I will be the first to admit that the story is not completely polished, but I wanted to share it anyway. As you know, the story is copywrited and I hold all rights.... You know the drill.
This is my first foray into the romance-type genre.
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Dreams
Chaunte O'Connor
The aroma of frying bacon was wonderful!
Liam Murphy could hear muted voices in the kitchen. It was Anne and the kids. He couldn't hear everything, but heard enough to know that they were making breakfast.
"Connor, would you get the plates and silverware on the table?" she asked quietly.
"Awww! I wanted to help with the pancakes!" the boy protested.
"Alright, you can do that," she replied and handed him the spatula. "Keep an eye on the pancakes so they don't burn."
"I'll take care of the juice and coffee," Beth replied.
"Could you get the plates and silverware while you are at it?" Anne asked.
"Sure!" she replied. "No problem!"
"Thank you, hon."
"When is Dad going to wake up?" Connor asked. There was just a tinge of exasperation in his voice. "I want to open presents!"
"Daddy was up late with choir last night, Connor," Beth said. "He may want to sleep for a little while longer."
"But it's Christmas!" the boy protested. "When can we wake him up?"
"Wake who up?" Murphy said, smiling as he walked into the kitchen.
Cries of Daddy! filled the room as the two kids ran to hug him. "Merry Christmas" was the greeting of the day, and all of them shared in the moment. Murphy disentangled himself from their loving embrace. He turned and tenderly kissed his new bride.
"Merry Christmas, my husband," she said smiling.
"Merry Christmas, my wife," he replied. "Do you know how long I've waited to hear you say that?"
"About as long as I have," Anne replied with a loving giggle.
She turned back to the long forgotten pancakes before they started to burn for real. Connor asked if there was anything that he could do to help with breakfast.
"You can clean up," she replied, scooping the flapjacks onto a warmed plate. "That would be a big help."
"Happy to."
Anne finished the last batch of pancakes and placed them in the oven to stay warm. Murphy poured two cups of fresh coffee. Then, they sat down in the living room and watched the kids tear into their presents. He reached out to take her hand...
"Wake up!" Sandi whispered angrily.
Murphy opened his eyes and tried to cover his confusion. For a moment, both worlds were equally real. Before he could decide, the world with Anne faded away and he was left in this one. He forced a smile and stifled a yawn. As he watched the kids open their gifts, his heart felt crushed with what he had lost. The happiness he had experienced just seconds ago was gone.
The night had been too short. Murphy was up most of the night making sure that the Christmas gifts were all out and assembled. All the while, Sandi found something to complain about.
Murphy had stopped listening to Sandi many months earlier. For whatever reason, it had become obvious that he could do little that was right in her eyes. He wasn't sure what had happened, but it seemed irreparable. While he was focused on the task at hand, he could still hear her chastising. The words that came her way were painful and sharp
It was after three in the morning when Murphy completed his tasks. Sandi had finally gone to bed at about two o'clock. Once he was alone, Murphy was able to get the last presents placed around the tree. He was exhausted, but was too wound up to sleep. He stepped outside and listened to the falling snow. The gentle hush of the flakes landing helped restore his inner peace. A quick glance at his watch showed that he had been standing there or almost an hour.
"Whoops," he whispered.
He hurried to bed and fell into a very deep and dreamless sleep. Two hours later, he heard the kids come downstairs. Murphy forced himself awake, knowing that he wasn't going to last long.
There were hugs and cries of "Merry Christmas" going around. He tried to hug Sandi and give her a kiss, but she turned away. Murphy shook his head sadly. Coffee was poured and the kids started opening their gifts from Santa.
Afterwards, Miller sat quietly in the living room. The need for sleep finally became overpowering. As the eyelids slid closed, the boundary between realities again disappeared, and he existed in this other world. And he was happy.
#
Anne Miller had rolled out of bed at the first signs of stirring in the household. She gently kissed Liam on the cheek, donned her robe and started the day.
"Look at all the presents!" Anne heard the kids say.
