Midlife Ch. 02

She said all this without a trace of bitterness or regret. That was not what Peter would have expected.

She continued. "I remember one time my parents and my aunts and uncles took us all to the county fair. I think there must have about eleven kids and adults in my dads car and another dozen in my uncles old Chevy." She laughed then whispered loudly, "That was before seatbelt laws." She laughed again. "When it was over my older cousin, Carlos offered to drive some of the teenage cousins home in his new Lincoln. I was eleven but he let me come along. He didn't take us home right away, he said he was taking us on a 'scary drive'. It was so much fun. There was probably eight or nine of us packed into that car. He was blasting his eight track, I remember Parliament Funkadelic was playing while he drove us through these lemon orchards. And then just as we were crossing this old farm bridge he shut off the music and all the lights and just started screaming." Maria was really laughing now. "We all screamed, too. I almost peed my pants."

Peter glanced at her laughing face. She looked radiant. He loved the sound of her laughter, it warmed him to the core.

She wiped the tears of laughter from her cheeks. "Poor Carlos. He got into so much trouble for that. One of my prissy girl cousins told her dad. My mother scolded him for hours, saying that he had scared the little kids too much and how dangerous it was and blah, blah, blah. I had loved it, but they wouldn't listen to me."

Peter chuckled, "Sounds like you had a little dangerous streak in you."

Maria shook her head. "Naw. It was just innocent fun. We didn't have much but we sure had a huge supply of imagination."

Maria swiveled towards him as far as the seatbelt would allow. "What about you? Are you from a big family?"

"Not really," he said. "Two sisters, one older, one younger. Mom and dad, you know." He shrugged.

"Aw, come on." She tilted her head. "What was it like growing up in Pennsylvania? I've never been further east than Texas."

"I don't know." He shrugged. "I was the middle child. We didn't have any close relatives. Most of my friends were from school. I liked sports, the water...." He trailed off.

Maria stayed still for a moment, not saying anything. He glanced at her and her head tilted forward and she let out a pretend snore. She brought up her face grinning. "Jeez, Peter! That's a grocery list not a description of a golden childhood." She grasped his elbow and shook his arm. "Come on. What was it like?"

He laughed. "I don't know." He struggled to think of something but he decided to tell her the truth. "See Maria, I try not to think about my childhood too much. It wasn't horrible or anything like that it was just such a...." He searched for the right words. "chore to pretend that we were one big happy family."

Maria waited for him to continue.

Peter sighed heavily, "My sisters are great. Linda, the oldest, was always my protector and Carrie, my little sister was always the comic relief. My mother," He paused. "My mother was always the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. She tried so hard to keep house and home perfect. As I grew older and saw that rigid way she always held herself. Always on pins and needles, like she was waiting for the shoe to drop any moment." He shook his head. "It was so exhausting to watch."

"Why was she like that?" Maria asked quietly.

Peter's mouth became a grim line. "My father. He wasn't violent or anything like that. He was just...absent." He shook his head. "He traveled a lot on business so that's when the house was normal. But then he'd be around for a few weeks and the house was like a tomb. He didn't like noise or kids running around. Or much of anything for that matter. He was just this stone cold presents that oppressed us all."

"Then when Carrie was around 19 she was in a horrible car accident." He glanced away from the road to see the concerned look on Maria's face. "Drunk driver." Was all he could say to describe the twisted mess that threw his families life into turmoil.

"Her back was broken, both her legs, left arm....her face.....She was so beautiful." He shook his head with sadness. "She's been in a wheelchair for the last 15 years or so."

Maria pressed her fingers to her mouth, "That's awful. So young." She whispered, her eyes glistened.

He smiled sadly at her. "Carrie was stronger than all of us. I never heard that girl complain about anything. She managed to finish college and now she teaches at a school for kids with disabilities. She's amazing." He ended with an admiring smile.

A tear spilled from Maria's eye, "She sounds great. I admire that kind of courage."

Peter nodded then frowned. "But that was the end of our 'happy family'. My father was away on a business trip when the accident happened. He didn't come back for four days. My mother was out of her mind trying to convince him he was needed at home. He just kept saying, what could he do when she was in a coma in the hospital. I could have gladly killed him."

"You mean he didn't.....wow." She was shocked speechless.

"Yeah." He nodded sadly again. "When he finally got back, my mother kicked him out. He couldn't understand why everyone was so upset, the bastard."

For a couple of minutes, Peter just stared at the road, grimly allowing himself to vividly remember that devastating time.

Finally Peter shrugged himself back to the present, "Anyway, my mother's remarried to a great guy and Linda is married with two daughters and Carrie's been living with a fellow teacher for the last couple of years. They seem to be pretty happy. I see them a couple of times a year. My dad moved a couple of towns away. I haven't seen him in a few years. I think he knows better that to try to contact me."

Maria wiped a tear off of her cheek and chuckled, "I can't imagine why."

Peter grunted.

