Page 27 of This Love
I pointed to the front of the house. “Up there is the spare bedroom. You use it as your office for your photography.”
“Really?” She walked that way and peered in.
I stood behind her. Huge, mounted portraits were stacked against one wall. A bookcase was filled with flashes, camera mounts, lenses, and photo albums. Her primary workstation computer sat on a desk, silent and dark. Two cameras were tucked under the trio of monitors.
“That’s a lot of screens,” she said.
“For editing your photos.”
She flipped through the images in the stack. Scenes from Austin. Some weddings. Florals. Closeups of turtles and kayaks on the lake.
“It feels good in here,” she said.
“It’s your favorite space.”
She lifted one of the cameras and peered at it. “I don’t know how to use this anymore.”
“You’ll pick it back up. Vinnie can help.”
She frowned. “Okay.” She set the camera down again.
I caught the change in emotion. “Do you not want Vinnie?”
“I don’t know. Do you know who Big Harry is?”
So, she’d read about him. That was good. Harry was someone who always made her feel safe.
“Of course. He was at the wedding.”
“Can I see him?”
“Absolutely. I’ll call him over.”
She took in the rest of the room, turning in a circle. “Can I sleep first? I’m really tired.”
“Yes, let me show you the bedroom.”
I led her down the hall. Entering our space was way harder than I expected. Only hours before, we had been lying in this bed together, excited about our wedding day.
Now, she didn’t know me.
“A bed,” she said, falling on top of the blanket. “It smells so good.”
“Your favorite fabric softener.”
She snuggled in. She had automatically chosen her side. “Is everyone going to leave?”
“We want to make sure you’re safe.”
“I need some time to myself.”
My throat tightened. “Of course. I’ll close the door. I’ll be in the living room if you need me.”
Her eyes were drifting closed before I could even make it to the hall. Post-ictal. It was a tough state, right after a seizure. I’d been through it plenty.
Marcus waited by the kitchen door, the scrapbook in his hand. “Is she resting?”
“Yeah. She’s going to need to sleep this off.”
