Days Gone By

"Once when you were mine..."

I was jolted from a pleasant memory when I heard the salty old man say, "Well, boy, I suppose I was wrong about you, and I'm man enough to admit it."

He set a bourbon on the table before me and invited himself to join me.

"Sir, you weren't wrong at all," I told the father of the only woman I ever loved. "I just grew up."

He smiled and said, "The Corps will do that to a young buck--whether he likes it or not."

He tossed back his whiskey which only made the gristle in his voice more prominent. He was already a gruff Clint Eastwood wanna-be old man, who wore the same high and tight haircut as he did when he was a Marine. In his retirement years, his entire demeanor screamed, 'get off my lawn.'

"Have you spoken to her yet?" He asked softly. Barely audible over the DJ's music blaring.

"No, sir. I wasn't sure if I should. It's been so long."

He chuckled.

"Son, I highly suggest you do before Bev realizes you're here and didn't."

We were at the wedding of my cousin's son and Bev's cousin's daughter. It was pure coincidence that they met and fell in love--I had no idea who Mark was marrying until my aunt begged me to attend if I could get away.

Little Mark, it seemed, idolized me for some god-forsaken reason. I suspect it was due to his mother, my cousin Belle, regaling him with embellished stories of my worldly travels as a Marine.

Once more, I looked out at the dance floor and saw Bev dancing with a young child. She had a few more miles in her eyes than she had when I last saw her twenty-five years before, yet she was as beautiful as ever.

He put his hand on my shoulder, as a father would to his son, and said, "Talk to her, Ash. She still talks about you, and if I could speak freely, Colonel, she hated me for a long time for splitting you two up."

His use of my rank shook me, but I defended him, "You were only looking out for her, Sir," and he was. I wasn't a good kid.

But the truth of the matter was, I hated him for it as much as I came to respect him for it. I only joined the Marines to show him he was wrong about me.

Looking back, I knew he wasn't. If I were her father, I wouldn't have let me date her either.

*****

When I was barely eighteen, I met Beverly Carter at our town's little ice cream parlor.

I thought I was a bad ass rock star with my long hair, leather jacket, black skinny jeans, and Doc Martin's.

I never met her at school because I'd already dropped out.

The first time I saw her eyes I was a goner. They oozed happiness and love, and compared to my dark edges, she was all the light in the heavens.

"Hey, babe," I said with all the false bravado I could muster. "Wanna take a ride on my Harley?"

I only had a Harley because I'd stolen it from some accountant who didn't deserve it. I never did get caught for that.

She looked up, smiled brightly, and said, "Okay."

After that, we were inseparable.

For six months, we lived wildly, loved passionately, and it all crashed down with one lapse of concentration.

*****

I stood up from the table as the bride and groom came around.

"We're so glad you made it, Uncle Ash," Marky said as we hugged.

"I'm glad as well, kiddo. It's a great party and was a beautiful ceremony."

He introduced me to his bride, and we exchanged small talk before they were dragged away for a picture.

Before I sat, I saw Bev looking at me from ten long feet away. The child holding a plate from the sweets table was antsy to sit anywhere to eat her treats and eyed the chair next to me.

I smiled and pulled it out for the young lass, and she bolted for it like it was going to disappear.

"Ellie..." Bev called out much too late.

I pushed the chair in as Ellie bit into the first brownie.

"Please, Bev. Join us," I said with a bit of frog in my throat.

"Is that really you, Ash?" She asked nervously.

"In the flesh. Please," I said as I held the chair next to the child for her.

"I can't believe you're here," she said as she sat in the proffered chair.

"You're as beautiful as the last time I saw you," I managed to say as I sat in the empty chair beside her.

I hoped my cousin Andy and his wife stayed on the dance floor so I could have her company for a few lifetimes. I would have preferred them not to want their seats back.

She smiled and shrugged, "Stop joking. I got old."

I laughed and countered, "You're younger than me, Bev, and I'm not old yet."

Ellie giggled and said, "Grammy says she's not getting old, just older."

"I like the way your Grammy thinks, little lady."

Bev looked at her and I saw pride in her expressive, yet tired eyes.

"I'm her Grammy, Ash."

"Oh?" I asked, stunned.

She nodded.

"I'm five and a half," Ellie said as if she heard my unasked question.

"And you're absolutely adorable," I answered, as I picked up a bottle of wine. "May I?"

Bev nodded and accepted when I handed her a glass of the surprisingly good red.

"So," I stuttered, "how are you?"

Bev frowned almost imperceptibly and said, "Living." If I hadn't known her so well, she'd have gotten away with her attempt to hide the emotion behind that word.

She looked at Ellie, who took a messy bite of a mini eclair, and wiped her cheek.

"I'd ask about you, but you've become a legend around here," she said without looking at me.

"God, I hope not," I groaned.

"Oh, please. My father almost had a stroke when you were awarded the Medal of Honor."

She smiled and continued, "He spent days trying to find out all he could about your career after that. I almost thought he felt bad about... well, you know."

"Kicking my ass and telling me to never see you again?"

"Yeah, that," she said.

*****

After I woke up in the hospital, all I could think about was Bev. How she wasn't hurt more than scrapes and bruises, I'll never understand.