"Shhhhh" she whispered. "Merry Christmas!"
The kids all replied in turn, and asked if they could start opening the gifts under the tree.
"Your father is isn't awake yet," she said with a smile. "Who wants to help me with breakfast?"
A chorus of whispered "I do!" filled the kitchen. Anne laughed gently at the response and gave them all tasks to do. She was just finishing the last batch of pancakes when he stepped into the kitchen.
She felt him lovingly wrap his arms around her. It always made her feel safe and protected when he did that. She could feel a bubble of joyful contentment rise up from within her. A purr escaped her lips as Liam gently kissed her neck.
"Merry Christmas!" he whispered.
"Merry Christmas," she replied and kissed him in return.
Anne looked into the blue eyes of her husband and saw them dance. It was a perfect moment in time. For the briefest of instants, they lived their entire life together.
"Merry Christmas, Daddy!"
They turned and gave hugs to the race of kids coming into the kitchen.
"Can we open our presents now?"
"Give me two seconds," Anne said as she placed the last batch of pancakes into the oven. She turned and saw that Liam was already pouring coffee. They took their cups into the living room and shared in the joy of the day.
Anne had curled up on the couch and had wrapped an Afghan around her to stay warm. Liam was in the chair next to her. They stole a smile between presents. She reached out to touch his hand...
"Anne!" Bruce Miller said loudly.
She opened her eyes and realized that she had been dreaming.
"Sorry," Anne replied. "I dozed off for a moment."
"I said that this present is for you."
Anne accepted the package, though she already knew what was inside. Just as she thought, it was lingerie for having sex. Anne kept a plastic smile on her face while her insides shuddered in loathing for the garments.
She felt like a whore when she was forced to wear them. Yet, somehow, it became her 'wifely duty' to be a whore for her husband. If she didn't satisfy him, then he withheld the money for food and the bills.
She felt trapped and could not see a way out.
That night, her husband relieved himself within her. When he was through and had rolled away, she cried.
#
The first day back from vacation was always hard.
Murphy always took off the week between Christmas and New Years to spend with the kids. All papers and reports stayed at the office. The week was solely used for rest and recreation.
Sandi, however, did not have that luxury. It wasn't company policy that forced her to go in to work. Rather she couldn't take the week off without it being planned to the last detail. Murphy and the kids thrived on being as instantaneous as possible. To Sandi, it was like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Murphy slept late all that week. Every morning found him cuddling with his pillow and vaguely remembering that he had been dreaming.
The alarm clock rang and he awoke with a start. He had been in the middle of a dream. Murphy felt confused and disorientated. He wasn't quite sure which was reality and which was fantasy.
He quickly stopped trying to remember the dream and just let it be. It came back to him in bright vivid colors. The face he awoke to in the dream was the same one that he had seen that Christmas morning past. It dawned on him that it had been the same dream every night, except the dream happened one day later.
Murphy had no idea who this woman was, except that her name was Anne. He had never met her, and yet he was familiar with her. With each passing day, he wanted to.
#
Murphy arrived at church early and alone. This was one of the few places where he could sit undisturbed. As he sat in the darkened chapel, he thought abut his life and the choices he had made. Murphy knew that he was ready to leave. Living without the kids, though, would have broken his heart. Murphy needed them as much as they needed him. It was a terrible catch-22, and he was stuck in the middle of it.
So he stayed.
The silence was broken by an ever so soft sob. Murphy turned to see where it had come from. Maybe ten rows back, he saw a woman sitting alone. The brim of her hat hid her down-turned face. He could see her auburn lock cascading across her shaking shoulders.
There was no one else in the church. So, Murphy moved back to see what he could do.
"Are you okay? Can I help you?"
"I'm fine," she said at first, then took a deep breath, then whispered shakily, "No, I'm not. But I'm not sure anyone can help me."
She reached for a tissue and found that she had used her last one.
"Oh, damn!"
She suddenly sat up, eyes wide as saucers, and covered her mouth with her hand. Murphy couldn't help but smile at the outburst. She started to laugh as well.
