Page 61 of Through the Snow Globe
“Take your time. We have forever.”
Yes, they did. Forever was not a myth. Not anymore.
* * *
Diana closed the bathroom door behind her and set the bathtub faucet to run steaming hot water. She did need to get out of her head. Her thoughts were too loud to enjoy making love to her fiancé. But she couldn’t wait to feel his arms wrapped around her again. She wanted to soak him in without the background of her worries about whether tomorrow she would wake up on December 4th or Christmas Day.
She had to assume tomorrow would be the latter. She had saved Linus after all. She’d done what she was supposed to. And tomorrow, life would be back to normal. She couldn’t wait.
Tonight, though . . . Tonight, she and Linus were going to reconnect in a way they hadn’t in a very long time. They were going to be theushe had pined for the other night. Theusthat had filled a void when she’d first met Linus. Was that the lesson she was supposed to learn from all this? That people were more important than a promotion at some job.
She peeled off her clothes and stepped into the hot water, sinking her body into the tub’s depths while listening to the roar of water rushing from the faucet. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the bath pillow on the far wall. She wouldn’t grow apart from Linus again. From this point on she would make time for him. She’d make an effort with his family too. And she would be a better friend to Rochelle.
Diana soaked for another fifteen minutes and then pulled the drain of the tub and stepped out. She grabbed a towel and dried off her body before putting on a fresh set of clothing. She felt a lot more relaxed and was ready for that glass of wine. Actually, forget the wine. All she wanted was Linus.
Diana stepped out of the bathroom and looked around for him. Their apartment wasn’t big so there were only so many places he could be. And he wasn’t in any of them. “Linus? Where are you?”
She wandered into the kitchen and stopped short when she saw a note on the counter. His chicken-scratch handwriting was large and hard to read at first. Her breath caught as the jumbled words came into focus.
We were out of wine so I slipped out for just a second to fetch a bottle. I’ll be right back. I love you here, there, and everywhere.
Linus
Panic flared in all the places Diana had just worked to relax. “No, no, no, no, no.” He couldn’t leave. He was finally here, and he was safe. She hurried to the door, threw it open, and looked out. Maybe she could catch him before he left. His bike was gone, though. The closest store was just a little way down the road. Maybe a five-minute bike ride. But the sun had already set and it was dark out. Ice would be solidifying on the roads, making them more dangerous.
Diana’s hand covered her mouth as she swallowed back tears.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, dear. Is everything okay?” Mrs. Guzman stepped up to Diana as she made her way to her own apartment after walking Leonardo.
Diana looked at her neighbor. “No. Nothing is okay anymore.”
Mrs. Guzman reached out and touched Diana’s arm. “Is there anything I can do?”
Diana shook her head, her eyes reaching past Mrs. Guzman to the roads, looking for Linus on his bike. Then, suddenly, the sound of sirens filled the air.
Mrs. Guzman dropped her arm back to her side and turned to acknowledge the sound too. “Oh, no. I hope that poor soul is okay.”
Diana shook her head as tears swam in her eyes, overflowing onto her cheeks. She didn’t have any hope. Not anymore. She knew that poor soul was Linus, and she also knew that he was not okay.
Chapter 16
Bah! Humbug!
The sound of the shower running stirred Diana in her bed. She moaned softly, resisting the light from the blinds in the window. When her mind caught up to her body, her eyes popped open.
Not again.
She couldn’t go through this horrible day one more time. Not if she wasn’t able to fix fate. Diana sat up in bed and waited for the bathroom door to open and for Linus to appear. When he finally did, he looked at her with a lopsided smile.
“Good morning, sleepy girl.”
She wanted to sob. How many times could she watch this man get into an accident? This was torture—for the both of them. “What’s good about it?” she muttered.
Linus’s brows rose high on his forehead. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I don’t want to argue this morning, okay? I’m sorry about last night.”
Diana threw off her covers. “Me too.”
“That’s one thing I love about our relationship: We don’t stay mad. That bodes well for our marriage.” He crossed the room, heading toward his closet.
