“Not yet,” she pleaded. “I want to be a part of you.”
“You are. You always will be. You could travel to Mars, and my heart would be with you.” He brushed the damp hair from her forehead. “I can’t believe you love me.”
“I do, so much my heart feels like it’s about to burst wide open. Will it always be like this?” she asked. “Two weeks ago, you were someone whose letters I looked forward to. This week you’re the most important person in my life.”
James kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s only going to get better from here on out.”
“Better?” She laughed delightedly. “I can’t imagine it.”
In one uninterrupted movement James rolled onto his back, taking her with him so she was sprawled across his chest. Across his heart. “I can’t, either. Summer, I love you.”
“Good.” She pressed her head against his shoulder. “But what about—”
“I’ll remember next time,” he promised. “The last thing we need now is an unplanned pregnancy.”
“I’m pretty sure this is my safe time, so don’t worry.”
James kissed her neck. “I suppose we should get dressed and meet everyone for breakfast.”
“I suppose,” she agreed, but neither of them showed any signs of moving.
“It won’t be so bad,” James whispered.
They’d been married less than twenty-four hours and already Summer could read her husband’s thoughts. “Being separated? It’s going to be terrible. I don’t know how I’ll last four months without you.”
“Four months.” He made it sound like an eternity.
“James, where do you live?”
He gave her a puzzled look. “Seattle. You know my address.”
“But is it an apartment? A condo? A town house or what?”
“A house.”
Summer liked the idea of that.
A slow grin spread across his face. “I must’ve known I was going to meet you. This is a big house on Queen Anne Hill with seven bedrooms.”
“James!”
“It’s a lovely older home. I’m quite proud of the garden. I hope you’ll like it.”
“I love it already.”
“You haven’t seen it.”
“No, but I saw the look on your face when you talked about it. The house is going to be perfect for us, just perfect.”
His eyes grew dark. “You’re perfect.”
“I hope we’ll always love each other as much as we do at this moment.” Summer laid her head on his chest and sighed.
* * *
Time had never passed more quickly for James. He’d dreaded leaving Summer almost from the moment they’d met again on New Year’s Eve. It was as though Seattle was another world, one he wasn’t that eager to return to. Not when it meant having to say goodbye to Summer.
His wife of two days was unusually quiet as they packed their suitcases on Saturday morning, the day of their departure. When she found him watching her, she offered him a reassuring smile.
The bellboy carried their luggage to the lobby. While James was checking out of the hotel, he noticed Summer twisting the plain gold band around her finger. His own felt awkward and heavy, and he wondered if she was experiencing any regrets. For his own part, he didn’t have a single one.
Having returned the rental car earlier, James ordered a car. He and Summer held hands as they rode silently to the airport.
He wanted to assure her it wouldn’t be so bad, but that would’ve been a blatant lie. Every minute he was away from her was a minute too long. He wanted to be sure she understood how much he loved her, how crucial she was to him. But the backseat of a limo with a driver listening in didn’t seem the most appropriate place to tell her those things.
Nothing would ever be the same for either of them, and they both knew it.
The car dropped them off, and since they were flying on different airlines, they separated to check in their luggage and receive their seat assignments.
James finished first and caught sight of Summer hurrying through the crowd toward him. Even from that distance he sensed her sadness. He met her halfway and they went through security together.
“My flight leaves from Concourse B,” she said, looking down at her ticket. Her voice was small and tight.
“Mine’s Concourse A.”
“What time’s your flight?”
She already knew, but apparently needed to hear it again. “Ten-thirty,” James told her.
“My departure’s at ten.”
He was perfectly aware of what time her plane left. “I’ll walk down to Concourse B with you.”
“You can’t, James, you might miss your own flight.”
Frankly he didn’t give a damn. “Then I’ll catch the next one.”
“I’ll worry. James, really, I’m a big girl. I can find my way around the airport.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t,” he snapped, surprising himself.
Summer looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. She turned and walked away from him and headed for Concourse B.
James followed and wanted to kick himself. He wouldn’t see his wife for weeks and here he was, apparently doing his utmost to start an argument. No doubt there was some psychological reason for his attitude. He’d examine what was happening later, but at the moment he was more concerned about saying goodbye to her properly.
Summer arrived at her gate and walked over to the window. James could see her plane and knew it wouldn’t be more than a few moments before the boarding call was announced.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes.
“Me, too.”
He frowned. She’d done nothing wrong. “For what?”
“Oh, James,” she whispered brokenly, slipping her arms around his waist. “I’m going to be so lost without you.”
“It’s going to be hard.” He wasn’t willing to pretend otherwise. “I’ll phone as often as I can.”
“Do you have my work schedule?” she asked.
“Yes. Do you have everything you need?” They’d gone over the details a dozen times.
“No. I need you, James.”
His hold on her tightened. He wondered if they were afraid they’d lose the magic. Afraid that once they returned to their respective lives, everything would change.