43. Jamie #2
She’s wearing one of my navy Blizzards hoodies because, despite it being midsummer, she'd somehow managed to get cold.
She catches me staring again. "What?"
I smile. "I've learned not to answer that question."
She laughs. "Good."
Then she walks straight into my arms.
***
She fits against me as though she's always belonged there.
Maybe she has.
The oversized hoodie hangs nearly to the middle of her thighs, the sleeves covering half her hands. My Blizzards logo stretches across the front, making me smile.
She catches me looking.
"What?"
"You stole another sweatshirt."
She glances down. "I borrowed it. I’ll probably give it back."
"When?"
She shrugs innocently. "Eventually."
"I see."
She slips her arms around my waist. "I've heard this is how marriages work."
"You slowly steal all my clothes?"
"I prefer the phrase share household resources."
I laugh.
"I've officially married a lawyer."
"A very comfortable lawyer."
I kiss the top of her head. "I can live with that."
She tilts her face up toward mine. "I was hoping you would."
Silence settles around us again.
Comfortable.
Unhurried.
It’s the kind of silence that only exists when two people no longer feel the need to fill every space with conversation.
***
Outside, the lake ripples softly against the dock.
Inside, the old grandfather clock marks another minute.
She brushes her thumb across my wedding ring.
"I've never worn jewelry before."
"You'll get used to it."
"I hope not."
Her eyebrows lift. "No?"
"I hope every time I notice it..." I raise my hand slightly, watching the silver catch the firelight. "...it reminds me of today."
Her eyes glisten. "I don't think we're going to forget today."
"No, I don't either."
I wrap her in an embrace, and when we finally separate, she laughs softly.
"What?"
"I was just thinking..."
She reaches up and smooths a strand of hair away from my forehead.
"...you're still the stubborn hockey captain."
I grin.
"And you're still going to keep me in line."
"Someone has to."
"I'm looking forward to it."
***
She takes my hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
Her smile turns wonderfully mischievous. "I think my husband promised me hot chocolate."
I laugh. "I absolutely did."
"And I married a man who keeps his promises."
We walk toward the kitchen. And I realize that this simple act is the greatest gift today has given us. We don't have to spend the rest of our lives chasing extraordinary moments.
We get to build an ordinary life together.
One cup of hot chocolate...
One quiet evening...
One ordinary Tuesday...
at a time.
***
Annette sets their empty mugs in the sink before turning toward me.
The cabin has grown wonderfully quiet.
She has dropped the hoodie on the living room floor in front of the hearth where the fire burns low. Outside, moonlight spills across the lake. Inside I can’t stop looking at her in her beautiful satin lingerie that mimics the color of those moonbeams.
She catches me watching her again.
"What?"
I smile. "I don't think that's ever going to stop."
"I hope not."
Neither of us moves for a moment.
Then she walks over and slips her fingers through mine.
"I think..."
A shy smile curves across her lips.
"...my husband should come upstairs."
My heart does something completely unreasonable inside my chest.
"I think..." I manage to answer, "...that's an excellent idea."
She laughs softly. "I thought you might."
Hand in hand we climb the staircase.
Halfway up she pauses and looks down at our joined hands.
"This morning I walked down an aisle to marry you."
I squeeze her fingers.
"You did."
"And tonight..."
She smiles.
"...I get to walk up these stairs and fall asleep beside my husband."
I lean down and kiss her forehead.
"I've been looking forward to that all day."
"So have I."
***
When we reach the bedroom, she hesitates in the doorway.
The room is exactly as I'd left it.
Except somehow, it isn't.
Because tonight it belongs to both of us.
She looks around slowly before turning back to me.
"Our room."
"Our room."
I brush one loose curl behind her ear.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
She smiles, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"Me either."
For a long moment, I simply look at her.
The soft ivory satin again catches the moonlight spilling through the windows. The slender camisole straps disappear beneath the waves of dark hair tumbling down her back.
She's breathtaking.
Not because of the satin. Not because of the lace.
Because she's my beautiful wife.
And somehow...she still looks at me as though I'm the lucky one.
She steps closer until only inches separate us.
Her fingertips smooth the front of my shirt, lingering for just a heartbeat over my chest.
"I've been waiting all day to have you to myself."
My pulse stumbles. "So have I."
She rises onto her toes.
This kiss is different from every other one we've shared today.
It begins gently...
...then lingers.
Deeper, as though neither of us is in any hurry for it to end.
When we finally part, our foreheads remain together.
I smile.
"Goodnight, Mrs. Walker."
Her answering smile is warm enough to light the entire room.
"Goodnight, Mr. Walker."
Without looking away from her, I reach behind me.
The bedroom door clicks softly shut.