They drove in silence for the next few miles until the city started to fall away. Maria watched the industrial businesses start to change into farm buildings and fields. Soon they were winding up forest roads, climbing higher into the mountains.

"My father tried to take us camping once." Maria smiled.

"Tried?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, we weren't exactly prepared. It started raining as soon as we pulled into the campground. Absolutely pouring. My mother was so angry that he hadn't checked the weather report." She chuckled. "She made us turn right around and go home. Poor dad, seems like Mom was always mad at him for something."

"My granddad took us camping a lot." Peter said. "He was great. He had a boat and took us fishing all the time. My sisters were always competing with me to catch the biggest fish. They even tried to sneak in a fish they bought. I think they saw that in an episode of 'I Love Lucy" or something." he grinned.

Maria grinned back. "So tell me about this cabin we're going to."

"It's a lake house." he corrected.

She rolled her eyes, "What's the difference?"

"My friend, Ronny has had this lake side property in his family for about 80 years. They built a cabin on it back in the 30's, then some time in the 60's they built an actual home there. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a huge deck in the back that faces the lake. When Ronny took over about ten years ago, he renovated the whole thing." He explained.

"Wow, that's not what I expected." she admitted. "I was expecting a small cabin by a small lake. This sounds major."

He waggled his eyebrows at her, "I think you're in for a little surprise."

***

Peter chuckled at the expression on Maria's face. Her reaction to seeing the lake house was priceless. Her eyebrows were high up on her forehead and her mouth hung open in shock.

Peter raised his arm presenting the house to her. "Well, what do you think? As if I couldn't tell."

"That's not a house! That's a freakin' mansion!" Maria gasped out.

"Well, I wouldn't say that." Peter shrugged. "But it is big, I'll give you that."

The lake house looked more like a rustic two story Swiss chalet with a high pitched roof and large windows that could easily take in the gorgeous views on every side.

"Want to take a look around before we unpack?" He asked.

She shook her head. "Let me get dinner in the oven and then you can give me the grand tour." She headed to the back of the car.

Peter met her there and popped open the trunk. Before she could reach in he touched her shoulder. "Maria, I have to say something before we go in."

She turned her curious eyes to him, "What?"

He stroked her smooth shoulder, "Look, Maria, I really want this weekend to be a treat for you. There is a large master bedroom with a huge comfy bed that looks out on the lake, I would really love it if you'd share that with me, but I don't want you to do anything you're not ready for. So, there are two extra rooms to choose from that I could sleep in if you prefer. No pressure."

Maria lifted her sunglasses and propped them onto her head, she stared enigmatically at him for a few breathless moments then slowly pulled his face down to meet his lips to hers. She wound her arms around his neck trying to pull him down to press her body to him. It didn't take much for Peter to comply and wrap his arms tightly around her.

She pulled slightly away and trailed her lips to his ear, "Peter," She breathed in his ear, "I wouldn't be here with you now if I didn't find you attractive and a wonderful person." She pulled further back so she could look into his eyes. "I definitely would not be here if I didn't want to sleep with you."

Peter sighed with relief and pulled her back into the kiss. Before he realized it, his hand was wrapped in her hair. He had wanted to run his fingers in the thick silky waves of her hair for so long. When had her pony tail come out? Never mind.

***

Maria bustled around the large bright kitchen getting a salad ready while dinner heated in the oven. Peter took the last bag of food out of the trunk and was emptying it out into the refrigerator and cupboards.

"I love this kitchen!" Maria gushed, "If I could ever afford it, this is exactly what I would do. It's so big, my mother would have a field day making huge batches of tamales, mole and ....oh you would just love her birria."

Peter leaned against the counter smiling at her enthusiasm. "That's goat, right? I had it once in Mexico city. It's delicious."

"Hers is the best." Maria covered the salad and placed it in the refrigerator. "Ok, I'm ready for the grand tour. I already love what I've seen, I mean, just the view from the kitchen is breathtaking."

He placed his arm around her shoulders and guided her to the great room. "Well, this has got to be the best view." he said.

The great room had a huge rustic fireplace on one side and a small piano and a couple of guitars propped on a stand, on the other side. Two large leather sofas faced each other in the center of the room. Giant windows filled the entire wall facing the river. As he positioned her just right he said, "Watch this." With a flip of a switch the entire back wall started to open to the huge deck and invited the cool breeze that came off the lake into the house.

"Oh!" Maria gasped and then whispered. "That is the coolest thing I've ever seen." She slowly walked out to the deck.

There was a Jacuzzi and a fire pit along with a large patio table and chairs placed invitingly around the deck.

"Well," she sighed. "I guess my family is just going to have to miss me."

Peter chuckled at the odd comment, "What do you mean by that?"

She gave a sassy glance, "I'm never leaving. You're friend Ronny is just going to have to get used to me living here. It's perfect."

Peter hugged her shoulders with one arm and then guided her back inside. "Come on, let me show you the rest of the place."

On the first floor there was a game room with a pool table and small bar and a huge TV mounted on the wall with a soft comfortable looking sofa facing it. He guided her upstairs and showed her the two guest rooms. They had a rustic feel to them like the rest of the house.

