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Fear etches lines between his brows and around his eyes. “What’s wrong with right here?”
I laugh lightly. “All the way over there? Don’t be silly. The view is better over here.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me. Why should he? I have every intention of making his fears come true.
“I’d prefer it here, honey.”
I frown, genuinely upset that he’s making such a fuss. “Oh, come on. Don’t be such a scaredy-cat.”
“We could fall.”
I tilt my head and purse my lips. “Do you really think I’d let that happen?”
He takes a moment to think it over, and then, to my pleasure, takes measured steps, creeping closer until his hand fills mine. I bring us right to the edge but don’t make any moves to sit. The wind is stronger here, and I can tell from his sweaty palm and the death grip he has on my hand that Glenn is seconds away from bolting.
“See, this isn’t so scary, is it?” I drink in the view, suck in a deep breath of clean air, and sigh audibly. “I love it up here. The view is killer.”
“It sure is. Can we go now?”
Annoyed, that’s what I am. “Just a few minutes longer.” The request is delivered straight, more of a command than anything. Glenn has no choice but to wait, and he does.
“You know, I was thinking,” I begin, “we haven’t taken any good pictures of us together in a while.” I turn a brilliant smile on him, the one I always used in the past to sway him to my thinking. “Did you bring your phone?”
Glenn pats his pockets, finding it in his front left one. “Yep.”
“Good! Let’s take a few before we go. I want to capture this moment.”
“Okay, but let’s move a little more over there first.”
Away from the edge? “No way! That would ruin it. We should have the water and the trees and everything in the background. It’ll be pretty!”
How could he argue with that? The truth is, he can’t.
“All right, but let’s make it fast. This spot makes me nervous.”
I roll my eyes playfully. “Such a worrywart. Fine, let’s hurry.”
Glenn pulls up the camera feature on his phone and draws me into his side, then holds the phone up high so he can fit us both in the frame. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I smile brightly, genuinely happy in that moment, but for reasons no one who may ever see it will ever know.
The camera makes small clicking sounds as Glenn snaps several shots, and then he lowers his arm and it’s over.
The time has come.
I take a breath, a moment to do a gut check, making sure there are no last-minute reservations, and then I look up at my husband and smile.
For a brief second, when he looks down at me, I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. And then I decide that this is no time for second guessing myself. I’ve made my choice, and he’s made his.
“I love you, Faith,” Glenn says so purely, I almost believe him.
“I love you, too, Glenn,” I lie for the last time. And then I reach out with both hands, flattening my palms on his chest, and shove.
Nineteen
~Declan~
I saw it all. The moment of possible connection. The photo op. And the moment when Brenda made her decision.
And the most horrifying moment of all: the moment she pushed Glenn with all her might…and he only stumbled a fraction before regaining his footing.
