“You left for ten years.Where were you?”she continues.
“Well, I was angry at the universe for a while, so there was some lost time.”
Her face sobers.“Right.Of course.I’m sorry.I haven’t asked you much about your parents.I’m so sorry they’re gone.They were the nicest people on Earth.And to find out my dad started that fire…” She shudders.Tears well up in her eyes.
I reach across the distance between us and wipe them away.“Hey, no more tears.Not over that.I’m also sorry about your dad.”
“He was a horrible man.How can you be sorry?”
“He was your father.I bet you had good years growing up before your mother got sick and he started drinking.”
“I guess.I can’t believe he spent all those years shouting verses from the Bible to make me and Rebekah feel bad about ourselves when he himself had killed two people just because they were kind to us girls.”She sniffles.“And I’m so, so, so sorry.I never knew.”
I slide my hand into her hair and stroke my fingers through it.It’s so soft.She has it down tonight.I brushed it out for a long time because it obviously felt good and pleased her.I know she wants to cut it.We’ll take care of that as soon as possible.
“There was no way for you to have known, honey, and you’re not responsible for the actions of your father.But you’re right.He was a hypocrite.Most of the crap he filled your head with isn’t part of normal religious beliefs.Certainly, murder or even attempted murder or burning someone’s house down while they’re sleeping would bring the wrath of God to a person long before holding hands with your husband the night before your wedding.”I wink at her.Hopefully, she’ll see the comparison and relax a bit about her fears that she has sinned.
“You’re right.It’s going to take some time for me to stop feeling like I’m a bad person all the time.But Rebekah reiterated everything you said, and I trust her.”Hannah gasps, eyes wide.“That came out wrong.I didn’t mean to imply I don’t trust you.”
I chuckle.“Honey, I know.Stop worrying about every little thing you think or do or say.You’re not going to upset me.”
“I’ll try.”
“Anyway, to answer your question, I went to college, got my degree, and started working on my parents’ legacy with my brothers.It took us ten years to decide to move back to the mountain and reclaim our lives.Except for Asher.He’s been here longer, living quietly on the land.”
“And then my father threatened you again.”
“Yes, but he never stood a chance.Not this time.We were prepared.When you’re feeling up to it, I’ll show you all the safeguards we’ve put in place around here.The most important thing you need to know is that there’s a safe room in every one of our cabins and the main house.”
Her eyes go wide.“Where?”
“Mine is in the back of the master closet.So is Adam’s.I’ll add your thumbprint to it so you can access it easily in the event you need to hide inside.”
“And why would I need a safe room?”
I shrug.“Lots of reasons.Rebekah went into theirs while your father was outside, ranting and waving around his gun.If anyone ever comes to this property threatening us, I expect you to take the baby and get into the safe room as fast as possible.”
“Okay,” she murmurs.
“It’s also fireproof, so if God forbid there was ever a fire, you would be secure in there.But that’s not likely to happen because we’ve put state-of-the-art sprinkler systems in every building.”I lean back and point toward the spout on the ceiling.
“Oh… That’s what those are?Sprinklers?”
“Yep.An alarm would be blaring, too.You’ll never have to worry about fire here, sunshine.”
“Okay.”She relaxes into the mattress.Suddenly, her face lights up, she smiles, and her palm goes to her tummy.“Oh…” She reaches out and grabs my hand.
Grinning, I settle my fingers against her stomach.I love touching her, but I’m even more excited about the fact that she instinctively reached for me, wanting to share this moment.
The baby is kicking hard.“Doesn’t that hurt?”I ask her.
She giggles.“No.It feels funny.It’s…life-affirming.”
It certainly is.I don’t stop smiling because I can’t.I’m in love with my wife.This moment is precious.
She scoots closer to me.“Will you kiss me?”she asks.Her cheeks heat as though the question is ludicrous, and I might turn her down.
Keeping my palm on her belly, I slide my other hand under her head and close the distance between us.“Was our kiss in front of the judge your first, sunshine?”
