Champagne Romance (Romance Novel) (21 page)

Swan’s wedding dress hugged her figure with
all the pleats, tucks, and glamour that Vera Wang could create.
Each bead caught the glimmer of the evening sunset that made her
sparkle like an elegant fairy princess as she walked down the satin
aisle that was covered with red and pink rose petals.

Swan’s hair was in a sleek up-do with
tendrils softly framing her face. The bride’s veil was tucked under
a crown of diamonds and pearls. Diamond studs with pearl droplets
hung from her ears, another gift from her husband to be. The veil
was handmade to match her dress with the finest of Belgium lace
that trailed dramatically twenty feet behind her.

Quinn was hoping to ride on the veil down the
aisle and was disappointed that that would not be happening. He was
consoled to find out that he would get to be the best man and would
get to wear a tux just like his daddy.

Swan was walked down the bridal path by Uncle
Teddy who preened at being the center of attention with Swan as he
presented her to Slater. Slater stood holding Quinn in his arms
with the minister in his white robe at the front. He stood glowing
with delight as his “soon to be” wife in all her elegance walked
down the aisle towards him.

Ted hugged Swan as Slater handed Quinn to
him. Swan also gave him her bouquet of pink roses, lavender lilies,
and bird of paradise to hold much to his delight as well. Then, the
ceremony proceeded.

As soon as they were pronounced man and wife,
Slater bent Swan over one arm in a very mushy kiss. After that, the
violin quartet began playing, while each guest simultaneously
opened the box that they had been given. Much to the delight of
Quinn, colorful butterflies flew out of the boxes giving the
atmosphere an array of rainbow confetti as they disbursed in all
different directions.

Lastly, the happy couple was greeted with
kisses, hugs, and warm wishes. Ted waited until he saw a chance to
enthusiastically give the groom a flaming hug, which he did so with
much gusto. Slater graciously accepted the gesture, but mused that
a simple handshake would have covered it.

After the wedding, Swan and Slater flew in
their private jet to the Sandal’s clear blue ocean island. There,
they took a daily swim frolicking in their birthday suits with the
playful dolphins. Snorkeling was a part of their afternoon ritual
where they saw colorful yellow, orange, and blue salt-water fish.
They watched an octopus float along the ocean floor. Stingrays
glided under their feet. They often saw turtles mating, which
brought them back to their own hideaway to practice their own
mating ritual without interruptions.

Cool evening breezes with champagne cocktails
were enjoyed under the sky at night as it sparkled with a thousand
jewels before retiring to their secluded bungalow on stilts
surrounded by warm ocean water. There, they explored and learned
about each other as there was no limit to their joy of love-making
in this place called Paradise.

CHAPTER 47

Returning from their honeymoon, Quinn and
Swan made a temporary move to Slater’s bachelor pad as it was much
larger than Swan’s condo. Maria remained in Swan’s condo and would
join them when they found a home with a neighborhood filled with
preschoolers and young children. She would continue to be part of
their family and to be Quinn’s babysitter whenever Swan and Troy
would have late evenings out or needed some “alone” time. It seemed
like an accommodating and happy situation for all.

Quinn loved the idea of several overnight
adventures in Slater’s home. He immediately decided that Caesar was
his new playmate and was sure that he was his very own personal
horsy. Caesar was only too happy to have a playing companion and
off they went. Quinn darted from room to room exploring. He was
especially enumerated with the floor to ceiling aquarium headboard
in the bedroom. He squealed and clapped his hands with delight when
he saw the orange and white clown fish. He knew that he had found
the Disney Nemo. That discovery and the starfish stuck to the side
of the glass kept him occupied and entertained until it was time to
go to bed.

Before bedtime, Quinn decided that he wanted
to go shopping for an “aquardum” of his very own. He insisted that
they go, “Right now!”

