Charon's Crossing

She shook her head, wrapped her legs around his waist, and rose to meet his thrust.

"No," she whispered, "no, don't stop, don't stop, don't ever stop..."

When it was over, he collapsed on top of her, both their bodies spent and gleaming with sweat.

"I love you," Kathryn said softly.

He kissed her, then rolled onto his side and held her close. "Promise me something."

He felt her smile against his throat. "Anything."

"Promise me you'll always be happy."

She laughed softly. "I'll do my part, if you'll do yours."

"I'm serious, Kathryn." He rose up on his elbow and looked down at her. "Even if there comes a time happiness seems an impossible goal, I want you to strive to find it, to remind yourself that it is what I wish for you, with all my heart."

"Matthew," she said with an uneasy laugh, "you're frightening me."

"Nay, love, I've no wish to do that. It's only that I love you." He kissed her gently. "Will you remember that?"

What was he trying to tell her? She could feel a cold knot forming in her belly and she tried to ease the tension with a joke.

"You'll remind me, in case I forget, Matthew. We both know how modest and humble you are."

But he didn't smile. Instead, he kissed her again. "You are the miracle of my life, Kathryn Russell," he whispered. "You are everything I dreamed of and more than I ever hoped."

"Matthew, what is all this? Is something..."

The phone rang.

It was twenty minutes past ten.

Kathryn sat up, frowning. "Who could be calling at this hour?"

Matthew rolled from the bed, got her robe and slipped it around her shoulders.

"There's only one way to find out, sweetheart. You'll have to go downstairs and answer it."

He paused just long enough to pull on his jeans. When he reached the library, Kathryn was standing with the telephone to her ear and an incredulous expression on her face.

"I wish you hadn't done this without consulting me, Beverly," she was saying. She put her hand over the mouthpiece. "It's my mother," she whispered. "You won't believe this, Matthew. She's on the island!"

Matthew's brows lifted. "Really."

"Yes. Dammit to hell, I wish... Yes, Beverly," she said into the telephone, "I'm listening. Your plane landed twenty minutes ago and you're tired of standing out in the middle of nowhere and why aren't I there to meet you. I told you why. Because I had no idea you were coming, and if I had known, I'd have told you to stay home!"

Matthew put his arm lightly around Kathryn's shoulders.

"You can argue with her after you've gone and fetched her," he said softly.

Kathryn rolled her eyes and slapped her hand over the phone again.

"I don't want to go and fetch her," she hissed.

He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Is there a choice?"

Kathryn sighed. She reached up, touched her fingers to his lips.