Page 125 of The Gathered Fragments of Us
"Hmmm?" she repeated, doing her best impression of someone who hadn't heard the question.
"Felicity. You wouldn't be eating peanut butter cups right now, would you?"
Finally, after a clearly visible swallow, she gave in and spoke. "What? Of course not!"
Clearly she thought she had gotten rid of the evidence, however there was a small bit of chocolate on the corner where her lips met, and the telltale scent of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups—my wife's kryptonite.
I laughed loudly, tackled her, and stole her e-book. Out came the wrapper which I waved in front of her face. "Not eating peanut butter cups...hmmm?"
"What? Who knows how long that's even been there!" She was giggling now, trying to grab her Kindle back. "That could be from yesterday! Or last week! It could even beyours!"
I couldn't help but tickle her until she finally gave in. "Okay, okay!" She squealed, laughing, and trying to fend me off from tickling her further. "You got me! Uncle! I call Uncle!"
"I thought you gave up sweets after dinner," I said, still holding her Kindle hostage.
"I did! This was a... post-dinner emergency snack. Very different thing entirely."
"Emergency snack?"
"Yes. A chocolate emergency. Very serious condition. Could have been life-threatening if left untreated."
I nibbled on her neck, tracing my way up to her jaw, her chin, and then landing on her lips. Kissing her lightly—gently I said, "yup, I can taste it on you." I smiled through my kiss, unable to hold my love for her back. "I love you my little sugar-addict."
She sighed and smiled back, her arms coming up to wrap around my neck. "It can't be helped. You know I eat when big things are happening! I'm going to be as big as the Pillsbury dough boy."
"I've always had a thing for blue hats and soft bellies. I think you'll make a great dough girl." I squeezed her side, loving the softness I found there.
The playfulness faded for a moment as something more serious passed between us. After everything we'd been through—the separation, the crisis with Jessica and Macy, the uncertainty about our future—moments like this felt precious. Sacred, even.
I wouldn't let anyone or anything steal these moments from us—not anymore. The work stress, the family drama, the constant pull of obligations that used to take me away from what mattered most. This was what mattered. This woman in myarms, our daughter sleeping safely down the hall, the life we were rebuilding together one day at a time.
Kissing her deeply, we made quick work of our pajamas. I love this woman with every ounce of my being. The gratitude I felt was indescribable.
As I took my wife in my arms, I was swept away in the moment, knowing that blessings like her don't come around more than once in a lifetime and I was one lucky bastard that she let me love her.
I kissed my way up and down her body, not leaving an inch of her unloved. She gave me her body, gave me her heart, gave me the greatest gift of all, and I gave her my soul.
Afterward, we lay tangled together in the mess of pillows she'd commandeered, her head on my chest, my fingers playing with her hair. The house was quiet around us, the kind of peaceful quiet that comes after a day well-lived.
"Thank you," she murmured against my skin.
"For what?"
"For today. For being present. For..." She paused, searching for words. "For being the man I married."
I tightened my arms around her. "I should be thanking you. For giving me another chance. For not giving up on us when I gave you every reason to."
“Yesterday is gone, Caden. What matters is that we’ve chosen each other and keep choosing each other every day."
Outside, I could hear the wind picking up, rustling through the trees in our backyard. But inside, we were warm and safe and whole. Tomorrow would bring new challenges—Macy'scontinued healing, the daily work of rebuilding trust and intimacy in our marriage.
But tonight, none of that mattered. Tonight, we were exactly where we belonged.
One day at a time.
Epilogue: The Gathered Fragments of Us
Day One—(Felicity)
