By Design Ch. 06

I found the file in Maureen's share of our common filing cabinet, and called the lawyer's office, leaving a message for her to call me urgently. We left for the hospital.

The rest of the day was probably the worst day of my life. It turned out that Maureen used the same lawyer to handle her will, as well as the DNR, using her as her agent in this situation. That took the pressure of that decision off me (and Kate). The lawyer arranged to meet with us and the doctors treating Maureen. There were no living relatives, and the doctors had not detected any sign or brain activity for 24 hours. They agreed to continue treatment and wait to see if there was any sign of brain function.

Kate and I endured the next few days, before the decision to shut down the life support was made by the medical team and her agent in line with her wishes. We were with her when she passed. We were both crushed.

The days following were no easier, cremation as per her wishes, and when the lawyer called both of us for the discussion on the will, it was even harder. To cut to the chase, Maureen had left everything to me, the cottage, life insurance, and had even banked my monthly rent into a separate account in both our names. Kate was not forgotten, having a significant bequest for her friendship, care and love she had shown Maureen.

Her one wish was for the bulk of her ashes to be placed with her brother's, but a portion for me to scatter in the Irish Sea off her birthplace, Dalkey, so that she came home. Kate and I made that trip that summer and fulfilled her last wish.

Epilogue

The evening was cooling down as I sat on the deck, a glass of wine close by, as I read the letter that was kept in the plastic sleeve for posterity.

My dearest Ben:

You will be reading this after all is said and done and I have departed this earth. Not that I wanted to, I am sure, because these last years have been magical.

Ever since you moved in and, yes, I worked my wily ways to get you into my bed, and into me, you have been everything a woman could ever want for, kind, gentle, passionate, loving, and loyal. I love you Ben, and will always love you, and but for the age difference, I would have happily married you.

I know you said it didn't matter, but for me to be so selfish and not let you bloom and grow into the man you are would have been wrong. You have so much ahead of you, and you will find the right woman to share that journey with you.

Please don't be sad, remember the great times we had, the fun times, the laughter and the loving, especially the loving! It's for all those reasons that I have left everything I have to you, because you gave me everything, and it's only fitting that as my love, my partner in these last days of my journey, that you have them.

Be at peace, remember me fondly, and always know that you were the love of my life.

Love always,

Maureen.

A soft arm came from behind and hugged me tight, and a soft Irish lilt invaded my reverie.

"Come, you maudlin old fool, you know that she loved you always, and without her we wouldn't be here. Put that away safely, the twins are asleep, and it's time you came to bed and have your way with me!"

I smiled and took the last sip of wine, before heading inside, placing the letter in the desk on the way to the bedroom, where, naked and spreadeagled lay my wife of ten years, her strawberry blonde hair spread across the pillow, her breasts proud, and her thatch a perfect triangle leading to moist pink lips.

I stripped off and crawled between her spread and upraised legs, and kissed her slit, looking up at her as I ran my tongue up to her clit. Just above her manicured blonde thatch, the small "two crossed flags" tattoo rippled as she squirmed, the Irish Tricolour crossed with the St. Andrews Cross, signifying the union of my sweet Irish lass, Kate, with the heathen Scottish perve.

With a smile, the Scot raised up, crossed the Irish sea, and invaded the warm embrace of the Celt.

But that's another story.