It wasn’t Hawaii, but it
was a getaway. Fern hadn’t been able to get more than a couple vacation days
off. Not nearly enough time to jet back and forth to Hawaii.
These two days and two nights
at the lake would have to suffice as this year’s vacation. Maybe next year
she’d get it together enough to pull off that trip to the islands. And maybe
next year she’d be able to leave behind the giant workload Abigail thrust on
her before she left. She spent the afternoon beside the lake with pencil and
paper in hand, watching Shelby jump into Daryl’s waiting arms a hundred times.
It was a struggle for her to pull her eyes away and remain focused on the
briefs Abigail needed her to edit. The she-devil expected them on her desk
first thing Thursday morning upon Fern’s return.
This was the part of the
job she actually enjoyed. When she was at home, she could pull up a file on her
laptop at night when the kids were tucked into bed, a cup of tea on the table
next to her, and all the useless grammar rules she learned back in college
would resurface. Fern was good at this part and took joy in marking up
Abigail’s drafts. Didn’t lawyers have to take English classes in college too?
It sure didn’t show in
her boss’s work.
But Abigail never
questioned her corrections. And revising broken sentences definitely beat
absorbing Abigail’s verbal blasts, patronizing requests for coffee or answering
calls, and rearranging schedules. Yes, Fern closed her eyes; she could do
without those parts.
With a deep breath, Fern
pulled in the scent of pine and dirt. She’d get to enjoy it tomorrow. Their
last day here. With her work complete—the files were stuffed into the bottom of
her suitcase and she promised herself they would stay there until she returned
to work. Finally, she could get into the water with her kids before they packed
up and headed for home.
The cabin door opened and
closed. Fern kept her eyes closed, trying to stay in this tranquil moment. The
boards squeaked as Daryl sank down on the top step. After knowing the man for
twenty years Fern could recognize him with her eyes closed. They sat in
silence, just the two of them, encapsulated in the peaceful sounds of nature.
Daryl tapped her back and
she sat up, letting him slide in behind her. Silent communications—they’d
perfected this over the years. His hands went straight to her shoulders, massaging
the tension out of them—in a way only he could. Daryl was always able to pull
the stress right out of her muscles.
Feeling relaxed, Fern
rested back against his chest, fuller now than when they’d first met in
college. Who knew that scrawny twenty year old boy who stole a seat next to her
at the library would grow into such a kind and compassionate full-chested man?
Teenage love had nothing
on this old, married kind of love. Every time Fern saw Erika’s eyes light up or
a blush rush into her cheeks when Caden came around, she wanted to tell her
daughter to wait. It was just going to get better with time. The butterflies
may subside, but the love would deepen. Married love was like a fine wine that improved
with age.
Fern closed her eyes,
adding the comfort of her husband’s hold to all the beauty around her.
“What would you say if I
told you I was thinking about quitting the law firm?” Fern asked, letting the
thought she’d been toying with in the back of her mind over the last couple of
weeks slip out.
A beat passed between
them.
“I’d say you should do
whatever makes you happy,” he said, spoken like a man with eighteen years of
marital wisdom under his belt.
“Yeah, well,” she said,
knowing she had her husband’s undying support no matter what she decided. “I’m
just thinking about it.”
Daryl rested his chin on
top of her head and tightened his hands around her, cocooning her in this
aged-love she was blessed to have in her life. It was a blissfully quiet moment
they were sharing.
The cabin door creaked
open. “Mommy, I gotta go potty,” Shelby said and snuffed out the moment.
***
Meg writes clean contemporary romance novels, featuring strong female characters. As a mom to two young girls, Meg is passionate about creating stories centered around female empowerment. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest where she still lives today with her husband, daughters, and crazy pets. She splits her time between homeschooling her girls and writing in the hours after she has put her husband and children to bed.
See what's new and free from Meg at www.meggraybooks.com
***
Meg writes clean contemporary romance novels, featuring strong female characters. As a mom to two young girls, Meg is passionate about creating stories centered around female empowerment. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest where she still lives today with her husband, daughters, and crazy pets. She splits her time between homeschooling her girls and writing in the hours after she has put her husband and children to bed.
See what's new and free from Meg at www.meggraybooks.com
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