That Which Leads Us Home - Chapter 8, Reflections
That Which Leads us Home
by Frakkin_Eh
Rating: K for now....
*** I AM POSTING CHAPTERS 8 AND 9 AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY SORT OF GO TOGETHER... well I guess the whole story goes together LOL... THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS ONE BIG CHAPTER BUT I DECIDED TO BREAK THEM UP. ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BEEN POSTED BACK TO BACK... Don't miss chapter 8 and skip to chapter 9.. that's just cheating
Authors notes: This story is a sequel of sorts to the Movie 'For All time' starring Mark Harmon and Mary McDonnell. It picks up in the second to last scene in the movie. If you have not seen the movie you should be able to follow the story anyway as I hope (fingers crossed on that one) that I've provided enough information in the story about what happened prior to the timeline the story takes place in. You should watch the movie though, for no other reason than it's a wonderful little movie and .. well, Mary's in it.
***Special Thanks to tayryn for being my beta. YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!!!
Chapter 8 - Reflections
Laura sat pensively in front of the mirror as she brushed her hair out. Her hand seemed to have a death grip on the brush handle as she struggled with the barrage of feelings that battled within her. Her heart and her mind had been dueling it out ever since she’d left the store, leaving her feeling like a storm in a teacup.
As she studied her reflection it was hard to believe the face looking back was hers. There were fine lines around her mouth and creases around her eyes that only seemed to deepen with each passing day. While she knew that there were men who found her attractive, she’d never seen herself in that light. Except for when she’d been with Will.
She remembered the way he used to make her feel… special, desirable, and beautiful. A small tear slipped free and fell on the vanity as she recalled those weeks, months, and years following his death. The word lonely couldn’t come close to the hole that had been left in her soul.
Over time she had accepted the fact she’d never find another who would make her feel that way again… or so she’d thought.
Her thoughts drifted to the tall handsome stranger who’d suddenly taken center stage in her life. This man who’d awakened the woman in her in ways she hadn’t known in over half a decade.
Laura closed her eyes as she ran her tongue over her lips… still tingling from the feel of his mouth on hers. She drew a shaky breath and tilted her head back as her fingers traced the line he’d drawn along her neck with his lips.
“Charles.” She whispered.
She could feel the knot tighten in the pit of her stomach. Was it her gut instinct telling her to run? Or was it the nervous energy of a woman who felt slightly insecure and out of her element? She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
She expended so much energy on a daily basis just struggling to maintain control. For the past six years she’d fought to maintain the image of a confident and strong woman, one who couldn’t be intimated and wouldn’t back down from a fight.
A sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips as she thought. “If they only knew…” For only Laura knew that she was just barely hanging on by a thread. The last thing she needed was a distraction like the one she found in Charles Lattimer.
Her thoughts then drifted to that day by the river; and how one short afternoon had turned her entire world on its end.
He was the last person she’d expected to see, for the day before they’d said their ‘Goodbyes’ and through disappointed eyes she’d watch him walk away. He’d said he was leaving, that he most likely would not return. But there he was, sitting in her backyard, on a horse of all things.
He said there’d been train problems and that he wanted to talk to her… that he needed to explain some things.
They’d taken a walk down to the river. She’d talked about how they often would come down there on Sundays, lay out a blanket, and catch their supper. He’d talked about how his father used to take him fishing when he was a boy.
The river was low, only ankle deep in some places, so they’d taken off their shoes to feel the cold water on their feet.
Laura slipped and fell into the water, causing Charles to burst into laughter. Annoyed with his blatant amusement she’d pulled him in as well when he’d tried to help her up.
They’d run around splashing and squealing in the water like a couple of school children until their energy had run out.
Laura’s pulse quickened as she recalled how they had collapsed next to each other on the river bank… drenched, exhilarated, and out of breath.
===//===
Charles ran his hands through his waterlogged hair as Laura smiled in shy amusement at their shenanigans. She reached up to tuck away the tendrils of hair that had fallen loose as Charles brought his knees up to rest his arms against them.
As they came down from their adrenaline high a new rush settled into its place.
Her senses were heightened… making her suddenly aware of how close he was sitting…
“That was fun.” He murmured… his forehead nearly touching hers.
With hooded eyes Laura swallowed hard and leaned into him as he nuzzled her. His lips touched timorously to her cheek before quickly retreating as though he was unsure if there was line that shouldn’t be crossed. With bated breath she leaned into him again, hesitated then turned her face to his.
Charles brought his hand up to cradle her cheek as his lips found hers. A soft sigh escaped her throat as she snaked her hands around his neck and responded eagerly. Wrapping his arms around her he deepened their embrace causing her to whimper. Laura’s pulse raced as he gently laid her in the grass with his body pressed hard against her.
