HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

She tentatively set her trembling fingers on his open palms. Swallowed the thickness in her throat..

“I know you have every reason to hate me-” he said.

“I don’t hate you, Daniel. I don’t-”

“Shh. Let me say this. I shouldn’t have made presumptions that day when my brother said those things about you. I shouldn’t have said what I said. I should have protected you. But instead I made everything worse. I’m so ashamed of the way I acted. You were hurt and worried and I should have taken that burden from you. It was wrong and I won’t let anything like that happen again, no matter where in the world you live.”

“I’ll live with you.” Emma said. She bit her lips to keep them from quivering. “If that’s what you want, I will come home with you.”

“Because you want to believe in me.” He said, nodding his head.”That’s who you are. But you’re afraid. Because I’ve damaged your trust in me. But listen.” He took a shaky breath. Dropped his mask so she could see the deep chasm of lonely agony inside him. It was so vast, her own heart pulsed with pain. She instinctively clung to his hands, unwilling to let him fall into that cavern.

He looked down at her touch, smiling faintly. “I’m going to say it first, Emma. To prove I really do trust you.” He closed his hands over hers, so they were clinging tightly to each other. He looked into her eyes. “I love you, Emma Green. I love you and I want you to love me back. I think you did, for a short while, but I fear I’ve killed it. I keep thinking if I can only keep you with me long enough, I hope I can bring it back”

Emma didn’t know if she could believe him or not, or if he was just saying this to make her return, but hearing him say those words made her so damn happy. It meant so much to her. She let the tears roll down her cheeks but she kept quiet and let him talk.

He moved closer and pressed his lips to the top of her head and whispered softly. “Stay with me, Emma. I know we have so much to work out. God knows we’ve been through a lot together. But in order to do that I need you with me. Not miles away where I can’t take care of you and our baby.”

He pulled her carefully away and wiped at the trails of wetness on her cheeks with his thumbs. His gaze was haunted, intense and dark with emotion. Honest to God, he looked like he was hurting every bit as much as she was.

Emma said nothing, but instead, she launched herself into him.

“Ah, Emma!” Daniel said, and the relief in his voice made her shiver. He gathered her in and they held one another in crushing arms, her damp cheek against his rougher one. It was pain and relief, a wrench as the final shields fell away between them, but healing as they pressed into one another.

“Loving hurts,” she told him, wincing and shifting so her breasts and stomach weren’t totally mashed.

“It does.” He settled her sideways on his lap, touching one chaste kiss to her mouth before tilting his forehead against her brow. “You humble me,” he said.

“That’s not what I want to do.”

“I know. That’s why you do.” The reverent luminosity in his eyes was so bright, it brought tears to her own. “I’m in awe of you. Of your bravery and astonishing capacity to love. I need your love, Emma. Baby, I need you in my life. I’m so miserable without you. It’s terrifying to me how badly I need you. That’s why I fought it. I know that I should have said all this sooner… Ever since the first day I met you, I felt this pull towards you…. I was just so stupid and scared and didn’t realize what it was.. Till I almost lost you forever.”

Emma smiled and cupped his face in her hands. “I’m so glad you came back, Daniel” she said. “I have missed you”

“And I you” he said and smiled. “About the ring…..” he began.

“Let’s give this some time and not rush into anything.” Emma said. “I will go back with you. But let’s take this one step at a time.

Daniel nodded. Though she could see the disappointment on his face.”No problem” he said. “But I won’t let go… Or give up on us… I won’t make that mistake again”

————————-

Emma lay in her bed a week later, numbed by memories. After two more days, she and Daniel had returned together, ready to forget the past. Put it behind them. Move forward and pick up where they had left off.

And they were both trying. Talking, having meals together, helping each other. Everything was fine, but she couldn’t help but feel like things were a teeny bit awkward between them…. Especially when it came to being physically intimate with one another.

She still wanted him. And he wanted her too. She knew that because of the way he looked at her most times, but apart from a light kiss on the lips, it never went further than that. It bothered her… Not a lot, but it did.

It had been a while, she thought. Maybe they just needed some time to get there again.

When Daniel knocked softly at her door, she roused herself from the weight of her thoughts, cursing that it was already morning and she’d done little better than catnap.

She struggled out of bed and hauled her robe around her body then staggered to the door to open it. Daniel stood outside, dressed in slacks and a dress shirt. He had impending business written all over him.

“I’ve left breakfast in the kitchen for you”. He said. “I have to run out to the office for a few hours. Will you be alright alone?” he asked.

Emma nodded “Yes, of course. Thank you” she replied. “When will you be back?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

He checked his watch. “It’s eight now. I shouldn’t be later than noon. Just a meeting. We can have lunch at that restaurant you like when I return. Take it easy while I’m gone. And can you not take those long walks of yours? I’ll worry if I know you’re out by yourself.”