Page 2 of All Your Firsts Without Me

I nod, not meeting her eyes. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. She thinks it’s unusual, too. That means it’s not just my paranoia.

“Isn’t it about time for finals to start?”

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip to keep it from trembling. “You know how they are. I’m sure they have a day of fishing planned or something. It’s probably just a quick trip. You know, to check in.”

She looks at her nail lady and reluctantly slides her hand back across the table. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. It’s just your average, everyday visit home.”

We finish the rest of the afternoon at the grocery store, mostly in silence. While we’re loading the car with our purchases I think back to when Kaden and I met. He was fourteen and I was eighteen. I had never seen someone eat as much as him.

“You need me to come to the house and help you unload all this?” Teresa asks.

“No.” I smile and give her a hug. “I’ll be fine. Sorry I was quiet today.”

She shakes her head and pushes me back so she can look me in the eye. “You don’t have to explain yourself. You know you can reach out to me. I’m here for you all the time, not just on Friday afternoons.”

“I know. Why don’t you and Jeff stop by this weekend to see Kaden?”

“That would be lovely. I’ll talk to Jeff and drop you a text.”

“I better go. David made me promise I would have a drink with him today.”

She frowns but catches herself and gives me a brilliant smile, much like her brother’s. “You lovebirds have fun then.” She pushes her sunglasses down from where they were resting on her head and gives me one last look before hopping in her car.

Before I step into the bar, I shake myself out, casting off all the negative thoughts I accumulated today. Shoulders back and head held high, I put on my most dazzling smile for my husband. He looks up the moment I walk in and gives me a smile of his own that makes my heart cry out. I rush over and wrap my arms around his shoulders, kissing him gently on the cheek. “How was salon day?” he asks, reaching over to pull the chair out beside him for me to sit.

I plop my butt down and wiggle my fingers in front of his face. He laughs heartily which makes every head in the room turn our way. They all smile before politely turning back to their drinks. “I love it,” he states before taking my hands in his and kissing every single nail.

“The color reminds me of you,” I tease.

“Yellow? Really, that’s not a very manly color.”

“Yellow like sunshine.” I kiss him on the nose, pulling his wheelchair closer to me.

“Well, if you put it that way.” He brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “I’ve missed you,” he leans over, whispering in my ear.

“I missed you more.”

His hand wraps around the back of my neck. He plays with the strands at my nape, pulling me close so we are nose to nose. He gazes into my eyes for several minutes before kissing me so deeply and so thoroughly I’m ready to grab the check and head home.

When he leans away, he chuckles. “You promised you would have a drink with me, wife.”

“We could have a drink at home.” I wiggle my eyebrows, hoping he takes the hint.

“That’s not the deal. You promised me a drink here.” He smiles, waiting patiently for my response.

“Okay, but I have groceries in the car so only one.” I hold up a single finger and laugh when he nips at it, clicking his teeth together.

A waitress sets a margarita on the rocks in front of me and a bottle of beer in front of David. He must have already put an order in for us.

“Do you realize this is the first time you and I have had a drink together in a public place?”

Tipping my head, I study his face. “Is it?”

He nods. “Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to meet me under normal circumstances? What if we would have met here at the White Glass?”

“We couldn’t have met here,” I tease. “I wasn’t old enough to drink.”

He laughs heartily, forcing me to close my eyes and absorb the sound. I file it all away so later I can turn it into a melody. One that I will play over and over again in my mind.

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