Love Resolution

She was half asleep by the time Marcus deposited her in the king sized bed.

He pulled the heavy brocade curtains tightly closed before climbing into bed behind her. He dragged her body back into the cradle of his thighs. “Mine,” he said, dropping a kiss on the top of her damp hair and draping a possessive arm around her.

She pulled his hand up to her lips, and kissed it before settling it back in place against the center of her chest. She fell asleep to the soothing rhythm of his warm steady breathing against her neck, a dream taking her back to a time she had long forgotten.

“Go. Play.” Her beautiful mom with her long straight red hair and easy smile swatted her on the rear and settled back against her dad on the wooden park bench they shared. Avery took one last furtive glance at them and caught her parents kissing, locked together in a lover’s embrace. Her mother had turned in the opposite direction, but when they separated she saw the expression on her dad’s face. He was gazing at her mom as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

Embarrassed, she looked for her brother. Justin was half way across the park now. Rapidly swinging her thin arms and pumping her legs, she tried desperately to catch up to him. He was climbing the rungs to the tallest slide when she finally reached him.

This slide terrified her.

Frustrated, she watched Justin enter the chute of the covered slide and shoot out the bottom. He continued on to the swings without looking back. She turned back to her parents, wanting the reassuring comfort of her mother’s arms, but she was gone.

It was only her father on the park bench now. She called out to him, but he didn’t hear her. She walked toward him, but instead of getting closer he just seemed to get further and further away. She started running but no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t reach him.

She woke up with her pulse pounding in her ears and her heart aching from the pain of the past.

Knowing there was absolutely no way she could sleep anymore; she slid silently out of bed, grabbed a robe from the armoire, and padded into the main living area.

The hotel suite was the biggest she’d ever been in, almost as big as Marcus’ apartment. Way too extravagant for two people really. A large formal seating area with an off white damask sofa and matching high backed chairs dominated one glass framed corner. Her guitar case and Marcus’ rested on the marble floor in the middle of the room next to an ebony baby grand piano. Its glossy surface gleamed in the midday sun streaming through the wall of windows.

She felt like an outsider in the sterile space. She moved closer to the windows and sat down in a patch of warm sunlight. Drawing her legs to her chest, she let the heat sink into her skin as she stared out at the view of Puget Sound. The sea was flat and a couple of large cargo ships floated on its deep blue glassy surface.

The dream had really unsettled her. She remembered their weekly childhood visits to that park and why that slide had terrified her. Her hair had gotten caught once in the top cover. Her father had come rushing over, quieting her crying with his gentle voice. He had tried to loosen it without success. After telling her what he’d have to do, he wiped her tears and used his pocket knife to cut her free. Equally troubling to her was remembering how her father had looked at her mom. It was the same expression she often found Marcus wearing when he looked at her. How would she have reacted in his place, if it had been Marcus who had been ripped out of her life for good? She didn’t know, and she didn’t like thinking about it. She didn’t want to feel sympathetic toward her father. It was so much easier to hold onto the familiar anger she harbored inside.

“Ace,” Marcus sighed.

Avery swiveled her head around to look up at him. He’d donned one of the white hotel robes as well.

“You didn’t sleep very long,” he chastened.

“I’m sorry. I tried.” She turned away, looking back at the view. “I couldn’t anymore. You should go back to sleep though.”

“I can’t. Not without you.” He came and stood beside her and studied her with a sidelong glance. “What’s wrong, Avery?”

“Nothing.”

“Uh-uh.” He crooked a dark brow. “This is me you’re talking to. Try again.”

“I had a dream about my mom and dad,” she sighed.

“A good one or a bad one?”

“A little of both I guess.” She swallowed. “It reminded me how much he loved my mom.”

“I imagine he did, especially if she was anything like you.” He studied her for a moment before suddenly disappearing down the hall. He returned quickly, holding her old worn leather journal.

Her brow rose.

“Write,” he ordered quietly. “It’ll make you feel better.” He went and got his guitar case and brought it over, taking a seat on the floor beside her.

She opened the journal and smoothed out a blank page. Before she could even look around for a pencil, Marcus tapped her on the shoulder and handed one to her. She stared out at the water. Hearing the sequential clacking of guitar case latches, she turned her head to watch him draw out his guitar before settling his back against hers. Avery put the eraser to her lips, thought for a moment, and then set the pencil to the page. Behind her Marcus began strumming softly on his acoustic. Back to back they sat together, physically connected. But she felt the touch of his spirit even more. She sighed as serenity washed over her.