A stupid dog darting in front of us while we were out for a ride, and my not seeing him until it was too late, almost killed us. Bev was lucky.

After I was released from the hospital, I didn't see the man as I walked up to my shack of a home. I was on the ground with him screaming at me in seconds. Every time I tried to stand he kicked me.

"If you ever speak to my daughter again, they'll never find your punk ass body!" He yelled. "You hear me, scum bag?"

I slithered away, begging for him to stop kicking me.

"She deserves better than a dropout loser jackass like you!"

He spat at me and walked away.

I sat on the dead grass and cried.

*****

"Can I have some juice, Grammy?"

Ellie's voice brought me out of my memory as Bev excused herself to get the juice.

"Is your mommy here?" I asked the child.

She shook her head making her curls bounce wildly.

"My mommy's an angel in heaven."

"Oh," I mumbled.

I looked around but for what I didn't know, and thankfully, Bev returned.

"Be careful not to spill on your pretty dress," she warned as Ellie drank the orange juice.

"How long are you in town for?" Bev asked after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Just the weekend, but my retirement is final next month. I thought I might move back here."

"Retirement?" She gasped. "You're so young."

"Yeah, but I gave Uncle Sam twenty-five years of my life. It may just be a mid-life crisis, but a little while back, I realized I have nothing outside of Marine life. No immediate family, no planted roots. I'm tired of being alone."

"No family?" She repeated. "You never married?"

I sat back and sipped my wine, wondering what I should say.

"Nope. Never really came close either. After... well, I just never found the right girl."

The fact was I couldn't and never got over her. No woman I met since came close to bringing out similar feelings to what I felt for Bev.

"Grammy, I'm tired."

I chuckled, "That must be the first time a child with desserts and juice ever said they were tired."

"Oh, Ellie loves her sleep. Don't you, love bug?"

Ellie nodded while yawning.

"Are you staying at the hotel?" I asked.

"No. I can't afford it. We're staying with dad."

"Your dad lives near here? I assumed he would've stayed in our old town."

"Oh, he did. He's in the same house. He'll never leave his castle."

"Bev, that's a ninety-minute drive. You can't make that trip with her after drinking."

"I'm fine, Ash. I've only had two glasses."

"Still, I can't let you make that drive this late. Hang on. Don't leave before I return."

Before she could argue, I rushed out of the ballroom and into the lobby. I handed the night clerk my credit card and asked for another room.

"We only have a suite available, Sir. If you'd like..."

"That's fine. Get all my info from the computer there and have someone bring the key to me in the ballroom."

I spun and left before he could argue. I was never one to be slowed down, and after so many years of leading Marines around the world, I was used to getting my way.

I saw Bev holding a tired-eyed Ellie and wondered what the story behind her life was, and would she even tell me.

"Okay, all settled," I said as I sat.

"What's settled? What did you do, Ashton Martin?"

"Whoa! Only my mother used my full name like that when I was in trouble. You don't look like my dearly deceased mother."

"Ash!"

I sighed, and just then the clerk approached.

"Here you are, Sir. All set."

"Thank you," I said with a smile and took the key card. It was unnecessary. The hotel had an app which would unlock the door when I held my phone near the lock. I suppose it gives some folks peace of mind to have the key anyway.

"You didn't?" Bev groaned.

"I won't have you driving that far, in this weather, at this time of night."

It didn't dawn on her that it was a clear fall night, but I had to think quickly, and it was the best I could come up with.

I set the small envelope on the table and said, "Please, Bev. For old time's sake. Humor me."

"Where will you sleep," she asked with a faint smile.

"Oh, I'm in my own room. That's a key for your own room. You and the munchkin will have your own beds. It's a suite, so see if you can get your father to crash with you."

"A suite? Ash, what are you doing?"

"Helping an ex-girlfriend. Promise me one thing?"

She looked with an exasperated glare.

"Have breakfast with me."

"Ash, we can't..."

"Of course you can. I had the breakfast buffet this morning. It was very good."

It had better have been good for the thirty bucks it cost me.

"Ash, we don't even have pajamas."

I laughed and shrugged, "Hmm, now that's I visual I'm looking forward to falling asleep to."

She rolled her eyes and finally acquiesced.

"Thank you," she whispered.

I touched her arm and asked, "Do you need help getting her up to bed?"

"No, I'll have dad help. Thank you again, Ash, and thank you for not asking about Ellie's mother. It's not something I like talking about."

"It was great to see you again, Bev. Don't forget about breakfast."

She kissed my cheek and walked off towards her father. I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the love of my life after I went away.

*****Bev

"You seem pretty happy, sugar," my dad said after we got Ellie into bed.

I don't know if I was happy, but I was definitely in a good mood. Seeing Ash after all these years did my heart good.

"It's just the wine, Dad," I said and put my tired feet up onto the coffee table. I was suddenly glad I didn't have to drive home in the uncomfortable heels I wore. I never could drive barefoot.

"Wine, my ass," he argued, then twisted the cap off a bottle of bourbon from the mini bar.

"Dad, don't take advantage of Ash like that."

He coughed a laugh and said, "Sugar, the man can afford a bottle of hooch for me. Don't you worry."

