A Different Kind of Forever(91)

She awoke late, slid from his side, and padded into the kitchen. She made coffee, and picked up the phone. She called Rachel. Then she called Sam French to tell him she would not meet him for lunch. Sam was still flying high and told her they didn’t need to meet at all, that last night’s performance had been perfect, and he would see her that evening. She took her coffee back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, watching Michael as he slept.

He finally opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight. “How long have you been sitting here?” he asked groggily.

“A while. Coffee?”

“God, yes.”

“Food?”

“Toast. Please.”

She nodded, and went back to the kitchen. She was spreading butter as he came down the hall from the bathroom, and she carried the tray into the living room. She sat beside him and he kissed her.

“I tried to call you,” she said softly.

“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “Seth changed the number because too many people had gotten hold of it. He never told me, of course. Then I gave my password to someone, she said she’d help with some of my business stuff, but I found out she was, ah, editing my e-mail. And after you said you couldn’t fly over, I thought – “ He stopped and shook his head again. “What about Emily?” he asked.

She told him, about Emily, Megan, and Quinn. The phone rang once or twice, but she did not answer it. At one point she crawled into his lap and he held her and she told him about Levinson and his plans for her play. The words came in a flood, everything she had been holding and saving just for him.

“Now you,” she said finally. “Tell me. Tell me everything you did while you were gone.”

He started with Seth, and Jane Whyte. He told her about the movie, it would be released in December as planned. They were done with the score, but there was an additional song for the soundtrack, another ballad he had written, and he had to finish recording. He was going back. He’d be home for good in a week.

She was quiet in his arms. “I love you very much,” she said. “Did I tell you that?” She looked at him, and he was smiling, eyes blazing with happiness.

“Yes, you mentioned it.”

“It wasn’t until after you left. I was so miserable, and I couldn’t figure out why. My life was the same, the girls, my job, everything. And then I remembered what you said, about having a place to belong. That’s what was wrong. You weren’t here, and I had nowhere that was just mine, no place to be happy. That’s when I knew I loved you. Because I knew that I belonged with you.”

He kissed her. “Then what are we going to do?” He asked.

“I guess you’ll come for dinner. We’ll talk to Megan and Emily. We’ll tell them how we feel. We’ll see each other as often as we can. We’ll spend every weekend together. We won’t be apart any more than we have to.”

“Is Emily going to be okay with that?”

“I think she has big plans for you. Megan too. Be warned. And don’t say yes to anything.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Would you consider moving up to Mendham?”

She sat for a long time, then shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t live with you. I wouldn’t feel right, with the girls.”

He nodded. “Can we go away somewhere?” He asked her. “We have serious catching up to do.”

“I know. I can’t believe you’re leaving again. I’ll talk to Marianne. I’ve got days coming. We could get a long weekend, maybe. Someplace warm - just the two of us?”

“Yes. I need a long, quiet rest. I feel one hundred years old. And I’ve missed you so badly I thought I would lose my mind. I need days in bed.”

“That sounds perfect.”

“Could we start now? Do you have anyplace you’re supposed to be? I need you, you have no idea.” He kissed her roughly. “Can we go back to bed? Please. I need to make love to you. It’s going to be the longest week of my life, waiting to get back to you this time.”

“Come on.”

They undressed. She was thinner, he thought, but her breasts were still full and lush, and as he slipped into her, her legs were still strong around him. He would not rush, moving slowly as she arched against him, her hands in his hair.

“I love you,” he whispered at last.

“I know,” she whispered back, “I love you too.”