Page 54 of The Gathered Fragments of Us
"Because asking meant risking being told no. And somewhere along the way, I got tired of being disappointed." I squeezed his hand. "But I don't want to be that person anymore. I don't want to be someone who settles for being unseen."
"You shouldn't have to be. And I'm going to spend however long it takes proving that to you."
I believed him. Not because the problems were solved—they weren't—but because for the first time in months, I felt like he was really here with me. Present. Engaged. Fighting for us instead of just coexisting.
"So," I said, reaching for the remote, "Gilded Age?"
"Gilded Age," he confirmed.
As the opening credits rolled, Caden got up to retrieve the caramel corn from his car. When he came back, he also had a blanket—the soft throw from our bedroom that I'd always loved but had left behind when I moved to the guest room.
"In case you get cold," he said, settling back beside me.
I pulled the blanket over both of us, and slowly, tentatively, I let myself lean against his shoulder. He went very still for a moment, as if afraid to move and break the spell, then carefully wrapped his arm around me.
We stayed like that for hours, eating caramel corn straight from the container, occasionally commenting on the outfits and the intrigue, scoffing at certain ridiculous scenes. It was ordinary and extraordinary all at once—the kind of afternoon we used to have regularly but had somehow lost along the way.
Around mid-afternoon, I felt my eyelids getting heavy. The emotional exhaustion of the morning, combined with the warmth of the blanket and Caden's steady presence, was making me drowsy.
"You can sleep if you want," he said softly, his voice rumbling in his chest beneath my ear. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
I let my eyes drift closed, listening to the rain and the voices from the TV along with Caden's heartbeat beneath my cheek. For the first time in months, I felt safe. Not just physically safe, but emotionally safe—like I could let my guard down without worrying that I'd wake up to find myself invisible again.
Just before I fully drifted off, I felt Caden press a gentle kiss to the top of my head.
"I love you, Felicity," he whispered. "I'm so sorry it took me so long to remember how to show you."
I wanted to respond, but sleep was pulling me under. Instead, I snuggled closer to him, my hand finding its way to rest over his heart.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new conversations, new work to be done. But today—today we had remembered how to just be together. And that felt like everything.
Chapter 23: She's Just Sensitive
~Felicity~
The first thing I sensed when I woke was Caden's arms wrapped around me—the first time, in fact, since before my birthday. Through the back windows, I could feel late afternoon sun streaming in, touching the skin of my arms as it sunk down preparing to set for the day. The hum of the AC was still lulling me even as I forced myself to not fall back asleep. Laying there, I listened to my husband's steady breathing, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath my cheek.
It was surreal, this peace. After everything we'd been through, the fights, the silence, the separate rooms, the separate states even— yet here we were—together. The locket felt warm against my throat, laying between us, a sign of something deeper as it sat touching both our chests.
"Hey," he said softly, and I realized he'd been awake, probably watching me sleep.
"Hey yourself." I stretched slightly, but remaining wrapped in the warmth of his embrace. "What time is it?"
"Almost four."
"Hey—so, Macy will probably be getting home soon, right?" I asked while pulling up to a sitting position. Not waiting for his response, I continued "I want to call her," I said, sitting up slowly. "I need to thank her properly for everything she did.Make sure she doesn't think I blame her for the purse—and that she knows how much everything here meant to me."
Caden smiled, that soft expression I'd missed so much. "She's going to be over the moon to hear from you. She's been so worried."
Caden stood, went to the kitchen. I heard the sound of the espresso machine whirring. Minutes later, he returned with an espresso for each of us in hand. She aroma flowed through my senses. He didn't even have to ask—he just knew I'd want one. I reached for the double he'd brewed for me and smiled as I felt his lips brush mine lightly as I took the cup from him.
Coffee in hand, I reached for my phone on the coffee table. My heart was already lifting at the thought of hearing Macy's voice—at knowing how excited she will probably be. There isn't much more fun than sensing a kid's excitement—at any age, I've come to realize. Getting ready to hear her talk a mile a minute I smiled as I scrolled for her name.
Touching on her contact, I heard the phone rang once, twice, then—.
