Page 20 of Unexpected Union

Oncefinished, she washed her plate,tidied the kitchen and packed a lunch—with a bit more thanshe expected to eat, just in case. Finished, she pushed through theswinging door to the living room.

“I’mready to leave. Are you still going with me?” she asked brightlybefore she realized he had his cell phone to his ear. On the phonealready.

Helooked up. “Hold on aminute, Teresa. What?”

“I’m going forthat walk. I’ve packed a lunch. