The Lovers

By Mika Doll

By accepting John’s proposal, Claire stands up against her family’s initial misgivings to tie the knot with a man who, by age, could be her father. But these are different times now, uncertain times, and a big wedding has become a rare event, bringing three families together in a rather unexpected way. Love seems to be contagious, creating family ties that soon will be needed to face the unpredictable. The future.

With The Lovers continues the story of Claire and John and their journey to find their place in this new world. The path of their destiny will be decided in Book 3, The Wheel of Fortune, which will be released in Fall 2017.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mika Doll
• Release date: Jul 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370605491

Mika Doll

Born and grown up behind the Iron Curtain, and after a decade-long stopover in West Berlin, Mika found a new home in Canada and now enjoys the laid-back country life in picturesque Nova Scotia, a paradise for writers and individualists. Besides raising two children and several chickens, as an outspoken advocate for permaculture, self-reliance and De-growth, Mika is also trying to raise awareness for the challenges of our time, and with a lifelong fascination for history, philosophy and anthropology likes to look in particular from this angle at the complex nature of human sexuality.

Book preview

THE LOVERS

An Erotic End-time Story

By MIKA DOLL

Book Two of the Destiny Series

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2017 by Mika Doll

Cover art by Mika Doll, use of tarot cards courtesy of Carl-W. Röhrig.

Copyright Tarot-Cards by Carl-W. Röhrig 2017, www.roehrigart.com

Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events, places or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. The issues raised, however, are real.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - The Fiancé

Chapter 2 - Reunited

Chapter 3 - Bare Facts

Chapter 4 - Gold

Chapter 5 - Daughters And Sons

Chapter 6 - The Big Easy

Chapter 7 - The Wedding

Chapter 8 - Games

Chapter 9 - For The First Time

Chapter 10 - The Contest

Chapter 11 - Love

Chapter 12 - Farewells

A Big Thank You To All My Readers

About The Author

Connect With Mika

Chapter 1

The Fiancé

A blinding beam of light hit Claire’s left eye, then her right one. Stupid but lucky, was Nora’s diagnose and she turned the flashlight off again. As Claire’s eyelid was released, a soothing darkness welcomed her. The hushed voices, both familiar for as long as she could remember, began to fade away to a lulling murmur.

Same applies to you. You’re as stupid as you’re lucky, Nora reproached her brother. For Christ’s sake, Ian! Why did you never mention that she withdraws herself and doesn’t talk to anyone? These are silent cries for help, for someone who reaches out to her.

I don’t know why, replied Ian.

Sorry, an ‘I don’t know’ is not good enough. Your daughter wanted to kill herself! Nora reminded him and made no secret of her fury. Seconds of silence ticked away. I’m still waiting for an explanation, she said and forced herself to keep calm.

What could he tell her? For Ian, it all didn’t make any sense either. Claire had a whole world of opportunities ahead of her. It had not really sunk in yet what had happened and why. It was not even an hour ago when it had been that man on the phone who had saved her life, twice now. But this was no explanation for what made Claire do such a thing. Ian decided to skip this part for now and instead settled for telling the truth. It’s all my fault, Nora. In my anger, I’ve said some nasty things to her.

Such as? Nora pressed on. She wanted to know the whole story.

His sister was merciless. But Ian was so much burdened by his regrets, he badly needed someone to confess to, and right now, he preferred Nora to any priest. I’ve called her useless and selfish, Ian started out. Tears of shame came to his eyes and with the sleeve of his shirt wiped them off. He hesitated.

Go on. I’m listening.

Well, and then I said if she wouldn’t be happy at home anymore, she better went back to her island, Ian repeated the words he felt most sorry for.

Dear Lord! Have you gone crazy, Ian, after everything she must have gone through? Nora hissed at him. Have you ever thought about it that your daughter might have a hard time coping with a lot of stuff, probably much more than she lets on? Did you forget that she has to get over her mother’s death still? How would you feel if you were suddenly thrown back into a world that is not the same anymore? And then telling her, she better goes back to where she came from? Oh, Ian… she sighed in resignation.

