Page 13 of Bliss

Alex

Alex had nearly forgotten how wonderful it was to sleep with and wake up with a partner in her arms snuggled tightly against her body. The unique kind of joy, comfort, and security that enveloped her while she held Callie had disappeared long before Tina, her ex, had broken up with Alex. If she’d been honest with herself sooner, she would have realized what the loss of that joy, comfort, and security meant. They’d fallen out of love. Their relationship had died, and Alex’s efforts to hold onto it, revive and restore it, was the equivalent of watering a petrified tree, expecting it to sprout leaves and bear fruit.

That old, dead tree still stood in Alex’s heart like a time capsule, the memories kept safe for when Alex needed them, whether to inform her choices or to recognize familiar patterns. On the other side of the grove, a new tree was flourishing, long and strong roots burrowing into her being, both flesh and spirit. Its branches spreading out, offering shade to the tender parts of her heart and soul, and exhaling fresh air into her lungs. It was a wonderful feeling that couldn’t be matched or created except under the condition of loving someone.

While Alex watched Callie sleep with her head resting on her chest, she felt that new, vibrant tree shudder and grow. Her chest filled with a breath made sweet from her joy. As Callie’s lips curled into a soft, serene smile, Alex realized she too was smiling. She lightly drew her finger down Callie’s nose, and her lover released a small laugh and turned her face into Alex’s chest, as if trying to hide.

“Did you catch me watching you sleep?”

Callie nodded against her chest, before tilting her head up to meet Alex’s gaze, her caramel eyes glittering like gemstones. “Good morning.” She kissed the side of Alex’s neck, then rolled onto her back and stretched her arms above her head, arching her back, and released an adorable groan. As soon as she settled, she rolled back over, throwing her arm and leg over Alex and released another satisfied groan. “How long have you been awake?”

“Not long. Ten or fifteen minutes.” She ran her fingers through Callie’s sleep-mussed hair. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, but I’m really comfortable. Can Daphne cook?”

Alex laughed hard at the mental image the question invoked, which made Callie laugh as her head bounced on her chest. “I think Princess Daphne would swat you for having the audacity to even think to ask her to do such a thing. Don’t you know we’re the servants?”

Callie chuckled and propped herself up on an elbow to look down at her with a glowing smile. “Where is Her Majesty?”

Almost as soon as the question was voiced, a meow prefaced Daphne’s appearance, then the bedroom door swung open several inches. Callie laughed as she and Alex sat up, watching Daphne strut into the bedroom.

“Her ears must have been burning,” Alex joked, as Daphne leapt up onto the bed and padded up to her. Daphne gave her double chirp in greeting, so Alex said, “Good morning, Daphne,” and her cat stretched up, placing her paws on Alex’s shoulders and rubbed her face against the underside of Alex’s chin and along the sides of her neck. Alex petted her beloved feline and kissed the top of her head, eliciting a sweet purr.

She loved on Alex for several more moments, and soaked up Alex’s love in return, before dropping down on all fours and turning to look at Callie. She gave her a double chirp, so Callie smiled and greeted her.

“Good morning, Daphne.”

She held her hand above her head, and Daphne quickly leaned up into her touch, allowing her to pet her. After just a few seconds, she turned back to Alex, meowed loudly, then sprinted down the bed, leapt off, and when she reached the bedroom door, she turned and meowed at them again.

“And that is Daphne’s way of telling us to get out of bed and feed her.” Alex pushed the covers down, but when she turned to Callie, instead of standing up, Daphne meowed again. Chuckling, Alex looked at the impatient cat, and told her, “I’m getting up, I promise.”

Seeming to understand, Daphne gave a softer meow, then left the bedroom.

Shaking her head in amusement, Alex looked at Callie, and told her, “I can let you know when breakfast is ready, if you want to stay in bed a little longer.”

“No, I’m ready to get up.”

