Page 71 of The Baxters
THE FLIGHT WAStaking forever, but Kari didn’t mind. She leaned in close to Tim and rested her head on his shoulder. He’d been asleep since they took off around ten o’clock.
Kari had tried to drift off, but she couldn’t. Her heart was too full. She was married to Professor Tim Jacobs, and her joy practically consumed her. Every few minutes she glanced down at her wedding band, the other half of the set Tim had chosen months ago.
They were traveling in the very back row of the plane, discount tickets Tim had found through a travel agent at the university. That didn’t bother Kari, either. As long as Tim was beside her she could’ve ridden down in the cargo area with the bags.
She looked at her husband, and at the ring on his left finger. Already he was taking care of her, watching their budget. Making sure they didn’t spend too much. He had explained the accommodations they would have on the one-week cruise.
“It’s not a balcony room.” He’d chuckled. “But at least there’s a window.” They had been boarding the plane. Until then he’d kept details of the trip a secret. So he could surprise her. “I figured we didn’t need a balcony. We’ll make better use of the room than that.”
He had kissed her neck and grinned at her.
A chill ran down Kari’s arms then and now. She was about to share a bed with Tim, share her body with him. This was the beginning of the rest of her life. There were other surprises. He had planned for the two of them to take excursions at every stop along the inner passage of the coast of Alaska.
A Jeep tour, a day hike, whale watching.
Tim had it all scheduled. Which was one more reason she loved him. Organization and details were his strong suit. With him, she would never have to worry if the light bill got paid or the mortgage was up to date. Things she could sometimes forget.
He would watch over her and care for her with his whole being.
Kari had the window seat and now she looked out at the night sky. Tim had been impressed that the back row had any view at all. “Usually all you see is an engine or a solid wall.” He laughed, and leaned in to kiss her. “It’s a good sign, baby. You and me, we’ll always have a beautiful view. As long as we’re together.”
With the wedding behind them, and their long flight ahead, Kari had wondered if he might wait till they were settled in their seats to talk to her about Ryan. Why he had come by the house and what they had talked about.
But he never once brought it up.
Kari thought she understood why. Tim was more confident than that. So what if Kari had dated Ryan through high school and most of college? Ryan was thepast, Tim was the future. Tim had no doubts about that. And clearly Tim trusted her.
Which only added to the wonderful way Kari felt about marrying him.
Once in a psychology class, Kari had learned about the behavior of guilt. The textbook had explained that people often tended to get upset about the very thing they were guilty of doing.
If a man was cheating in his marriage, he was typically all the more suspicious of his wife. Assuming the same behavior of her. If a girl hated being talked about behind her back, chances were she had a problem with gossip. That sort of thing.
The rule wasn’t foolproof, of course. There were exceptions. Kari still remembered the teacher’s final word on the subject. “Bottom line, if someone you know is extremely jealous, look a little closer at whether he’s being faithful.”
Kari had tucked the lesson away, and until today she hadn’t remembered it. But the teaching seemed to apply here. Tim literally had expressed no struggle with Ryan coming to the house this morning. Sure, he told Ryan to leave. That made sense. But he never once questioned Kari. She smiled and turned to her sleeping groom again. According to the textbook that could only mean one thing.
Other than her father, Tim was the most faithful man she’d ever known.
She rested her head on his shoulder again and closedher eyes. Sleep would be nice. But her thoughts kept coming back to the cruise. When the topic of a honeymoon came up one afternoon at her family’s kitchen during the wedding planning, Kari had been quick with an idea. “The Bahamas!” She had practically squealed. “Please! I’ve always wanted to honeymoon in the Caribbean.”
Tim made a face and shook his head. “I hate being hot.” He smiled and tapped the tip of her nose. “You know that, honey bunch.”
At first his response left an empty feeling in her heart. He could’ve at least taken a few minutes to think about what she wanted. Her expression must’ve given her away because he reached for her hand. “Hey… don’t be sad.”
“I’m not.” She tilted her head. “It’s just… you didn’t actually think it through. Where I wanted to go.”
His smile was kind, proof that he hadn’t meant to upset her. “Look, baby. If it means that much to you, we’ll go there for our five-year anniversary. We can save up till then and take the best Caribbean vacation any two people ever had.”
“Sure.” She nodded and tried to smile. “So what’s your idea?”
He stretched his arms out to both sides. “An Alaskan cruise! On the biggest ship in the Pacific!”
It had taken Kari a few minutes to come around to the idea, but by the end of their conversation she had started to see why Tim was excited. This honeymoon wouldn’t be on a sandy white beach.
But it would be an unforgettable adventure.
Sleep began to take over. An adventure. That’s exactly what being married to Tim would be. The two of them celebrating each other’s victories, sharing each other’s struggles and sorrows. Raising a family someday.
