From the Heart
by
Andy Wilkinson
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Copyright 2011 by Andy Wilkinson


From the Heart
Wanda pressed her ear against Jack’s chest and listened to his heart—felt it, thumping hard against ribs and muscle. His heart rate made a quick, steady decline to its resting rhythm, but its strength did not diminish.
“Wow,” Wanda said.
“Wow? ...” I was looking for that word a little earlier.
She raised her head to face him. “I wasn’t thinking in words earlier.” She laid her head back down on his chest and crossed her right leg over his.
He ran his finger down the ridge of her spine to the soft little valley of her lower back.
“Amazing,” Wanda whispered.
“That’s another word I could’ve used from you a few minutes ago.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Okay … now you’re just mocking me.” Jack said.  
“Shuuu … ” She put two fingers over his mouth. “I’m listening.”
Jack moved her hand from his mouth and raised his head off the pillow. “Listening to what?”
“Your heart, silly.”
“What is it saying?” He lowered his head back to the pillow and closed his eyes.
She ignored him. “Your heart recovers so fast! Just seconds ago it was racing, now it’s slow and steady.”
“It does that when it’s relaxed and happy.”
“And in love? That’s what is does when it’s in love?” Wanda rolled on top of him. She pried his eyes open with her fingers. “That was a question.”
“Yes, yes. It also means it’s in love.”
“How can you tell?”
“Can’t you hear it?” He took her head in his hands and pressed her ear to his chest. “I-love-you-Wanda … I-love-you-Wanda … I-love-you-Wanda--”
She pinched his nipple.
“Ouch!” 
She raised herself and looked him in the eyes. “You clown.”
They had a good laugh and she lay her head back down on his chest and they were silent for what seemed a long time.
“Jack  … do you think we did it this time?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I think we did it this time.” He stroked her hair and traced her ear, the one not lying against his chest.
“You don’t mind?” She slid her arm around his side.
“Of course not.”
“And you will still love me?”
“Even more than ever.” He fingered the ridge of her spine again, down to where it disappeared into the soft roundness of her beautiful athletic body.”
“But it’s always just been the two of us … and I’ll get fat … and ugly … and …”
“You could never get ugly,” he insisted.
“But fat? … ”
“Only a little. And only for a short time.”
“And you will still love me?”
“I’ll have more reason to love you than ever before, a very special kind of love.”
“And I love you, Jack, and I want things to be perfect, and I want you to be happy--”
“Shuu … listen.” He stroked her hair and pressed her head gently to his chest. “Can you hear it?”
“That’s the sound it makes when it’s happy.” She said.
“ And in love.” He said. “And you know what they say … ‘if it comes from the heart’ … ”