He didn't bother using a glass, swigging straight from the bottle.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, thinking of Ash and how handsome he was that night.

"You're smiling again," he teased.

I didn't respond. I just wished I'd had a chance to dance with Ashton. What it would've felt like to be in his arms again--if only for a moment--it would fuel my dreams forever.

"I told him I was wrong about him. I think he appreciated that," Dad said.

"That's nice," I groaned. Then I shouted, "Twenty-five years of a wasted life too late!"

I stood and rushed to the bedroom where my little angel slept.

What would have happened if my over-bearing father would've just stayed out of it?

Would I have had a nice life? It would have been better than the shitty one I had, almost certainly.

*****Ashton

After showering and dressing, I realized I never exchanged numbers with Bev. Of course, I knew which room she was in, but I also wondered if it was too early to call her at 6:15.

My concern was needless, as my room's phone rang as I was pondering making a second cup of coffee.

"Hello," I answered hoping it was Bev.

"Mornin', Colonel," Mister Carter loudly said. "My damned daughter was afraid to call on you this early. Can you believe that shit? Like a Marine wouldn't be up and at 'em by now."

I laughed.

"You know it, Sir. My three S's are done and I'm about to have a second cup of coffee."

"Good man. Look, I can't stay for breakfast, but I appreciate the offer and for you springing for the room like that."

I heard muffled conversation, and he sighed heavily.

"And I helped myself to the mini bar. There! Ya happy now?"

I knew he was talking to Bev. She must've made him tell me about it. I laughed again.

"It's fine, Sir. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Anyways, thanks again. Since I got to be getting home, and Bev wants to have breakfast with ya, would you mind driving her home?"

"Of course, Sir. She's in good hands."

Twenty-five years earlier, he'd have laughed at that statement.

"I know she is, Colonel. Semper Fi."

"Oorah!"

I heard rustling, then Bev said, "Good morning, Ash. I'm sorry about calling so early, but Dad told me you'd be up."

"It's fine. I've been up for a while."

"Good. We're early risers and Ellie's hungry. I was hoping you were ready for breakfast."

"Absolutely. How about I meet you in the lobby whenever you're ready?"

"Okay. We'll head down now."

*****Bev

"Told ya, didn't I?"

"Yes, Dad. You're always right."

I rolled my eyes as I slid on my uncomfortable heels. Why couldn't I have thought about bringing along a pair of sandals?

"That man didn't get where he is chasing the Sun, sugar. The Sun chases his ass."

"You'll be okay, driving alone?" I asked, ignoring his newfound love of Ash.

He groaned.

"Yes, damn it. I'll see you later."

He never told me why he had to leave so early. It occurred to me he may have been giving me extra time with Ash.

"Is Mister Ash a nice man, Grammy?"

I took Ellie's hand and said, "He used to be. I'm sure he's still nice. Why?"

She shrugged.

"You said my daddy's a bad man. Pop Pop's a nice man. I hope Mister Ash is nice too."

"He was nice enough to rent us the room, be sure and thank him for breakfast too. Mind your manners."

She nodded and we walked towards the elevators.

"I wanna push the button," she begged.

"Sure, honey. Push the bottom one."

"It lights," she said with cute astonishment.

"It sure does."

The doors opened and she started pressing all the buttons.

"Oh, sweetie, no. We just need the L button pushed."

"I pushed them all," she smiled.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the wall.

An eternity later, the doors opened on the correct floor, and Ash was waiting.

"Sorry," I begged. "She pushed all the buttons."

He laughed and got down on a knee.

"Was it fun?" He asked her.

She nodded shyly.

"Good. Are you hungry? They have pancakes and sausage and bacon and liver."

"Liver!" She squealed. "I want pancakes."

"Then pancakes you shall have m'lady," he said with an overly affected British accent. He reached out for her hand and to my surprise, she took it.

She was always too shy, well, that was my father's opinion. I thought she was just a little introverted. Seeing her so open and accepting of Ash was heartwarming.

I watched him walk casually in front of me and couldn't help but notice the way his back muscles filled out the plain black t-shirt he wore.

He carried himself so differently than he had when we were younger. His confidence was real and not the show he put on when he was barely a man. It was panty-melting.

When we stepped up to the cashier, he said, "Two adults and a teenager."

Ellie giggled and said, "I'm not a teenager."

"But you're five and a half," he said with mock shock. "That's not a teenager?"

Ellie kept giggling as he paid for the meal. The cashier gave me a knowing smile as we passed. I wish he were mine too, I thought with a sigh.

"So, what do you do for a living?" He asked as he set his coffee down.

We'd been to the buffet line twice with him getting just fruit and bacon each time. I thought it was odd, yet he made it seem so normal.

I stuttered, "I, um, work the night shift at the Casey's in town."

"Nights, huh? Must be tiring."

"Sometimes," I answered. "It frees my days to watch Ellie. Dad watches her in the mornings while I get some sleep."

"She's adorable," he said which made Ellie smile at him with her chipmunked cheeks full of pancakes.

"How about you, Ash? What are your retirement plans?"

"Good question. I can't see myself sitting around, so I'll have to find some kind of job."

"Won't you get a pension?"

