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I stand too. “She’s running errands this morning so it will be a while. Maybe you could come over for dinner one night this week?”
Her eyes beam. “I’d like that very much. I will look forward to your call.”
“Okay, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too, my sweet boy.”
I walk her to the door and kiss her cheek goodbye.
Closing the door behind me, the heaviness of her conversation still weighing on me, I can’t sit anymore. I need to do something productive, so I grab my shoes and head to the garage…
Chapter 28
¿Donde esta la biblioteca?
Marco
Twohourslater,Istare down at the assembled porch swing on the ground that’s ready to be painted.
Damn, I’m good.
Thankfully, I cut all the pieces and drilled the pilot holes before the shooting so all I had left was to assemble this bad boy. My muscles ache, but that’s more from being a potato the last two weeks than it is from carrying these thin pieces of wood. I kneel and pop the lid off the white paint can, the strong fumes immediately hitting my nose.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing, mister?” A stern voice I know too well chastises me from behind.
I stand up slowly and plaster on a sweet smile before I turn around to look into the irate eyes of my lovely wife. Her dirty blonde hair has a bit of a wave to it from the sweat from exercising, and her face is flushed — but I don’t think that’s a result of working out anymore.
“Uhhhhh, making a porch swing?” I answer too innocently and smile bigger than before.
“Marco," she says through tight lips.
My blood begins to boil. “Look, the doctor said I couldn’t lift anything heavier than twenty-five pounds and these two-by-fours aren’t even ten pounds. It’s fine. I took them one by one anyway.” I stand a little straighter. “I just had to do something other than sitting on my ass all day long.”
Her shoulders are squared, and her arms are crossed on her chest. “You could really hurt yourself.”
“Like I told you this morning,I’M FINE.” I throw my hands in the air and then I see the hurt cross her eyes. I walk toward her and slip my hands around her waist. I pull her to me for a hug as she stares up at me with furrowed brows, her arms still crossed over her chest. I soften my tone as I say, “I really am fine, babe. I promise I wouldn’t do anything that would hurt me.”
“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.” I see her throat bob as she swallows back tears.” She whispers, “I could have lost you, Marco.”
The pain in her eyes makes my stomach drop so I lean forward to kiss her lips. “Nothing bad will happen to me. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You can’t say that. You could have died,” she yells before her body deflates.
“But I didn’t, baby. I’m right here.” I bring my hand to her chin and force her to look me in the eyes. “I’m right here. Hell, lightning could take me out tomorrow, you never know, so I don’t want to live in fear of whatcouldhappen. And I’m not going to break if I carry wood or if you hug me.”
I take her lips again, and this time she closes her eyes and lets out a little meow before she pulls away.
“I don’t want to live in the fear either, but for the first time ever, I let myself go there. And I don’t know how to come back,” she says softly as she lowers her head.
“Ellie, look at me.” Her timid eyes find mine again. “I’m right here and we can’t live in the fear. I’m yours forever.” She nods as she bites her bottom lip. “I’ve missed you,” I whisper as I scatter kisses on her cheek and down her neck.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispers and wraps her arms around my neck and then our lips meet again.
“Let’s move this inside and you can show me how much.” I squeeze her ass and she smiles up at me.
Uncertainty flashes through her eyes. “I don’t think we should.”
“Why not? I think we’ve established that I’m fine.” I chuckle and her smile gets bigger.