"Please," he said offering his handkerchief. "The name is Liam."
"Thank you," she said dabbing her eyes. "Mine is Anne, and I have ruined my makeup..."
Their eyes met. It was a moment of sudden recognition in the midst of a first encounter. Both wanted to blurt out that they knew the other, yet both were afraid to ruin the moment.
The present hung for what seemed a very long time.
"You know, there is a café right across the street," Murphy suggested. "Mass doesn't start for an hour..."
"I would like that. Very much."
And that was how it started.
Morning coffee became a regular routine. Anne found herself sharing things with this stranger she had never told anyone before. She felt as if she had known this man all her life. More importantly, he listened to what she had to say. Her words had value and meaning to him. She had not felt valued for many years.
Murphy found himself more comfortable with this woman than what he did with anyone else, including Sandi. Beyond the dreams, there was something about Anne that made him feel like he had known her forever. It was a good feeling. Murphy was finding the borders between the two realities becoming hard to distinguish. He would awake and wonder how he could stay in that other world.
Anne's dreams continued and grew in intensity. The bond between them was very real, though unexplained. On occasion, she had let slip something from her dreams and Murphy had responded in kind. Whatever it was, they were sharing the same dream at the same time. They were living a life together, though they were separated.
Their liaison, innocent as it was, did not go unnoticed or unreported.
Members of the congregation would walk by the café and spy the two at a table. Murphy would see them looking in and would nod a greeting. The cocked eye response he received told him that the stories would soon be flying.
He told Anne that the church busybodies had seen them. She just waved it off. They were doing nothing wrong, she insisted.
Murphy quickly agreed. Seeing her was the high point of his week. By now, he wasn't quite sure about anything, but he knew he needed to see her again.
Whispers soon started about the two of them meeting every week. It took but a moment for the whispers to become vicious rumors. And rumors like this spread like wildfire throughout a church community.
Murphy was driving home on Friday when the cell phone rang.
"Liam, its Anne."
"Anne!" he said happily, but then caught the tone in her voice. "What's up?"
"I'm not sure, but I think something is up," she said. "Bruce has not been acting himself."
"Neither has Sandi," he replied. "I overheard part of a conversation she had with some of the women in the 'Amen Pew.' I think its about to explode."
"So do I."
There was a long pause on the phone, before Anne continued.
"Liam, I ... I don't think we should meet for coffee this week."
"Nonsense! Aren't you the one who said that we were doing nothing wrong?"
"Yes..."
"Then I will be at the café. We will deal with whatever happens if it happens."
Besides, he thought to himself. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't see you again. I have so much to tell you!
"Okay," she said. "I'll be there."
#
That night and for the rest of the weekend, Murphy found himself in a place he wasn't terribly used to. He was at peace with himself.
Sandi avoided him most of the weekend. When she did speak, it was in short, terse phrases. The predatory look in her eyes only confirmed what Murphy suspected about Sunday. He was disappointed, but not surprised.
He thought about brining up the café first, but decided against it. Instead, he spent Saturday with the kids. It was a truly wonderful day of play that he would not allow Sandi to ruin, no matter how hard she tried.
After dinner, Murphy settled into a lawn chair and watched the night slowly unfold. He pointed out the stars and constellations to his children, while Sandi pointedly ignored him.
That night, Murphy fell asleep looking at the stars. His oldest daughter covered him with a blanket, and kissed him good night on the forehead.
The dreams that night were vivid.
#
The sun rose and nudged Murphy out of his sleep. He tried the door, but found that someone had locked it during the night. Murphy smiled sadly, then used his key to get into the house.
He quickly showered and changed. Murphy slipped into the kids' rooms and gave them a kiss, then left before anyone else was awake.
Murphy looked at his watch and saw that he could make the early morning service. He slipped into the chapel just as worship began. Looking up the aisle, he saw Anne sitting alone.
"May I join you?" he whispered as he slid into the pew.
"Please!" she replied.
He sat and their eyes met. In that moment, they lived a lifetime. And it was good.
