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“I’m nervous,” she said as he caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers.
“I’ll be gentle,” he told her as he left a trail of kisses from her ear, down her neck, and over her shoulder, pulling the strap down as he went. “If you want me to stop, just say the word.” His lips ghosted over her skin as his hand bunched the fabric of her nightgown into his fist.
“I’m yours.” With those two little words, Kent picked his wife up and carried her to bed.
Before I’m Gone
Sit in the front seat of a roller coaster and feel the wind in my hair
Eat tacos or tortillas from a roadside stand in New Mexico
Shop at a large farmers market
Meet Lana Del Rey and see her in concert
Take a picture of the most-painted shed in the US
Sit in the sand and watch the sunrise in Cape Cod
Take the steps to the Lincoln Memorial
Do yoga in Sedona
Tour and feed animals in a wildlife sanctuary
Stand under a waterfall
See Elvis on the street corner in Las Vegas
Hug an elephant
Find my family
Step on grapes and make wine
Run through a wheat field
Drive Route 66
See the marquees on Broadway
Ring the Liberty Bell
Buy a quilt from an Amish stand
See the northern lights in Minnesota
Visit Plymouth Rock
Touch Babe Ruth’s bat
Travel the Loneliest Road
Visit the Muhammad Ali Center
Dance in the rain with someone I love
Take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty
Check out the Grand Canyon
Take every picture I can of Palmer
Make Palmer smile
Eat chowdah in Boston, per Palmer
Eat pizza in Chicago
Try frozen custard in New York City
Get coffee in each city
Get married in Las Vegas!!!!!
THIRTY-NINE
Kent trailed his fingers up and down Palmer’s arm, trying to wake her. She’d surprised him by sleeping through the sunrise, which woke him the second a ray burst through between one of the other hotels. He had done as she asked and kept the curtains open while they slept. He hadn’t wanted to get out of bed after making love to his wife, but he promised, and he’d be damned if he didn’t follow through.
“Mrs. Wagner.” He kissed her bare shoulder and she moaned. He smiled against her skin and lifted the blankets so he could move next to her. Yesterday had been a long and tiring day, and he was surprised she’d made it through the night without any issues. Kent pressed his body to hers and continued to coax her out of her deep sleep.
Palmer shifted against Kent and sighed. She put his hand on her breast, which was all the sign he needed from her. He made love to her as the sun rose higher in the sky, slowly and gently. He kept his weight off her weakening body and lavished her with every ounce of attention he could give her. Kent wanted Palmer to know how much he loved her, worshipped her, and treasured their bond. She welcomed him, loved him, and gave everything she had of herself to her husband. They were one, an inseparable pair, at least for the time being.
Basking in their afterglow, they took a bath together and soaked away the ache in her body. Kent held her against his chest and never wanted to let go. There, in their hotel room, they were in a bubble where he could pretend the real world didn’t exist. In his fantasy, Palmer wasn’t sick, and she was the one carrying his child. There, in the bathroom, nothing could tarnish their happiness.
They dressed and prepared for the day. They didn’t have a big agenda but planned to do a couple of sightseeing activities before deciding where to go next. Palmer scrolled through Kent’s phone, looking at their wedding pictures from last night. Each one brought a smile to her face, and that smile made Kent want to stay in their room all day and be newlyweds. They could order room service and feed each other. No one said they had to leave. He was about to ask her if she wanted to be naked for the rest of the day when he noticed her expression change.
“What is it?”
“Courtney emailed.” Palmer handed the phone to Kent and waited while he read it.
Dear Palmer (and Kent),
I hope my email finds you well. I apologize for taking this long to respond as I’ve had a few things going on, but I wanted to let you know that I understand why you left, and I was heartbroken to read about your illness. Life has treated you so unfairly, I can’t imagine what you’re going through. As much as I wish you had told me when we met, I know why you didn’t, and I respect you for that. Palmer, I am deeply sorry and wish I had the power to change things for you. Please, please know that meeting you was one of the highlights of my life, even for those few hours. I hope, in some way, I’ve been able to offer you the closure you need. Our mother loved you. She looked for you every day of her life, until her last. I pray, that if there’s a heaven, she’s waiting for you with open arms.
