Unseen Messages(191)

Happy to be safe with medicines and doctors and people around us once again.

Tearing my gaze from his, I stood to take the dishes to the kitchen.

The moment was broken.

No mention of home was uttered.

The next day, Galloway and I spoke for the first time about where we would live. We didn’t want to outstay our welcome in the apartment (thanks to the Australian government’s generosity) and we needed to put down roots if we were ever going to feel comfortable here.

We discussed what he would do for work. Not because he needed to, but because he couldn’t sit idle. He hadn’t been able to sit idle in Fiji, and he couldn’t start now.

We agreed he’d look into transferring the certificates for his architectural degree here and go into construction. However, none of that was possible until the paperwork cleared and brought us back from the dead.

My lawyer was in charge of that, including reinstating my funds and assets. I still hadn’t talked to the record company, but Madi had informed me they knew I was alive and were waiting to discuss their contract terms.

So much responsibility.

So much happening at once.

I wasn’t used to it. It made me want to run away and slam the door in everyone’s face.

After a long day of uncertainty and endless questions, we finally got the call to pick up Galloway’s prescription.

Holding Coco’s hand, I waited outside the optometrist after he forbade me from entering. He returned with the box tucked in the bag along with lens cleaner and care instructions.

He wasn’t wearing them.

Taking Coco’s other hand, we strolled silently back to the apartment. His limp still affected his gait, but he’d become better at hiding it. A few days ago, I’d asked if we should invest in a car. I still had a valid license. It would make things easier—especially carrying groceries back to the house.

However, Galloway refused.

We weren’t ready for a car.

We’d walked for the past four years. We would walk for another few more. Besides, the option of swimming all day everyday had been stolen. We weren’t ready to have our feet put out of commission, too.

As we got closer to the apartment, I struggled to hold my curiosity of why he hadn’t put his glasses on.

What is he waiting for?

Entering our home, he stole Coco and asked if he could put her to bed on his own.

I shrugged and left him to it, slightly miffed that he hadn’t put on the glasses that he’d hankered for for so long. He’d complained so much of wanting to see his children and me in full clarity.

Now, he had the chance and didn’t.

Why?

Pouring a glass of water, I padded barefoot to the balcony and stood with my eyes closed, pretending I was somewhere where walls were made of palm trees and the floor was sugar-soft sand.

Eventually, Galloway exited the bedroom where he’d put Coco down. He hadn’t put her in the lounge, which meant he either wanted to talk or...

My nipples tingled at the thought of sex.

The violent hunger in my blood took me by surprise as he came up behind me and rested his chin on my shoulder. “Can you come with me, please?”

I nodded, taking his offered hand and following him to the couch.

“What were you doing? With Coco?” My voice was inquisitive as I sat down.

He smiled. “Seeing her for the first time.”

“You put your glasses on?”

“I did.”

“And?”

He looked at the ceiling, a glistening film over his eyes. “And she’s absolutely goddamn beautiful.”

My heart lurched. “She is. She’s perfect.”

His hand went to the cushion behind him where he’d stowed the glasses case. Taking a deep breath, he cracked it open and pulled out the sexy black frames. “Now, I need to see just how beautiful her mother is.”

I couldn’t breathe as he slipped the glasses on.

He kept his eyes down; adjusting to whatever prescription enabled him to see.

Then...he looked up.

His mouth fell open.

His blue irises burned.

And every molecule of love he had for me magnified.

“You’re...you’re—” His voice cracked.

“I’m?”

“You’re so much more stunning than I ever realised.” His hands shook as he traced my cheekbone with his thumb. “After so long of not seeing clearly. After so long of falling in love with a woman I knew was beautiful inside and out, now I can see her. Truly see her. And I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

I pressed my face into his palm. “Thank you. That means—”

He kissed me, slipping his fingers to my nape and pulling me close. “I can completely and honestly say that I have the most stunning wife in the world.”

Our tongues joined and passion exploded.

His glasses turned askew as I clambered onto his lap—kiss kiss kissing him all over. I didn’t realise how terrified I was of him seeing me. How much I relied on his hazy vision to protect that maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t be enough for him.

But now, those fears vanished.

Those fears more than vanished; they detonated in a wash of lust as I unbuttoned his denim shorts and pushed aside the bikini bottoms beneath my white skirt. (I gave up with underwear and bras).