The Sauna Part 175

We spent the next few days in Colorado enjoying our solitude and I taught Jon how to meditate and induce trance so we could pursue additional information about our past lives together. He was an apt pupil and mastered the art quickly and we learned many more details about the lifetimes we’d shared and hopefully enough to avoid repeating any of the mistakes we’d made back then. It was finally time to pack up again and return to New Jersey and the life we’d escaped and we both felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.

“This has been the most wonderful two weeks I could have imagined” I said to Jon as we finished our dinners and cleaned up the dishes.

“I can’t believe how fast the time went, but truthfully I’m ready to head back tomorrow” Jon commented.

“I know, love, so am I. It’s been hard to hold the world at bay and I’m anxious to see the cats and the kids and get ready for the holidays. There’s so much to do when we get back” I said, thinking about all the things that would be coming up and the arrangements that still needed to be made.

Jon had called his friend, the Mayor of Rumson, who had been only too happy to officiate at the wedding ceremony and we had set a date for December 20th, the first Saturday after we returned. The show at Giants was on Monday and the Christmas party with the band was on Wednesday and then, of course, there was the retirement party on New Year’s Eve. Somewhere in between I needed to go shopping with Stephanie and find a dress for the wedding and pick out Christmas gifts for everyone and I was determined to finish that scrapbook for Jon as his gift.

It was our last night in Colorado and Jon wasn’t about to waste it dwelling on all that was waiting for us back home. He took the two taper candles we’d had on the table during dinner and gave me a nudge as he headed up the stairs towards the bedroom. Our suitcases stood ready and mostly packed by the bedroom door and we had the rest of the night to spend making another memory.

I followed Jon into the bedroom and he set the candles down on either side of the bed and we lit a few more that were scattered about the room and turned off the remaining lights. I shed my clothes and climbed into bed while Jon built the fire before joining me. He climbed in beside me and pulled me into his arms as he sighed.

“Tonight’s my last chance to have you all to myself in bed” he teased, referring to the horde of cats that would be joining us tomorrow.

“I’ll agree it has been nice not to have to share the bed” I admitted reluctantly, snuggling into him.

“And no claws digging into my back in the middle of the night” he laughed.

I kissed Jon deeply then, loving him that much more for putting up with the interference from my furry devils. I missed my babies, but I would also miss the peace and closeness we’d enjoyed without interruption since we’d arrived. Jon rolled us over toward the middle of the bed and raised himself up on his arms as he looked down at me. We lay there quietly for several moments regarding one another.

“I love you Jon” I said softly.

“I love you too, Trish” Jon murmured as he nuzzled my neck with his chin.

We made love gently, with the utmost tenderness and affection, taking comfort and solace in the feel of each other. We kissed and cuddled and spoke words of endearment as we took our time, enjoying the unhurried pace as our bodies mingled and danced, glowing in the light from the fire. When we were finished, we were not exhausted, but rather deeply satisfied and fulfilled. We slept soundly, nestled in one another’s arms.


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It was snowing in Colorado when our plane took off and I looked out the window as I fondly said goodbye to our new home. I would come back after Jon left for Europe, but for now I needed to focus on the next few weeks and all that needed to get done. Jon called Rick to advise him of our tentative arrival time and I worked on a list of what we needed to do. It was the 16th of December and I had really only three days to plan a wedding.

We arrived at LaGuardia just after noon and Rick had boarded the plane to help us with our bags. Jon had strained his back when he had stored the carry-on bag in the storage compartment over head and I was glad that the crew and Rick were able to unload our bags as I knew they were stuffed to the bursting point. I insisted on taking the carry-on down myself as I didn’t want Jon taking the chance of making his back any worse.

“Babe, I’m fine! I’m not an old man and the bag isn’t that heavy” he grumbled.

“This is not up for discussion; now move out of the way and stop arguing with me and let me get it” I ordered him.

“Both of you, get off the plane and go wait at the gate and let me do my job please” Rick intervened as he physically removed me from the spot where I was standing and Jon chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, a little disgruntled myself at being treated as though I was too dainty for the job.

“Nothing, darlin’, nothing at all” he said, winking at Rick.

Without further ado, Rick shuffled us both off the plane and into the airport as he returned to get the bag and he and Vicky grinned at each other. If Jon’s middle name was stubborn, mine had to be obstinate he thought to himself. He swung the object of controversy down from the storage container and proceeded to meet us in the airport. The crew brought out our luggage and Rich hauled it onto a cart and escorted us out to the waiting limo.

“How are the kids doing? Did they miss us?” I asked, anxious to see my little ones.

“They seemed a little out of sorts at first, but we got along well once they got used to me. I used to have a cat when I was a boy and Zeke reminded me a lot of him. He was a polypod too” Rick smiled.

“Don’t tell me that little shit actually liked you?” Jon piped in.

“He’s not a little shit, he’s just special” I said defensively.

“Aaawww, they were all good. We didn’t have any problems” Rick said, trying to keep the peace.

We arrived at the house and Jon and I went in first while Rick tended to the luggage. Eddie and Opie greeted us immediately while Floyd watched from a distance, appearing aloof. Zeke raced into the living room from the bedroom and nearly tripped over himself as he skidded, trying to stop before he ran into Jon. He immediately turned around and fled back to the bedroom and we heard a crash.

“This feels like déjà vu” Jon commented as we followed him to inspect the damage.

I picked up the lamp that had fallen, presumably when the cat knocked into the table in his haste to dive under the bed. It wasn’t broken, but I was dismayed to see that Zeke and Jon would need to start over again to build a relationship. We immediately fed them and I dug in the carry-on for the cat treats I had brought with me, hoping to ease the sting of another separation.

“You’re bribing them” Jon observed.

“Yes” I replied matter of factly.

Jon shook his head, but procured his own can of treats from the bag and I stared. He shook the can and proceeded to rip it open as he squatted down and found himself now at the center of attention from three greedy cats. They were eating right out of his hand.

“It was Richie’s idea” he smirked at me.

It was my turn to shake my head as the trick worked and soon even Zeke appeared in the doorway and watched. Jon called to him and threw him a treat and I just stood there, completely at a loss for words. I’d never even seen him sneak the treats in the bag and now I knew why he’d been so determined to grab the damn thing himself. Jon stood up triumphantly and I had to hand it to him; he had really surprised me.

“Do I get a treat now too?” I asked and he stretched out his arms.

“Come to daddy, baby” he said smugly and I kissed him in spite of myself.

Rick deposited the rest of our bags and gave Zeke a pat on the head before taking his leave. We both thanked him heartily for such a huge favor and he offered to baby sit anytime. He assured us it hadn’t been much of a hardship as he didn’t live all that far away.

The phone rang and it was Stephanie. She was on winter break from school and it was her mission now to get me out shopping for a dress as the wedding was only a few days away and she couldn’t imagine anyone waiting until the last minute like this. I was tired from the flight, but it was still early and we had plenty of time to get to the city and do some shopping and Jon was anxious to see the kids too. He nodded and told me to tell her we’d be there shortly.