He nodded.

"Yeah, and I'm taking a tremendous hit to it by retiring now. I was flat out told I was an idiot, but I'm feeling restless. I'll be okay, don't get me wrong. It's just not nearly what it would be in say, ten more years."

"Dad said you were set for life when you won the Medal of Honor."

"Not really. It helped me get ahead and another promotion or two, that's for sure. It also added another retirement income stream, but it didn't make me a millionaire."

He chuckled and took a sip of milk.

He looked so good, an improved version of the boy I fell in love with. I wondered if he still had any feelings left for me after all these years.

"So, a grandma, that's interesting," he asked without asking.

"I'll tell you about it later. Little ears."

"Grammy says 'little ears' when she doesn't want to say stuff in front of me."

He laughed and said," Ellie, you're very smart aren't you?"

"Uh, huh," she agreed. "I can read books with no pictures, but picture books are better."

"They sure are, sweetie," he agreed.

*****Ash.

We were making small talk as if we never lost touch.

The entire trip home was seamless conversation just catching up, but I felt some underlying tension. As if Bev was uncomfortable around me.

Whether she knew it or not, she was pulling at the scab that covered my heart. I felt like that young idiot who crashed his stolen motorcycle.

"How did you never get busted after that accident?" She asked.

I laughed, "You know, I still don't know for sure. My best guess is my boss pulled some strings. I always thought he had some boys in blue on the payroll."

"I guess working for the area's closest thing to a mob paid dividends for you."

"Yeah, Tony said he was sorry to see me go into the Marines."

"Can you do that again?" She asked.

"What? Take apart stolen cars for Tony Mo? I think that all shut down when he died a dozen years ago."

I laughed.

"I meant be a mechanic, silly."

"I was never a mechanic, babe. I just took 'em apart."

I saw her smile out of the corner of my eye. I hadn't realized I called her babe just as I did so many years ago.

She said, "Well, whatever you decide, I do hope you come back home."

She turned to look out the window. I smiled and patted her thigh.

"Why's that?" I asked, teasingly.

"It's where what's left of your family is."

"There's that," I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe, I'll go to Hawaii and lay on the beach for a year or so."

"Hawaii's expensive. You'd blow through your money in no time."

"You sound like you really want me back home," I teased.

I saw her shrug, then she asked, "Did you ever think about me? Did you wonder 'what if?'"

"Yeah. I even looked you up after a couple of years, but you'd left town by then. People said you ran off and got married."

"I ran off not too long after you left."

"Really?" I asked. "Why?"

"I couldn't take it anymore. Having to be the goody two shoes daughter of the Gunny. I was never perfect enough for him. I had to escape."

"And you ended up pregnant?"

She looked at the back seat and saw Ellie was asleep.

"Yeah. I found a weak imitation of you and got stupid. Man! He promised me the world and gave me a handful of shit."

"But you got a family out of it."

She let out a gruff harrumph.

"My daughter hated me. She got pregnant at sixteen, left Ellie, and ran off with her piece of garbage boyfriend. She died from an overdose a year later."

"Jesus," I whispered.

"Yeah. Some family. By that point Johnny was already gone, God knows where, and I lost it. Thank heavens dad took me back in. At least Ellie isn't growing up in the same crappy conditions as her mother."

"I'm sorry, Bev. I had no idea."

I felt like crap. She suffered all those years as I succeeded. If I'd have known...

"Yeah? Well, now you know. I'm damaged goods."

"Damaged? What do you mean?"

"Come on, Ash. I've become the trash my father was so worried about. I'm over forty with a dead drug addict child, a granddaughter I can barely raise, and I'm living back at home. I'm a real prize, huh?"

"Bev, don't think like that."

She was silently crying as she stared out the window.

"Bev, did you ever think about me?"

"Only every night when I fell asleep."

***Bev***

Well, I gave him my whole screwed up story. I was thankful we were in the car so he couldn't run off. I thought I was so stupid.

I could've eased him into it, but I just blurted it all out. How pathetic.

When we pulled up at my dad's, Ash walked us to the door.

"Bev, would you please look at me for a moment?"

I was still crying and couldn't bear looking at him. Ellie bounced off and into the house as I stood on the porch with Ash.

"Ash, just go back to your life. It was nice to see you, it really was, but..."

He turned me, grabbed my cheeks with his large hands, and kissed me like it would be the last kiss he ever gave. It about knocked me out of my heels.

"Whoa," I whispered when we separated.

"Bev, I'd like to call on you after I get out. Do you think I could?"

I was speechless. I couldn't answer, but then from behind me my father said, "Sure can, Colonel. She'll be here when you come back."

Ash laughed and said, "Thank you, Sir. Bev, do you think I could get your phone number?"

I threw myself at him and sobbed. He hugged me tightly, and I felt safe in his arms like I'd never felt before. I wondered if we could really have a second chance.

*****Ash*****

I dropped my bag onto the motel's bed and looked in the mirror.

There were a few more lines on my face but my hair was still black. Well, mostly. The sight of me in a black t-shirt and blue jeans wasn't what it was twenty-five years earlier, but I still looked good.

I sighed and sat, thinking, "You've really done it, Jarhead."