Almost as though he’d come to his senses, Charles suddenly broke the kiss and pulled away. “I’m sorry.” He said as he rolled onto his back. “I’m sorry.”
Laura hovered over him as she laid her hand on his chest. Charles looked up at her with regret in his eyes. “I shouldn’t do that.”
“I wanted you to,” she responded breathlessly. “Very much.”
“I am so lost.” He said.
“How do you mean?”
“I don’t know where I belong; I don’t know where I’m supposed to be.”
“Why can’t you be here?”
Charles looked to the sky and then shook his head. “Come on we should go.” He said, as he began to get up.
“No wait. No.” Laura said as she placed a hand on his chest, stopping him from getting up. “You’re doing it again.” She studied his face intently as she gently stroked his arm with her hand. In an effort to coax some answers from him she asked. “Why are you always leaving me only to come back?”
She could see the trouble and confusion in his eyes; could read the desperation on his face as she gently reached to cup his cheek in her hand.
Charles turned his head and planted a kiss to her palm before confessing, “I’m married.”
Laura quickly withdrew her hand as she instinctively straightened her posture. Her face bore a look of shock and dismay as though not sure she’d heard him correctly.
Almost as though he could read her mind, his next words removed all doubt. “I am, Laura.”
She sat back, putting more distance between them as her face took on the look of total disbelief.
Laura opened her mouth, but no words would come. She closed her eyes as the reality of what he’d said set in. “No.” It was a desperate whisper. “No.”
“It’s so much more complicated than you can even imagine.” he added.
“That’s what you’ve been trying to tell me.” She said. “Oh!” She added in a sad lament.
“I didn’t mean for it to go this far.” He offered, almost by way of an apology.
The hurt and confusion on her face was clear. “How far did you mean for it to go?”
Charles said nothing as she added. “You came here with such purity and goodness… and I opened my heart to you… and so did Mary.”
Laura looked away as a sob escaped her lips. Anguish and uncertainty were etched deep in the expression on her face.
Desperation crept into his voice as he tried to explain, “Listen to me! My life is not right there. It doesn’t fit. I was searching and somehow I found this place and I found you.” On the fringe of tears, Laura listened as he pleaded his case. “For the first time in my life I felt at peace inside. Like I belonged.”
She could feel herself being drawn to him… feel her resolve begin to melt away as he continued. “I … knew you before I even met you.”
He reached up to take her face in his hands. The sudden feel of his touch snapped her back to reality, causing her to quickly pull away.
“No. No no no….” She scurried to gather her things as she got to her feet. “No, don’t. Go back home!” She cried. “…Go back to your wife.”
Charles hung his head in despair as she slowly began to walk away. Laura took a few steps and turned around. “And do me a favor…” she added through her tears. “The next time your train stops in Somerville. Do me the decency to STAY ON IT!”
She turned and ran from him as quickly as she could. It took all she had not to look back.
===//===
Laura could feel the sting of her tears threatening to erupt as the memories of that afternoon converged on her.
Confusion clouded her mind as she asked the same questions she’d been asking since his arrival. “If he was married why was this man still here? Why was this man still trying to win her over? Why, why, why….”
The only thing she knew for certain was that she would find be no peace until they finally laid all the cards on the table.
“***************************************************************************
“***************************************************************************
As the doctor finally left his hotel room, Charles heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Fourteen stitches, two broken ribs, and what the doctor believed to be a bruised kidney… that was the total extent of his injuries. Not good, but it certainly could have been worse.
Even though it hurt to do so, a small smile crept across his lips as he recalled the moment he’d shared with Laura. If he closed his eyes he could still smell the sweet scent of her hair… could still feel her tremble under his hands as he held her. He deduced that it was all worth it.
Charles reached for the leather satchel on his nightstand and carefully opened it. Inside was a smaller pouch where he kept his one and only memory of his other life. As he held it in his hands, his thoughts drifted back to the last day he’d spent with Kristen. He smiled at the memory of how she’d been so understanding, how she’d been so…. well… so Kris.
It saddened him to know he’d never see her again. While their marriage had come to an end, it wasn’t like the way they’d seen other marriages dissolve. They’d simply come to an understanding, admitted that they no longer wanted the same things from life, and with heavy hearts had agreed that it was over. One could say the way it ended was beautiful. He’d told her about Laura and explained why he had to return to Somerville. She’d wished him the best before gently kissing him and then leaving for her sister’s.
Charles touched the photo as though he was trying to caress her face. It had been taken the day they’d gotten the keys to their new house. They looked so happy, so excited… so full of hope, expectations, and promise. In a way he guessed he’d always love her… he just wasn’t in love with her and hadn’t been for a quite some time.
“What do I tell her Kris?” he asked the face that was smiling back at him. “I know you’d say that the only option is the truth… but I’m not so sure about that.”