Callie pushed the covers off, then climbed over Alex, giving her a kiss on the lips before standing up. As she stretched her arms above her head, and her tee shirt rose, exposing a few inches of her midriff, Alex grabbed her hips and leaned forward, planting a firm kiss on her belly, then blew a loud raspberry against the warm, smooth skin. Callie dropped her arms and bucked her hips backwards, laughing and trying to push Alex’s head away.

“That tickles!”

Grinning, Alex lifted her head, but she didn’t release Callie’s hips. She turned, planting her feet on the floor, then pulled Callie over to stand between her legs and wrapped her arms around her waist. Looking as happy as Alex felt, Callie laced her fingers, cradling the back of Alex’s neck.

“Can I keep you today? I want to take you somewhere.”

Callie’s smile widened as she pressed in closer. “Where are we going?”

“Can I surprise you?”

Again, Callie’s smile widened, but she tried to tug it down, biting her bottom lip, as she tilted her head upward and hummed, as if having to think about it. Alex pinched her sides, making her buck backwards and laugh again.

“Yes, you can surprise me.”

***

Last Friday night, when they’d come back to Alex’s for coffee after the dinner they almost didn’t share, and they’d discussed their mutual love of reading and shopping for new books, Alex had been itching to tell Callie about The Birchwood Estate, a two-hundred-plus-year-old mansion that had been renovated and turned into a gorgeous bookstore with reading nooks in the restored arboretums bursting with gorgeous plants. The place was straight out of the dreams of every booklover. But she had held back with the hope that they’d continue seeing each other and she could surprise her.

And she was glad she had waited. After mentioning wanting to surprise her, Callie was all smiles, her excitement barely contained, evident in the way she bounced around the kitchen while helping cook breakfast, and how her legs bounced while they ate. Of course, Alex hoped part of that joy and excitement was left over from their wonderful evening and waking up in each other’s arms. Regardless, Callie’s energy was intoxicating, so much so that she struggled to keep their destination a secret, even though Callie hadn’t asked once for even a single clue.

And because Callie hadn’t asked for a clue or outright asked where they were going, that increased Alex’s joy and excitement. She loved that Callie trusted her to take her somewhere she’d feel safe and may enjoy, and that she could appreciate the anticipation of a well-intentioned surprise. Even when Alex informed her that it would take about forty minutes to an hour to get there, Callie’s excitement didn’t waver.

Their journey mostly comprised of scenic two-lane country roads through farmlands occasionally broken up by charming small towns and stretches of dense forest. Alex had been worried they may come across some detours from downed trees or power lines or spots of high water from last night’s thunderstorm. And they brought the Jeep and an emergency road-side kit to be prepared for whatever they may encounter, but the further they got from their hometown, the less tree branches and other debris were scattered across the roadways.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been out this way before. It’s really beautiful out here.” Callie was still looking out her window, as she asked, “Have you ever stopped in any of those towns we passed?”

“A couple. Smithville, the last town we just passed through, has a couple of trailheads for some of the area’s best hiking and bike trails, so it has a really nice outdoor sports store. I’m not typically a fan of diners...” Callie glanced over with a scrunched nose, and Alex chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, the diners near us are terrible. But the one in Smithville is like going to visit your grandparents. The homestyle cooking is fresh and delicious with generous portions, and the people are super friendly.”

Smiling, Callie looked back out the window, and wistfully said, “Sounds nice.”

While Alex observed a Stop sign, she glanced over at Callie, studying her expression. There was something like longing in the faraway look in her eyes, and Alex suspected she was thinking about her deceased grandmother, who had helped raise her and her brother and taught her how to cook.

“Would you like to check out the diner for lunch?”

Callie smiled as she turned to face Alex. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

They drove in companionable silence for several more minutes, then Callie leaned forward, exclaiming, “Wow. What is that place?”

Instead of answering, Alex flipped on her turn signal, and Callie’s head whipped around to look at her with a smile spanning from ear to ear.

