calls. He came to the bedroom and found me in bed; he cradled me, kissing my face, my hair, my lips.
"Baby, why didn't you call me, I would have been here in a second." He took me to the bathroom, sat me on the sink, and then took off my clothes. His hands were shaky as he put my night-clothes on then placed me back in bed. He went to the kitchen and prepared tea and brought it to me. He was genuinely worried.
"Do you want to eat, want me to call someone?"
"I just want to sleep," I said, my chest feeling as if it were going to explode.
"At least drink some of the tea; it's chamomile."
I had never seen him so helpless before; he had always known what to do. What's the right word, the best way to touch me, the way I needed to be loved. Now, all he could do was to take off his clothes and get in bed with me.
"You don't have to go through this alone," he said, then held me tight.
I woke up at seven the next day, his body wrapped around mine like a vine. I looked at the peacefulness of his expression while sleeping, the beauty of his features, and every line on his face. I caressed his lips, his hair, and his face, with gentle strokes. And then I gave him the softest of kisses as not to wake him up. My lips told him in silence how much I loved him. He opened his eyes as if knowing what I had just said. Then he rolled on top of me and kissed me.
"What did you just say?"
"Me? I was quiet like a mouse, didn't want to wake you up."
"I want to hear what you said."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"So that's the game you want to play; just remember every action has an equal reaction."
"I said, I said I care about you." I was nervous; I wasn't about to confess to him what was in my heart, not now, not without knowing how he felt about me.
"Are those the words you used? You care about me; like you care about healthcare or like you care about garbage collection? Please tell me, Ellie."
"You are the most infuriating man I have ever met," then I tried to get out from under him but I could not get out.
"I care about you too." His voice was velvety soft, seductive.
Kayden left for work at nine a.m., not convinced I should be left alone. He programmed additional numbers to his office, secretary, and receptionist on my cell phone and made me promise I would call if I needed him, anytime. I decided it was time to get out of bed and begin to face the world. I took a long shower, and then went to the kitchen in search of something to eat. By eleven I was somewhat ready to face the world. I sent a text to the kids to find out how they were doing. Damien had returned to Urbana to resume classes at the University of Illinois, Emily went back to Northwestern, and Vickie was back at work at her father's law firm. I had to contact my boss to find out what was the status of my employment; I would not blame them if they had terminated me. I still had things to do regarding my mother's belongings, but that was going to have to wait. For now I was going to focus on re-establishing my life in Chicago. The rest would come later.
Julian called at six to ask if we were still on for our regular Thursday night dinner. The man was unrelenting; I told him it was not a good idea. I did not want him to think there was still hope for us, did not want to lead him on. He said that he understood, but Thursday night was our time to talk about the kids. Besides, we promised to still be friends after the divorce.
"I don't know Julian, I think you need to move on with your life; I'll think about it and let you know." I also knew that Kayden was not going to like it one bit.
When Kayden got home after work he found me in a different mood than the night before. He suggested we go out for some fresh air and dinner. It was a great idea; the air was warm and the night just beautiful. We decided to walk to Gibson's for steak. The maitre d' found a table for us very
"Baby, why didn't you call me, I would have been here in a second." He took me to the bathroom, sat me on the sink, and then took off my clothes. His hands were shaky as he put my night-clothes on then placed me back in bed. He went to the kitchen and prepared tea and brought it to me. He was genuinely worried.
"Do you want to eat, want me to call someone?"
"I just want to sleep," I said, my chest feeling as if it were going to explode.
"At least drink some of the tea; it's chamomile."
I had never seen him so helpless before; he had always known what to do. What's the right word, the best way to touch me, the way I needed to be loved. Now, all he could do was to take off his clothes and get in bed with me.
"You don't have to go through this alone," he said, then held me tight.
I woke up at seven the next day, his body wrapped around mine like a vine. I looked at the peacefulness of his expression while sleeping, the beauty of his features, and every line on his face. I caressed his lips, his hair, and his face, with gentle strokes. And then I gave him the softest of kisses as not to wake him up. My lips told him in silence how much I loved him. He opened his eyes as if knowing what I had just said. Then he rolled on top of me and kissed me.
"What did you just say?"
"Me? I was quiet like a mouse, didn't want to wake you up."
"I want to hear what you said."
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"So that's the game you want to play; just remember every action has an equal reaction."
"I said, I said I care about you." I was nervous; I wasn't about to confess to him what was in my heart, not now, not without knowing how he felt about me.
"Are those the words you used? You care about me; like you care about healthcare or like you care about garbage collection? Please tell me, Ellie."
"You are the most infuriating man I have ever met," then I tried to get out from under him but I could not get out.
"I care about you too." His voice was velvety soft, seductive.
Kayden left for work at nine a.m., not convinced I should be left alone. He programmed additional numbers to his office, secretary, and receptionist on my cell phone and made me promise I would call if I needed him, anytime. I decided it was time to get out of bed and begin to face the world. I took a long shower, and then went to the kitchen in search of something to eat. By eleven I was somewhat ready to face the world. I sent a text to the kids to find out how they were doing. Damien had returned to Urbana to resume classes at the University of Illinois, Emily went back to Northwestern, and Vickie was back at work at her father's law firm. I had to contact my boss to find out what was the status of my employment; I would not blame them if they had terminated me. I still had things to do regarding my mother's belongings, but that was going to have to wait. For now I was going to focus on re-establishing my life in Chicago. The rest would come later.
Julian called at six to ask if we were still on for our regular Thursday night dinner. The man was unrelenting; I told him it was not a good idea. I did not want him to think there was still hope for us, did not want to lead him on. He said that he understood, but Thursday night was our time to talk about the kids. Besides, we promised to still be friends after the divorce.
"I don't know Julian, I think you need to move on with your life; I'll think about it and let you know." I also knew that Kayden was not going to like it one bit.
When Kayden got home after work he found me in a different mood than the night before. He suggested we go out for some fresh air and dinner. It was a great idea; the air was warm and the night just beautiful. We decided to walk to Gibson's for steak. The maitre d' found a table for us very
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