When Aaron arrived home, he stripped off his coat and hung it on the hook by the door, slowly unwrapping his scarf and removing his hat.“It’s getting colder every day.”
“I know.I’m not sure how I’m going to survive an Alaska winter.”
He chuckled.“Just keep baking.With both ovens going, we don’t even need the fireplace.”He quickly washed his hands as she put their plates on the table.
“Whitefish!”he exclaimed.
“Agnes brought more by today.She keeps at least two fish for us every day.”
“I’d eat only whitefish all winter and not get sick of it.”
Myrtle shook her head.“I think I would.Thankfully, we have bear, moose, rabbit, and venison to choose from.And salmon of course.Lots and lots of dried salmon.”
“We’ll eat like royalty.”Aaron shook his head.“And to think.Up until a month ago, I was content eating hardtack and jerky for every meal.”
“I don’t know how you didn’t go crazy.I had a hard enough time for the month we were traveling.It was terrible!”she said as she set his plate on the table.“I want to apologize for going against your wishes and talking to Katie yesterday.I was looking at it differently than you were, but still, I should have listened to you.Forgive me?”
He took her hand, pulling her into his lap and surprising her.With the way he usually attacked his food, she was shocked that he was delaying his meal, even for a moment.“I do forgive you.And several men came to me today and told me you did nothing wrong by giving Rod an extra cookie.They said he blew it all out of proportion.”
“I’m glad they told you how it really was,” she said.“I would never flirt with another man.You’re the man I’m married to.The man I love.Why would I flirt with someone else?”
“You love me?”he asked, blinking a few times.“Are you certain?”
She nodded.“Of course I’m certain.I never say anything I don’t mean.”
He pulled her head down until their lips met, and he kissed her long and hard.“I love you too, Myrtle.Already, it’s hard to believe that I was ever able to survive without you at my side.”
She looked into his eyes for a moment and saw the truth shining from them.Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, “I’m glad it’s not just me.”
His hand stroked her back for a moment.“Would you mind moving to your chair so we can eat?”he whispered.“I mean, I love you and all, but I’m hungry!”
Myrtle laughed.Now he was acting like Aaron again.And that made everything right with her world.
