*********************
Our wedding was small. Ralph Peterson stood with me and Lilly Trevor stood with Ashley. We did have some friends present. All of the Burgess's were there, including Jean and Shannon. Ashley's previous boss, the county prosecutor and his wife were present.
Mrs. Hamlin, of course and the Browns. Will and Kim Grover, Linda and Patrick and a few others. In all there was a total of about twenty-five including the children. The reception was short and reasonably quiet for we were soon leaving for a place in the Colorado Rockies.
There was a small ensemble to play music. Ashley wanted to dance, but at six months pregnant, she didn't want anything wild for music. My wife came into my arms with happiness showing on her face. "I never said much about the first time we met. I just want to repeat my thank you for being there that day. I love you so and you have made me the happiest person on earth. We are going to have a wonderful life together."
"I know Ashley. It has taken a lot of heartbreak and loneliness to get to this point. I would go through it again if I could be sure you would be here waiting for me."
"You are so sweet and always know just what to say. It isn't just the way you say it either for I know you wouldn't say it if you didn't mean it."
It seemed as though I had a woman in my arms for the next hour. Lilly came and wanted a dance. "You know if it wasn't for Ashley, you would be seeing a lot more of me. I just hope I find a man to love me as much as you love Ashley. How did you come to pick her for the love of your life?"
"Lilly, ask her sometime. Someday we may tell you, if you are interested."
"I'm interested."
Becky kept eyeing me. Jean had found a gown for her that made her look much more mature than her sixteen years. "Hi Becky, may I have this dance?"
Becky flushed pink. "Thank you. I would love to. I was hoping you would ask me. I saw you dancing with Lilly. She is very pretty, isn't she?"
"Yes she is. There are a lot of beautiful women here today. Look at Jean; she has the most classic beauty. Your mother, although older and has been sick, still retains much of her beauty. I think you are going to take after her and be as beautiful as she once was. Look at Ashley. See how she glows. To me that is the most beautiful thing of all, especially when I know it is me that is causing her to glow."
"I wish I knew someone like you to love." Becky was looking pensive.
"You will, Becky. Knowing me is just one of many people you will know before the man of your life comes along. When you find him, use your head as well as your heart to commit. If either one troubles you just look a little closer at him. He may be the one and he may not be. Ashley and I have looked at each other, both with our heads and our hearts. That is why we are married today."
The dance ended and I escorted Becky back to where Ashley, Jean and Shannon were standing. "Ashley, I never get close to Milo but what I get a lesson on how to live my life. You are so, so lucky to have him." She walked over and hugged Ashley. She then turned to Shannon. "Mama would you like to leave now? You are looking tired."
"What was that all about?" My wife asked me this as I took her into my arms for the next dance.
"I don't remember if it was you or Jean that said Becky would end up with a crush on me. I'll give the girl credit. She envies you, but she never would do anything to hurt either one of us. She has had a lot of lessons in the last few years. First her father practically kicked her mother out when she got sick. Then he went out and broke up a happy home by seducing Jean away from me. Being able to do that made Jean less in his eyes and he turned around and decided to break up his own family.
"You and I come along with baggage of our own, and prove that we can come together and be happy. Her feelings for Jean, too, have changed. At first she hated her and then when she got to know me, she hated what Jean did to me. Then when her father tore her world down, Jean comes through and stands by her brothers and her.
"I have pointed out that she has had some pretty good role models and it is all a learning experience for her. When she comes to pick a mate, think with her head as well as with her heart and she will be fine. I'm taking it as a compliment that she is hoping to find someone like me. And what she said to you is she is hoping she is as smart as you in recognizing someone like you did when her man comes along."
"Okay, I believe you, but I bet she is a hot little number."
"Maybe, but I bet I know someone that is as hot and with a lot more experience." The dance ended as we stood right there in the middle of the floor and kissed with passion as those that hadn't left yet clapped.
"Having a good time as a married man again?"
"Yes Jean. I feel complete again. Is this hurting you too much, seeing me with someone I love and it isn't you?"
"It hurts a little of course, but my gift to you is really to want the best for you and Ashley. I mean that. Maybe it is a little atonement for the hurt I placed on you." She giggled when she said this. "Come on Milo, give me some of that sage advice you are always passing out. What should I do?"
"Do just what you have been doing. I think you are happier now than you have been in a long time. You act it anyway. You are young and in three or four years the responsibilities you have taken on will have lessened when Mark, Steve and Becky are grown.
"Keep your eyes open and you will find someone that loves you and that you can love. You might even want another child if that happens. Lindsey and Marie are growing up fast and it won't be many years before they are teenagers. You and I are closer now than we were last year at this time, and I think being friends now is better than the marriage you and I had at that time."
