by Katie Dowe
“How often?” he asked softly as he lifted her hand and studied the set of rings he had placed there. He was married to her and he could not believe it!
“Pretty much every morning and at night too when I find it hard to fall asleep,” she said airily, a smile lighting up her face. “You had me listening to Luther and Jeffry as well as James and Peabo and you didn't utter a word about the fact that you can sing?”
“I didn't want to compete with them,” he told her teasingly.
“You're a cross between James and Jeffry or is it Peabo and Luther?” she shook her head as she looked down at him. “You have an amazing voice baby, and I kinda think you should share it with the world.”
“I want to share it with just you.” He lifted his hand and brushed back her hair. “I'm a very private person and I think you already know that. When I'm with you I'm myself and a few of the people I call friends get to know the real me. But you most of all. I'm absolutely me when I'm with you and for the first time in my life I don't fear that I'll get hurt when I let my guard down.”
Skylar stared down at him for a moment and shook her head. “I love you Blaine Mallory and I thank God that I'm the one you love.”
He pulled her on top of him and held her to him. “So am I.”
*****
“You're back at work,” Deloris murmured as she made her way into the store. “Why?”
“We put off our honeymoon until next month so I decided to come in. Besides, Blaine is taking me out for my birthday later and he had to go and check out the apartment and see to it that everything's okay.” She patted the space next to her on one of the sofas. “What’s going on?’
“I just needed to talk.” She gazed at her friend. “That wedding had me crying and I'm not the crying type. That man you married is quite something, honey.”
“Isn’t he?” Skylar said with a slow smile. “I love him, Del, and I never thought I would say that about a man before.”
“You couldn't help it. He's one of the good ones and the wedding and everything that happened there took a positive toll on my husband.”
“How so?”
“We went home that night and he held me in his arms and we really talked. For the first time in years we really talked, Sky, and he apologized for the way we behaved over the years.” She took her friend’s hands in hers, studying the rings on her finger. “We're better than we've ever been.”
“I'm so happy for that. Sometimes you just need a nudge.”
“Did you know he could sing like that?” Deloris asked her.
“I had no idea!” Skylar said with a laugh. “I told him that I was going to require my own private show very often.”
“You waited and you got the motherlode, honey.” Deloris squeezed her hands. “Thank you for putting off your honeymoon to be here for me.”
“I would have it no other way.”
*****
“Hey babe!” she called out as soon as she closed the front door. “Blaine?”
“In the bedroom.”
She hung up her coat and went to find him. “I thought we were going out to dinner?”
“I changed my mind. I hope that’s okay,” he said as he looked at her.
“That’s fine with me. I'm feeling tired anyway.”
“Would you go and take a shower?”
“Do I smell?” she asked lifting a brow.
“Never,” he said with a laugh. “I just have something planned.”
“Okay,” she smiled as she went towards the bathroom. “How long should I stay?”
“Give me about half an hour before you come out.”
“This had better be worth it because I don't stay in the shower too long.”
“I know, but it will be worth it.”
She shrugged and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She stood beneath the shower and ran the sponge over her body in a leisurely manner in order to give him enough time. She gave him a little more than a half hour and came out with a towel wrapped around her. A table was in the center of the room with covered dishes and two chairs. The light had been dimmed so she could barely see him.
“Do I get to put clothes on?” she asked him.
“As little as possible,” he told her.
“Okay then.” She took out a slinky lilac nightie and put it on without the panties. “I'm ready.”
“Have a seat,” he told her.
She did that and frowned a little when soft music filled the air. He switched on the bedside lamp and she stared as she looked at him. He had on full a suit of black: black sweater, black dress pants and his ash blonde hair was brushed back from his forehead and he was holding a microphone in his hand. She leaned forward as he opened his mouth and started singing ‘The Greatest Love affair’, a favorite of hers. Skylar stared at him as he sang with all the passion of the greatest singers, his rich baritone sending shivers all over her body.
He came forward slowly and knelt before her, taking her hand in his as he sang to her. She had no idea that she was crying until he let go of her hand and wiped her cheeks. She was so caught up in his voice and the way he made the words so personal that she couldn't move! She couldn't breathe. But he didn't stop there. He sang James Ingram and Peabo Bryson’s ‘My Heart Belongs to You'. Skylar gripped his hand as he sang that last song completely to her.
They both stayed silent long after the music had stopped. Him on his knees before her and her holding on to his hand as if she had no intention of letting go. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “Ready to eat?” he asked her softly.
“I can’t,” she whispered, her throat dry. “Could you just hold me?”
“Gladly.” He put the mic away and, scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the bed where he sat with her cradled in his arms. She didn't say anything and he didn't ask her to either. There was no need for words between them and words would have been too insignificant at that point. He held her and stroked her back gently, at times dropping kisses on top of her head. It was almost half an hour later that he lay her on the bed while he undressed. The food was forgotten by both of them as he took her into his arms and held her to him. Skylar curled her fist into his chest and felt the warmth of his bare skin. She knew at some point she was going to say something but not just yet.