"Anne, there is something you should know," he started to say.
"I know," she said softly. "I also dreamt of you long before we met. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being you. For being even better in flesh than in my dreams."
Service began. It was as if they were hearing the readings for the first time. They felt electrified by the Gospel and the sermon. At the sign of peace, they embraced for the first time. Neither wanted to let go. It felt natural and so good. They held hands the rest of the liturgy.
The final hymn ended. The congregation filed out and they were alone.
Murphy turned to her and said, "They're waiting outside, aren't they."
"I would be," Anne answered.
"I love you, Anne," he said simply. "I fell in love with you in my dreams. Thank you for being even more wonderful in person."
"And I love you, Liam," she said. "No matter what happens, I will always love you."
Murphy turned back towards the altar, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He slowly let it out, finding his center. It was time.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Uh huh."
And they walked out together.
Waiting at the foot of the steps were their respective spouses. Their faces were dark and their fists clenched. Surrounding them were the women from the 'Amen Pew,' looking smug and waiting for the brawl to come.
"So here are the two love birds!" Miller charged.
"Indeed?" Murphy replied calmly. "And what makes you think that?"
"We know all about your secret liaisons," Sandi accused. "Did you think we wouldn't find out?"
"And what is wrong with sharing a cup of coffee?" Anne countered.
"And just what else did you share?"
"I would love to continue this battle of wills," Murphy said. "If you want to make a public spectacle of yourselves, fine. But we are not going to do it here on church grounds."
"We are going to settle this right here!" Sandi said, her voice raising.
"You are coming home with me!" Miller said, reaching for Anne's arm.
"No," she answered, pulling back her arm. "I'm through with this. With you."
"What have you done?" Miller screamed at Murphy. "This is all your fault!"
Miller swung hard, but Murphy deflected the blow.
"You lay one finger on me and I will charge you with assault," Murphy said.
Miller didn't hear or care. He lunged at Murphy who quickly sidestepped the attack.
"I am not going to fight you," he said, turning to cross the street to the café.
He closed his eyes and concentrated.
"This is not real," Murphy kept telling himself. "My life with Anne is real. My life with Anne is real."
Murphy never saw the bus coming.
#
Anne Miller moved out that night, with the police providing protection for her. The children decided to live with her instead of facing the wrath of their father.
It was a tough life, but Anne found courage in her dreams. There, she and Murphy would meet and lived their life together. It wasn't the same as having physical contact, but it was far better than being alone.
#
It was late September. The birds were chirping on this last warm day of the summer. A few of the trees had just started to change their color.
Anne was alone in the apartment. The youngest one had just entered college. The other children, adults now, had started lives of their own. Being a weekend, she knew the kids would be over later. But right now, she simply wanted to snuggle under the blankets and dream.
She awoke to the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. At first, she thought she must have turned the timer on the coffeepot. Then she opened her eyes and saw him.
"Good morning," Murphy said softly.
"Hi," Anne said, not quite believing her eyes. "I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
He stood and held out his hand. Anne carefully took it, and found it solid.
"Liam!" she shouted and fell into his arms. Anne found herself laughing and crying at the same time.
"You're really here!" she whispered excitedly
"I'm here," he replied. "But I need you to change quickly. We have an adventure ahead of us."
She quickly put on her jeans and a tee, not feeling the least embarrassed about changing in front of him. A quick run of a brush through her hair and she was ready.
Now, Murphy didn't look quite as solid. There was a shimmer to his outline that frightened her. But he was still standing there, hand outstretched.
Anne grabbed her purse and took his hand.
As their hand met, she found herself starting to shimmer as well.
"I love you," she said.
"And I love you," he replied. "That's why we're here."
They kissed and walked away from the dark.
"The kids are coming over about four," he said. "I thought we could barbecue."
"I like that," she said as they stepped into their bedroom. "What should we do until then?"
He stopped and took her into his arms. They kissed passionately and sat on the bed.
"I'm sure we can think of something," he finally replied.
