Winter Solstice
At
The House of Four Seasons
by Atonia
Part 3
It was New Years Eve and Toni had a tray of goodies, Champagne and two flutes on the table in front of her sofa. John declared it was tradition to greet the New Year in her bedroom. This was their third celebration. They watched the moon rise over the ocean out on her balcony, had a soak in the tub and in pajamas were on her sofa with the TV on watching Dick Clark.
“Did you ever make new year’s resolutions?” she asked
“Of course did you?”
“Every year and every year it was to lose five pounds. I never did lose those five pounds.”
“Where are they, your five unwanted pounds?”
“My hips”
“I wanna see.”
“What?”
“I want to see five pounds on your hips that you wanted to lose, I’ll bet they aren’t there.”
“John.”
He pulled her over and with much giggling pulled her pajama pants down and inspected her behind. “They’re gone Toni.”
Toni giggled trying to pull her pants up, “you don’t understand no woman’s hips are where she wants them to be, always need to lose five pounds.”
“Hmm two and a half on this side and two and a half on that side, nah wouldn’t make a difference, you’d have to lose about fifteen pounds and then you wouldn’t have an ass at all and I happen to like it like it is.” He gave her a good spank before letting her pull her pants up.
“Ouch, you brute, just for that you don’t get any of this stuff.”
“What is it?”
“Doesn’t matter you aren’t getting any, mmm it sure is good too.”
“Smells good,” he moved closer
“Yes the house made it, a really good pate, that you aren’t getting any of….mmphf” John had her down on the sofa and took the cracker smeared with pate out of her mouth.”
“You’re right it is good,” he munched.
“There’s no stopping you is there?”
“Not when I want something,” he straightened her out on the sofa, “and I want something.”
“What do you want John?”
“You.”
“you didn’t have to ask.”
“I’m not asking,” her pajama pants came off again.
The ball must have dropped at midnight but Toni and John missed it they were busy in the bed. Morning came through the French doors of her balcony reminding them they hadn’t even opened the bottle of Champagne.
“I’m thinking mimosas, poached eggs, English muffins how about you?”
“What’s a mimosa?”
“Champagne and orange juice.”
“Sound like a way to start the day,” John struggled up in the bed propping pillows behind him.
Toni went to the bathroom and asked the house to deliver exactly what she had ordered up to her room on the table by the fireplace.
John still in the bed rubbed his eyes and yawned still trying to come awake. A movement caught his eye and he watched the little table by Toni’s fireplace present breakfast. He shook his head, “Room service Toni.”
“You think you’re going to lay in bed all day and drink Champagne?”
“It doesn’t sound like a bad Idea John.”
“Wrong…up woman we’re going riding.”
“It’s cold out,” Toni faked a shiver
So it was up and dress and get on the snowmobile for a good ride around the property. I t had been a while since they’d done this with John practicing his skating skills. He still had another game to play in a couple of weeks but decided to take some time for Toni.
“It’s so serene and beautiful covered in snow like the earth is sleeping under a thick white blanket.” Toni mused when they stopped to look at a vista.
They rode down the pathway that circled the big pond and around to the other side.
“It’s hardly recognizable in winter,” she looked at the gazebo covered in snow.
“Why is it still here in winter?”
“Things aren’t changing anymore they’re becoming permanent fixtures like all your hockey stuff in that building over there, it’s still here in summer John. We are becoming permanent fixtures , nothing changes unless we want it to. All the things you’ve acquired stay here, Max’s library and his tennis things are here. Neither Bud nor Terry have asked for anything but they make use of what’s here.”
“It’s our home, all of us belong here now there should be traces that we leave behind when our season is over.”
“There always are, where you found your snowmobile in the garage, there’s Max’s bike covered up against the far side. In the boat house is Terry’s tool box where he put up some new brackets to hold paddles and fishing gear. He forgot to bring it in so it’s still there.”
“I like that you know it’s like that blanket you were talking about, everything sleeping underneath waiting for it’s time to come. Like we never really leave here.”
“I don’t believe you do, I know you do physically but some part of you remains here, little things I find. The house doesn’t always put everything away and I don’t mind.” She looked up and smiled.
“If Terry left his tool box out I should put it away, it’s not good for it to sit in the damp, I’ll do that for him.”
“He found your hockey puck that you hit into the trees last winter.”
“Yeah did he toss it in the pond?”
“No, he put it in the shed with your other hockey equipment.”
“I’ll put his tools in the tool shed. You know…I think we’ve got a good thing going here Toni. When we started out there was just me and you then Max came and Terry and now Bud. I’m glad it’s this way and you’re not having to break in somebody else every three months that was crazy.”
“It was, yes. At least now there’s stability things have settled this is how it is and will be. And you know what it all started with you that day you first came and kissed me in the snow I fell in love with you and it’s never wavered.”
“Toni…ah shit,” he grabbed her and hugged her to him blinking back his wet eyes.
It was just after Valentine’s day Toni and John were in Gloucester and stopped to get a drink. As they were leaving a young woman came up to John and asked for his autograph Toni was busy putting her coat on and wasn’t paying attention.
“Why?”
“Because you’re famous not many movie stars come down this way.”
“I’m not a star.” John answered.
“My mom and I watched you last night. She said you played hockey here is that right?”
“Ah yeah I played a few games.”
“That’s really cool, well could I have your autograph?”
“Who do you think I am anyway?”
“Russell Crowe of course you can’t fool me.”
John laughed, “I’m sorry you’ve got the wrong dude.”
“I don’t think so you were in Mystery, Alaska,” she held out a book for him to sign.
John looked her in the eye, “you don’t know me.”
“Oh, excuse me,” she said and walked past him not looking at him at all and a little confused about the book and pen she had in her hand.
“What was that all about?” Toni asked tossing her muffler over her shoulder.
“Oh, nothing at all,” John replied…magic.
