Chapter 9 – The End of the Week
I stayed in Derek’s room all night, and we made love several more times, passionately, gently, each time savoring our final moments together, until at last we had to sleep. When I opened my eyes to the sunlight bursting over the low hills, my heart broke. It was here. The end of the week.
Derek was still asleep behind me, his strong arms wrapped tightly around my waist as if he could protect me from what was waiting for my return if I let him. I knew he would, and I was certain he’d do a damn good job. But if that had been what I’d wanted, I’d have gone to the police a long time ago.
No, what I was dealing with I wanted to handle myself, and only involve the very few who absolutely had to know. I took a deep breath, thinking of the packing I hadn’t done. Of the plane I had to catch in a few hours. I stretched, placing my hands on his forearms and gently moving them apart.
He released me, rolling onto his back, and I sat up, glancing over my shoulder to see him blinking at the ceiling. Then he turned to look at me. A sad smile in his eyes.
“Every morning this week I woke up wishing you were in my bed,” he said, sliding my long dark curls off my back. He sat up and kissed the top of my shoulder, then my smiling lips. His hand slid to my waist then up, cupping my breast. Tingles rose along my legs at his touch, but I was out of time.
“I have to get back to my room,” I sighed. “I haven’t even begun to pack.”
He kissed the top of my shoulder again, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I wish there was something I could do. Start the week over somehow.”
I slid forward and picked up my bathing suit, wishing I’d packed at least a dress or something to wear for the walk back to the spa side.
“I keep thinking of all the missed opportunities,” I smiled, sliding my cover up over my shoulders and leaning forward to kiss him. “Who needs food? Sleep? Manicures? I should’ve been with you.”
He laughed and tried to hold onto me, but I stepped back. “And now I have to go.” But as I said the words, the pain twisted in my chest.
His brow creased, and he stood, stepping into his discarded swim trunks. “Let me walk you back.”
“We’ll look ridiculous in swimsuits so early in the morning,” I tried to laugh. To think of anything to ease the intense misery growing inside me. But it didn’t work.
“I couldn’t care less.” He slipped the tee back over his head and took my hand, picking up my bag.
We caught the elevator down and then walked out into the still-cool morning. Neither of us spoke, but our hands were clasped tightly like two teenagers at the end of a summer romance. Once we reached the entrance to the spa hotel, he stopped and faced me.
“Last name?” he asked, but I shook my head no. I didn’t want him investigating me. I didn’t want him knowing. He exhaled. “I’ve been thinking. Maryland’s not so far.”
“I’ll be going back to Wilmington soon,” I said quietly.
He nodded, and something flickered in his eyes, thoughtful if still sad. “That’s good. I hope you’ll be happier there.”
A line creased my brow. “What do you mean?”
“That first night I saw you in the bar,” he paused, as if searching for the right words. “You were so sad.”
I relaxed. “If I’m happy now, I have you to thank.”
He reached forward and slid a curl off my cheek. “Thank you,” he murmured.
I remembered his odd gratitude the few first times we’d made love. “Why did you? Thank me, I mean. Those first times.”
“I knew you were doing something unusual, something you’d probably never have done.” He paused a moment, choosing his words. “I kept holding my breath, waiting for you to push me away or make me stop, and when you didn’t…”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He smiled. “You’re amazing. And you let me have you.”
He had no idea how much I’d let him have. For a moment we were quiet. I hated this goodbye so much. Suddenly, he reached forward and caught both my hands. He took a deep breath and looked straight into my eyes as if he’d just made a decision.
“I never expected things to go this way. To get so involved so fast.” He paused, glancing briefly at our clasped hands. I started to speak, but he continued. “And then I said a week, as if I could just do this one-week thing…”
My stomach was so tight, but I only blinked, waiting to hear him out.
“We both have lives back home,” he continued, “and maybe you can’t share your life with me now. But I’d take your call anytime.” He was holding my hands so securely. “I hope this goodbye isn’t—”
“Forever,” I said softly with him. His childhood game drifted through my memory.
My eyes were warm, and he stepped forward, releasing my hands and cupping my cheeks as he kissed me gently, then deeply. When we see each other again, I thought, this is what we’ll do. I placed my hands over his, opening my mouth to him for the last time, fighting tears with everything I had. I didn’t want his last memory to be of me crying.
When he stepped back, he touched the heart at my throat. “I meant what I wrote.”
I lifted it in my fingers. “I’ll take good care of it.”
The plane ride back to Maryland was miserable. Elaine and I were both quiet, thoughtful, and I could tell her parting with Patrick had been emotional, too. But in contrast, they’d exchanged contact information and a promise to keep in touch. I couldn’t do that.
In Atlanta, we parted ways, her headed east and me north. We hugged each other, and it was comforting to know we were close enough to be in this silent place of misery together and not have to question it, pick it apart, or even discuss it.
“So our next trip,” she said, her voice quiet. “I’ll start planning it the minute I get unpacked.”
I nodded, my smile tight. Tears were close in my eyes, but my friend didn’t seem to notice. I could tell she had her own tears to manage.
“Have a great start of the school year,” I said, squeezing her hands, not wanting to let her go.
She hugged me close. “I’ll be so glad when you’re finally home.”
“Me, too,” I breathed. “It shouldn’t be long now. I’ll keep you posted.”
With that we went our separate ways—at least temporarily.
The entire trip to Baltimore, I couldn’t rest. I couldn’t read. I only stared out the little window thinking of Derek and missing him so much. I was alone, headed back to my unfinished business, and Sloan had been calling the entire time. He was certain to be furious, and when he was furious…
I inhaled deeply as the announcer began telling us about the descent into the metropolitan airport. I collected my purse, which held the heart necklace in my wallet. I hadn’t worn it because I’d have to explain, but I was keeping it safe and secure, hoping against hope that I’d be able to find him again. And that when I did, it might actually work as well in real life as it had in our little one-week summer oasis.
Sloan’s car was waiting for me when I emerged from baggage claim. I wouldn’t have even seen it if Hal, his Asian driver, hadn’t called out to me.
“Mr. Reynolds said you’ll be needing a ride home,” he said with a smile, taking my suitcase.
“H-he did?” Instantly my stomach clenched. If Sloan knew when I was arriving and which airline, he must’ve found out where I went. I wondered just how much he knew. Derek and I’d thrown discretion to the wind our last day at the pool, and my insides tensed at the thought of what Sloan might do if he found out I’d taken a lover.
“Yes, Mrs. Reynolds,” Hal was still smiling. “He said you wouldn’t be expecting me.”
I exhaled deeply and felt my shoulders drop. I was back. “Thank you, Hal. And I’m not going by ‘Mrs. Reynolds’ anymore. I’ve told you that.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, but I could tell he was only humoring me. No telling what Sloan had told his staff about me. Probably that I had mental problems. Or at the very least, that the whole thing was my fault.
I took one last look over my shoulder, back at the concourse, and then blinked away the mist in my eyes as I turned and followed the black-uniformed employee to my husband’s limo waiting to take me “home.”