Summary:  How will Ben react to the new love in Marie’s life?

Rated: K+  WC 1100

                                       The Greatest Love Of All

Marie Cartwright gradually began to waken as the sun rose in the sky and made its first appearance of the day. The bright light peeking through the bedroom window chased away the dark shadows of the night before and the morning refused to be put off any longer. Marie slowly opened her eyes, tentatively at first; she was so afraid of what she might find. Had the night before been a dream and, if it was, could she cope with the harsh reality the morning would bring? Her heartbeat quickened and she placed her left hand over her breast as she tried to still the pounding therein, but the moment had come; she had to know. Little by little she turned her head as the beating in her chest grew stronger, but then time stood still – yes he was real, it was not a dream. The exquisite creature of the night before lay sleeping beside her. Marie stared unblinking at the beautiful sight of him and in her wonderment she almost forgot to breath. What if the spell was broken and he disappeared? Would she ever dare close her eyes again?

She looked at his face in sleep and marveled at its perfection; God and the angels had certainly smiled favorably the day he was born. But even as Marie drank in every inch of him she became afraid, very afraid. After all he was a stranger to her; she had known him only a few short hours and yet, she instinctively knew, the love he would demand from her would be all consuming and once she gave herself to him there would be no turning back. Was she ready for this type of love?

Marie had only once in her short life given herself so completely and at that time the intensity of her feelings had taken her by surprise and had enveloped her so completely that nothing else had mattered or meant as much to her before or since. But as quickly as the object of her love had come into her life he had left her so bereft and inconsolable, that even now years later she could hardly bear to think of him without crying. Was she now willing to take that same chance again? Would her heart survive? In the aftermath of the love she had lost she had wanted to die and life had ceased to have any meaning for her. Days had turned into weeks, then months and years, but still the pain went on. What if it happened again?

It had been at this low point in her life when she had met Ben Cartwright and the attraction between them had been instant. For Ben it had been love at first sight, but she had been naturally cautious, her broken heart was too precious to be given away lightly. Their meeting had not been planned and she had not been ready, or willing, to fall in love again. Marie had been so unlucky in love it was understandable she would be guarded for she had no intention of repeating the mistakes of her past. But Ben Cartwright was different from other men, he too had known great heartache and consequently he would never play fast and loose with a young woman’s affections.

From that first day the sound of Ben’s deep voice sent Marie’s heart all of a flutter and any misgivings she had were soon dismissed. In many ways it had been a blessing in disguise for their love had healed the aching in both their souls and in those early heady days she had learned to laugh and be happy once more.

But this new love was different, so so different from the love she felt for Ben. Marie panicked a little as she thought of her husband and the boys – her family. Soberly she realized this new love of hers could not be hidden, they were bound to see the difference in her. She was sure this love would impact all their lives and change them forever. How would they feel about it? Would they understand? Could she make them understand?

Pushing all these thoughts to one side Marie reached out and ran her fingers through his hair, then softly traced the outline of his lips, being very careful not to wake him. As she lay looking at him, touching him gently, his nose twitched slightly and she began to laugh. Marie quickly covered her mouth to stop the sound; she was not ready for him to waken just yet. She needed just a little more time to sort out the crazy feelings she was having, her life was about to change for evermore and she wasn’t prepared; but then again would she ever be?

The minutes ticked by and all the while she took pleasure in drinking in the very sight of him. Her breath caught; his eyelids were flickering and she knew he was about to waken. Opening his beautiful eyes he looked straight at her and she was lost as he looked into her very soul. In that moment an eternity of unfathomable understanding passed between them. There was no turning back; she was his for as long as she had breath in her body. The sudden happiness she felt had to be expressed and she bent forward and kissed his eyes, his nose, his head, his mouth – she just couldn’t get enough of him. As the emotional exhilaration took its toll, exhaustion overtook them and they slumbered; Marie with her cheek pressed against his and her hand laid softly on his chest.

They were both unaware when the bedroom door opened and Ben entered unseen. As he looked at the two sleeping figures on the bed, wrapped in each others arms, the strong man’s heart ached and his eyes filled with tears. Ben silently gazed down on the sleeping pair until Marie became aware of someone else in the room and opened her eyes. She looked dreamily up at her husband and then back at the sleeping Adonis and Ben could not mistake the look of pure love shining from her. Turning to the sleeping figure, Ben whispered:

Joseph Francis Cartwright…less than 12 hours old and already you have captured the heart of the most beautiful woman in the world.

The End