Page 54 of Wait for Me

“Of my career, really. I think I need a change of pace. Maybe I need a sabbatical.”

Logan smiled. “How about taking a sabbatical in Atlanta? Stay in our own five-star hotel. Any room you want, including the penthouse. Free chauffeurs service twenty-four seven. And a very active five-year-old concierge. When would you like to check in?”

Marie chuckled. “You’re funny.”

“I’ve always been funny, but maybe I want to be more than that to you.”

Marie cleared her throat. “We were discussing our son’s safety.”

“Right. Right.” Logan chided himself for forgetting that. Truth be told, he wasn’t forgetting all that. But sitting here at Marie’s feet…

Too close.

Yet he felt totally at home. Like he was meant to be there with her.

“I miss you, Marie,” he blurted.

Truth was better told just the way it was, unvarnished, untamed, uncovered.

“I’m sorry for the danger I put you in,” Marie said. “I had to stay away, hoping that maybe they would leave you two alone, but they didn’t.”

“I’m partly to blame for that. I wish I never hired the PI. He cost me a fortune.”

“What’s done is done, as my mother says.”

“If we could do it over, would you have left?” Logan didn’t know why he asked.

“I would’ve chosen Jonas over my job, yes. In retrospect.”

“And me? Where do I fit in?”

“You will always be the father of my son.”

“Is that all you think of me?” Logan wasn’t sure whether to cry or take what she said as a joke.

“Until the day we can be transparent with each other, there will always be something between us, blocking us from truly being a couple,” Marie said.

“So be transparent with me.”

“I took an oath of office.”

“Is the job more important than family? Than life?” Logan hoped he didn’t go too far with this line of reasoning.

“No, but it’s all I know to do.”

“What is? Translating?”

“Serving my country.”

“Which country? France? The USA?”

Marie didn’t say.

“You didn’t give up your US citizenship, did you?” Logan asked, suddenly alarmed.

“No. I was thinking about your question.” Marie scooted out of her armchair and stepped away, as though Logan sitting there at her feet was too close for comfort.

Logan knew her well enough to know that it meant she couldn’t handle talking further about it at this time. He decided he’d pray for her and try again another night. They had two more nights to go on the cruise.

---