Just say it, I’m a failure as a father, Ian admitted willingly. But how should I’ve known that she would go that far?

Nora felt in no mood to answer that question and instead checked her niece’s pulse and breathing again. While she pumped up the blood pressure cuff, her worries for her niece overshadowed her anger. No, Ian, we all have failed. You can also blame me. I should have dropped in more often and involved myself more, Nora replied remorsefully. A moment later she released the air pressure from the cuff again, with the remark, Seems we all can count ourselves lucky for getting off so lightly.

Claire did not hear anything of their conversation. She slept so deeply, which was to be expected after taking a handful of sleeping pills. Even though Claire had thrown up most of them again, there still remained enough of the substance in her body to keep her knocked out for a while.

Nora sat at her bedside and in silence monitored her niece’s vital signs for another hour until she was sure that Claire was stable. There is not much we can do right now. I guess she will be sleeping for at least 12 hours. Tomorrow she’ll be fine, Nora assured him.

His sister was an experienced nurse. She had to know. Ian felt relieved, not only to hear that his daughter would be all right, but also for his decision to have called Nora first, instead of 911, as he had been supposed to do. It had been a gamble, but Claire had been still awake at that time, and Nora had come right away. Fortunately, Claire could sleep her stupidity off in her own bed, which not only spared him a horrific medical bill he would have never been able to pay off, it also kept the episode just between himself, his sister and a man who Ian had yet to meet in person.

Claire slept for 16 hours straight, until mid-morning when she was woken by loud voices coming from the living room, just in time to overhear the heated conversation. What do you mean, he has asked for Claire’s hand? This is not a joke, dad, is it? He really wants to marry her? she could hear one of her brothers say.

If he could not believe it, Claire could hardly either. So it had been no dream then, she realized, and a jolt of joy lifted the fog around her mind. John had proposed to her and, as far as she remembered, she had said yes.

Apparently that’s what he wants. Why else would he come here? Claire’s father answered.

And you agreed, just like that? her brother asked with a sarcastic undertone.

Claire could well imagine that the news must have come as a complete surprise to the twins. Their bewilderment was understandable. Until just yesterday, John’s name could not even be mentioned at home, and now their father had suddenly made a 180-degree turn after only having talked to John on the phone for the very first time.

Yes, I have. So what? If it makes her happy, was her father’s reply.

What has happened, dad? It was most likely her other brother speaking. By voice, not even she could keep them apart.

Nothing has happened, Claire heard her father lie outright. He probably didn’t want them to know what foolishness their sister had attempted yesterday in their absence, and neither did she. It just turns out he is a decent guy after all and seems indeed to care about her, her father added.

I don’t doubt for a moment that he is a decent guy and cares about Claire. But, dad, this man is as old as you! Of course, a remark like that had to come. Honestly, I don’t know what to make of it, dad. Would you propose to someone who could be your daughter?

I don’t know. I can’t imagine it.

See, that’s what I mean. Why does he want to marry her then?

Because he loves her. Why else?

And Claire, why does she want to marry such an old guy?

Why don’t you ask your sister? Great-granny Rose suggested in a firm but calm voice. Has it ever occurred to anyone of you to ask Claire what she wants?

I want to marry ‘such an old guy’ because I love him, Claire said and surprised them all by suddenly standing in the door to the living room with just her bathrobe quickly thrown over. And so you know, I’m going to be his wife, like it or not. And I don’t need anyone’s approval, she made that clear right away.

Come, child, sit down next to me, her great-grandmother said. As soon as she sat down on the couch, the old lady took Claire’s hand into hers and then asked with the equanimity of age, My dear, are you sure you love this man so much that you really want to tie the knot with him?

Yes, I love him very much and more.

But the question is, will he make you happy?

