Page 12 of Falling Again
CHAPTER 4
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“How do you feel aboutgoing up to South Bass Island for a week? Just the two of us?” Anthony might as well have asked if she wanted to go explore the rings of Saturn, it would have been less of a shock.
“What?” Natalie asked, her hands delving back into the sudsy water in the sink. She handed Anthony a bowl to dry while she attempted not to chip her nail polish. “When would we have time for that? Maddie starts her summer camp and—”
Anthony took the bowl, placing it on the counter before taking her hand in his. His eager gaze snagged on Natalie’s, and her pulse skipped a beat. It was all too much for her muddled mind to handle. First, she’d come home with the kids to find Anthony in the kitchen. Him being home before dinner was amazing enough, but to see him cooking dinner was almost too much. An old towel had been draped over his shoulder while he stirred a pot on the stove. Natalie had had to steady herself on the edge of the counter to find her words. The domestic sight made her that speechless—and more than a little turned on.
“Nat, listen. I’m thinking just the two of us. My parents offered to watch the kids. It might be nice.”
Nice. Yes, it would be nice. But nice wasn’t a word Natalie currently associated with her marriage right now.
“But what about work?” She was grasping at straws, trying to figure out the stipulations to this plan. Because there had to be barriers. The two of them simply didn’t go away for a week; not anymore.
Anthony kept her hand in his and squeezed it before releasing it and going back to drying the dishes. “I can’t speak for your job, but Trudy is working with me to clear out the week. I might have to take a few calls, but I’m planning on unplugging.”
Natalie looked skeptical. “But we don’t unplug.”
Anthony laughed. “Maybe we should? It’s right around our ten-year anniversary. That seems reason enough to unplug for a couple days.”
The idea seemed too good to be true, and Natalie had to stop from pinching herself awake.
“There’s got to be a catch.” Anthony’s face fell slightly, and her heart sank faster than the Titanic. “There’s a catch.” It was a statement, not a question. They may not be talking as much as they should, but she knew his tells.
“Not a catch, but a stipulation.”
“For our anniversary?”
“For a kids-free week away,” he started, licking his lips and collecting his thoughts.
“Dad stopped by town hall today. He mentioned that they want to sell the lake house, but they need someone to go through and pack up some stuff. Mom offered to help with the kids if we can help with the packing.”
It all made sense now. The universe had not aligned to give her and her husband some much needed R&R together. This was just her in-law’s way of getting free labor from their children.
“Why can’t Alice help? Isn’t she in between degrees at the moment?” Natalie hated the harsh edge to her voice, but she felt defeated.
Anthony took the last dish from Natalie and put it away. Before she could stomp off, he pulled her close. His touch sent a shot of awareness through Natalie, and her cheeks turned pink. How embarrassing was it to blush from her own husband’s embrace? She was mortified and hoped Anthony didn’t notice.
“Nat, please. It’s not ideal, I’ll give you that.” Natalie snorted and Anthony smiled. It was one of his real smiles, one simply for her. Over the years, Natalie had grown accustomed to her husband’s politician façade. He had a laugh for people that bored him, a smile for the cameras that made him look great, and a myriad of other expressions that were Anthony with a twist. He was never quite himself on the job, but then again, neither was Natalie.
Then there wasthissmile, the kind that crinkled the skin in the corner of his eyes. The same smile he used to give her on their early dates, during their first dance as newlyweds, and when they were in the delivery room with their babies. This smile was why she stopped trying to run and fell into his touch.
Anthony traced the inside of her palm and she shivered. “I admit I don’t want to pay a moving crew, but maybe it will be fun? We haven’t had any time away since Otis was born, and he’s practically in high school.”
On cue, their toddler bounded into the kitchen wearing only his T-shirt. Madeline ran in after him, babbling about their fashion show. Their daughter stomped her feet and wailed, “Ooooottttiiiissss!” stretching out every letter in the boy’s name. “You need to get ready for the fashion show. I have a dress for you.” She held up one of her old dresses that was too small for her, but perfect for Otis’s frame.
Anthony chuckled and stepped back to pick up his son. Otis squirmed as Anthony peppered his chubby cheeks with kisses. Natalie missed the feel of Anthony’s touch, but she loved watching him play with their children. She knew he loved them, was devoted to them. She just didn’t always get to see him in action.
