Blessed Twice

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Blessed Twice Page 25

by Lynn Galli


  “If it wasn’t last night, what’s got you so quiet today?” She shifted to swing her legs over my lap. The feel of her in my arms, with her wrapped around me, it was the closest I could get to heaven.

  “I was thinking about the first sunset we shared together. Do you remember?”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Yes, do you?” That teasing tone made me smile. I wasn’t the one who brought up sentimental topics.

  “You were on a date—”

  “Which you rescued me from.”

  “And you cajoled me into an entire day together.” I squeezed her tighter against me.

  “Don’t start with me.” The tone was firm, but the smile gave away her mischief. “You wanted to go. You could have said you were busy.”

  “I wasn’t. I saw you with that woman, and my quiet Saturday turned into a quest to spend more time with you.”

  “You never told me that.”

  “I’m full of surprises.”

  “Don’t I know it?” Her eyebrows fluttered, making the heat return to my cheeks.

  “We spent the day together and you picked a restaurant where we could watch the sunset from the patio.”

  “It was beautiful. Not as beautiful as you, but still pretty beautiful.”

  I made sure to lock eyes with her. “Nothing’s as beautiful as you, Briony.”

  “Sometimes you floor me, you know?”

  “Now you know how I always feel around you.” She sucked in a breath as moisture prickled her eyes. Quickly, she leaned in and kissed me, her soft lips pressing then pulling on my own. I loved kissing her. She was the only person I’ve ever kissed and somehow I lucked into an expert. “What’s got you all nostalgic?” Her hand pressed over my heart, and I knew she could feel my elevated heart rate.

  “When I’m uncomfortable, I count.” That just slipped out. I hadn’t meant to say that. I’d never told anyone. Not even a therapist. I could tell by her startled expression that she didn’t expect me to say that. It wasn’t the answer to her question, but she wouldn’t go back to that now that she had this.

  “You count?” she prompted, tightening her arms around me.

  “I didn’t mean…I, that wasn’t what—”

  “Honey? Tell me, please?”

  “It’s a habit. It allows me to concentrate on something else when things are happening that I don’t like or make me uncomfortable.”

  She nodded encouragingly but there was a fleeting look of pain that skittered across her face. “Do you still count?”

  “I know how many steps from my office to my classrooms, from my apartment to my car, from the street to the park. I know how many seconds it takes to get through a line at the supermarket, to pick up my dry cleaning, to have a conversation with the dean or for an average office visit with my students. If I’ve done it, I know how long or how much of whatever it is that I’m doing. I count almost everything and with everyone.”

  “Does it bother you?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Can you stop it?”

  “Most times, yes. If it’s really nerve wracking, then no. It took 9,932 seconds from the moment we stepped through Willa’s door last Sunday night until we left.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “You’re still nervous there?”

  “Yes, but I like being there with you. I’m starting to like it better than making you go alone. I’m glad you only go once a month, though.”

  “I like it, too. Is there anything I can do to help you?”

  “That’s just it.” I took a breath. “I count with everyone. It never mattered how comfortable I was with them.” I tightened my grip on her and looked directly at her beautiful golden eyes.

  “Until I met you. I didn’t notice it at first because it was such a habit, but then I realized that even when you pressed me on things or asked me questions that no one else had asked I didn’t count. You’re the only person that makes me so comfortable I don’t use that protective habit. If you’re near, I need only look at you and I stop counting.”

  “Oh, Mabel, I’m so happy to hear you say that. I’m glad I can do that for you. You’re my comfort, too, you know?”

  “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Briony. I know we’ve only known each other for a year and a half, but I’ve never felt so comfortable with anyone before.”

  “Me, too.” Her fingers came up to stroke my cheek.

  “I missed you so much when you were in Vermont and I was in Chicago. I don’t want to have to miss you like that again.”

  “Me, neither, honey. I should have changed my plans so I could at least see you for a few days in Chicago.”

  “Next year, we’ll have to plan something else.” Her smile split her face as it always did whenever I brought up a future. It’s why I knew she’d be open to my question. “Next year?”