Yes, no man could ever make me happier. Believe me, Great-granny. I know he is the right one for me. Remember what you once told me about falling in love? Before I made my choice, I should imagine I had to live with him on a lonely island. Ironic, isn’t it? I just did that, Claire replied and turned to her brothers. Forget about his age, he is my best friend and my soul mate, that’s all that matters. I’ve asked myself often enough, how can it be that we’re still alive, especially me, while all others had to die. And why did John’s wife die? For some obscure reason, I think God must want us to be together, she said and shot her father a meaningful glance. Mentioning God was a smart move. Claire knew it would shut them up for a while. Nobody in her family would dare to go against His wishes.

It was pretty much what God and Great-granny Rose had in common. Well, that’s all I needed to hear, child, the old lady replied with a smile. In a gesture of affection, as it was her habit, she petted her great-granddaughter’s cheek and added, I guess we will have a wedding to plan soon. Rose gave Claire a wink before she addressed with a firm voice the three men present, And you boys, I expect you to behave respectfully. This man will be family.

Driving along the interstate, hour after hour, gave John plenty of time to think. How could it possibly have come to this? He couldn’t stop blaming himself. If he just had called her, he would have noticed right away if there had been something wrong with her. And now this nonsense of hers, it was unbelievable. Sleeping pills. They did not go through all the trouble of surviving for five years, only so she could throw away her life hardly she got home.

Twenty hours ago, he had spoken to her last. Later in the evening, from Virginia still, he had called again and had been relieved to hear her father say that she was fine and slept. Ian O’Neill had sounded emotionally drained. That poor man could have been spared a lot of anguish if John would just have called and had told his daughter the plain truth much earlier. In hindsight, he could have told her years ago already how much she meant to him.

John knew very well why he had refrained from calling her. She was supposed to have the chance to get over their relationship, maybe to meet a more suitable man her age. And all the time he had tried to deny his strong feelings for her, just to realize in the end how empty his life had become without her. How could I’ve been so stupid? I should have never let her go, he reproached himself aloud, and his hand punched the steering wheel in anger. It wasn’t the first time. It helped to let off some steam and kept him awake.

Another thought crossed his mind. Damned tarot cards. There he had been sitting at his desk yesterday, all day long staring at The Lovers. What a broader hint could he have been given? He just should have listened to his inner voice that had urged him to pick up the phone and to tell her how much he loved her.

If it had not been for fear of losing his chance forever, would he otherwise have proposed to her so spontaneously, John wondered. Maybe it had indeed required The Lovers to make him finally realize that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Claire. And this insight had little to do with any self-deception, wishful thinking or manipulation. The card had merely reflected what he had known all along.

A road sign ahead let excitement take hold of John. It wouldn’t be long anymore, another hour at most and they were reunited, and this now would be his last stop. A gush of moist warm air flooded into the car the moment John rolled down the window to hand his SID-card to the young guardsman at the checkpoint. Good afternoon, sir. What’s your destination? the soldier asked.

New Orleans, John said, tired of being asked the same questions all over again, probably a dozen times by now since he had left Washington. I’m staying for a week. And I’ve no weapons, ammunition or any other declarable items with me either, John already volunteered, and sure enough, coming from a colonel, the private did not even think of having a peek in the trunk where he would found more liquor than one was allowed to bring over the state border.

Business or pleasure? was the next question. The young man was just doing his unthankful job of annoying people.

I guess getting married could be considered pleasure, John replied, unable to wipe a silly grin off his face.

After only a quick look onto the display of his handheld scanner, the guard handed the SID-card back to John. Congratulations! Welcome to Louisiana, Colonel.

The garbage hasn’t been picked up for days, Claire remarked. Either they have not enough gas or not enough trucks. Or maybe they went on strike, since the prices have gone up again. I wonder what it is this time.

Claire sat at the kitchen window from where she could overlook either side of the street and chatted just to make the time go by. Actually, she couldn’t care less about the garbage removal in her street. Her mind was occupied with a much more important question, probably the most important one for someone in love. A glance at the kitchen clock told her that only two minutes had passed since the last time she had looked.

