Page 20 of Forever Fallen

“A wife is supposed to cleave to her husband,” he teased softly, reminding her of the minister earlier in the day. “You promised to obey me not three or four hours ago.”

“I also agreed to love, honor, and cherish…” she said flatly. “I lied.”

“I did, too,” he countered, hoping to make her laugh just so she would stop sobbing pitifully. It was tearing him up on the inside, making him distinctly uncomfortable.

Both he and Sophie saw the dishes in the sink, realizing that everything had paused eerily in time. She sat down heavily in one of the chairs at the small table, putting her head down in her hands.

If he thought she had been crying hard before?

That was nothing.

Massive tremors wracked her as she wailed pitifully – and Ryan felt something shift within him.

He moved quickly to her side and scooped her up like she was nothing, carrying her away from the kitchen and taking her into a nearby parlor that had a pink, velvet-tufted couch with doilies on the arms.

Taking a seat, he held her in his lap as she cried.

“The kitchen was special to you, wasn’t it?” he whispered knowingly, smoothing back her hair. “I only wanted to help and make you some hot cocoa or tea to make you feel better. There are going to be these moments that hurt – and it helps to cry.”

“How do you know?” she uttered plaintively against his shoulder, shuddering and hiccupping noisily.

“My mother died about a year ago,” he replied, looking around the room out of curiosity for anything to talk to Sophie about. “I had to go home, go through everything, and it was like seeing things through a different set of eyes. Nothing would be the same… but I was.”

Sophie sat up and wiped her nose indelicately. Her face was completely splotched with red, her nose and lips were mottled… and he realized that she was absolutely beautiful despite it all.

Her face was delicate, with high cheekbones, large almond eyes, and a pointed chin that made him think of a Grecian statue. When she let down her guard, quit baring her teeth and snapping at him defensively, and let that inner light shine through… it was breathtaking.

“I need to get up,” she uttered shyly. “I’m crushing you and this is a little close for comfort.”

“Do you feel better?”

“Does it matter or change anything?” she replied candidly – and he smiled softly.

His Sophie was a strong woman.

This little crack of unfettered emotions was just a chance to let off some steam to keep her from shattering completely. Once the shields were back up, this true glimpse of her would be hidden away.

“No, but I thought it might give you prime seating to destroy my ego a little more, tell me what an atrocious person I am, or call me a creep.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Cause that sweet little round bottom is directly on my lap,” he grinned, knowingly, anticipating her reaction.

Sure enough, Sophie flew out of his arms, limbs flailing, and grabbed the nearest pillow – flinging it at him as he ducked.

“What?” he asked innocently, trying to keep from laughing.

“You are a creep!”

“And you married me,” he taunted, needing to keep this fiery bit burning in her just so Sophie didn’t cry anymore. “What does that make you?”

“MRS. CREEP!” she hollered in disbelief and disgust. “I cannot believe you were copping a feel of my butt during one of the lowest points in my life…”

“Couldn’t help it,” Ryan shrugged, getting to his feet, ready to egg her on and stoke that smoldering temper before him. “It was just there, like a big ol’ bean bag plopped down on me. I was expecting some bony buns by how scrawny those upper arms are, but was I surprised…”

“Big… bean… bag…?”she punctuated, her chest heaving angrily, and he nodded, knowing she was getting madder and madder.

“Not one of the little kiddie ones either,” he corrected easily, smothering a laugh. This was much better than her tears and he could handle Sophie’s anger or venom.

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