Forever is Gone

As she cradled her head against his chest, she held him close and slowly rubbed his broad shoulders, and felt the fine tuned muscles in his back, she knew she would never have to worry about their parting. Maggie slowly lifted her head and looked into his eyes, and more love blossomed from the sweet eyes she adored, than Maggie Melville could ever attempt to tell the world. The love they shared, would protect them both. The love between Richard Lewis Graham and Margaret Jean 'Maggie' Melville was strong, because of his strength and hers. Not a physical strength, but one just as strong, or even stronger. Theirs was a love of unspoken words born of the heart, that had bonded them both, one to the other, with a strength stronger than steel. Everyone thought, this was a love, that would last forever.

He kissed her forehead, quickly turned without a word, grabbed his suitcase and headed down the stairs and out the door. She would wait patiently and complete her studies, he would travel north for a short time. Maggie knew that the trip meant a lot to him. But she would miss him greatly, during the three weeks that he would be away. Richard's reputation had spread quickly. Everyone wanted the use of his special talents. Of course having starting at the top hadn't hurt. She knew she had played a some small part in his meteoric rise to becoming a high demand item. Maggie, as she had been called most of her life, was the daughter of Angela and Davis Melville, owners of one of the top breeding kennels in the world. The Melville Kennels were known as breeders of champions. Their long line of Irish Setters had won best of show for their breed, more times than Maggie could count. She was proud of her family heritage, and the legacy her father had left. Her mother Angela, had carried on the tradition, improving upon the prestige, and reputation of the high standards Davis Melville had set. Her father's death, had left a vacancy in both their hearts.

When Richard Graham had arrived, a little over a year ago, appearing at the kennels in the dead of night. Bill Kennedy, the head trainer and handler, had taken an immediately liking to him. Maggie was away at school, completing her junior year, but was expected home for the holidays. By the time she arrived, Richard had won the hearts of the family, and most of the staff, that he'd come in contact with. The crowning touch being his rapport with the animals. He was amazing. Rex, the legendary head of the breeding farms dogs, hadn't immediately warmed to him, but was eventually won over. Being the gentleman sire that he was.

Bill Kennedy had said, "Sir Rex", as the dog was called, "is a bit guarded, but seems to be warming up to the chap. He's responding more now." The Melville Kennels legacy would continue.

Show dogs are very unique among their breeds. And thats what Maggie liked about what her father had started. The continued production, of a uniquely bred animal, that set a standard for the world. She felt her love for Richard would do the same. It had to. High standards were the norm for a Melville. Someone had to carry on.

Everything wasn't as rosy as it seemed around the Melville Kennels. For one thing, the relationship her mother had begun with the families attorney, former District Judge Martin O'Conner, after her fathers death, had never set well with Maggie. In Maggie's eyes, her mother's relationship with O'Conner, left a lot to be desired. He was an alcoholic for one thing. One of those functioning types. His reputation in general however, was that of a polished gentleman, who did as he pleased. He could hold his liquor among his peers, and maintained an athletic posture and build. It was only around her mother, that he let his hair down. Also being a regional judge for The American Kennel Club, added to his appeal. His charming manner, squelched any public rebuff of the man. People liked him, and called him honorable, and beyond reproach. But Maggie's father didn't drink, though most of his friends did. Any man who came within judging distance of her, had better measure up to that, at least. It was just one of the things Maggie had liked about him.

She'd heard the teasing now and then, from her fathers friends, as she had grown up, and enjoyed his jolly, always good hearted reply, that drink was for those who enjoyed it. She would hear him say. "The stuff only makes me ill. Would you like another!?"

She had watched her mother, become more and more entranced by Martin. Maggie felt she had grown dependant upon him. "It's nice to have a man around, now that your father is gone." Angela O'Conner had said. Finally, after a time Martin had become Maggie’s friend too. Maggie accepted him, even though he was a drinker. Not what she would call a drunk, but definitely a drinker. Martin O'Conner was sometimes boisterous and funny. But he was nice. He helped her mother, and he was very smart, and always the gentleman. "And remember darling, he's a Judge at the club." Her mother had said.

Somehow Martin O'Conner had always shown up in the life of the Melville family, at just the right time. Maggie was thankful for that. When Davis Melville, a robust, energetic man, had envisioned the idea of installing controlled heating in his kennels, Martin knew just the electrician. An electrical engineer in fact, who could wire the entire place, and include thermostats in a control panel, that could be placed in Davis Melville's office which was located in a wing of their large home. Eventually, Davis Melville had monitors included, so he could watch his animals twenty-four hours a day. When the busy Mr. Melville, had left out the details of his funeral arrangements from his will, it was Martin who knew a specialist in probate and estate law, including wills and trust, who would do him a favor, and have one of the finest funerals Oak Hill had ever seen, quickly arranged.

The monument over Davis Melville's grave, sat on a hillside that could be seen from the house, and most of the Kennels. It sat there as if Davis Melville still watched over every detail, of the daily care of his prize winning dogs. It was shaded by a very large oak. Maggie adored the idea, and had thanked Martin for his concern. It was the first time that she had really spoken with him. Then, and Maggie had never known the exact day, or week or even the month but Martin had taken her mother, Angela, to his bed and made her his. They had been almost inseparable ever since.

The fact that he had been the judge, of the Melville's class of dogs, at least four times, at the National Championships over the last ten years, hadn't caused a stir yet. But Angela Melville, was beginning to give that some thought.