The Sauna Part 222

Cherie did a terrific job singing her tribute to Jon and he made sure to let her know how impressed he was with her vocal range and overall performance. I was glad he was able to genuinely praise her as her ego needed the boost after so much criticism from Dave for so many years. Jon declined Cherie’s prompting to sing since no one had recognized him thus far and he enjoyed the anonymity. We finished our drinks at the bar and headed home.

Cherie and Jim moved off to Cherie’s bedroom now that Jon was home and we were glad to have our own bed back. We quickly undressed and slipped under the covers and I snuggled into Jon’s waiting arms.

I ran my fingers through his shaggy mane and he sighed contentedly as he laid his head on my chest. I continued stroking his hair while he toyed lazily with my nipple, but we were too exhausted from earlier and we both craved the comfort of sleep. I kissed his forehead and smiled as his breathing became more regular and soon I could hear the sound of soft snoring as Jon drifted off.

We slept in the next morning without being woken by our furry alarm clocks. Jim had been up early and fed the monsters while the rest of us slept and enjoyed the luxurious peace and quiet. It was nearly eleven when we finally made our way down to the kitchen, following the aroma of coffee. Cherie was still in bed sleeping and the three of us chuckled over the memory of her ordeal from the night before. I decided to make us some breakfast and we were just finishing when she joined us, still blinking sleep from her eyes.

“How long have you guys been up?” she asked with a yawn.

“I’ve been up since eight-thirty, but Trish and Jon just got up an hour ago. How’d you sleep, honey?” he inquired.

“Great, once I fell asleep. I’m just not used to getting to bed quite that early” she grinned.

“What should we do today?” I wondered.

There were so many things to do nearby in the summer, but winter time had me stumped. Jon was the only one among us who knew how to ski and he was looking for something less strenuous. We decided to look on the web for ideas and began searching to see what was available locally. The idea of a sleigh ride sounded especially appealing to me and we all agreed to that as our plan.

Jon and I showered while Jim made Cherie a light breakfast and soon we were dressed and ready to roll. Wolf Creek was known for its abundance of snow and this year had been no exception, so we dressed warmly in layers and prepared for the cold. I downloaded the directions to the resort and called to make sure we could get reservations for the sleigh ride and candlelight dinner and we piled into the SUV while Jon programmed our destination.

We arrived at Fireside Cabins by late afternoon and checked in at the front desk. We were the only ones there for the sleigh ride and dinner and it would be a short wait before we could leave as they made preparations. We sat down by the large fireplace and perused the brochures I had found while we waited. The man at the desk motioned to us that the sleigh had arrived and we gathered out front as our guide explained what we’d be seeing.

The sleigh was outfitted with two beautiful horses that waited patiently as we climbed in and positioned ourselves. The air was crisp and cool and their breath looked like steam as they pawed at the ground and snorted. I was glad for the fur covered throws that our guide provided and I snuggled against Jon to stay warm. The sun was still shining and there was a light snowfall as we began our journey through the woods.

We’d remembered the camera and Jon captured our progress as the horses plodded along beside a crystal clear stream where we stopped to enjoy the view. We were surrounded by snow-covered mountains that glistened in the afternoon sunshine and the rush of the stream filled my ears in the deepening stillness. Our guide poured us each a cup of spiced cider as we soaked in the atmosphere and I inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent of fresh pine as we sipped our drinks.

The snow was quite deep and we chose to stay in the sleigh, but Jon was able to stand and get some amazing shots of the scenery. I glanced past Cherie and Jim who were seated opposite of us and realized we were headed down into a valley where the dinner cabin awaited. Jon snapped a picture of me as I smiled up into his eyes and he leaned down to kiss me. He handed the camera to me and I took photos of Cherie and Jim as they posed for a kiss and Jon nestled back beside me. I handed the camera to Jim and he returned the favor, taking a photo of Jon and I as we cuddled under the throw.

I could feel the wind on my cheeks beginning to lessen as we descended into the valley and Jon’s hand was warm as he rested it upon my knee. The ride hadn’t been far, but the views we encountered were breathtaking, but I was glad when we reached the cabin and warmth. Cherie headed straight for the large stone fireplace and I joined her while our guide hitched the horses outside. Jon stood behind me and nuzzled my neck as he helped me to slip off the heavy coat I had worn.

The cabin was small and seemed designed simply for intimate dinners as it consisted of several large tables to the right of the hearth. There were several overstuffed couches and chairs arranged directly in front of the fire and we made ourselves comfortable while a waitress asked if we wanted drinks with our dinner. We ordered mulled wine to stave off the chill from the ride while we relaxed in the cozy setting.

“This was a wonderful idea” Jon purred as he stretched out his legs and leaned back on the couch.

Jim nodded as Cherie curled up alongside him on the remaining couch and I smiled down at Jon. He patted the seat beside him and I sank into the cushions with a sigh. His arm slipped around me and he drew me closer as he reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine. We sat in companionable silence while the staff prepared dinner and we were lulled into a drowsy state of relaxation.

