Reese awoke in the morning thinking about the evening before. Parts of it seemed like a bad dream, but the rest of it seemed like a dream come true. Whichever side she chose to focus on, one thing was certain . . . a lot had happened in a very short time.
Hearing a noise in the kitchen, she sat up and looked around. The place on the bed next to her was empty and unmade. She got out of bed, dressed and went into the kitchen to see what Blaine was up to.
Blaine looked up from the stove as Reese emerged from the bedroom. "Good morning. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No . . . what are you doing?" she asked.
"Making breakfast for us. I hope that's ok."
"Of course," she replied, unsurely. "This is your home now too."
"Then you haven't changed your mind? You're sure you want me to move in with you?"
For a long time Reese had been afraid of letting anyone into her life. She had been independent for so long, because she had to be, that she had learned to value her freedom and her space. But she had to admit that having him there was nice and she hated the idea of him going back to live with Cassie and Serena.
"Yes, I'm sure. I really do want you here."
"I'm glad," he said, crossing the room to take her in his arms. "I don't want to rush things, but I can really see us having a future together."
As they drove home from their honeymoon, Alma stared out the window quietly. She still found it difficult to believe that she was a married woman and that she had a husband. It was all so strange, sharing a life with this man. In a way, it didn't seem real.
She was jarred out of her thoughts by Edward's voice.
"Alma, there's something important that we haven't talked about yet and I think we should."
She turned to him in alarm. "What?"
"We haven't discussed where we're going to live until our house is built."
Alma relaxed a moment, relieved that he wasn't about to reveal some deep, dark secret. "No, we haven't."
"I think the easiest thing would be for one of us to stay where we're currently living and for the other one to move in. Before we decide, I should warn you that my apartment is a bachelor's apartment. I've spent so much time at the office that I never bothered to furnish with more than the bare necessities. I'm not opposed to moving or staying, but I was thinking you might be more comfortable if I moved in with you. That is, if Bernice doesn't mind. It will only be temporary either way."
"Then move in with us." Alma shrugged. She wasn't sure if she'd feel comfortable anywhere, at least until she got used to the idea of being married. "I don't think Bernice will have a problem with it."
Lucy sat on the floor, playing with Stuart. When the phone rang, she gently set him down on his baby blanket and went to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Lucy, finally," Craig's exasperated voice replied. "I called several times last night, but you weren't home. Where were you, babe?"
Lucy looked confused. That wasn't Craig's usual kind of greeting. "I was out with Chloe. Didn't the nanny tell you?"
"Yes . . . but I shouldn't have to hear about my wife's plans from the nanny. You should have told me you were going out last night. Why didn't you mention it to me?"
"It was a last minute decision . . . The last I knew I was a grown woman capable of making my own choices without needing to ask anyone's permission." Instead of trying to defend herself, she wondered where this was coming from. "Is something wrong? Are you alright?"
"I just wanted to talk to you last night, to hear my wife's voice before I went to sleep. I call home and you aren't even here."
"I'm sorry, but I can't be by the phone all the time. I have a life too."
"And it seems like less and less of it includes me . . . Why don't you take some time away and come be with me. I miss you. I want you to be here with me."
"Craig, I can't . . ."
"I know, you have too much going on. You don't have to go through the list with me again. I know it by heart. Don't tell me any of that is so important that you can't drop it and come be with me. You could, but you just don't want to."
Lucy sighed heavily into the phone. "If I were to come there, what would I do with myself while you're busy working? My entire life is here."
"Really? I guess I don't count then. Because my entire life is with you."
"Craig, that's not fair. Being away from you has been hard on me too and right now you aren't making it any easier."
"We don't have to be away from each other at all. It's your decision to be apart."
"That's not what I decided. I just . . . I can't go away right now . . . Is there anything else you have to say to me? Because I don't want to argue with you, I have other things to do."
"You know, never mind. I don't want to interrupt your busy life."
The line went dead and Lucy stood a moment staring at the receiver in her hands, before hanging up. As soon as she turned away, the phone started ringing again. This time she ignored it, collected Stuart and decided to go out for a walk.
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