Make Me Smile

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Vaughn had some bad news the next day. “I won’t be back to the island until spring.”

“What?” I cried. “But, why?”

He sighed deeply. “I picked up a big job taking a load of cattle to a place pretty much on the other side of the world. It will take the boat about a week to get there, and once we’re there I have to make sure the animals all get to the buyers safely. Then it takes a week to come back.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “I’m sorry, Chelsea.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I slumped down. Vaughn suddenly looked alarmed. “It’s okay! I promise I’ll be back!” I sighed and brushed away my tears. He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “I’ll be thinking of you every minute.” That made me blush. I kissed and hugged him goodbye sadly.

It was hard without him there. Winter had been boring enough, but at least when he was coming twice a week, I had that to look forward to. Now, it just dragged on endlessly. Festivals happened, but because I knew he wouldn’t be there, I got into a bit of a funk and refused to go.

On the 24th of winter, Natalie was going on and on about the night of romance she had planned with Pierre for Starry Night that evening. I just sighed and picked at my napkin miserably. Natalie’s flow of chatter broke off, and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my god, Chelsea, I’m being such a jerk. Here I am talking about Starry Night when I know you miss your Rodeo Boy.” I had to smile at her little nickname for him. “Maybe next year you two can spend it together.” I nodded glumly. Next year was so impossibly far away.

Just then, her grandfather Taro came through the door holding a bundle. “I’ve got a package here for little Chelsea! It just came in on the boat,” he grinned, shoving it into my hands.

I turned it over and over, bewildered. “What could it be?” My heart skipped a beat as I noted the foreign stamps on it. I stood up abruptly, bidding goodbye to Natalie and Taro.

Natalie pouted as I ran out the door. “But I want to see what it is…”

I hurried home and threw myself down on the couch. My fingers tore furiously at the paper. I finally uncovered what was inside. It was a small cow plushie. Tears came to my eyes as I hugged it to my heart, missing Vaughn desperately. I then noticed that something was tucked under the cow’s collar.

“Dear Chelsea,” it read, “I saw this and it made me think of you and your farm. I miss you. I wish we could be together on Starry Night, but I’ll be thinking of you.” It was signed, “Vaughn.” I sighed happily, rereading the short note over and over again. That night I curled up with the little stuffed cow, and fell asleep happy.

That gave me the boost I needed to be myself again. I happily attended the New Year’s Eve Festival in the meadow, knowing that soon it would be spring and I would see him soon. After the festival, I turned the calendar on my wall over to Spring, and looked at it. Spring 3rd, his birthday, would fall on a Wednesday. That would probably be the day he came back.

On the 2nd, I baked him a cake, mustering together all my skills to make it the best I could. I really, really hoped he would come back tomorrow, though I had no way of knowing. If he didn’t, I’d have to eat this whole cake myself. I giggled a little at that, then covered it up and went to sleep, nervous and happy.

The next day, I rose bright and early, tending to my animals as quickly as I could. I skipped watering, knowing that they could survive a day without water. Then I hurried down to the beach, hoping to see him. My heart filled with joy as I saw his hat in the distance, and I ran faster. He turned around as I approached and actually smiled at me. I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “Oh, I missed you, I missed you,” I cried into his shoulder. He patted my back and kissed the top of my head. “I missed you too,” he whispered. I tilted my head up, and our lips met again and again.

After a while, I pulled away a little and smiled up into his face. “Happy birthday,” I said.

He chuckled. “Where’s my present?” he joked.

I smiled slyly. “You have to come to my house to get it.”

He actually blushed a little and looked shocked, then smirked. I just rolled my eyes, and led him by the hand to my house. Once we were inside, I uncovered the birthday cake. He stared at it, his mouth open. “Wow, no one has ever made me a birthday cake before.”

I smiled. “Well, I’m glad I could do that for you.” I cut us both a slice, and we ate it happily. He told me briefly about his trip, and I listened enthusiastically.

After we finished eating, our eyes met, and I flew into his arms. We kissed each other hungrily, and he started to push me towards the couch. I tugged on his shirt, urging him in the other direction - towards the bed. He grunted happily and moved with me. He pushed me down onto the bed, and it was even better than in my fantasy. I landed on the bed backwards, and he layered himself on top of me. He shoved my skirt up to my hips, parted my thighs with his knee, and then laid in between.

He threw his hat aside, then kissed me urgently. I wanted it just as much as him, but I was scared. I had a man in my bed for the first time ever, and I knew where this was going. My heart pounded in my chest, and as he slid his hand under my shirt, he felt it. “Your heart’s pounding so hard,” he whispered in my ear. “Are you scared of me?”

“A little…” I gasped.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he whispered, as he gently caressed one breast with his hand. He nuzzled at my neck, and I sighed happily. My hands reached up and started working at his shirt, trying to unbutton it. After some struggle, I managed to get all the tiny buttons undone, and I parted his shirt and touched his bare chest. It felt smooth and firm. He pulled away and removed it and the overlaying vest, and came back down on me. I raked my fingertips across his back, and he moaned appreciatively. He lifted me up slightly to pull my shirt over my head.

He kissed at me through my bra, then reached around the back to unhook it. He eased it off and brought his mouth back to the bare flesh. I moaned and squirmed, then he brought his lips back to mine. Our bare chests pressed together, and I loved the sensation. I let my hands slide down his back, and then rubbed them against the rough material of his jeans. He responded by grinding himself into me. I cried out with pleasure, but the denim against my bare thighs was a little too rough. I brought my hands to the front of his waist and fumbled with his belt. He pulled away for a moment, rearing up on his knees.

I watched, trembling, from the bed as he unbuckled and slid his belt off, throwing it to the side. The buckle hit the floor with a clank, and his hands went to the button on his jeans. He unbuttoned it, and then unzipped the zipper. He pushed his jeans down over his hips, stepping off the bed for a moment to remove them. Then he was back on me suddenly, our underwear the only thing between us. As he kissed me, I could feel his hardness pressing urgently against my panties, and I once again became scared and excited. I whimpered a little, and Vaughn pulled away to look me in the eyes. “Is this your first time?” he whispered.

I nodded, averting my eyes in embarrassment. He took my chin and made me face him again. “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ll be gentle.” I shuddered as his hands moved down to my panties, removing them quickly. He slid off his own boxers, and parted my thighs wider with his hands. I bit my lip, looking scared. “Relax,” he said softly. “It will hurt more if you tense up.” I nodded and tried to relax, relieved that at least he knew what he was doing.

He guided himself into my wettest spot, and pressed in just a little bit. It felt unusually pleasing in a strange way. He pushed further, and I whimpered. “Just relax,” he whispered. “Chelsea…don’t be afraid. It will hurt for just a second, I promise.” I nodded, trusting him. Then he thrust all the way inside of me with one quick movement, and I cried out in pain. He stroked my face, soothing me.

After a moment’s rest, he began to move again. He thrust in and out, gently at first, and then with increasing speed and pressure. It felt much better than I had ever hoped, and I moaned with pleasure, squirming underneath him. The way he was angling his hips at me was hitting me just right, and I could feel my climax starting to build up. I wrapped my arms around him, urging him in close to me, and then I cried out in ecstasy as I released. Something changed in the way he was bucking against me, and he whispered my name hoarsely over and over. He shuddered, and I felt something warm spill inside of me. He collapsed on top of me, breathing heavily. I just stroked at his back happily, relishing the feeling of being together.