I know what you’re going through, my dear, her great-grandmother said. Having to wait is hard when you’re young. I was as impatient as you once, when I had to wait for your great-grandfather to come back from the war, in ’45 that was. He had been fighting over in Europe you know. Oh dear, that’s so long ago. I was even younger than you back then, just had turned 19, and I remember I was so excited, I drove everyone nuts for days. Ah, that were men back then, I tell you. You should have seen them, so full of pride. And those men could get something done you know, after what they’d gone through. You could tell them, build a bridge, build a dam or build a rocket and fly to the moon, and they just rolled up their sleeves and did it. But now, look around you, where do you find such men nowadays? Men that get something done in this country for Christ’s sake!

It rarely happened that Great-granny Rose was swearing. She was in her mid-nineties. Walking had become difficult, and her eyesight wasn’t as it used to be. Nevertheless, her mind was still sharp, her tongue quick and she better than anyone else could sympathize with what went on in her great-granddaughter. But neither her great-grandmother nor her brothers had any idea that it all could have turned out quite differently. It had come pretty close, and instead of a wedding, there would have been a funeral to plan. With a shameful shudder, Claire recalled how she was willing to let go just the day before. How quickly the tides could turn, she thought.

Claire was still looking out of the window. Except for the occasional delivery truck and the bus, there was not much car traffic on the road anymore. Since fuel was expensive and the allowable amount limited, most people relied either on public transportation, took to the bicycle or had to walk. This inconvenience seemed to have a positive side effect though. Widespread obesity had become a thing of the past. Claire watched neighbors on foot or bike, who were carrying on their backs or were pulling in trailers groceries or other goods that were often traded in again. It pretty much had become a barter society.

As Claire thought about it, with the people, the urban environment too had changed quite a bit since the Great Pandemic. Due to the breakdown of long distribution chains, many supermarkets now functioned as farmers markets where mostly fresh local produce was sold. Those markets were also often the places for sought after spare parts or imported items that somehow had found their way into the country. In fact, small private enterprises were flourishing everywhere, while on the other side of the precious coin, many people had to get used to a life without the abundance they once knew.

The time of cheap money was over. In a climate of economic stagnation and increasing poverty, consumer behavior had adjusted to a new reality. Without much money to spend and only a few products to choose from, most people were not longer able to buy stuff they did not need. In fact, necessity had become the mother of invention again. At home, the food was not thrown away anymore, and in general, people were not producing as much garbage as in the past. The more sparing use of expensive pesticides and fertilizers by farmers, fewer cars on the road as well as the green spaces reclaimed from parking lots and rooftops, together with a more conscious water and power usage, it all made for less pollution. During the last few years, there had been more advances made in alternative energy and recycling than ever before. Wasn’t that at least some progress?

Just 24 hours ago, the world had seemed like a cold dark place. Now there was suddenly light, and Claire’s eyes perceived things she did not notice before, conceived thoughts that had not occurred to her previously. Knowing she soon would be reunited with John made everything look much brighter and colorful. Another glance at the clock told Claire that time was crawling.

He will come, your knight in shining armor. What is the wait of a few minutes, child? Soon you will have him for the rest of your life, said Great-granny Rose, who for a moment let her knitting rest in the lap and over the rim of her glasses watched her squirrelly great-granddaughter.

There was a gray car driving down the street, so slowly as if the driver was searching for the right house number. Even though it was unmarked, the big SUV looked like a government vehicle. Who else could still afford driving a big gas-guzzler like that?

He’s here! Claire shrieked out as soon as she saw the car coming to a halt in front of the house. With a jump, she was up and ran out of the kitchen to the front door. In one stride, she took the four steps to the front yard and was through the gate out onto the street, flying into the arms of the man she had waited for.

John just stepped out of the car and stretched his sore back, when he saw her already storming out of the house on bare feet. She jumped him like an overexcited child, wrapped her legs around his hips, flung her arms around his neck and kissed him, crying and laughing all at the same time.

Claire’s turbulent greeting caused quite the stir. She couldn’t care less about the neighbor’s curious looks. It certainly would give them something to gossip about later. In her joy, she kissed him again and again, and said, You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.

