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23
* * *
She didn’t askwhere we were going but I could tell it was driving her crazy not to know. When we pulled up to the airfield I still didn’t tell her where we were off to.
I was taking her to the beach house I’d bought us that last month when I’d been so busy. It was going to be a surprise. Some place only a couple states away that we could reach in half an hour.
She loves the beach and the state since it’s where she went to college so I thought it would be a nice little addition to our real estate portfolio.
Then she pulled her stunt and I never got around to telling her about it. I figure it was a nice start to our new beginning. A fresh start.
Once we landed she had an idea where we were and I saw her come awake. She looked over at me with a smile, one that I hadn’t seen in a while and I held all our bags in one hand so I could take hers in the other.
We walked to the waiting car and got to our place in less than half an hour. I stood back once we entered the house and watched her reaction.
The place had been empty since I bought it and had it decorated in her favorite colors and the things I knew she liked from the million and one magazine cutouts she used to leave on her bedside table.
“It’s perfect.” She looked at me questioningly before coming to stand in front of me. “It looks so familiar but I’ve never been here before.”
“I know. I bought it about eight months ago.” I didn’t say anything more as I took our bags and headed upstairs.
She followed behind me and went right out on the balcony off the master suite. The sea air came through the open glass doors and the curtains blew in the morning breeze.
I walked out behind her and when she glanced at me uncertainly I knew what she wanted. I walked over and stood behind her, wrapping my arms around her middle.
She was tense until I put them there and rested my chin on her head as we looked out over the water at the boats and the birds. It felt different here, more at ease, and I was glad I’d thought of bringing her here now.
“Let’s go have breakfast. There’s a nice little place down the way that makes an amazing crepe or so I’ve been told.”
We were like newly weds that afternoon as we held hands and walked around the little town getting familiar with the place.
I took her shopping for the first time in forever and bought her a new diamond bracelet to add to her collection.
By the time we came back to take a nap after a long day in the sun, she was a lot more relaxed. We both fell into bed and fell asleep with the balcony doors open letting the breeze in.
* * *
When I wokea couple hours later she was still asleep next to me with the sun shining on her face and her hair spread out on the pillow.
I looked down at her hand where she wore the new bracelet and noticed the glaring absence of my ring on her finger.
My eyes went back to her face and that last dreg of anger still lingered. I guess it’s going to take a little bit longer to get it all out of my system.
I left the bed and went to sit out on the balcony to let my mind drift before it went back to that dark place it was only now crawling out of.
I thought of the last few weeks and the changes in our relationship. I took out my phone and reread her words before saving her message.
I went for a walk on the beach and came back and she still hadn’t awakened yet. I called ahead to make reservations at a new place for dinner before going to wash the salt and sun off me.
I saw a shadow outside the stall door as I was shampooing my hair and turned around to see her standing there, in a towel.
I couldn’t help but think that a year ago she would’ve just opened the door and joined me. It’s what I’d wanted, to make her beg me for something that was once hers.
But seeing her standing there like a stranger who was afraid to approach her own husband did something to me.
I opened the door and reached for her hand. She dropped the towel and came in with me. I closed the door quickly to keep the cool air out and pulled her around in front of me under the overhead shower spray.
I kissed her as the water matted her hair and mine, lifting her tiny form up in my arms until she wrapped her legs around me.
