Here is an excerpt from the beginning:
1936
Henry watched the rows of lush Iowa corn flash by as he drove. Feeling the touch of Maria’s hand on his, he looked over at her. Her long black hair was whipping in the wind from behind her white Garbo style hat, but she wasn’t looking back at him. Henry followed her gaze forward through the partially opened windshield. He could see their farm in the distance and a smile grew on his face as he sped up. The red and black 1928 model A fishtailed a bit as he slid into their driveway. He looked at Maria to gauge her reaction. She was smiling back at him, but then she slammed her hand against the dash. “Henry!!” Henry looked forward to see a large branch laying in the driveway. He jammed on the brakes, but it was too late. Part of the branch smacked the front windshield shut with a bang as the front wheels hit the main trunk. The front tires bounced high into the air and the center of the car crashed back down on the main trunk of the branch, bringing them to an abrupt halt. The sudden stop made the car stall and it suddenly became quiet.
Henry reached up to his throbbing forehead and looked at his hand. “No blood.” He then looked over at Maria who was shaking her head and massaging her wrist. She looked back at him with her right eyebrow raised as to scold him for being an idiot, but she couldn’t maintain the look. A smile erupted and quickly became laughter.
Henry tried to open his door, but it was blocked by part of the branch, so he pointed at Maria’s door and they both scooted out her side. Maria watched as he walked around the car inspecting the damage. He bent down looking under the car and then walked around to the front. He stood on the branch, leaned on the radiator and looked at her while he rubbed his forehead. “Well, it actually doesn’t look too bad. Bumper’s bent and the running boards, but ..” He pointed at the windshield. “…it didn’t even break the glass.” Henry stepped off the tree and walked around to Maria. He put his hands on the front of her hat. “Looks like you bent it a bit.” She slapped him in the stomach. “No. It was you who bent it!”. He smiled and put his arm around her. “It’s good to be home! Come on. I’ll take care of this later.”
They walked together up the dirt and stone driveway to their two story house with its wrap around porch. The grass between the ruts had gotten pretty high since they had been gone. In fact, the grass had gotten pretty high everywhere. As they stepped up the 3 stairs that lead from the driveway onto the front porch, Henry noticed branches and debris everywhere. “Must have had a hell of wind storm while we were gone.”
Henry pushed the front door opened, and with the sound of its familiar creak, they stepped inside. Maria immediately walked over to her piano as Henry took a deep breath of cherry wood smell that permeated the house. Maria grabbed a cloth and wiped the dust off the keyboard cover and then opened it. The floor creaked quietly as Henry walked into the kitchen. He looked around, but everything seemed to be just as they left it, with the exception of the dust. The GE refrigerator door was still open and he spoke up. “Hon, we’ll have to go to town tomorrow and get some food.” She didn’t respond, but instead “You Made Me Love you” began coming from the piano. He walked back into the front room. She looked up at him and smiled as he leaned on the piano. He sat down next to her, pushing her white dress aside. She pecked him on the cheek and kept playing, but he returned it with a passionate kiss. Her right hand left the piano and wrapped around his neck. She continued trying to play with only her left until Henry put his arm around her and pulled her forward. The music stopped and then a stream of descending notes as she dragged her hand across the piano to meet his face. She began to enunciate her pleasure when the slamming of the door against the wall made them both jump. A large cloud of dust whirled across the room as the curtains lifted. They both looked over and Henry said “Well, it looks like we are going to have to do some serious clean up work around here.” He looked back at her, but noticed the long shadows forming out the window behind her. “I better get the car off that log and bring in the luggage before dark.”
She pecked him on the lips. “Come on. I’ll help.”
They got up and walked to the door. Henry grabbed his old hat off the rack as he walked out. “I missed this thing. My new one just isn’t the same.”
Maria looked up at his hat. “It’s got a least three holes in it. It’s shot dear.”
Henry stepped out onto the porch and looked over at the barn. “Well, at least I can still wear it at home.” They walked out to the large barn and, with his key, unlocked the padlock. The large heavy wooden door rumbled as he slid it aside to reveal a huge dusty dark green tarp. Henry stopped and stared. Maria put her arm on his shoulder. “Take a look. You haven’t seen your baby in half a year.”
He glanced at her and smiled and then like a child at Christmas, grabbed the tarp and yanked it off. As the tarp slid away, the unveiled bright yellow Stearman biplane glistened in the sinking Sun. Henry stood for a second and then ran his hand down the front of the wing as he walked around her, feeling her leading edge as though he was caressing a woman.
Maria let him have a minute with his plane and then grabbed his hat. “Hey! Your making me jealous!”
Henry grabbed for the hat back. “Well, she is beautiful”.
“And I’m not?!” She dodged and took off with the hat in hand.
He ran after. “Yes, but you’re a pain in the ass.” They chased each other around the plane twice until she tripped over a chock and fell against the plane.
Henry pressed up against her and pushed her arms outward. “Gotcha!” Her grey eyes softened and she looked at his lips as a drop of sweat ran down to meet them. She imagined tasting its saltiness and the feeling of his stuble against her face. Her smile faded as her desire grew, and then he kissed her, but she suddenly snapped out of the trance and ducked away. “It’s getting dark. You have work to do!”
Henry stood there still leaning against the plane with both hands. She popped up from in front of the wing with his hat still in hand. She laughed. “Here’s your hat.” She threw it through the wings and Henry caught it suddenly with his left hand. He gave her a look as to intend to chase her some more, but she turned coy and pointed to the tractor. “Work.” Henry glanced over at the tractor and nodded.
She watched from a distance as he fiddled with the tractor. After a few tries, he got it started. Blue and white smoke poured out followed by black as he rev’d the engine. He put it in gear and looked up to see the setting Sun behind Maria. The orange red light was shining right through her dress and he could see every outline of her. She saw him staring and cocked her head in puzzlement. He reached back over and shut off the tractor. He stepped off, put his hat on the cowling and walked up to her. His hands embraced her waist, ran around to her back and then down. He lifted her lips to his and kissed her. She didn’t say a word, but she could feel the passion and it overwhelmed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulder and pulled him in tight. They stumbled back into the barn locked together. Henry pulled her towards his plane and lifted her onto the wing. Maria pushed his suspenders to the side and let them drop. His hands receded from her soft buttocks down her dress and back up again. Still locked in a kiss, he pulled her panties down her legs, while she unbuttoned his trousers.
They stopped for a second and took a breath. He stared into her eyes and could see the glow of her silky black hair being silhouetted by the setting Sun. But, she wanted him. She put her arms around his back and pulled him back to her. Then she reached down and pulled him into her. The Stearman rocked back and forth against its chocks as their passion poured forth. The outpouring of their love ended with a release of all their tension, stress and the relief of being home…together.
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