I was out. Done with Marine life. I knew I wasn't done with the code though. Honor, courage, and commitment. I would live that way as a civilian with a good moral character. It's all I knew and was so different for me than when I went in.

I just had no idea what I was going to do.

I could live okay off of my half pension and the Medal of Honor pension, but I'd be bored out of my mind. Hell, I'd probably turn into some kind of neighborhood watch vigilante if I wasn't careful. I've seen too many movies, I know, but I could be the Charles Bronson of my hometown.

I had a line on a job in management at the local grocery store chain if I wanted. A friend I caught up with at the wedding was a higher up in corporate and said they'd love to have me come on board. My only roadblock was the retail hours. At least it was something.

It had been almost two months since I'd seen Bev, but we spoke a few times on the phone. She was too hung up on our stations in life being different and was trying to shut me out. I wasn't having any of it.

I didn't care about her rough years. She had a shitty life, I got that, but why couldn't I help change that for her? Hell, since the wedding, I couldn't think of anything else.

It was after ten at night, and I knew she worked the night shift, so I decided to pop in and surprise her. The parking lot and pumps were empty, so it seemed like a good time.

"Hi, welcome to... oh, my God, Ash!"

She hurried around the counter and hugged me. I gladly accepted her into my arms and luxuriated in the feel of her pressed against me.

"How are you, babe?" I asked.

"I'm as good as can be expected. Are you back for good?"

"Yeah. I figure I'll go house hunting tomorrow. I think Dana Baylor is still a realtor in town, right?"

I knew that would raise her hackles.

"Dana Baylor!" she shrieked. "Don't you dare. Go see Mike Jackson."

I laughed, "Still don't like Dana after all these years?"

"She wanted you back then and she'll be no different now. She's on husband number four, mind you. Just stay away from that hussy."

"Ooh, you're jealous. I just got back home and you're already fighting off other women. I'm touched."

"You better not be touched, mister."

I gave her a final squeeze and pulled away.

"So, am I to assume you're receptive to reconnecting with me now? I mean, you've been trying to push me away."

She pursed her lips and said, "You don't know how bad I want to pick up where we left off all those years ago, Ash. It's just, we're different people now. Can it work like it did?"

"Hell, I don't know. I'm not asking you to marry me, babe. How about we just spend some time together and see how it feels? What could it hurt?"

She picked up her towel and started wiping off the counter.

"Don't forget, I have Ellie now," she said with her back to me.

"So? Do you think that changes anything?"

She turned and said, "It changes everything. She's my world, Ash."

"I know that, Bev. I wouldn't expect anything else. I'm fine with her being in the picture."

"So, you're the fatherly type now? The Ash I remember didn't want kids holding him down."

"The Ash you remember had a lot of stupid opinions. I guess I figure I'm still young enough to have a family."

"What if I can't give you a child?" She asked in almost a whisper.

"Come on, Bev. I've already told you I'm not expecting you to. Can't we just start with a cup of coffee or something?"

I smiled, trying to take the edge off her. She was trying again to talk me out of seeing her. I just didn't understand it.

"How about you come over at seven tomorrow morning? I'll have had time to get home and shower before putting a fresh pot on."

"You won't go to sleep when you get home?"

I wondered how it worked when one worked nigh. Do they sleep after work or before?

"No. I'm off tomorrow night, so I'll stay up and then go to sleep when I put Ellie to bed."

"Okay, I'll bring some breakfast over. Still like French toast?"

She giggled.

"Yeah, but you'd better make it a veggie omelet. I try to eat as healthily as I can nowadays. It's harder to keep my weight down than it used to be."

"Don't I know it," I answered with a smile. "Veggie omelet with wheat toast and fruit instead of hash browns?"

"Sounds good," she said before a customer came in.

"I'll get going then and see you in the morning."

She smiled and I was struck by a flashback of the first time I saw her all those years ago.

Once when you were mine, indeed.

*****Bev*****

I had just gotten out of the shower and was getting dressed when I heard my dad yell, "I'm coming! Hold your horses."

Ellie giggled as she sat on my small twin bed. She had her own twin bed on the other side of the room but loved to sit on mine. She said it was bouncier.

"I think someone's at the door, Grammy."

"You think?" I teased. "You sure Pop Pop's not talking to himself?"

She shook her head negatively and bounced down.

Before she opened the door, she looked at me expectantly.

"Go ahead, sweetie. It's just Mister Ash coming over for breakfast."

She bounced out of the room, and I realized I forgot to tell Ash to bring her something too. I shook my head and figured I'd just whip her up some eggs. She certainly wouldn't eat mine with vegetables in them.

I looked at myself one final time in the mirror and sighed.

My hair was dull and lifeless, so I'd pulled it back into a ponytail. My clothes were clean but threadbare. I didn't bother with makeup, if he didn't like plain me, covering her up wouldn't do any good anyway. I just hoped for the best.

"Hey," I said as I walked into the small dining room.

"Morning," he said as he stood.

Dad didn't bother to get up. He was shoveling biscuits and gravy into his mouth like it was his last meal.

"Look, Grammy! Mister Ash brought pancakes."

"I see that. Did you say thank you, little miss?"

She nodded yes as Ash stepped towards me for a hug.