When Slater explained that the stores had
gone to bed for the night, it was then that Quinn initiated his
first tantrum with a total meltdown. Helpless and indulgent parents
finally promised him an aquarium with a baby Nemo of his very own
before he would settled down. They quickly learned as most parents
do that a bribe usually works. The next day, however, Slater went
to Borders and bought a book to educate himself on better parenting
skills.

CHAPTER 48

The next week was Halloween. Quinn would be
going to a Halloween party at preschool and one at Madeline and
Bear’s. He knew that when Daddy came home that the big day of
picking out a costume for the party event had arrived. He rushed to
the door and flew into his daddy’s waiting arms. Then, he flew back
to the bedroom to get Mommy. It wasn’t long before they were
roaring down the highway to the nearest Wal-Mart.

Once they were in the store, Quinn
immediately zeroed in on the Superman costume. At that, Slater
bulked and flatly stated, “No boy of his was going to be running
around in red tights!” With that, Quinn’s bottom lip began to
quiver. He wrapped himself around his mommy’s leg and wouldn’t look
at Daddy. Ten minutes later they were walking out of the local
Wal-Mart with Quinn on Slater’s shoulders and the Superman costume
under his arm. A chagrined Slater realized that he had just given
Quinn his first lesson from his father on how to be a pussy.

As Slater began putting Quinn to bed, Quinn
insisted on sleeping in his Superman costume. So, it took a little
longer to get him calmed down for sleep time. Meanwhile, Swan was
getting into her own costume. While Slater had been distracted with
the whole Superman episode, Swan had been picking out a costume for
herself. She had decided on a witch’s costume that she discreetly
paid for and put into her purse. Going into their bedroom, she
plunked the black pointed hat on her head, stepped into the black
sequined strapless top that showed a generous amount of bosom, and
a short little black skirt that looked a little like a tutu with
black netting that made it stand out. Under the tutu, she wore
black thong panties. She skipped the pencil strait skirt that was
normally worn under the over-shirt. She then proceeded to put on
the thigh high black and orange-stripped stockings with black satin
bows on each side. She completed her ensemble with ankle strap
black heels and a fluffy black boa.

Slater was in the living room in the process
of fixing himself a drink when a CD started playing “That Old Black
Magic” and Swan walked into the room swinging her hips in
invitation. He paused in the middle of bringing the scotch to his
lips the moment Swan sundered over to the fireplace and struck a
sexy pose.

“
What do you think?” she asked in a
husky voice as she slowly turned in a circle.

Slater immediately began to salivate with the
sight of her near naked buns and pink nibbles falling out of the
top. Putting a forgotten drink on the nearest table, he picked her
up and took her directly into the bedroom where he proceeded to
show his approval.

The next day was the Halloween party at
Madeline and Bear’s home. By the time the Slater’s arrived, ghouls
and monsters already filled their backyard with young children
running amok and enjoying the Halloween activities. It took only
five seconds for Quinn to join in the ruckus and start acting silly
with the rest of the preschoolers.

Slater was relieved that his kid wasn’t the
only one dressed in a Superman costume and red tights. Swan wore
her witch outfit with the knee length skirt now attached. A row of
boa feathers was added to the skimpy top so Slater wouldn’t divorce
her. After a little discussion, Slater reluctantly agreed to wear a
black t-shirt that Swan had purchased with the words COSTUME
printed across the front. All during the party and every time Swan
looked at him, he had his arms crossed over his chest suspiciously
looking like he was trying to be incognito with a plain black
t-shirt.

The party ended early as it was beginning to
be bedtime for eleven cranky children that were so high on sugar
that they could have flown home on their own. All the adults were
happy because they had indulged in the alcoholic beverages and they
were now looking forward to their own private parties after the
kids were tucked in bed.

Unfortunately, half of the little trick or
treaters ended-up in Mommy and Daddy’s beds as they each had
developed a sudden ghastly fear of ghosts, goblins, and skeletons.
Quinn was no exception. A disgruntled Slater finally slept with
Quinn plastered on one side and Swan on the other, but not before
he pondered the thought as he drifted off that he had just been out
maneuvered by a three-year-old in red tights!

