It’s not like I wasn’t me though around most people but I never brought up my work because most didn’t think it was real work. I was the back-end man for the works we published at The Ink Well, rather than the editor or the guy that paid people or even the man that ran the whole company. I was the person that saw everything last and I loved it.
“What is it that you do now, Melanie?” I changed the subject, not because I wanted to, but I wanted to show Melanie the same interest she had shown me.
“Well, I moved out to California for my husband’s job and became a personal assistant.”
“That’s the job mom helped you get.”
“Yes and I’m forever grateful to her. I met so many wonderful people while working there but then Amelia came along and Wade thought it best for me to stay at home, rather than us getting a nanny.”
“What did you do?”
“I quit, of course.”
I stood there in the middle of the exhibition, looking at Melanie, seeing in her eyes that she had made this decision because it was what she thought best for her family. She wasn’t selfish in wanting her own career and the man inside of me was dying to scream out to her that she should have had a chance to live the dream she wanted to but I kept it down. If it wasn’t for Melanie staying at home with Amelia, who knows where she would be right now.
“And then got a better job.” Melanie’s smile became brighter.
I took a step toward Melanie, grabbing her wrist and bringing it to my lips. I placed a soft kiss against the inside, just under her palm.
“Would you still want to go back to work?”
“I technically don’t need to. With the money Wade and I had saved, plus the life insurance, I never have to work again if I don’t want to.”
I let her ponder over her words as she looked around the room once more.
“Jack,” Melanie looked up to me, tears forming in her eyes, “the way you love your job, that’s how I used to love mine.”
“Then what is it you want to do, Melanie?”
“I would love to work again, especially with Amelia having started school this year. I’ve been seeing how much alone time I have in the day and I honestly think I could make it work.”
“We can make that happen.” I leaned down and placed a kiss on top of her head. “I believe Jonathan, Charlotte, and Apollo all go to the same school she does. That means if you needed more time in the day, one of us would be able to pick her up and take care of her when school got out.”
“I’ll definitely have to talk to Max about what he thinks.”
It was this time though that I knew I needed to speak up.
I grabbed Melanie’s face in both of my hands and looked her in the eyes. I needed her to know how serious I was about this.
“Melanie. This isyourlife now.Youget to decide what it isyouwant to do with it.” She nodded but it didn’t feel like she completely understood.
“No man should ever tell or even suggest what you should do with your life, Melanie. You get to make the choices you want for youandAmelia. Whether it be you wanting to go back to work or still being a stay at home mom. It’s your decision and yours alone, Melanie.”
I placed one last kiss on her forehead and let her go, before stepping away. Right as I was about to turn away to walk to the next exhibition, Melanie’s hand caught mine and pulled me back toward her. Her dainty hands came to my face and pulled it down toward her and she planted a kiss right on my lips.
I let her linger for as long as she needed, this being what she wanted in this moment and then I took over. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against my body, taking over the kiss and pressing my mouth harder against hers.
A cough came from behind us as an older couple walked into the room. I tried to hide the laugh that was threatening to escape me but Melanie grabbed my hand first and rushed us out of the room and into the main lobby. Once in the clear, we both burst into laughter.
“The museum will be closing soon. Do you want to get dinner?”
She looked at the watch on her wrist and nodded her head with a smile on her face.
“I have a suggestion though.”
“What would that be?”
“Let’s do takeout and grab a movie.”
