Page 54 of Ignacio

“It can become bad.”

“Sí.”

Benicio shifted and turned onto his side to look at Rose. Her hair hung in messy loose waves around her face. He’d known her so long that he remembered when her hair was all black, without the gray strands that were there now. Her eyes were still soft and dark brown, but wrinkles had crept into the corners over the years. Yet every time he looked at her, he saw the young, single mother he had run into in the supermarket parking lot. From that moment, he had been smitten.

“We need to take a trip together, just the two of us.”

“Where to?” she asked, her smile indulgent.

“The Loire Valley, of course, like we discussed months ago. Back to France, for those delicious croissants.”

Her eyes lit up, her excitement palpable. “Really?”

“Of course. Did you think I was joking when I said it?”

She squealed and flung her arms around him. Laughing, Benicio pulled her on top of him and held her tight.

Her eyes smiled into his. “Winter. In the Loire Valley. The two of us.”

“Yes,” Benicio whispered. “I have to check my schedule, but I would love to go. We could take our time and visit the different châteaux and do whatever else we desire. Just the two of us.” He tucked her hair behind her right ear.

“You’re sure?” She was smiling, but her eyes searched his face.

“I am. You were right. The life of stress and limitations is for a younger man. It’s time to enjoy myself and relax. Thiago is doing a fine job so far.”

“So more of this? Because we’re not getting any younger. I want us to enjoy our years together.”

Benicio frowned. “Dios, mi amor. Eso es tan morboso.”

“I’m not trying to be morbid.” She brushed his beard with the back of her hand.

Benicio smiled softly and traced her bottom lip with the tip of his finger. “It’s not easy for me, you know.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“I’m not like you, Rosa. You have your garden, your family, and soon two more little ones to keep you busy.”

“They’re your family too,” Rose pointed out.

“Not in the same way. Work is all I have known. Since I was a boy and landed my first acting role. What will I do with myself if I don’t work?”

“Live. Travel. Spend time with those grandchildren you mentioned. Spend time withme.”

He heard the faint tremor in her voice. The pleading he had ignored in the past until she felt she had no choice but to end their marriage. Up until the divorce papers had arrived, he’d believed in his heart that she would change her mind, and they would reconcile.

Now that they were together again, he couldn’t imagine losing her for a second time. He couldn’t hurt her like that again, making her feel unimportant when, in fact, she was the center of his universe. His world had been off-kilter ever since their marriage ended, and only by staying in touch and remaining amicable had he been able to maintain some semblance of normalcy without losing his mind.

He examined her left hand, hating how empty it looked. One day they would remarry, and she would put her rings back on her finger where they belonged.

“Spending time with you would be the best part,” he admitted.

“If you hate taking time off, you could work part-time or act as a consultant.”

Her voice ended on a hopeful, upbeat note. Her suggestion was better than in the past, which had been all or nothing. This time, there was the possibility of compromise. She understood how difficult it would be for him to walk away from the company he had built. But he could easily imagine taking time off and having more flexibility to participate in other activities.

“Maybe I will learn a new hobby,” he said.

“That would be nice.”

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