"She has excellent manners," he said. "She wanted to wait for you, but I told her to eat up before the whipped cream melted away."

I saw the can of Ready Whip and smirked.

"Yeah, that whole can could've gone to waste."

He kissed my cheek and broke the hug.

"Sit and eat before your eggs get cold. Your dad brought the coffee out for us."

Dad grunted and shoved a piece of bacon into his mouth.

The conversation was light, and I found myself smiling as Ash interacted with Ellie. He kept her involved in our conversation by asking her questions about things which interested a child. I was so engrossed, I hadn't noticed my father slip away.

"So," Ash said after a brief lull, "could I convince you ladies to go to the zoo with me today? It's a beautiful day and..."

That was as far as he got before Ellie started squealing. For the next five minutes she hardly took a breath as she told him all about her favorite animals at the zoo.

"Dad bought us a season pass for her birthday this year," I explained. "We pack lunches and go a couple of times a month."

"Oh," he said. "Sorry. We can do something else."

I knew it was coming before he even finished.

Ellie screamed, "No! I want to go to the zoo!"

"Whoa, screamy mcgoo. We can still go," he said with a smile unaffected by my screaming granddaughter.

"Good," she said straight-faced. "I have to get ready."

I had to hold back my laugh as she hopped off the chair and rushed away. She needed to be corrected, not encouraged, but she was so damned cute.

"That was something," Ash said.

"I'm sorry for her outburst. I'm going to have a word with her about proper behavior. I'll be right back."

"It's okay. It was my fault for getting her hopes up then trying to change our plans. Don't be too rough on her."

"You have a lot to learn about raising a child," I said and kissed his cheek. "Help yourself to more coffee while I get her ready."

***Ash***

Six weeks after that first trip to the zoo, I walked up to my new home. It was a nice old farmhouse on the outskirts of my hometown.

I didn't have much in the way of furniture, so Bev graciously offered to go shopping with me and in her words, "give my home a lady's touch, so I didn't have just a futon, neon beer signs, and posters of naked women in my living room."

The furniture delivery truck pulled in shortly after me and I saw Ellie playing on my wrap-around porch. Bev volunteered to give my new house an appropriate cleaning, even though the listing agent had it professionally cleaned when it was put on the market.

"Honey, I'm home," I called out after giving Ellie a hug and butterfly kisses.

Bev walked onto the porch with a mile-wide smile and said, "I could get used to hearing that, you know."

I kissed her cheek and teased, "I told you that you should move in with me. You know I'm serious."

We discussed it after she helped me pick out the house, and she said she didn't want to upset her father. That only made me laugh, because I knew he'd be glad for her to move in with me. I had the feeling she was cramping his old man bachelor lifestyle.

I'm not sure why, but it didn't feel like we were rushing into anything. We were inseparable since I came back, and I knew for certain that I was still madly in love with her.

The only thing missing was we hadn't made love yet. She wasn't comfortable 'sneaking off' as she called it and leaving her daughter with her dad so she could give me a 'booty call.'

She certainly matured, because old Bev and I would sneak off any time we could. Even if it was for just a quick blowjob. She loved giving and, of course, receiving oral sex.

As the delivery men brought in my new furniture, she directed them around the house as if it was her home. All I did was smile and watch as she scrunched up her nose, not liking some of the placements, then redirected them. I'd make sure to tip them well for putting up with her.

After they left, another delivery truck came to deliver my surprise.

"What's this?" she asked as the driver walked up the sidewalk.

"Delivery for a Miss Ellie Carter."

"Ellie?" Bev shrieked. "She's just a child."

"That makes sense then," he answered. "We have all the fixin's for a child's bedroom right down to the hammock for stuffed animals."

"Hammock? Ash, what did you do?" she asked. Her surprise was evident, and I smiled and shrugged.

"I figured if Ellie's going to be spending time here, she'd like to have a room of her own. Of course, since she'll have her own room, she'll need somewhere to keep her stuffed animals."

Suddenly, she frowned and said, "Ash, you know how I feel about moving in with you."

"Come on, Bev. I think things are going pretty well, and I know you feel the same way. We picked up right where we left off all those years ago."

"Ash, but my father..."

"Hold that thought," I interrupted.

I pulled my cell and dialed up her father on speaker.

"Yallow," he grunted as an answer.

"Hello, Sir. I'm thinking of asking Bev and Ellie to stay over tonight to help me get settled in. That all right?"

"Hell yes, Son. Keep her there permanently if you want," he laughed and coughed before continuing. "I've been a chaser for too long already, she needs to move on and up."

"Thank you, Sir. You have a good night and maybe have that widow Miss Fisher over for dinner."

"Wilco, Colonel. Wilco," he grunted and hung up while still laughing.

"Does that ease your mind about your father's feelings?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

She shook her head, and we were interrupted by one of the men carrying Ellie's bed.

"Where's it going?" he asked.

"Which room, Ash?" she asked.

"How about if we let Ellie pick?" I answered.

It was a four-bedroom house with a large den on the first floor that would have been considered a fifth bedroom if it had a closet. She could have her pick, except for the large master, which, of course, was mine.