Finally, he showed her the Master bedroom. It had a huge king size bed facing the back wall that was glass from floor to ceiling just like in the great room. "Those windows open all the way just like downstairs, but they open up to a private balcony." He gestured around the room, "Fireplace and through there is the master bath."

Maria walked further into the room, "Wow, I don't know where to look. This is beautiful!"

She rushed to Peter and wrapped her arms around his waist pressing her cheek against his chest. "Thank you so much for bring me here, Peter."

He wrapped his arms around her, stroking her hair, "I'm glad you like it." he said simply.

She looked up at him, her eyes shining with excitement, "I love it here." She raised her chin inviting him to kiss her.

He bent his head and touched his lips to hers. The kiss was soft and gentle. They stood there pressed together barely moving, enjoying the perfect moment.

Peter's stomach suddenly growled, breaking the trance. He snorted with laughter. "So much for romance. Is dinner ready?"

Maria chuckled, "Sure, Romeo. Let's eat." She took his hand as they made their way downstairs to the kitchen.

***

They took their dinner to the patio table to enjoy the last of the daylight.

"The sun sets pretty quickly around here. As soon as it dips past the mountain the stars come out." Peter said.

Maria couldn't stop looking around, barely touching her food, "It's so peaceful here. Well, besides all the birds and the sound of the water." She frowned at him, "And the grizzly bear growling as he destroys his dinner."

Peter looked up confused his fork just about to enter his mouth, heaping with dinner. "Huh?"

"I've barely had two bites and you're already on your second helpings." She pointed out smiling at him. "I guess you like my mother's enchiladas." Maria had brought a pan full of her mother's enchiladas that just needed to be popped into the oven for about 30 minutes along with beans and Spanish rice.

Peter moaned with his mouth full. "God! These are the best I've ever had. You're mother is a genius!" he gushed.

Her face lit up with pleasure, "I'm glad you like them. She insists on making everything from scratch, especially the sauce."

"Well, when you see her next, give her this from me." He quickly leaned over and gave Maria a sloppy, cheesy, saucy smooch.

She squealed unexpectedly, wiping off her mouth when Peter continued eating. "You're crazy!" She laughed.

The sun set quickly, as Peter predicted. Maria started to clean up. Peter just leaned back in his chair. "Hey, I'll help you with that in just a sec. I'm just too full to move right now."

She shook her head as she piled the plates and took them back into the house. "No, just enjoy your food coma. I'll take care of this today. You can cook for me tomorrow."

Peter nodded. "That sounds perfect."

The night was cooling off quickly and the night creatures were starting to make themselves known.

"I'm going to light the fire pit. How does that sound?" Peter called to her.

"Sounds great!" She called back.

A few minute later when the fire pit had a nice blaze going, Peter propped his bare feet on the edge, his empty wine glass catching the fire light. "Bring the rest of that bottle when you come out!" He called to her.

Maria was already on her way out with her half filled glass and the bottle. "Aye, aye, Captain!" She filled his glass and plopped down next to Peter on the wicker sofa facing the fire pit, lightly pressed to his side. She clinked his glass with her own, "To Ronny's Lake House!"

"Ronny's Lake House." Peter echoed, nodding.

They were silent for some time, listening to the sounds of the night. Maria rested her head on his shoulder as they sipped their wine and listened.

"Who's guitar is that? Does Ronny play?" Maria asked.

Peter nodded, "Yeah, his whole family is musical. Some of them play piano, Ronny plays both. Do you play? I remember you said something before about being a musician." He recalled.

"Yeah, I've been playing guitar since I was little." She chuckled, "I was even in a band when I was a teenager. That was before Sandra was born."

"Really?" He was surprised. "What kind of music? Spanish?"

"Hell no!" She stood up and struck a pose with an invisible guitar. "I was a hard rockin' punk chick! We were going to be the next Ramons or Pixies, it changed every week." She let her hair hang in her face and pretended to rock out with a low slung guitar.

Peter shook his head laughing at her antics. "I can not imagine that!"

"We were bitchin'!" She swung her arms up and pointed to the night sky. "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" She shouted to an imaginary audience. "WE ARE THE SOCK PUPPETS! GOOD NIGHT!"

Peter rolled over to the side laughing. "The Sock Puppets!?" He gasped.

"Yeah." She laughed and came to kneel beside him on the sofa. "Or Rita and the Rockets or Test Pattern. The name changed every week, too."

He sat back up, grinning, "I would have love to see that."

She nodded, "We thought we were so bad ass. I don't know how bad ass you could be when our mothers wouldn't let us cut our hair."

They looked at each other, their laughter winding down.

Maria kneeled closer and place her hands on his shoulders, "You have the sexiest laugh." She slid one hand to the side of his face, lightly stroking his jaw.

Peter place a hand on her waist the other played with a strand of her hair, "You're just sexy." he breathed as he pulled her across his lap, their lips coming together in a heated kiss.