I stroked her cheek. “You always make it better, Rabbit.”
“Good to know.” She looked around. “I don’t know what time it is. Do we have time to add some more water and just cuddle before we go to dinner?”
I reached over and turned the taps on. “We’ll make time.” I wrapped her tightly against me. “Stay right here, Rabbit.”
We could be late for dinner.
Right now this was where we needed to be.
I watched Lizzy’s mood change slowly during dinner. She remained smiling and seemingly interested, answering questions and chatting with the group, but I could sense her distress growing. Cecilia sent us both pictures of the twins settled down for the night and I noticed that both times they arrived, Lizzy had excused herself. When she returned from the restroom, I saw her eyes were overly bright and her manner slightly different. No one else seemed to notice, but I knew what was wrong. She was homesick and missing her children. Tonight was her biggest challenge.
Internally, I shook my head. My brave wife was doing exactly what she thought she should be doing and acting accordingly, but I knew I could help. Quietly, I excused myself and went to make two important phone calls. When I returned, the group was discussing moving on to a local nightclub, but I knew that wasn’t what Lizzy wanted. “If you don’t mind, I think Lizzy and I will pass. I am rather weary from the day and I need to call it a night soon,” I informed them as Lizzy shot me a grateful glance.
Outside, goodbyes were exchanged and the others departed. Lizzy and I were both silent on the way back to the hotel, content to simply hold hands in the cab. Once we were in the room, she moved into the bathroom and I changed into my sleep pants and sat waiting for her. When she came out, I held my hand out and pulled her into my arms. “Tell me,” I said quietly.
“It’s silly.”
“Tell me anyway.”
Her eyes were filled with tears when she looked at me. “I’ve never failed to be there to tuck them in. I miss them so much, Joshua.”
I smiled lovingly at her. “Why is that silly, Lizzy?”
“Because its only one night. It’s one of my goals to be away from them for one night … but I hate it!” And then she burst into tears.
I pulled her down onto my lap and held her.
“You’ve been so brave and accomplished so much and I can’t even do this without getting all emotional,” she sobbed.
“Hey,” I lifted her chin. “Rabbit, you’ve been just as brave as I have. You are doing it. You may not like it but you are still doing it. What you are feeling is perfectly natural, Rabbit. You’re their mother; of course you miss them. I miss them as well.”
“I want to go home,” she whispered, her voice shaking.
I soothed the hair away from her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I do as well. So I made a call and I changed my interviews to eight o’clock. I also called John. He is making the arrangements and we’ll be in the chopper by eleven. Home after lunch. We’ll be there when the babies wake up from their nap instead of after they’ve gone to bed. You can tuck them in tomorrow night. We both will. How does that sound?”
Her arms flung around my neck, her sobs muffled as she buried her head in my shoulder. I rocked her for a minute and then pulled back.
“We both accomplished something today, Lizzy. We have both faced a fear from our past. We both got some closure. But our life, our future, is waiting for us at home. As far as I’m concerned, the trip was a success, but I am done with the goals. We’ll come back, whenever you want. We’ll bring the babies with us. Stay longer. But for now, we go home. It’s what we both need and that is way more important than checking off another item from a list. You are more important than that.”
Her hand cupped my cheek.
“I love you, Joshua. Thank you.”
I kissed her gently. “Anything you need, Rabbit.”
“You take such good care of me and our family,” she whispered as she snuggled against my chest.
I smiled down at my sweet wife, my lips grazing her head. “Good to know, Rabbit. Good to know.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melanie Moreland lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her husband and fur children. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works at a local university and for its football team. Her (box) office job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.