It took a bit to sink in. I never had a large bedroom like that, and I looked forward to spending time with Bev in there.

***Bev***

I couldn't believe he bought a bedroom set for Ellie. She was so excited, I thought we'd never get her settled down to have dinner, but she played Ash like a fiddle when she asked him if we could have pizza for dinner.

She had that big tough Marine wrapped around her finger from the first moment he saw her and never hesitated to take advantage of the fact. Much to my chagrin, he always gave her what she asked for, even sometimes behind my back after I said no. Like when I said no to dippin' dots ice cream before lunch at the zoo. I wasn't in the bathroom for a minute before I came out to find them sharing a sundae with big smiles on their faces.

I guess the sad reality was I didn't want her to get used to having things I couldn't afford to give her. Twelve bucks for a small sundae at the zoo was just not something I was willing to waste money on. We could have homemade sundaes for a week with that kind of money.

Also, Ash didn't hold back on our dates. Whenever we went out, we went to nice restaurants, movies, museums, you name it. It was odd at first, but we always took Ellie along--like a real family--and she loved every minute of it. Looking back, so did I.

I wondered for the first few weeks about how much money he had, as he never seemed concerned about it, and he never batted an eye when Ellie gave him the 'buy this for me' look. After a while, I stopped trying to tell him he was spending too much and tuned it out, letting him spend his money however he liked. Selfishly, I loved the smile he wore whenever he made Ellie happy.

A month after we moved him in and got the house in a livable shape, he invited me over and stressed that Ellie wasn't invited.

It was strange because we were over there several times a week, and even slept over occasionally.

It clicked when he led me to the dining room and there was soft music playing. Candles burned, and he had a bottle of wine on the table, along with a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice.

I smiled and said, "You've set a lovely and romantic mood, Ash. Have you got something on your mind for after dinner?"

"Oh, babe, you'll be lucky if I can wait that long. I've decided to ratchet up our relationship, and honestly, I can't go another day without feeling your body wrapped around mine."

He kissed me, and after a few minutes of making out, I broke the passion.

"You'll have to wait, Marine. I'm hungry and it's not polite to let a lady starve."

He kissed my forehead and then pulled out my chair.

"I'll feed you, my love. Here."

He poured a glass of champagne and continued, "I'll get the appetizer. I hope you like them. I made little cheese puffs I found a recipe for online."

"Looking for recipes online, huh? Are you becoming domesticated, Ash?"

"I like to cook. I find all my recipes online."

He kissed my cheek and hurried away.

The champagne was delicious. I wouldn't know the difference if it were a five dollar bottle or a fifty dollar bottle, but I know what I like.

"How is it?" He asked as he set the platter on the table.

"It's very good. I'm afraid I don't have much experience with wine though."

"Me either," he admitted. "They served this one at the White House, and I liked it."

"The White House? You never told me about that?"

"Yeah, they had a formal dinner when the President presented me with the Medal of Honor."

"Wow," I gasped. "I had no idea you met the President."

I was impressed with him already, but that somehow put him on another level in my mind.

"Yeah. I'm surprised your dad never showed you the presentation ceremony. It's on the internet."

"No. I'm not sure he knows that."

"How are the cheese puffs?" He asked.

"Mm, they're fantastic. What's in them?"

"Just cream cheese, sharp cheddar and paprika. Simple."

"Well, I'm impressed. Now, tell me about meeting the President."

"I made him laugh," he said with a grin. "I shook his hand and when he thanked me for my courage, I said I had to pee."

"You didn't? Like Forrest Gump?"

He nodded.

"Yep. I even did the Gump voice. He laughed and said he always hoped someone would do that line when they met him. He must have liked me because I get invited to State dinners all the time. I even went to some when I lived in Washington."

"Wow," I whispered. "You've had some life."

He chuckled and said, "Hey, I'm still young, babe. There's plenty of life yet to live."

He refilled my glass, served me the last of the delicious puffs, and said, "Don't run off. I think you'll like our dinner."

He spun away and I sighed as I watched him walk away. It was either the delicious cheese puff or his delicious looking butt which brought it out. I wasn't sure which.

When he returned, he set down a large beef roast. I'd never seen anything look so yummy.

"Wow! That looks and smells amazing," I gushed.

"I hope you like the doneness. I like my prime rib rare."

"I'm sure it'll be fine. I've never been picky but don't eat much prime rib."

Who was I kidding? I'd never had it at all. I was too embarrassed to admit that to him for some reason.

He sliced a large portion and it took up almost my whole plate. I was beginning to wonder if he made a side dish, when he said, "Oops. I forgot the sides."

He rushed away and returned with a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes and a bowl of broccoli.

"I hope you like the potatoes. I make them with Boursin cheese. The broccoli just has some lemon and garlic."

"It's all very fancy looking, Ash. I can't believe you've been hiding your new talent from me."

"Well, we usually have Ellie with us and it's easier to just make things she likes."

I nodded in agreement and tried a piece of the roast. It was amazing.

"My God! This is fantastic," I gushed.

He smiled and ate a piece of broccoli.

"If I didn't already love you, this meal would have done me in."

I gasped. I couldn't believe I told him I loved him. I was trying so hard to not let him know I was falling for him again. Hell, I never wasn't in love with him, even during our decades long separation.