*****
Blaine had no idea that she had drifted off until he heard her even breathing against him. He made sure she was asleep before easing away from her. He got off the bed and went to get rid of the food that they hadn't eaten. He took back the wine and put it in the fridge and turned the lights out. He closed his eyes as he leaned against the counter. He supposed he could chalk down what he felt for her as the love he'd never given to anyone just coming together in one gigantic force and going all in her direction. He loved her and it was something that frightened him so much that he had to take a breath to stop it from flooding him. He clasped his arms around his bare chest. He'd never been loved by his parents so he'd never loved them back so this was the first time he'd ever loved anyone in his life and he knew that this was going to be it for him. He straightened up and headed back to the bedroom. He climbed back into the bed and took her into his arms, a smile on his face as she cuddled against him.
*****
“Blaine, what are you doing here?” Skylar exclaimed as her husband showed up in the waiting room where she was seated with Angela and Devon.
He greeted the others and came to sit next to her. “I was on my way to a meeting and wanted to know if you were okay. Any word?”
“Not they're still in surgery.” Skylar reached for his hand. “You didn't have to come.”
“I did.” he squeezed her hand. “She's your friend so she's mine as well. And besides I hate the idea of you worrying. I know how much she means to you.”
“Thank you, baby.”
He nodded and lifting their clasped hands he kissed hers before looking over to where Devon was seated, his hands clasped between his legs. “I'll
be right back,” he said, releasing her hand and getting to his feet. She watched him walk over to Devon and take a seat next to him. Angela came over and sat next to her.
“I hope you realize that you have a prize right there,” she murmured.
“I'm beginning to,” Skylar looked over at the man she'd married a week earlier and felt the overwhelming sense of the love he showed her always. “I don't want to take it for granted.” She turned to her friend. “Do you feel pressured sometimes?”
“What do you mean?” Angela asked her.
Skylar shrugged as she tried to explain it. “To be a good wife.”
“It's not something that comes naturally, Sky,” she said in an undertone. “And the fact of the matter is: you're used to living by yourself, it's going to take some time for you to adjust, both of you.”
She didn't get to respond as her husband came over.
“I have to go,” he bent and kissed her lips lightly. “Keep me in the loop.” He nodded to Angela and strode from the room.
“A lot of women would want what you have,” Angela murmured.
Skylar stared at her friend but didn't ask the question on her mind. If she was one of them.
*****
“How are you feeling?” Skylar asked her friend as she fluffed her pillows. The operation had been successful and they'd been allowed to come and see her an hour later, but Devon had gone in first and stayed awhile. He'd gone back to the precinct and had left both Skylar and Angela there until he came back.
“Like I've been asleep for days!” Deloris said with a laugh. “Thanks for being here you guys.”
“Where else would we be?” Angela chided her. “They said they got everything?’
“They did.” Deloris sighed deeply. “And you should see the way Devon is around me! I have to say that this cancer thing was a blessing in disguise.”
“I'm not sure I would agree with you, but it has done some good,” Skylar told her.
“What now?” Angela asked her.
“Now I get to stay home and recuperate. I have to come here and do regular checks to monitor everything but so far so good.”
“And they didn't have to cut off your boobs,” Skylar said with a smile.
“That’s a definite plus,” Deloris agreed. “I'm supposed to be having a slew of visitors from the precinct but I'm happy you guys were here first.’
“I'm going to have to leave shortly as I am due in court,” Angela said regrettably.
“I have a few more minutes to kill so I'll stay,” Skylar assured her.
*****
“I was thinking that you could come with me when I leave tomorrow,” Blaine said as soon as he came back into the kitchen after he'd taken a shower. He was pulling on an old t-shirt over his head as he came forward and Skylar could smell the aftershave he'd used. “I'm going to be gone for three days to check out the site and I'd like us to spend that time together. It could be like a honeymoon where we could view the sites and have dinner at fancy restaurants.”
“Where are you going?” Skylar asked as she sliced into the Italian loaf she was serving with the shrimp salad for dinner. It had been a week since Del had been released from the hospital and she'd popped in several evenings to make sure she was doing okay. She'd put off the honeymoon they were supposed to have gone on because the store had become hectic for the spring.
“Boston.” He walked over to the wine cooling in the bucket and took it out. They'd developed a routine since they'd started living together: she did the cooking and he would take care of the wine. Usually they ordered take-out but tonight she'd come home a little earlier than usual. “What do you say?’
“I can’t,” she said regrettably as she carried the bowl on into the living room. “I have to fill an order for a client which means sourcing the gown she wants. I also have a meeting with a new designer whose work I happen to love.” She looked up as he came into the dining room. “I promise that I'll be all yours as soon as you get back.”
He handed her a glass and went to take his seat. “It doesn't bother you that we'll be away from each other for three days?”
