Page 56 of Words Unspoken

“Oh! Missy Ann back!” grinned FenLei. “You staying?”

“I will be helping Michael with his recovery,” replied Ann.

Max reached past the housekeeper for an apple and whispered something in her ear. She tittered.

“I hope so!” FenLei cackled. “I make lunch?”

Michael shook his head. He was tired just from the car ride. He yawned.

“I think we will pass,” said Max. “My big brother looks like he just wants to take a nap.”

Max tagged along with Michael upstairs. Ann sat at the breakfast bar and watched FenLei putter around.

“When did Michael get the dog?” questioned Ann.

“One day he bring in. Dog with him ever since. Sleep on bed,” FenLei wrinkled her nose.

“It sleeps on the bed?” Ann could not believe it. Michael would not allow that, would he?

“Sure. It go everywhere with him,” FenLei shook her head. “Good dog.”

“What is its name?”

FenLei cackled. “FedEx.”

“FedEx? You are serious?” Ann laughed as FenLei nodded.

“So, you no answer right. You stay with Mr. Michael?” FenLei put away the mop that she had been using.

“For a few days at least. After that, we will see,” Ann hedged.

“We see,” snorted FenLei. “You go Mr. Michael sad. You stay, make happy.”

“FenLei, it is not that simple,” sighed Ann.

“Sure it is,” FenLei looked at her watch. “Oh! I late. Daughter music show. Must go. You stay Missy Ann!”

FenLei grabbed her purse and hustled for the door.

Max had brought the dog out to do its business. He brought FedEx back inside the living room and petted her. “I really like this dog. You know, we were never allowed to have pets as kids. I never once thought Michael would want one.”

Ann was surprised as well. She knew Michael had a loving heart but never thought he would be a dog person. Maybe a fish person but not a dog person. However, he seemed to have adopted FedEx and the dog was more than equally devoted to him. When Max stopped petting her, FedEx padded upstairs to find Michael. FedEx would probably crawl into bed with him again. Ann thought it was funny. She did not see Michael as a person who would let a dog sleep on the bed and yet he did. “When do you leave for the honeymoon?”

“Friday next week,” Max grabbed a glass of water. “Are you moving back in?”

Ann nodded. “For a couple of days at least. Just until Michael isn’t so tired.”

“Are you going to tell him that you love him?” Max cut to the heart of the matter.

When he was deeply in love with the mystery woman? Probably not. Definitely not. She wondered if she should try to find out who this woman was. No. Ann really did not want to obsessively compare herself to perfection as Michael had called his mystery love. “I think that is between Michael and I.”

Max sighed and put down his now half empty glass on the kitchen counter. “As a man who is extremely happy right now, married to the woman who he loves, I am going to interfere a moment.”

“I really wish you would not,” protested Ann. It hurt too much.

“I don’t know what is going on between the two of you, but I think both of you have miscommunicated,” Max came over and put his hands on her shoulders, looking down at her. “Ann, he loves you. He might not say it, but he does.”

Like a kid sister. Like a friend. Like a secretary that he has had for over twenty years. She smiled sadly.