Once Gabriel was gone, Sophia was quick to return to her room and then her bed and, as expected, she fell asleep almost immediately.
For the first time all week, she looked forward to tomorrow and what it might bring, but more than that, she looked forward to seeing her husband.
Deep within her consciousness, that which guided her to a peaceful night of sleep, she knew that he looked forward to seeing her too.
CHAPTER 22
“Are you not going to open that?” Gabriel asked Sophia. He looked at the letter that was placed on the table beside her and raised an eyebrow.
“I will,” she said simply. “When I feel like it.”
“It’s from your mother,” Gabriel said. “Perhaps it is urgent.”
“Unlikely,” she said. “But even if it is, it can wait.”
Gabriel eyed his wife with admiration.
His wife was changing before his eyes, and now that he was standing beside her rather than in her way, she was free to grow and bloom and be whatever she wished. And she knew it.
What was more, she knew that he liked this about her.
It was two days following Gabriel’s and Sophia’s midnight conversation. A conversation that was needed the same way a fire needed kindling to survive. Their relationship had reached breaking point, neither seemed to know what might happen next, and was it not for Gabriel’s apology there was a good chance this marriage would be done.
As a consequence of his apology, the building tension and apathy that once existed between them was gone completely. This left both parties free to accept what this marriage was becoming, willing now to take the next step forward…whatever that might be.
Neither knew exactly what was possible. And neither was willing to voice it. For now, it was enough that they were comfortable and on the same page. What would come would come when they were ready for it, and not before.
Now that I have finally stopped fighting how I feel, I’m excited to see what will come next. There’s no need to rush. No need to push. We have nothing but time, and I plan on spending as much of this time as I can with my wife.
This is starting to feel like what I imagine
a marriage is supposed to.
“Let’s assume then that your mother’s letter isn’t of utmost importance,” Gabriel said with humor. “If that is the case, what do you plan on doing today?”
“Hhmm…” They sat at the breakfast table together, and Sophia picked up a piece of toast on her plate and plopped it in her mouth. She did not use a fork, nor did she cut it into smaller, bite-sized pieces. “Whatever I want to do.”
Gabriel laughed. “How intriguing.”
“Isn’t that the fun of it?” She shrugged and then swallowed. “And the entire point. That I can do whatever I wish. No questions asked.”
“Save for riding into an oncoming storm.’
“And how long are you going to keep bringing that up,” she said dryly.
“At least a few more times.” He made sure to wink at her, just so that she would know he was joking. “All this talk of doing whatever you want, however, you want it, and yet I am yet to see anything that suggests you’ve changed as much as you claim.”
“Is that a challenge?” She raised both eyebrows at Gabriel.
Gabriel sat at the head of the table, and he mimicked her action by taking a piece of toast and tearing into it. He then took his time chewing before swallowing. “Maybe read the letter first, before making such outrageous declarations.”
“It won’t be anything important,” she scoffed.
“Probably not,” he agreed. “But it’s easy to claim rebellion when there is nothing to rebel against.”
“You really are…” She scowled at him and then rolled her eyes. “Fine, let us see what my mother deems so urgent.”
Sophia opened the letter sent by her mother. She then read it, her brow creasing as her eyes scanned the text. She was doing her best to appear unconcerned, as if nothing her mother said mattered to her, but he could see the effect the letter was having. Just as he could see her fighting against herself.