“We're not joined at the hip, Blaine. We can be away from each other without it damaging our relationship.” She handed him the bowl for him to take out his meal.
“It bothers me,” he told her quietly as he dug his fork into the salad. “We're newlyweds and we never got to go on our honeymoon.”
“And we can go on our honeymoon anytime.”
“I'd like you to come with me Sky,” he insisted.
“And I already explained to you why I can't do that.” Frankly she was getting tired of the same discussion. “You're going on a business trip and it's not fair of you to ask me to leave my business for yours.”
“You don’t need the money.”
She stared at him. “Is that your way of telling me to stop working?”
“You could take a leave of absence. You were the one who said you have very good employees.” He toyed with his salad. “We could travel the world for a few weeks and come back.”
“We will.” She sipped her wine as she stared at him. “Where's this coming from?”
“Life's too short for us to be accumulating wealth and not having the time to enjoy it. It's not like we have kids to worry about.”
Understanding dawned. “It’s that what’s bothering you? Us not having children?’
“No,” he told her firmly. “I have a ton of money in my account. You already have money of your own. We're in our fifties and we can lose our lives at any moment. We don't have to work so hard, Sky. We should be enjoying our time together.”
“So my going with you on your business trip is us enjoying our lives?”
“It's a part of it. I would make it into a fun time for us. I already told you that we could check out some sights and have dinner at different restaurants. “
“I've already been to Boston, Blaine,” she pointed out. “I've been doing a lot of traveling in regards to my business. I don’t need to see the sights.”
“You haven't been there with me. Just come with me, Sky. We would be back on Friday and you can go into the store on Saturday for the entire day. I promise that I won't ask you to do anything on that day, I would just go to the club and be out of your hair.”
“Stop!” Her dark brown eyes flashed as she looked at him. “I already told you that I won't be able to make it. I have things to do, Blaine, and I can't just up and go on a trip with you just like that. I know we haven't been on our honeymoon but you know why that is and you said you understood. Just stop pressuring me.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment. “I had no idea that wanting to be with my wife was pressuring.”
“Well it is,” she said impatiently. “You're suffocating me.”
“What?” He looked at her in obvious shock.
“You call me every second of the day just to find out if I'm okay and if I've eaten. I'm a grown-ass woman, Blaine, and before you were around I did a damned good job taking care of myself. I don’t need you to do that. As I said before, we're not joined at the hip so you can go on the trip on your own.”
It was after she'd said the words that she realized what she'd done. She would play them over and over in her head again during the next few weeks and they would serve to torture her. She would never forget the lights going out in his dark green eyes as long as she lived.
He finished the wine and got to his feet.
“Where are you going?”
“You're right,” he told her quietly, the emotions wiped clean off his face. “I've been suffocating you. I had no idea that I was doing it and I want to apologize. I'll be staying at my apartment tonight and leaving from there. I'll see you when I get back.” With that he strode from the room, leaving a very stunned Skylar sitting at the table. She'd never meant for it to come to this. She pushed back her chair and ran towards the bedroom to see him packing a bag.
“I can do that for you,” she murmured as she came
into the room.
He looked up at her briefly before continuing. “It’s fine.” He resumed the packing.
“I didn't mean it.”
“Yes, you did. And you're right.” He stuffed clean socks into the bag and went into the closet to get shirts. “I love you and loving you is the only thing that has been on my mind. I've never loved anyone before and I went overboard with it.”
“Blaine please, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you.” She felt the fear pricking her at the expression on his handsome face.
He stopped what he was doing for a moment and came over to her, his expression softening as he looked at her. “I have to find a way to control my feelings for you. It's not on you that I have this overwhelming love inside me burning a hole and it's not fair to you because I do. We both need some time apart to evaluate and to give each other space. These three days will do that, hopefully.”
“But you're leaving tonight.”
He stepped away and went to finish packing. “I need tonight to think and be by myself, Sky.” He zipped the bag and the noise loud in the quiet room. He hefted the bag over his shoulder and came to stand in front of her. “I'll see you when I get back.” Without kissing her he strode from the room, leaving her there staring after him.
Chapter 12
“Honey, would you please have a seat? You're making me dizzy with the pacing,” Deloris said mildly as Skylar wandered around her bedroom, touching one object and then another. She had rearranged the contents of her dresser in less than a few minutes. “What’s wrong?”
“I said some pretty awful things to Blaine last night,” Skylar came and sat on the side of her friend’s bed. “He left last night to sleep at his apartment and this morning I know he went on his business trip and he hasn't called me. I didn't sleep last night Del, and no amount of make-up on my part can hide that.”
“You do look like crap,” Deloris told her. She grinned at the look Sky gave her. “Well, it’s true and I always hate the fact that you look as if you're getting ready for a photo shoot. Honey, I'm sure that whatever it is, Blaine has already forgotten it and has forgiven you. That man worships the ground you walk on.”