2024-11-16 “First, Last, and Only” for Merritt (born 1960)

It had been a close call, but Merritt had found what he had sought in time to get to the Theater before Emma’s matinee ended.

He waited for her outside the greenroom in the lobby. Addison came out first and saw him.

“What are you up to?”

Merritt smiled, holding a gift bag low. “Is Emma still inside?”

“She’ll be right out. What are you up to?”

Merritt shrugged. “I’m making things right.”

Addison smiled as if she knew what was happening. She patted him on the arm and walked away.

It was a few long minutes more before Emma came up. Her eyes met Merritts and she smiled a little.

“What are you doing here?”

Merritt closed the gap between them. “Emma, I want to go back in time…”

Emma frowned. “To 1984?”

Merritt furrowed his brow. “No… To July… To… sitting on the couch with you and having you fall asleep on my shoulder… to me not… wishing that you were being sweet. I want to go back to… before you saying you didn’t want us… to be forced together like livestock…”

Emma looked down. “Merritt, I wish I’d never said that. I wish I’d not been afraid of what I felt.”

“Emma, do you remember at the Crackling Barrel on the way to Atlanta and you almost kissed my mouth?”

Emma nodded and Merritt pulled a rag doll from the gift bag. “I wish you hadn’t missed. I…”

Emma’s eyes bulged as she took the doll and stared at it. Tears filled her eyes and her smile stretched her face.

“Merritt…” Her words trailed off.

Merritt moved closer and took her by the waist as she looked up. “Merritt, I ain’t never kissed a man like a wife kisses a husband.”

Merritt nodded. “It’s okay… We’ll go slow… Take our time…”

Emma dropped the doll and leaned forward into Merritt. “I want to, though. I want you to be my first…”

She paused just a breath and went on. “…and my last… and my only. Forever.”

Merritt took a breath as he smiled and moved closer. “Forever sounds perfect…”