Page 41 of Brennan

She turned to himjust then, her eyes shimmering with tears. “We are going to beall right.”

“We are.”Lifting one hand off the steering, he gripped hers tight. “Iwill not allow anything otherwise.”

“We are almostthere.”

“Yes.”He felt the tension inside his chest. “Can you try and get somesleep?”

“My aunt willbe up and waiting to hear about my weekend. But yes, I will try andget a nap. If you are not able to make it-”

“Only deathwould stop me from being with you,” He told her grimly.

“Okay then.”She squeezed his hand. “Well, here we are,” she added ashe pulled up a few feet from the white picket fence.

“I need akiss.”

Leaning over, shesank into him, into the kiss, and felt like weeping as she clung tohis jacket.

“I will see youin a bit,” He told her hoarsely, hands cradling her face. Hedid not want to let her go. It was not right. She was his wife, andthey should be - shaking his head, he smiled for her benefit andreleased her. Reaching over the back seat, he hauled her case overand handed it to her. “Go.”

Giving him one lastlook, she exited the car and walked away.

It took severalminutes for her to walk along the path and open the gate; he turnedand drove away.

“Honey!”Her aunt pulled the door open and hugged her case, transferring thescent of baking all over her clothes. “You are finally here.Let me get your jacket and the rest of your winter gear. It’scold out there, isn’t it?” She kept up the chatter, andMadison was content just to listen as she was not in the mood totalk.

“Now sit rightaround the counter and let me get the meal. You were missed atservices this morning; everyone was asking after you.” Ilenepeered at her as she handed her the bowl of chili. “You looktired. Is that woman working you to the bone?”

“It was ahectic weekend, and I am not starving.”

“Eat what youcan and go up and go to bed. My arthritis is acting up, and I gostraight to bed after I finish the kitchen. I have a big order fortomorrow and will need my beauty sleep.”

*****

They had both takenoff their wedding rings inside the car, and he was carefully storedin the pocket of his khaki pants.

She was waiting forhim in the living room, a glass of wine in her hand and a smile onher face. He loved his mother to death, but the last thing he wantedwas to sit and have a conversation with her. He was not in the moodto talk.

“Darling, youare back. Now pour a drink and tell me all about your weekend.”She invited.

“How about westart with yours first?” He had not bothered to take his caseout of the car and had left his jacket and scarf by the door.Undoubtedly, one of the very efficient maids would put them wherethey belonged.

He bypassed the wineand went for scotch, pouring in a generous amount and bringing itback to take a seat across from her.

“You lookrested.”

“And you looktired.”

“Long weekend.How was it?”

“Wonderful,”Elizabeth admitted with a laugh. “I am fully charged and readyto get back to work. Speaking of which-” She reached for herphone, and Brennan realized what she was about.

“No workingmother. You just returned, and I am still waiting to hear all aboutthe weekend.”

“You are right,of course. It's time enough for that first thing in the morning. It’sjust that I had quite an education yesterday and into thismorning.”

“Which was?”

“How fortunatewe are.”

---