Before the waves had smoothed out, he rolled on a condom and thrust inside her. She arched into him, her passion taking her higher. Every muscle under him strained again, and he met her tension stroke for stroke until they both flew, letting their releases wash over them.
After he’d cleaned up, he turned out the light and rolled over to face her. His eyes adjusted until he could see the outline of her face on the pillow next to him.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“And I love you,” she said, but he could tell her tongue was still getting used to rolling those words around again.
She turned onto her side and slung her hand onto his waist. He did the same.
“Tell me about camp.”
With that easy connection between them, he outlined his day. She caressed his chest when he told her about his conversation with the young camper, Paul. Laughed when he mentioned Zack suggesting he break curfew.
“I should have known you had help.”
When he was finished talking, he traced the curves of her face. He knew she was sleepy, but he was too desperate to hear how she’d passed her time without him not to ask.
“Tell me about your day.”
Her response was briefer, less coherent, as she was slipping off into sleep, but it didn’t matter—the details of her life were as precious to him as sea glass coughed up on a beach.
And when her breathing was even, he nestled her against his chest, feeling that at least one piece of his life, of his future, was crystal clear.
She was home.
Chapter 28
Andy had put off his coffee date with Valerie for as long as he reasonably could. Since he was legitimately busy at the hospital, there were plenty of ready excuses. There had been the emergency appendectomy of the Emmits Merriam sophomore who’d collapsed in her Renaissance History class. The torn bowel of the fifty-six year-old marathon runner. But he eventually decided to make good on his promise to Natalie and go.
The coffee date went okay. Valerie was pretty and sweet, but he still felt unsure of himself…unready. Still, he found himself agreeing to take her out for dinner.
On a Thursday night. Not Friday or Saturday. Way too much pressure there.
Natalie was coming over to babysit since Blake was off doing camp stuff. From what Andy’s mother had told him, the camp was going gangbusters. April was beaming from all the fun she was having with the kids. Of course, there had already been mischief. His favorite story was about a prank the kids had pulled on her.
One boy was making a commotion about a fly buzzing around him, and when Andy’s mom rushed over to comfort him, the kid next to him slapped a napkin over the bug and killed it. Then he opened up the white paper and picked out the dark bit of fly and put it in his mouth, chewing blissfully. April lurched forward to stop him, horrified by the thought that a kid had just eaten a bug on her watch.
A few of the kids sitting around the area of the “incident” started sputtering. Moments later more of them joined in…until the whole table was laughing. April’s mother radar instantly activated, and she asked what prank they were pulling. The fly swatter showed her a handful of raisins and explained the trick. One kid pretends there’s a fly, distracting the adult, while the other palms a raisin and slaps it down with the napkin.
Andy thought it was ingenious and had already taught it to Danny so he could pull it on the rest of the family.
He changed into what he hoped would be acceptable second date apparel: tan dress slacks and a black polo shirt. He contemplated adding more aftershave, but decided against it. After all, it wasn’t like he was hoping to get lucky. He just…wanted to get through his first dinner date as a widower without feeling like a clown. A second date didn’t need to be in the cards. He told himself it was like getting a vaccination. One time would do it. Then he could give himself a lollipop. Kim would be happy in heaven. He would have kept his deal with Natalie. All would be well.
He sat on the bed, his hands on his knees. His shoulders hunched. He knew he had to get moving, but dammit, the truth was he didn’t want to go out on a date with anyone other than Kim. It wasn’t fair.
“Dad!” Danny shouted. “Aunt Natalie’s here.”
His pity party was over. He forced himself to go downstairs and found his sister kissing Danny’s cheeks like she was the Cookie Monster and he was a plate of cookies.
“Stop kissing me!” Danny cried, wiggling with delight in her arms.
“Okay, but only if you chase me once your dad leaves.” She pushed the hair she’d messed up out of his eyes and lowered him to the ground.
“Sure. Dad, are you leaving now?” he asked, pressing back against the doorframe to the dining room like he didn’t trust his aunt to leave him alone. He was one smart kid.
He kissed Natalie’s cheek in greeting. “Hey. Thanks again for agreeing to watch the munchkin.”
“I am not a munchkin. I’m a big boy.” Danny stood as tall as he could and pointed to himself. “See.”
Grabbing his son into his arms, he tapped his nose. “Oh, yes, now I do. How could I have missed it?”