Picking up where he left off, he again began to fill in the details he knew were troubling her. “As you know, Sam and I met shortly after you and me. I didn’t particularly like him, for all I know the feeling was mutual. After our brief first meeting, I didn’t hear from him again until we got together.
Shortly after our second date, he paid me a visit to warn me that if my intentions weren’t honorable, I’d have to deal with him. Actually, I kinda liked that he approached me. I don’t have a sister but if I did, my brothers and I would have done the same thing. At that time, I was a wise guy and I didn’t care who knew it.”
“You still are!”
The mumbled words were barely audible, but Josh had no trouble hearing them and smiled. Of course, she was right. On the outside, he hadn’t changed much while, on the inside, he was poles apart from the man he’d once been.
Now, he had a purpose and that was to reclaim his wife and lay the foundations of their life together. In that future life, he saw children, grandchildren, gray hair and possibly rocking chairs. Although currently, he knew he was way too cool to give that last thought serious consideration. But time was a great equalizer and he now understood his recent restlessness.
Pulling out of his musing, Josh saw she was giving him a knowing look. “What?”
“I know that look; what was it, a woman?”
“Actually, it was.”
“Do I know her?” Lux asked sarcastically.
“Not as well as you should, but you will. But as it’s you. You don’t need to worry because I’m here to teach you all you need to know.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said, Luxandria. Now, would you like me to go on or should we continue with your snippy questions?”
“You have got to be the most annoying man I have ever met.”
“Well, thank you, my love, I always aim to be unique.”
“That wasn’t a compliment!”
“Maybe not to you, but when you tell me I’m one of a kind, I believe you.”
At his comment, Lux rolled her eyes and muttered something about perseverance from egotistical men.
“I’ve got to tell ya, this is your lucky day because you left them all in Trinidad.”
“Sometimes it’s really difficult speaking to you, do you know that?”
“I’ll respond to your question by saying that I was under the impression that I should be the one talking while you listened. Yet here we are, you interrupting me and then accusing me of being difficult.” Josh knew he was pushing his luck but as far as he was concerned, the sooner this whole fiasco was at an end, the better. If she was ruffled in the process, so be it.
“Point taken!”
With a nod, he continued. “I didn’t see your brother again until the encounter after which you asked me not to have anything to do with him–”
“Which you ignored!” Lux interrupted again.
Knowing it was impossible to stop her saying what was on her mind, he ignored her and continued. “After we’d been married around two months, Sam contacted me for help. He didn’t want to but I was in a position to help and I gave it.
An innocent woman’s life was in danger and I helped your brother get her to safety. I don’t regret what I did. I think you should also know this, Lux, if faced with the same set of circumstances again, I would do the same thing.”
Rising to her feet with slow deliberation, Lux picked up her coat and made ready to put it on. Josh was in shock, immediately assailed by memories of the last time she’d left their home; something within him hardened and he called her bluff.
“Follow through with that action and this will be the last time you ever walk out on me.” He didn’t raise his voice, nor did he make any attempt to leave his seat. He didn’t know where the words came from. He was in no doubt he wanted his wife back permanently. Yet he was just as certain he’d mess up again in the future. But if she walked out now although it would devastate him, it was better now than if he again got used to her being a part of his life again.
It took everything within him to maintain his look of steely promise that validated his words. At the same time, he was unaware he held the armrest of the chair so tightly his knuckles were white with tension.
Not a breath escaped him as Lux stood transfixed, her coat dangling from one arm as she considered what he’d said. When she shrugged her shoulders and removed her coat, he had his answer, albeit a silent one. She didn’t want to leave him.
Knowing not to push his tentative victory, he remained quiet as he tracked her every move. Her seat retaken, Josh looked at his wife and willed her to look in his direction, she refused and he understood. Lux was a proud woman and he could only hope she didn’t feel diminished by her acquiescent to his ultimatum.
“You may not want to hear it but Sam has paid his dues. He’s a hard man, Lux. That may not be something you understand, but I do… only too well.”
“What did you do for him?”
“Probably not what you’re thinking.”
“Then enlighten me.”
“As I said, I was in a position to help so I did. Trust me, nobody was hurt during the association I had with your brother. I’m not saying he’s a saint but then neither am I.”