  “Yes.” I leaned in and kissed her this time. I loved her taste, her smell, the feel of her wrapped around me. “I miss you when you leave my place at the end of a date or when I leave yours before Caleb wakes up.”

  “I’ve told you that if we have an honest conversation with Caleb, we could change that. You could spend the whole night.

  He knows that sex is between people who love each other. He knows how we feel about each other.”

  That was one of my favorite things about her. She knew I loved her without my having to say anything. She said it for me, sometimes in passing, sometimes teasing, sometimes when she wanted me to know just how much she loved me, but I’d promised myself. “And you know how I feel about you?” She blinked once but smiled serenely. “Yes, you show me every time I see you. Every time you look at me or touch me. I know.”

  “And that’s enough?”

  A small frown appeared. “Of course, M, have I given you the impression that it isn’t? I love you, and I feel your love when I look in your gorgeous brown eyes that tell me almost everything that you’re thinking.”

  Smiling, I teased, “What am I thinking right now?”

  “That you like having me practically sitting on top of you, that you thought I looked sexy paddling through the water today, that you can see the four grey hairs on my head but won’t say anything about them, oh, and you can’t live without me.” I laughed. There was so much I loved about this woman, but her wit ranked almost as high as her kindness. I also loved that she had a dark edge to that wit. It clashed so well with her compassion. “I love having you in my lap. You always look sexy to me. You’re delusional about the grey hair, but when you finally get it, you’ll look just as gorgeous as you do know. And no, I can’t live without you, but more importantly, I don’t want to live without you.”

  Her smile faded a bit as she registered my serious tone. Her hand pressed against my chest to take in how hard my heart was beating right now. She looked like she wanted to say something, but I wanted to get this out.

  “This past year has been the best of my life. I feel like I must have gone through everything that happened to me when I was younger so that when I met you, when you gave me your love, I’d feel like I deserved it. You make me feel like nothing will ever hurt again. Like I belong, finally, and I’m so proud that you’ve chosen me.” I brushed away one of the tears that had dropped onto her cheek. “I love you, Briony. Will you honor me as my wife?”

  “Oh, God, M!" She breathed out, a small sound leaving her throat. "I love you so much.”

  I waited for more, but her face was now buried in my neck and small tremors ran through her body. I stroked her back, helping to soothe her. “Bri?” I asked when I felt her take a cleansing breath and push herself back. “Is that a—”

  “Yes! Yes, M, I want nothing more than for us to be married.”

  “Thank you.” I didn't have time to think about how stupid that sounded before her lips landed on mine, kissing with such abandon that I forgot everything else I wanted to say. She’d always had that effect on me.

  “I’m so happy you asked. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold off before the hint
s about a permanent future with you became anything but subtle." She grinned, a sheepish look making her all the more lovable.

  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but we’ll have to talk to Caleb. I know some people don’t think their kids should have a say, but I don’t want to force myself into Caleb’s life.” She laughed, a soft rhythm of sound that caressed me. “He wanted to ask you to marry us last Christmas.”

  “What?” I couldn’t hide my shock.

  “Kids are like that. He knew how much I loved you and he’d just told you that he loved you. He wanted you to live with us right then. He’s going to be thrilled about this.” I let out a breath of relief. “That’s wonderful.” I reached down under my chair and pulled the ring box out I’d been hiding. “I got this for you, but if you don’t like it, we can get one you like.” She stared wide-eyed at me before looking at the box. “You bought me a ring?”

  “I wanted to give you a ring. Is that all right? If you’d rather not, we can just get wedding bands. I thought you could pick those out for us.” I lifted the lid on the box so she could see the ring.

  “It’s beautiful, honey. I love it. I love you.”

  “I had it inscribed.”

  She carefully pulled it free and read the inscription. Tears sprang in her eyes again as she looked back at me. “I love you, too, Mabel. Always.”

  As with everything about her, those words told me that I’d never want for anything else ever again because of her.

  THE END

  Table of Contents

  BLESSED TWICE

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  M’s Epilogue

 

 

 


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