Dinner was served as the choices were limited this time of year, but they had been able to prepare a vegetable dish for Cherie with winter squash and potatoes. Jon and Jim had both chosen the prime rib, while I had selected the chicken when we had initially made the reservations. The food was exceptional and only enhanced the mellow mood we were all enjoying. I could have easily fallen asleep on the couch after dinner.

Dessert was one of my favorites and I squealed with delight as I sampled the homemade bread pudding. Cherie was too full to finish her portion and I eyed it with relish despite being stuffed beyond bursting. She grinned and pushed it towards me and I giggled as I managed to finish her share.

After we finished our dinners it was time to head back and finish the sleigh ride. The sun had gone down and it was growing dark and the sleigh was lit by two hanging kerosene lamps. It was a romantic ride as we traveled back up the snow-laden mountain and passed by the stream illuminated now by the light from the lanterns. It was no longer snowing, but we huddled beneath the fur throws to keep warm and I buried my nose against Jon’s throat and he chuckled, holding me tightly.

We reached the main lodge and paid our bill which was surprisingly reasonable considering the fabulous meals and the memorable moments we’d had. Jon left a generous tip for the guide and our hosts and we thanked them profusely for such a unique experience before heading home.

The cats were screaming for their supper when we entered the house and I promptly fed them since it was quite a bit past their normal dinner hour. The evening was still young by our standards, but we didn’t particularly feel the need to go out and I had a craving for hot chocolate. Jon suggested we play a game of poker and I was about to agree when Cherie voiced her opinion.

“No strip poker! I’m keeping my clothes on tonight!” she insisted and we all laughed.

“Well, it’s no fun playing for money. How about a movie instead?” Jon suggested.

“There’s nothing much here to watch unless you guys wanna make a video run?” I reminded him as our movie collection was back home in Jersey.

“Do you trust us to pick out an acceptable movie?” Jim winked as he gave Jon a nudge and looked at me mischievously.

“I don’t know… what do you think, Cher?” I asked her.

“I think I’d better go with them and supervise or this one’s likely to go to the naughty store” she said, pinching Jim’s nipple.

“Ow! I won’t, honey, I promise” he pleaded and she released him from her grip.

“Well, alright, I guess we can let them pick something out. Jon? I want your word too” she teased as she moved towards him to extract a promise.

“No porno, I got it!” he smirked, covering his chest protectively. “And no chick flicks, right, babe?” he added with a peck on my cheek.

“Okay. Sounds like you guys know the drill. Now go and leave us to talk girl talk” I laughed as he shrugged on his coat and they left.

Cherie sat down at the kitchen table and I refilled her mug and rummaged through the cupboards for popcorn. I found the package we’d bought when we were here last and set it down on the counter and joined her at the table.

“So, tell me. Have you made any decisions about Dave?” I asked, cutting quick to the chase.

“I haven’t actually thought about Dave in two days and I don’t even know where my cell phone is. I think Jim must have hidden it” she beamed.

“You really look happy, Cherie. It’s the least anxious I think I’ve ever seen you” I observed.

“I’m really enjoying myself and I don’t feel any tension or pressure. It’s almost a little weird. I keep waiting for something to happen. It’s like I expect to suddenly wake up and discover it’s all been a dream” she said, reflecting back on the past couple of days.

“Well, Jon’s surprise visit was a bit like a bomb dropping” I laughed, reminding her.

“Yeah, there was that, but that’s not what I meant. I mean between me and Jim. Did you feel like that too when you and Jon got together?” she asked seriously.

“Actually, I did. In the beginning, I never imagined it would last past the first weekend. And then when we went to his house for the week, I figured it was a week that would have to last me a lifetime. It wasn’t really until he came home with me that I began to truly believe it was real” I admitted as I thought back.

“And now?” she eyed me curiously.

“Now I can’t even imagine my life without him. Did I tell you that we got married in the traditional sense when we were back in Jersey?” I asked, suddenly realizing I had never mentioned it.

“Are you serious? Trish, I thought you said you would never get married again” she replied with surprise.

“I know, neither did I. It was Jon’s idea because he was going on the road and he didn’t want me to have any hassles while he was gone. I gave in and agreed since we were already joined in the way that mattered the most” I explained.

“When did things really change for you, Trish? When did you finally start feeling secure?” she prodded me further.

“That’s hard to answer, I knew I was in love with Jon long before I started feeling secure, but it’s a strange thing. I could tell you there have been many turning points where I felt really secure and deeply connected, and each time I felt it more strongly than the one before. But it grew and it keeps growing still. Each day that passes I feel closer than I ever thought possible, so I can’t really answer you. But Cherie, once he came home with me and accepted my life as part of his, I just never worried about losing him after that” I finished.

“I wonder if I’ll ever feel that way with Jim. I watch you and Jon and I won’t lie and say that I don’t envy you. He adores you, Trish” she said wistfully.

“And I adore him” I reminded her.