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He flinches at her words and her tone.
“Take my blood pressure now, I bloody dare you.” She awkwardly pushes up from the bed with both hands on her lower back to stretch out her spine. Throwing another glare over her shoulder, she opens her mouth. Closes it. Changes her mind. “It seems I’m the only one committed in this relationship. I gave up everything for you. However, you’re still trying to save the bloody world and be the hero to everyone else but me. It’s so easy for you to send me home. Keep me safe so you can go about doing whatever it is you’re trying to prove to yourself to some… some bloody ghost.” She throws her hand in the air to make a point.
His heartbeat thuds behind his ears, and like her, his temper is rising despite years of training to withhold emotion.
She walks to the door and yanks it open, then slams it so hard behind her that the window rattles with the bang. The small print hanging above his dresser slides down the wall and hits the wood with a thud.
Maybe this is what’s best for Eden. He can handle her anger if it’s what it takes to convince her the safest place for her and their daughter is far away from him.
For how long?
Without her in his life, he’ll barely survive. Yet, living in a society where he no longer fits scares him.
Does she expect him to don a shirt, tie, and pants and continue to work as a doctor in the very way he needed to escape?
Samuel closes his eyes and tries to imagine his future with Eden in a world where he doesn’t belong. But he has to try for her and their baby.
* * *
An hour has passed, and Eden hasn’t returned.
There’s no perfect solution for either of them. He leaves his room and takes the path toward the restaurant. The vista of the tepuis and Canaima Lake is one of his favorite places, and he smiles, appreciating the place he calls home. Her voice echoes ahead. She’s on a bench seat under a tree, looking out to the lake. She is talking on her cell. He approaches cautiously, not wanting to overhear a conversation not intended for him.
Eden turns as if sensing him and holds his gaze. “Yes, I’m fine.” She pauses. “Of course. I love you too. I’ll speak to you soon.” She lowers the cell from her ear. “I have informed my family I’m safe and staying longer.”
“What do they think of me?”
Eden tilts her head. “What do you mean?”
“Only a selfish man would keep his pregnant wife in a place that’s not safe. So, I can only imagine what their opinion is.”
“I told them the decision is mine and that you want me to leave.” She pushes up from the seat. “I want more time here. I don’t know when I’ll see Kaikare again, so please give me this. Yes, I want to stay with you, but there are also other reasons why I’m not leaving yet.”
He takes her hand and guides her back down to the seat.
“How long? I’ll be comforted if we can book your flight home and work with a date. If we have to change it, then fine, but I don’t want to risk not getting on all the connecting flights in time.”
Eden nods, and he’s relieved she has not fought him on this. She looks out to the lake before responding. “I want to spend Christmas with you.”
“Christmas will be more enjoyable with your family.” Her head snaps back to meet his gaze. “Only because it will be just another day in the village. The Ularans know nothing of Christmas, and I have never tried to explain our celebrations to them.”
“Of course.” She takes his hand and rests it on her lap. “But we’d know. We would be together, and that means something, right? I mean, when was the last time you spent Christmas with someone you cared about?”
“I care about the Ularan people even though I don’t celebrate what our society has taught us. The gesture is appreciated, but please understand, I want you to be surrounded by family celebrating somethingyoubelieve in.”
“When was the last time?” she asks again.
He ponders the question. “Five years. Longer away from family.”
She exhales loud enough for him to hear. “I refuse to allow you to spend another Christmas alone.”
“Eden.”
“No. It’s unnecessary, and you no longerhave tobe alone.”
Samuel remains quiet so as not to fuel her contention. “What if we have our own Christmas celebration before you leave, so you’re home to celebrate with your family?”
Eden remains quiet. At least she doesn’t object.