Chapter 7 <> Chapter 9
Previous Chapters
by Frakkin_Eh
Rating: K for now....
*** I AM POSTING CHAPTERS 8 AND 9 AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY SORT OF GO TOGETHER... well I guess the whole story goes together LOL... THEY WERE ORIGINALLY WRITTEN AS ONE BIG CHAPTER BUT I DECIDED TO BREAK THEM UP. ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BEEN POSTED BACK TO BACK... Don't miss chapter 8 and skip to chapter 9.. that's just cheating
Authors notes: This story is a sequel of sorts to the Movie 'For All time' starring Mark Harmon and Mary McDonnell. It picks up in the second to last scene in the movie. If you have not seen the movie you should be able to follow the story anyway as I hope (fingers crossed on that one) that I've provided enough information in the story about what happened prior to the timeline the story takes place in. You should watch the movie though, for no other reason than it's a wonderful little movie and .. well, Mary's in it.
***Special Thanks to tayryn for being my beta. YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!!!
Chapter 8 - Reflections
Laura sat pensively in front of the mirror as she brushed her hair out. Her hand seemed to have a death grip on the brush handle as she struggled with the barrage of feelings that battled within her. Her heart and her mind had been dueling it out ever since she’d left the store, leaving her feeling like a storm in a teacup.
As she studied her reflection it was hard to believe the face looking back was hers. There were fine lines around her mouth and creases around her eyes that only seemed to deepen with each passing day. While she knew that there were men who found her attractive, she’d never seen herself in that light. Except for when she’d been with Will.
She remembered the way he used to make her feel… special, desirable, and beautiful. A small tear slipped free and fell on the vanity as she recalled those weeks, months, and years following his death. The word lonely couldn’t come close to the hole that had been left in her soul.
Over time she had accepted the fact she’d never find another who would make her feel that way again… or so she’d thought.
Her thoughts drifted to the tall handsome stranger who’d suddenly taken center stage in her life. This man who’d awakened the woman in her in ways she hadn’t known in over half a decade.
Laura closed her eyes as she ran her tongue over her lips… still tingling from the feel of his mouth on hers. She drew a shaky breath and tilted her head back as her fingers traced the line he’d drawn along her neck with his lips.
“Charles.” She whispered.
She could feel the knot tighten in the pit of her stomach. Was it her gut instinct telling her to run? Or was it the nervous energy of a woman who felt slightly insecure and out of her element? She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
She expended so much energy on a daily basis just struggling to maintain control. For the past six years she’d fought to maintain the image of a confident and strong woman, one who couldn’t be intimated and wouldn’t back down from a fight.
A sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips as she thought. “If they only knew…” For only Laura knew that she was just barely hanging on by a thread. The last thing she needed was a distraction like the one she found in Charles Lattimer.
Her thoughts then drifted to that day by the river; and how one short afternoon had turned her entire world on its end.
He was the last person she’d expected to see, for the day before they’d said their ‘Goodbyes’ and through disappointed eyes she’d watch him walk away. He’d said he was leaving, that he most likely would not return. But there he was, sitting in her backyard, on a horse of all things.
He said there’d been train problems and that he wanted to talk to her… that he needed to explain some things.
They’d taken a walk down to the river. She’d talked about how they often would come down there on Sundays, lay out a blanket, and catch their supper. He’d talked about how his father used to take him fishing when he was a boy.
The river was low, only ankle deep in some places, so they’d taken off their shoes to feel the cold water on their feet.
Laura slipped and fell into the water, causing Charles to burst into laughter. Annoyed with his blatant amusement she’d pulled him in as well when he’d tried to help her up.
They’d run around splashing and squealing in the water like a couple of school children until their energy had run out.
Laura’s pulse quickened as she recalled how they had collapsed next to each other on the river bank… drenched, exhilarated, and out of breath.
===//===
Charles ran his hands through his waterlogged hair as Laura smiled in shy amusement at their shenanigans. She reached up to tuck away the tendrils of hair that had fallen loose as Charles brought his knees up to rest his arms against them.
As they came down from their adrenaline high a new rush settled into its place.
Her senses were heightened… making her suddenly aware of how close he was sitting…
“That was fun.” He murmured… his forehead nearly touching hers.
With hooded eyes Laura swallowed hard and leaned into him as he nuzzled her. His lips touched timorously to her cheek before quickly retreating as though he was unsure if there was line that shouldn’t be crossed. With bated breath she leaned into him again, hesitated then turned her face to his.
Charles brought his hand up to cradle her cheek as his lips found hers. A soft sigh escaped her throat as she snaked her hands around his neck and responded eagerly. Wrapping his arms around her he deepened their embrace causing her to whimper. Laura’s pulse raced as he gently laid her in the grass with his body pressed hard against her.
