Page 41 of Chasing Sunsets

“Youwere miserable,” he corrected. “I was willing to do anything to fix us.”

“We went to five specialists. Five. There’s no fixing us.”

He faced her and grabbed her hands. Fearful she might pull away, he was rewarded when her body relaxed at his touch. He spoke slowly, trying to reach her. “If you’d stop talking at me and simply listen and believe me, none of this would be happening.”

She tugged her hands from his, her tension returning. “It’s so unfair.”

“Yeah, it is.” He sighed.

“Do you regret marrying me?”

“Hell, Kell, I still want to be married to you.”

In the weak light from a distant lamppost, he watched pools of tears fill her eyes. He hated to see her upset, but their problem wasn’t going to disappear unless they found a way to deal with it. He didn’t want to fight with her right now though, so he changed the subject. “I go back to work the week after taping the show.” His boss had kept in touch and promised whenever Brett returned he’d have a job. “Roscoe has a contract lined up for me. I’ll be doing trim work on a new house.”

“All I’ve done is work since you left,” she admitted.

“I got that impression from our conversations. Plus, your mom calls me every three days. She’s worried about you.”

“And you.”

“She does love me.” He smirked.

“Everyone loves you,” she replied, something she used to say often.

They spoke about their families, and he told her some of the things he’d done while in Colorado.

“We should turn in,” he finally said. “I’m sure you’re as exhausted as I am. At least tomorrow is a day off. Still, we better get as much rest as we can.”

She stood, and he joined her as they followed the winding stone path.

“I miss you. Even right now, walking next to you, I miss you,” she admitted.

Her confession eased his heart. “I miss you too.”

“I wish we could go back to how we were before we married. Happy. Carefree. Blissfully in love.”

Her wish was not his. He wanted his wife back, his best friend. They didn’t speak the rest of the way or on the elevator to their floor. When they approached her room, he appealed to her again. “Think about opening up to Sadie.”

They stopped at her door, and she pulled the keycard from her back pocket.

Frenzied desperation hit him. He took her face in his palms. “She might be able to recommend someone who can help.”

Her miserable expression appeared hopeless.

He had to make her understand there was more they could do. “Fight for us, Kell. This is what marriage is, fighting to be together.”

“It’s too hard, Brett. I can’t...” Her words trailed off, and she spun away.

“Expect my nagging to continue.” Except, he wouldn’t do it during taping of the show with the damn microphones listening. Neither his family, nor hers, knew why they were living separately, and he wouldn’t be the one to reveal the reason to everyone.

She opened the door and gazed back at him with a sad smile. “Night.”

The door shut, and his resolve burned stronger than ever. He’d never lost a fight in his life, and he wasn’t about to start now.

“You will never experience personal growth, if you fear taking chances.” ~ T. Sorensen

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