his side, her leg across his. “But seriously, why you were thinking about Duncan?”
“I was just thinking I really like your friend. He seems like a very nice man, although a bit sad and I think lonely.” Melanie reflected, surprising Luka with her accurate insight into the friend he had known for many years now but whom she had just met. “I’m happy he has Amanda with him, she really loves him, you know.” Again her statements caught Luka by surprise.
“How do you know that?” He puzzled.
Laughing softly, Melanie explained, “Oh, just woman’s intuition, I guess. Of course, when you’re in love it’s easy to spot other lovers, you know.” She gently kissed his cheek, “And I’m so in love with you.” She whispered.
“And I love you, my darling.” Luka replied passionately before his lips caressed Melanie’s. Pulling her into his arms, he rolled over positioning her beneath him, as they explored together the heights of passion and love.
~~~
Over the ensuing two weeks, both Luka and Melanie had taken time off work so they could spend some time with Duncan and Amanda, who had stayed on after the circus left town. Their little group had kept busy…a trip to the top of Pike’s Peak, a visit to Aspen and Cripple Creek, shopping with Amanda and Davie while the men played golf. Now they were relaxing at Melanie’s house while laughing at the two men struggling to light the barbecue.
“Come on, MacLeod,” Amanda yelled, “You’re such a Boy Scout…you should be able to light some charcoal!” Both she and Melanie burst into laughter at the dark look Duncan sent in Amanda’s direction. “And Luka,” Amanda wasn’t going to let him get by, “I sure hope you handle a scalpel better than you do those matches!” Her words were met with another glare this time from Luka, none of which bothered Amanda in the least.
“Are we going to let them laugh at us that way, MacLeod?” Luka muttered to his friend.
“Don’t think we have much choice in the matter.” Duncan replied pragmatically. “There’s only one way I know of to shut Amanda up!”
“Well, don’t you think taking off her head is a little extreme?” Luka joked.
“That wasn’t what I had in mind!” MacLeod quipped. They both noted the rather pointed looks they were getting from their women, as it was now their turn to laugh.
“You just know they are up to no good.” Melanie remarked.
“Of course not!” Amanda agreed. “But we’ll just have to find ways to punish them later if they’ve been bad boys.” She winked at Melanie who nodded in agreement.
“Hey mommy, can I ride my bike?” Davie had gotten bored watching Luka and Duncan, and came running up to the picnic table to hopefully obtain his mother’s permission.
“Ok, but put on your helmet and stay on the sidewalk in front of the house.” Melanie ordered.
“Thanks, mom!” he shouted and he was off. The two women chatted together as they watched Davie riding the new bike had gotten for his birthday. As he became aware that he was the center of attention, it was time to show off a little for mom and the pretty lady. “Look at me!” Davie yelled as he took his hands off the handlebars. Before Melanie could tell him to stop that, he lost control of the bike and veered off into the street.
They could only look on in horror at the approaching car. They heard the sound of screeching tires and the crash followed by a thud as Davie’s body hit the pavement…
“Oh my God, Davie!” Melanie screamed, frozen in shock as she watched Luka and Duncan run towards the crumpled body of her son now lying motionless on the ground….