Almost as though he’d come to his senses, Charles suddenly broke the kiss and pulled away. “I’m sorry.” He said as he rolled onto his back. “I’m sorry.”
Laura hovered over him as she laid her hand on his chest. Charles looked up at her with regret in his eyes. “I shouldn’t do that.”
“I wanted you to,” she responded breathlessly. “Very much.”
“I am so lost.” He said.
“How do you mean?”
“I don’t know where I belong; I don’t know where I’m supposed to be.”
“Why can’t you be here?”
Charles looked to the sky and then shook his head. “Come on we should go.” He said, as he began to get up.
“No wait. No.” Laura said as she placed a hand on his chest, stopping him from getting up. “You’re doing it again.” She studied his face intently as she gently stroked his arm with her hand. In an effort to coax some answers from him she asked. “Why are you always leaving me only to come back?”
She could see the trouble and confusion in his eyes; could read the desperation on his face as she gently reached to cup his cheek in her hand.
Charles turned his head and planted a kiss to her palm before confessing, “I’m married.”
Laura quickly withdrew her hand as she instinctively straightened her posture. Her face bore a look of shock and dismay as though not sure she’d heard him correctly.
Almost as though he could read her mind, his next words removed all doubt. “I am, Laura.”
She sat back, putting more distance between them as her face took on the look of total disbelief.
Laura opened her mouth, but no words would come. She closed her eyes as the reality of what he’d said set in. “No.” It was a desperate whisper. “No.”
“It’s so much more complicated than you can even imagine.” he added.
“That’s what you’ve been trying to tell me.” She said. “Oh!” She added in a sad lament.
“I didn’t mean for it to go this far.” He offered, almost by way of an apology.
The hurt and confusion on her face was clear. “How far did you mean for it to go?”
Charles said nothing as she added. “You came here with such purity and goodness… and I opened my heart to you… and so did Mary.”
Laura looked away as a sob escaped her lips. Anguish and uncertainty were etched deep in the expression on her face.
Desperation crept into his voice as he tried to explain, “Listen to me! My life is not right there. It doesn’t fit. I was searching and somehow I found this place and I found you.” On the fringe of tears, Laura listened as he pleaded his case. “For the first time in my life I felt at peace inside. Like I belonged.”
She could feel herself being drawn to him… feel her resolve begin to melt away as he continued. “I … knew you before I even met you.”
He reached up to take her face in his hands. The sudden feel of his touch snapped her back to reality, causing her to quickly pull away.
“No. No no no….” She scurried to gather her things as she got to her feet. “No, don’t. Go back home!” She cried. “…Go back to your wife.”
Charles hung his head in despair as she slowly began to walk away. Laura took a few steps and turned around. “And do me a favor…” she added through her tears. “The next time your train stops in Somerville. Do me the decency to STAY ON IT!”
She turned and ran from him as quickly as she could. It took all she had not to look back.
===//===
Laura could feel the sting of her tears threatening to erupt as the memories of that afternoon converged on her.
Confusion clouded her mind as she asked the same questions she’d been asking since his arrival. “If he was married why was this man still here? Why was this man still trying to win her over? Why, why, why….”
The only thing she knew for certain was that she would find be no peace until they finally laid all the cards on the table.
“***************************************************************************
“***************************************************************************
As the doctor finally left his hotel room, Charles heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Fourteen stitches, two broken ribs, and what the doctor believed to be a bruised kidney… that was the total extent of his injuries. Not good, but it certainly could have been worse.
Even though it hurt to do so, a small smile crept across his lips as he recalled the moment he’d shared with Laura. If he closed his eyes he could still smell the sweet scent of her hair… could still feel her tremble under his hands as he held her. He deduced that it was all worth it.
Charles reached for the leather satchel on his nightstand and carefully opened it. Inside was a smaller pouch where he kept his one and only memory of his other life. As he held it in his hands, his thoughts drifted back to the last day he’d spent with Kristen. He smiled at the memory of how she’d been so understanding, how she’d been so…. well… so Kris.
It saddened him to know he’d never see her again. While their marriage had come to an end, it wasn’t like the way they’d seen other marriages dissolve. They’d simply come to an understanding, admitted that they no longer wanted the same things from life, and with heavy hearts had agreed that it was over. One could say the way it ended was beautiful. He’d told her about Laura and explained why he had to return to Somerville. She’d wished him the best before gently kissing him and then leaving for her sister’s.
Charles touched the photo as though he was trying to caress her face. It had been taken the day they’d gotten the keys to their new house. They looked so happy, so excited… so full of hope, expectations, and promise. In a way he guessed he’d always love her… he just wasn’t in love with her and hadn’t been for a quite some time.
“What do I tell her Kris?” he asked the face that was smiling back at him. “I know you’d say that the only option is the truth… but I’m not so sure about that.”
Chapter 7 <> Chapter 9
Previous Chapters