Wow, what a welcome. I’ve missed you too, John managed to say under all her kisses. As soon as Claire let go of him, John looked at her with a serious expression and asked, How are you?

Very happy, Claire answered airily.

You know what I mean.

I’m fine, doctor. As you can see, I’ve listened to what you’ve said. Had a good night’s sleep with my dad at my bedside. My aunt was there too. She shone a flashlight into my eyes, checked my blood pressure and declared me for stupid but lucky.

You gave me quite the scare, do you know that? Why? What were you thinking? John asked, more worried than angry.

Please, John, not here and now.

John understood very well that Claire didn’t want to talk about it right away, but she should not think he let her off the hook that easily. Sooner or later they would have to address it. A suicide attempt was no laughing matter. Dropping the issue, for now, John took her into his arms. They held each other embraced and were breathing in the moment that brought back the old familiarity between them. I’m so sorry, Claire, he said.

She was puzzled. For what?

For not telling you earlier how much I love you, he explained.

Claire kissed him again, and then with a big smile replied, I forgive you. Keep on saying it though. I’d like to hear it more often from now on.

A small group of three had gathered at the doorstep. Come, I want you to meet my family, Claire said and led him up to the house, her face beaming with pride and happiness.

John figured the older one of the three could only be Claire’s father. Behind him stood two young men. The pair looked very much alike so that one could be easily mistaken for the other. Those were the twins, Claire’s brothers, Daniel and Patrick, who she had often talked about.

When Claire introduced John, she could see by their faces that the man of her heart didn’t look quite as they had expected. In front of them stood a man in his prime, handsome and cultured, who still had maintained an air of youthfulness about himself.

The dissimilarities between John and her dad were just too obvious. Her father’s receding hair had started to gray early. Not a tall man anyway, he had never done any sports to stay in shape. A small belly bulged his shirt, which he seemed to have just tucked in a moment earlier. Ian O’Neill was a simple man, and the harbor all he had known. He had worked his way up to a leading position until it all had come to a halt and they had no need for him anymore. He looked like so many, burdened by the past and the future.

Watching the men shake hands, Claire couldn’t hide a triumphant smile. John was towering over them. His wide shoulders filled out the impressive uniform he wore. He was the type of person who naturally commanded respect. Gone was any smugness from her brother’s faces, and dad seemed equally a bit timid. They were not going to start a pissing contest with John. Claire could be sure of that.

The three were uncertain how to address him. Should it be Colonel, Sir, or Mr. McAllister, or would it be appropriate to call him by his first name? John noticed their dilemma. Please, overlook my formal outfit and call me John. I was merely advised to travel in uniform. It indeed has helped getting a bit more quickly processed at the checkpoints.

John’s charm put them at ease, especially after he asked Daniel and Patrick to give him a hand with some boxes of whiskey he had in the trunk of his car. He just needed to give them the keys and off they were, with alacrity obliging their future brother-in-law.

Rose took to John right away, called him a fine young man and thus put the question of age into an entirely different perspective. For her, everyone younger than her was still young. She motioned for her great-granddaughter to come closer. You made a smart choice, child, the old lady whispered her approval, loud enough though for John to overhear. A teasing grin crossed her wrinkly face when she added jokingly, Lucky you that I’m not 70 years younger.

Ian thought he should better spare his guest further embarrassment and asked, Beer?

John followed Claire’s father to the kitchen, where Ian handed him a beer from the fridge. Thank you, Mr. O’Neill.

Call me Ian, he replied and clinked his bottle against John’s. To your safe arrival. Cheers!

John took a sip of beer. Ian looked tired and, since they were alone in the kitchen, John asked, How was the night?

Ian looked at John and just said one word, Long.

I can imagine. Gave us both quite the scare. Such nonsense, John added and hoped Ian might tell him more about Claire’s motives.

Ian’s stony face revealed he did not want to talk about it either. Please, John, no word to anyone about this, Ian asked him in