Page 82 of The Husband Diet
So much for my bravado the past few weeks. Now, I was feeling misplaced, like someone had tossed me into the air and told me to flap my wings. But flap my wings I would, even if it would be a long time before I could fly again.
Financially I was OK. I was organized. The kids were growing up and I with them. Eventually, I’d catch up with them some day.
‘Are you still there?’ Julian asked.
‘Of course.’
‘Then open the door.’
So I did. He was standing there with a large bouquet of orchids.
‘Hi.’
‘Hi.’
He hesitated. ‘Long time no see.’
‘I know,’ I whispered. ‘I’m sorry.’
He sighed and said softly, ‘I don’t even want to think what it must be like for you right now.’
‘Do you… want to, uhm, come in?’
Julian stepped over the threshold. ‘These are for you,’ he whispered, giving me a deep kiss.
I had to hang onto him just so I wouldn’t fall over. God, I’d missed him. But he’d done the right thing, giving us some time to digest it on our own. But now that we had, I was hungry again. Not for food but for a new life.
‘Hello,’ he grinned, and I grinned back.
I nodded to his big bag. ‘What’s in there?’
‘A very late Christmas prezzie for the kids.’
‘Thank you, that’s very kind of you. They’re at soccer and ballet.’
‘Aren’t you supposed to be at your tango class?’
‘Paul’s arm is acting up again. He must have sprained it real bad in the accident. He’s really accident prone.’
Julian looked at me, his grin disappearing, his hand reaching for mine. ‘Then let me be your partner, Erica.’
Partner. Dance partner… or life partner? ‘You a tango champion as well?’ I quipped.
He grinned. ‘No, but hey, I can always learn. How about it?’
‘Cool,’ I grinned, and he grinned back.
‘Cool.’ And then he pulled out a beautiful gold-wrapped and cream-colored box. ‘For you.’
‘Julian, you already gave me a Christmas present, which was lovely, by the way. And I didn’t get you anything. I’m sorry.’
He shrugged. ‘I’ve got all that I need.’ And then he looked into my eyes, I mean really looked into them, and added, ‘Almost.’
I looked down and unwrapped his gift. A Burberry designer set of perfume, soaps and shower gel.
‘My favorite fragrance. How did you know?’
‘I recognized your scent. I’d recognize it anywhere.’
