Epilogue
epilogue
Luke
T he past year has been a crazy, intense whirlwind. Sierra’s company purchased the land next to mine and construction is completed on phase one of the new facility. The first campers will arrive in a couple months. I’m not sure how I got talked into it—my sweet Sierra can be inventive in her persuasions—but I’ve agreed to share my experiences with those learning how much they actually can do with prosthetics.
She hasn’t yet convinced me to go through the process for using one of her company’s bionic hands. I’m holding out for a bit more of her persuasion. It helps to know that if I do get the implants, it doesn’t mean I can’t still use my original claw. I’ve discovered there’s benefits to both kinds of prosthetics.
Kyle has settled into life in Alaska like the little superhero he is. He’s bright and funny and reminds me so much of my sister. Sierra loves him as much as I do, and her parents… that boy is totally spoiled.
I’m on my way back from town with everything Sierra had on her list. Plus a few extra things. With Kyle as our ‘official’ witness, we got married six months ago and I’m going to surprise her with the brightly colored hatchet she wanted as an anniversary present. Not the most traditionally romantic gift, but she’s embraced life in the forest and wanted her own survival tools. I helped Kyle pick out a leather cover for the blade so she’ll be set.
There was a second package at the post office addressed to her from her family’s company. I’m curious, but more excited about her reaction to my gift.
At home I enter the cabin through the rear door and start to unload our supplies. Kyle and Sierra are peering out the front window and I join them, giving each a kiss on the top of their heads. “What’s going on?”
“Look, Daddy,” Kyle says and points out the window. “It’s HoneyMay. And she’s got cubs.”
Kneeling on the couch beside them, I join them watching the bear leading her cubs along her routine path around the cabin. “Two cubs.”
“Yeah.” Kyle, always a bundle of energy, bounces on the couch. “They look like her too. They’re lovely.”
As my boy has felt more loved and secure, his ability to pronounce ‘l’s grew stronger and now he seldom exhibits any trace of that impediment. He’s proud of his accomplishment and takes any opportunity to use an abundance of ‘l’ words. I ruffle his hair. “They are. What do you think? Boys or girls?”
Kyle puts on his thinking face. “Maybe one of each. I wish I had a brother or sister. Can I go look out the upstairs window. I want to draw a picture of HoneyMay and her cubs.”
“Sounds good,” Sierra replies and winks at me. We’ve been talking about expanding our family through adoption. Maybe it’s time to include Kyle in some of those discussions.
Once Kyle’s rumbled up the stairs, I take my wife in my arms. “Happy six month anniversary, baby.”
“And to you.” After a lengthy, celebratory kiss, she leans back and asks, “Get everything okay? The store wasn’t out of anything?”
I chuckle. “Everything was there. I even picked up some extra chocolate just in case.”
Cupping my face, she kisses me again. “You are so good to me. Can I help you unload?”
I’ve already hidden her gifts in the shed, so agreed to her help. We got our groceries and supplies put away in record time. She sits at the island to go through the stack of mail.
“What about this?” I ask as I slide her package toward her. “Something for the camp?”
She gives it a quick glance. “Uh, nope. Personal.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll show you later.” Her teasing smile ratchets my curiosity higher.
“Why not now?”
“Are you insisting? I can show you now but… you’ll have to wait until later for the… um, practical application. And not here where Kyle could interrupt.”
Now I have to know. I grab the package with my good hand and carefully grasp her hand with my claw. She laughs as I drag her toward the bedroom. With the door shut behind us, I hold out the box to her.
She shakes her head. “Honey, I got this for you, so maybe you should open it.”
I give her a doubting look then sit on the bed, brace the box against the mattress and rip through the tape. Once opened the box reveals the arm sleeve of one of the company’s newest prosthetics. “But I don’t have connections for this.”
“This one isn’t bionic although there is a remote control.”
“A remote control hand? What the hell, Sierra?”
“Oh, just something I made a specific request for. This is the prototype. I doubt it’ll ever go into production though. It’s just for you. Well, and for me, too.”
Trying to decipher her meaning, I pull the piece from the cushion of foam and bubble wrap. The attachment point looks no different than my normal hand, although there’s no cables or even places for cable attachment.
“Look at the hand, honey.”
“I’ve always wondered, baby. Did you start calling me honey before or after you first saw HoneyMay?”
She chuckles. “You mean did I name you after a bear? No. I’ve never thought of that connection. You don’t mind ‘honey’?”
“Baby, you can call me whatever you like. Now, about this… thing.”
“Oh, give me the remote and just look at the hand.”
The hand is oddly shaped with a single thick finger centered on the end. “So, I can use this when I want to flip someone off?”
She laughs. “It does look like that and I suppose you could. But I had it built for other purposes.” She holds up the tiny remote and presses one of the buttons.
The finger’s tip curves upward and moves back and forth toward the wider base in slow, smooth motions. After a long moment, I begin to see what this device could be used for.
“I can alter the speed and pressure,” Sierra says and demonstrates. “And the length of the stroke.”
I stand and hold the device to the juncture of her thighs. “You sure you got this for me ?”
Her legs part slightly and the finger slips between them. Her voice trembles with her words. “I know how much you like to give me pleasure.”
“Not like. Love. Love to give you whatever you need. Shame we can’t get naked now. See if this hits the right spot.”
“Luke…”
Tipping her face up with the gentle touch of my claw under her chin, I claim her mouth. She’s breathless when I’m done and I’m not in much better shape. My dick is hard as stone but somehow I manage to inch back. “Tonight, my love,” I promise.
“Tonight can’t get here fast enough.” She holds up the remote, presses a button, and gasps. “And it vibrates, too.”