Page 35 of About Last Night
“You don’t have to do that here.” The doctor looks around our group. “There’s nothing you can do and he’s not up for visitors, although you can see him if you wish.”
All I want to do is leave. I don’t want my last memories of the man who controlled me for so long to be of him in a hospital bed. He doesn’t deserve my sympathy, and I know if I see him now, my heart will give it to him.
Turning to Devon I say, “Take me home.”
Without question or word, he tips his head in agreement and pulls me from the room. I can’t speak. I’m on the verge of breaking and I hate that I’m going to do it over a man who never loved me for me.
“Shh…” Devon pulls me into his arms, presses my face to his chest. “I’ll have us home in a few minutes. Just hold on until then.”
His words have the tears pushing closer to release. He knows me so well. Knows what I need and when I need it.
And I hate that I’m going to have follow through on our agreement and give him up.
16
DEVON
Putting the plates on the table, I stand back and survey the setup. I’ve been home a few hours, enough time to prep our meal and set the table ready for our anniversary dinner.
A timer beeps and I head back to the kitchen to check the roasting vegetables. I’ve gone for something simple and yet special. Pan seared salmon and roast vegetables with a lemon meringue pie for dessert.
Lizzi should be home soon. Traffic being light, it usually takes her forty minutes to make the drive from her office in the city to home. Of course, traffic in Sydney is never predictable and she could be as long as two hours.
I’m hoping for the forty. Dinner will keep, but it won’t be as nice as it is served fresh. The alarm panel on the kitchen wall chimes and I smile. Looks like my wishes are coming true.
Seems fitting to have good luck today.
It’s one year since we snuck off and got married on the shore of Lake Illawarra.
A year of living together. Lizzi working crazy hours and jumping through more hoops than anyone should have to inorder to take control of her family’s company alongside her brother.
Gordon Foxworth finally bowed out of the business two months ago. Good thing because I was about ready to knock the man out in spite of him being in his eighties. And I can’t say I’m all that upset that six weeks after he was forced to step down, he had a stroke and has been confined to a bed ever since.
I’m a firm believer in Karma and the man brought his current situation on himself with all the manipulation and abuse he dished out to my wife over the years.
I raise the heat under the frypan I’ve had warming, and once it’s hot enough, place the salmon steaks, skin side down, in before checking the veg again. All looks good and I’m more than pleased with myself about our meal.
We’ve taken turns cooking over the last year, and if one of us isn’t home at dinner time, the other grabs takeout and heads to wherever the work is happening. The routine is comforting. And reassuring. Especially when the start of our marriage was marred by fighting and threats.
I soon put a stop to that. Although, I did it with Lizzi beside me, not behind me. The woman who demanded I fuck her our first night together has shown her face a lot more than the one who meekly came down the stairs our first morning.
I love all sides of Lizzi and today is the day I tell her.
We’ve kept our feelings to ourselves. Physically we don’t hold back, but emotionally…yeah, neither of us has stepped forward to reveal how we feel.
I’m pretty sure I’ve loved Lizzi from the first time I saw her. Even with another man’s ring on her finger. Now the ring on her finger is mine. And that’s the way it’s going to stay.
“Hi, honey, I’m home!”
I smile. It might seem stupid and cliche and I know we’re both joking when we come home and call that out, but I love to do it or hear it.
“Hey.” Lizzi enters the kitchen and stops. “Oh. You cooked dinner?”
“Yep.” I study her. Something isn’t right. I give the food a quick glance then head around the island and stop in front of her. “You okay?”
“What?” Her head shakes a little. “Yes. Sorry. I just didn’t expect…”
I follow her gaze. “It’s just salmon and roast vegetables.” I don’t know why I’m trying to downplay it. It is a special meal for a special day, and I can’t work out where her head is at. Has she forgotten what today is?