CHAPTER 49

In November, Slater decided to take the
family on a surprise visit to Metropolis, Illinois---home of
Superman. They toured all the local Superman spots and ended up at
the Metropolis Superman drugstore for a soda and a sundae. Quinn
immediately found a Superman figure in the toy section that he
could not do without. After studying his toy as he ate his cheese
sandwich and mini-malt, he suddenly realized that Superman did not
have on RED tights, he had on BLUE tights! Before they left, Slater
with a moan was reaching into his billfold to buy BLUE tights and a
“shit load” of other Superman paraphernalia that Swan found at the
back of the store. Swan left happy, Quinn certainly left happy, and
Slater was happy thinking about how he wanted Swan to reward him
for their happiness.

CHAPTER 50

Slater was sleeping soundly when he became
too full alert with a groan from Swan. She was now five months
pregnant. She was in a constant state of nausea and Slater was
beginning to be concerned. The mornings usually began with a barf
in the toilet.

Today was the day that they were going for a
sonogram that would give the health and the sex of the baby. They
both were more than a little excited and anxious for the results.
Slater intended to be right there for the entire procedure holding
Swan’s hand and giving her any support that she needed. Pulling her
into his protective arms, he felt the first movement of his baby
child. That brought him a smile and reassurance that life was
proceeding normally.

Swan was restlessly trying to surface to the
morning sun, but she was having a nightmare. There was so much
blood that it was beginning to cover her feet. Billy Branson was
minus his t-shirt. He was laughing, laughing, laughing. His gang of
ghouls was doing the same. Swan had crossed over into hell as she
could feel herself being torn apart and going deeper into the
depths of the inferno. Suddenly, a familiar voice began to call her
name. She climbed back to the soothing tones of Slater, the
present, and the sanity of reality.

Swan was covered with perspiration. Her silk
nightgown was wet. After reassuring himself that Swan was all
right, Slater stripped her of her nightgown, picked her up, and
together slipped their naked bodies under the warm spray of the
shower.

Swan was almost listless as the hot water ran
across her shoulders and over her tummy. Slater began to message
her shoulders. Picking up a bar of lavender soap, he started to rub
it over her back and down her buttock. It wasn’t long before they
had wondered around the front to her plump round breasts. With very
little urging from Slater the soft peaks responded to become stiff
points. By the time they finished their shower, the dreadful
nightmare of Billy Branson and his bullies were history.

Swan and Slater went through their morning
rituals and soon were headed for the obstetrician’s office. Swan
soon finished her sonogram. They were now sitting in the doctor’s
office. Swan sensed something was wrong. Even the usual cool Slater
was fidgeting in his leather chair. Swan’s stomach refused to
settle down. She was just about to throw-up in the waste paper
basket when the doctor walked into the office. Slater held Swan’s
hand in two of his own.

Slater’s jaw clenched as a frowning Dr. Ray
read over the results of the sonogram in silence. Having just given
some bad news to another patient, the doctor was having a little
trouble switching gears and turning his emotions into a happy face.
He looked up at the sober faces of the young parents facing him and
smiled.

“
Everything seems to be developing
normally. The babies look perfectly healthy.”

A shroud of silence encompassed the office
before Slater asked for a repeat, “Excuse me. What did you just
say?”

“
You’re going to be the proud parents
of two baby girls in early summer.’’

That brought a slow dimpled smile to Slater.
It was difficult to tell if Swan were smiling as she had her head
in the trash can, again.

Both parents were jubilant at the good news.
Not only were their babies healthy, but there would soon be twins
extending their family. Slater walked around the next week with
such a sappy grin on his face that Swan finally suggested they put
their energy into making arrangements for double duty.

It was exciting for Swan to share her
happiness with their father this time. The delight of picking out
baby furniture and the fanciest perambulators that Slater could
find was the fun part. In spite of the apprehension of a double
birth, Swan was consoled with the love of her husband and the
contentment of having future daughters.