I looked up from the gravesite to her.
“Thiers’ never had business dealings in his home. But, I just so happen to have worked a little bit of my magic and put the idea in his head to have Patience there.”
“Why?”
“For you, silly. You two were always destined. I made sure to get the ball rolling.”
“She was only fourteen.”
Emma rolled her dark brown eyes. “Duh! I wasn’t trying to set you two up that night. I wanted you to meet. You couldn’t help yourself from noticing her even then.”
“I wasn’t lusting over a teenager.”
Emma made a clicking sound through her teeth. “Not quite, but your eyes kept traveling to her throughout the dinner. You were intrigued.”
“She looked like she wanted to escape,” I stated, remembering how uncomfortable she appeared at that table. Uncomfortable and alone while everyone chatted around her.
“She would’ve preferred reading alone in her room…except when she laid eyes on you. Her soul knew even before she could understand it. Yours too. The soul always knows. So, nine years later I put the idea in Thiers’ head again and let nature take its course.”
“It took its course all right.”
“And if you would’ve just gotten out of your own way, this could’ve been wrapped up sooner.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You two could’ve been happy together a long time ago if it wasn’t for your fears. In that way, you’re similar to Patience’s father.” She nodded to the gravesite. “His fear kept him from having a relationship with his own daughter. And yours…well, it kept you from being happy for the last six years.”
I turned from her, not admitting anything. Fear wasn’t something I readily conceded.
“We’re here now,” I said.
“Yeah, but there’s still more in store for you two to get to where you need to be.”
I peered over at Emma, her mouth clamped shut. I knew she wasn’t going to spill anymore so I chose not to ask. Again, I turned my attention back to the grave.
“I’m ready.”
“Ready for what?” Emma prodded.
“To love my wife the way she deserves.”
****
I blinked my eyes open to find myself standing in the middle of my bedroom. Emma was gone. I headed to the closed bathroom door where I heard the shower running. Turning the knob, I opened it, entering the room. Through the warm steam from the shower I made out the silhouette of my wife’s naked body as she stood under the pelting spray of the overhead shower. A deep, overriding urge to protect her moved through my center when I saw her shoulders shaking as her hands covered her face.
My hands moved to unbutton my shirt before ripping it off me. Next, I pulled down the suit pants I still had on from the day, stripping all the way down to my briefs. I moved to the shower, pushing the sliding glass door open and stepping inside. Patience’s head remained low, shoulders sagging under the weight of her grief. I reached for them, turning her to me, pulling her into my arms. She came willingly, sagging against my chest, continuing to release her tears and cries for the father that loved her deeply, but she never got to know.
My anger at Thiers had dissolved and all that remained was the desire…no, theneedto get right what he’d failed.
I pulled Patience tightly into my embrace, wrapping my arms around her soaking wet body and let her let go. I dug my fingers into her long strands as they ran down her back, now dripping with water, holding her face to me. Time dissolved. The need to be anywhere but right where I was fell away. As much as I hated her tears, I hated the mere thought of anyone but myself being there to witness them. So, I let her release the weight of her mourning onto my chest and held my wife until the tears stopped. Then, I dried her off, carried her to bed, and pulled her on top of me to sleep, my arms shielding her from anymore pain.
Chapter Twenty
Patience
“Are you sure you need to go to work today?”
I turned from the sink to see a frowning Aaron hovering over me. He’d been like this for the last three days, since he found me crying in the shower.