“Seriously? This is the surprise?” She whipped her head back around, trying to read the bronze letters on the wood and stone sign at the head of the estate’s long driveway, but they’d passed it before she could read more than, “The Birchwood Estate. What is this place?”

Callie sat forward in her seat, head turning side to side to take in the gorgeous, lush garden beds, the classical bronze and marble statues of fabric-draped damsels and heavily muscled men wielding spears or looking thoughtfully up at the sky, and the expansive mansion sitting on the top of the hill with a parking lot to its left.

“It’s so beautiful.”

The comment came out as a whisper, one that Alex didn’t need to answer. She remained silent so Callie could visually take in the surrounding natural beauty and the exquisite craftsmanship of the mansion with its perfect stonework and elaborately carved parapets.

As Alex slowly rounded the front of the mansion, following the arrows for the parking lot, Callie gasped and practically pressed her nose against her window.

“The Birchwood Estate Museum, Bookstore, and Arboretum,” she read from the sign framed by luscious rose bushes next to the stone walkway near the front door. “Are you serious?” She spun around, smiling at Alex again. “Is this really a bookstore? Like a real bookstore, not just a gift shop for the museum?”

“Yes, it’s a real bookstore.”

Callie actually squealed as she spun in her seat to look up at the mansion, making Alex chuckle.

“Wait until you see the inside.”

“I can’t believe this place is less than an hour from where we live and I’ve never heard of it. I wonder who they use for their advertising because they can’t be very good if I’ve never heard of this place before.”

“If you want to pitch your services, I can make myself scarce.”

Callie finally turned to face her, and shook her head. “Thank you, I appreciate the offer, but that’s a little out of my wheelhouse. I’d love to be the designer for the campaign, but they’d have to work with an advertising agent to figure out what media outlets would work best for them. I’ll tell one of the agents I work with regularly so she can try to pitch to them. It can’t be easy for them to bring in the income needed to maintain such a large estate so far off the beaten path.”

While pulling into a parking space, Alex nodded, and provided what she knew about their finances. “The Birchwood Estate is listed on the state’s Register of Historical Places, and when they did the restoration, they kept the bookstore on one half, and the other half is as if the inhabitants of a hundred-plus years ago still live there. They do tours on that side, and the bookstore has info-plaques in each room with pictures and details about what each room used to look like and was used for. They have benefactors who help support the estate, so I don’t know how much they depend on the bookstore and café.”

“It has a café?”

Alex chuckled at Callie’s exuberant question and nodded. “Yep. And the coffee and pastries are excellent.”

As soon as she cut the engine and pulled her keys free, Callie opened her own door and jumped out, not waiting for Alex to come over to help her out, as she normally would. When Alex met her at the back of the Jeep , Callie was slightly bouncing on the balls of her feet, biting her bottom lip to contain her smile, and griping the shoulder strap of her purse in one hand.

Alex cleared her throat to conceal a laugh, and asked, “How badly do you just want to run ahead of me right now?”

Still biting her bottom lip, Callie turned to meet her eyes, and answered, “I’d rather run with you than without you.”

“All right.” Alex held her right hand out, and Callie giggled as she took it, entwining their fingers together. “Ready?”

“Set?” Callie bit her bottom lip, while her body slightly leaned forward, as if barely holding back.

As soon as Alex said, “Go,” they were sprinting hand in hand for the front entrance, both of them laughing and keeping pace with each other.

They slowed to a fast-walking pace when they were just several feet from the two large and heavy wooden doors. As soon as Alex pulled open the left door, and Callie stepped through the opening, Callie’s eyes widened and she released a long, deep sigh.

“Wow.”

As Alex tried to slip her hand free to allow Callie the freedom to explore the two-story bookstore, Callie’s hand tightened on hers, and she tugged Alex towards the rows of fully-stocked bookcases.

“It’s so beautiful,” Callie whispered, as her free hand gently glided along the spines of a row of books, while her eyes darted side to side and up above, taking in every detail of the mansion turned bookstore. “I love this place.”