His smile widened, and he took my hand.

"I love you too, Bev. I never stopped."

A tear fell and I tried to act tough, but I failed.

I said, "I'm so afraid you'll find someone better. Someone who you'd be proud to have on your arm at nice places."

My head hung in embarrassment. I was ashamed I ruined the fantastic meal and his plans for the evening.

***Ash***

What was it with that woman? Couldn't she understand I didn't care about her past.

What happened in our separation didn't define her to me. I loved her with all of her warts included.

"Babe," I said as I slid out of my chair and knelt beside her. "You're the only woman for me. I get that your life hasn't been good. You've had your share of heartache and drama, and that endears you to me even more."

She still couldn't looks at me so I gently turned her chin to face me.

"I love you. I want you. I need you. I can't live without you any more, Bev. Please come to me. We've wasted so much time already."

I kissed her hand and pressed it to my chest.

"Let me love you, babe. Let me take care of you and Ellie. Let me in."

She started sobbing and slid down to her knees with me.

I hugged her and held her tightly to my chest. If she'd let me, I'd never let her go again.

After she was cried out, she whispered, "Please love me and don't ever stop. I couldn't handle it if I lost you again."

"Oh, Bev," I whispered. "I never stopped loving you for a moment."

I started to stand and lift her along, but she shook her head and remained on her knees.

She looked up at me and said, "I've wanted to do this for so long."

She unbuckled my belt, then lowered my slacks and boxers to the floor. It only took a touch from her before my cock sprung to life.

"I've missed you so much," she said looking at my rock hard soldier.

She kissed the head and said, "Exactly like I remember, just beautiful."

It just looked like a regular penis to me, but I believed her. She took me into her warm, wet mouth and moaned.

"I missed your world class blowjobs, babe."

"Mm," she moaned as she bobbed along my shaft.

She stroked me as she licked around the tip.

"You have no idea how much I missed this. I've never been with anyone other than you and that asshole Johnny, and he couldn't measure up to you. If you know what I mean."

She winked and licked my shaft from base to tip, before taking me back into her mouth.

"God! I'm close, babe."

"Are you too old to get it up again?" She asked.

I laughed.

"I hope not."

"Let's find out, Marine."

She increased her efforts and within moments swallowed everything I released.

"Fuck," I moaned.

"Mm," she said after licking her lips. "You taste better than I remember."

I lifted her to her feet and kissed her deeply.

"Shall we take this to my bed?"

"No way, mister. I want to finish my dinner."

We shared a laugh and finished our cooled meal.

***Bev***

I was in heaven. After finishing dinner, I could tell he was antsy to continue where we left off.

I wasn't going to be easy on him.

I stood and said, "Let me help with the dishes."

"Like hell," he grunted and picked me up and put me over his shoulder.

I laughed and pretended to beat his back as he carried me up the stairs, before he unceremoniously dropped me onto his bed.

The hunger in his eyes had my already dripping pussy absolutely soaking my panties. I slid back and kicked my heels off, while he unbuttoned his dress shirt.

He got impatient, said, "Fuck it," and ripped the shirt open. Buttons crashed to the floor as he tossed the shirt away.

Once his pants and underwear followed, he slowly walked towards me with his long, thick cock leading the way.

"I'm going to lick every inch of your body starting here," he threatened as he grabbed and kissed my left foot.

I was panting with need as he did his damndest to do as he said. It felt like hours before he finally licked my clit for the first time in decades.

Johnny never bothered with giving me oral pleasure, but that didn't stop him from demanding blowjobs as often as he wanted. I was happy to have a real man again. One who cared about my pleasure.

And damn, did he please me. He didn't just eat my pussy, he savored it. He licked, sucked, and nibbled every bit of my juicy flesh until I came twice in succession. The second time, I screamed so loudly when he stuck a finger in my back door, I worried his neighbors would call the police.

I came so hard, I almost blacked out.

As I tried to catch my breath, he gently rubbed my clit as he kissed his way up my stomach and to my breasts.

"Oh, God!" I whimpered as he took my nipple between his teeth and another orgasm soaked his hand.

"What are you doing to me?" I cried as he sucked and squeezed my breast.

"Want me to stop?" He asked with a mouthful of nipple.

"I want to feel you inside me. Make me yours again, Ash."

He slid up and pressed his large spongy head against my small opening. It had been so long since I had anything inside me, I worried it would hurt.

My fears were pushed aside the moment he entered me.

"Oh, yeah," I moaned as he slid deep inside my body. He stretched me to my limits, but every inch he gained made me want to scream his name to the heavens.

"Never leave me--please," I begged as he made love to me.

He was so gentle. So slow. It was heaven.

"I can't hold back any longer, love," he whispered in my ear as we embraced.

"Do it, Ash. Make me yours forever."

He kissed me and stopped thrusting as he released his love into me.

"Damn!" He sighed as he lay beside me and pulled me into his arms. "That was better than all of my dreams.

"I love you, Ash."

"Forever more," he whispered.

***

We were married three months later.

I was never able to give him a child of his own, but we adopted a son.

Our life wasn't all roses and rainbows, but we made a home full of love.