"You are right." I thought she was going to cry. "Would you stop dancing with me and take me back to my seat. I think I need to go to the washroom for a minute. I still love you Milo, but it is a good kind of love and more solid than what I had for you before."
Epilogue
I suppose I could stop writing this now by just saying the rest of my life with Ashley looks to be happy. And it was and is, but a couple of things to note though. I found a close-by mini-mall that was for sale. Ashley and I discussed buying it to house the Milo Burns Handyman Services. Where would the money come from?
"Milo, I made out a bill of sale for you to verify that you owned the contents of the garages, do you still have it?"
I looked for it and handed it to Ashley. "Look at the date on it. Now remember what day you tried to give me back the paintings?" I did. "Okay, now show me any paperwork you have that you gave me anything after the date on the bill of sale."
I couldn't because there was none. "I think, husband of mine, you own those paintings. If you want to buy some property, you can use them for collateral or sell them if you want to pay cash. You own them, use them, for they don't mean that much to me. I have had the value from them in showing me just what kind of a man you are. I've got a hell of a deal already. Now come put some oil on my stretch marks."
Calvin Cody Winslip Burns was born right on time. "Winnie" weighed in at seven pounds ten ounces on December fifteenth. He was a happy baby, especially when he was with his mother, or me, or Jean, or Becky, or Mark, or Mrs. Hamlin. You get the picture, he was a happy baby!
Jean and Shannon had rented a nine room home with a mother-in-law apartment from Bijorn. It had been his folks and he had bought out Hans when Hans needed a down payment for his family. He soon sold it to Jean and family and rented the smaller apartment to live in himself. Milo Burns Handyman Services went through it and it was ready two days before Christmas. Ashley and I and Winnie were there for the holiday. Bijorn of course was invited.
The apartment where I first lived was kept empty, although we did keep the facilities turned on. Every once in a while someone of the extended family stayed there. Usually Jean or Shannon and sometimes Mark. Ashley and I often went there too, remembering the fun we had doing the ceiling in the living room. Wi
nnie would go crazy with joy seeing the stars pop out.
Easter morning, Ashley said to me, "Bijorn called yesterday and asked if he could use the apartment last night. Would you go over and ask him to come for breakfast?"
I went bounding up the stairs and across the living room and flung open the door. "Oh God!" I slammed the door and went back into the living room with a very red face. It was a few minutes later that Bijorn and Jean came out holding hands.
"Milo, Bijorn has asked me to marry him. I have accepted. Would you congratulate us?" I did by shaking Bijorn's hand and giving Jean a kiss. I waited for them to dress and we walked back across the lot. When we went by the gazebo, Jean asked if she could be married there. Walking into the house, Ashley had assembled Lindsey and Marie, Shannon, and Jean's three stepchildren so everyone could congratulate the betrothed lovers.
*********************
I was snuggled next to Ashley early in the morning on the last day of June. Winnie was now a little more than a year and a half old. I knew my wife was awake and I had the feeling that she was about to say something. She would move and lay perfectly still for a few minutes and then she would move again. There was a tenseness about her that was unusual.
"Ash Baby, what's up? Is something wrong?"
"Milo, I was thinking back over the last two years. There hasn't been a day that you haven't worked. I think you need a vacation. I mean, Hans is your foreman and he can handle the business until it gets real busy for the summer season. Besides he has Mark. He's twenty and one of the most responsible young men I have ever known.
"Jean and Becky can handle the office. The girls don't care where they stay, here or with their mother. You both have given them a wonderful home even though you are married to me and Jean is married to Bijorn. Shannon is well taken care of especially with Steve there for her."
We lay there discussing where we would like to go. Maybe I could convince Ashley to have another baby. It would be nice to have a boy. We might even name him Junior. Before I could voice this thought Ashley wiggled closer if that was possible.
"Milo, you know what Lilly Trevor uses to describe you and what happens when you are around?"
"You mean a person has been Milo'd?"
"Yes, that one. Well I have been Milo'd.
I was silent a minute. "I think you are telling me that I'm going to be a father."
"Yes I am."
"Ashley, let's go back to you and your vacation idea. I agree we need one and I know just the place for one. Of course the facilities there aren't too modern. There is no shower and the toilet smells. There is a tub though. The only bad thing is you have to stand up in it. Let's start our vacation at the camp. Winnie is old enough to be left alone for a few days. Then we'll come back and get the girls and Winnie and go wherever you want to as long as you want to. How would that be?"
"Milo, what about the baby? I just told you I was pregnant. Aren't you excited at all? Is a vacation all you can think about?" There was disappointment in her voice at my apparent lack of joy of what she thought was momentous news.
Ashley squirmed around until she could see my face. She read there just how happy I was! Just before she mashed her lips to mine, she muttered, "Milo'd again."
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Thanks!
Norman Hewes
"Happyhugo"
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