Alex suppressed a laugh, as she pointed out, “You don’t even know if they carry books you’d want to read.”

“I’m sure they do.” Callie released Alex’s hand to spin around. “Look at it, Alex. It’s beautiful.” While continuing to slowly spin on the spot, admiring the solid wood bookcases, the opulence of the inverted dome bronze and crystal chandeliers, and the elaborately carved crown molding and ceiling tiles, she sighed, “It’s magical. I had no idea a bookstore like this existed here, in America, I mean.” She ceased her visual explorations to meet Alex’s gaze, and explained, “At least half of my overseas bucket list destinations are bookstores and libraries that look like castles, and a couple that are in old lighthouses.”

With her eyes glistening with unshed tears, Callie leaned in, wrapping her arms around the back of Alex’s neck, and pressed a tender kiss against her lips. Their tongues briefly met, slipping forward with a slow twist, retreating to gently suck each other’s lips in turn.

When Callie pulled away a few inches, she quietly said, “This place is a dream come true. Thank you for bringing me here, Alex.”

“I accidentally stumbled upon this place a couple of years ago when I got turned around looking for the trailhead of a new bike trail I wanted to check out. I never went biking that day.” Callie giggled and nodded in understanding. “It’s been a dream since to be able to share this place with someone special.”

Callie bit her bottom lip as her eyes flooded with tears, but before they could stain her cheeks, she quickly dug her knuckles into her eyes, then crashed forward, pulling Alex into a kiss that seared its way down her body, warming her to the core and making her fingers and toes tingle.

And long after the kiss ended, the tingling sensation stayed with Alex. Watching Callie explore with pure, childlike innocence and joy was invigorating. Words couldn’t describe just how amazing it felt not just to be the person to give Callie this experience, but to also see and feel her own awe and reverence for this place mirrored in her partner.

Alex loved that they had their own interests and hobbies. But having some things in common promised a more rewarding partnership, promised that they’d be able to find mutual joy in more experiences than not, affording them a certain guarantee that they’d create meaningful memories without just being a supportive tagalong to places and events the other wanted to attend. It was far more intimate for both of them to be in the moment, enjoying it as a very personal experience. Their shared personal experiences and joy brought them together, much the same as cuddling or making love. And non-sexual intimacy was just as important for a lasting and healthy relationship as the physical act itself. Some may argue it was even more important than sex because it required a greater level of honesty, vulnerability, and a kind of give and take that was more intellectual and less carnal. Sexual intimacy could be one of the most unifying experiences, but it could also be reduced to a simple act of release or escape. A release and escape from stress, from realities either or both individuals wanted to avoid. But non-sexual intimacy was a kind of mutual examination of themselves, their needs, fears, sense of inadequacies, the walls they’d built and why and how to navigate around them or tear them down together. Non-sexual intimacy sought to see and know oneself and one’s partner wholly and completely with selfless tenderness and without judgment.

And shopping for books never felt so intimate before. When they weren’t holding hands, they were leaning against each other to read a book’s description together. And more than a few times, while they were scanning book spines, Callie captured Alex’s hand to hold against her stomach and leaned back against Alex’s chest. Their hushed conversations about books that appealed to them, or sharing some of their favorites they came across satisfied a part of Alex that touch alone couldn’t. The experience was beautiful and euphoric.

Strolling through the Victorian-era greenhouses with their dramatic gothic arches and bursting with vibrant greenery and gorgeous flowers was reminiscent of the afterglow of a powerful orgasm. And sitting at a wrought iron table with their stuffed sacks of books and steaming cups of coffee, tucked between a babbling water fountain dotted with water lilies on one side and dazzling hibiscus bushes on the other was like the aftercare. While they sipped their drinks and chatted, they slowly came down from the high of the day, excitement and euphoria transforming into reassuring contentment. The day had far exceeded Alex’s expectations, and it had become one of her favorite memories, and it wasn’t even over yet.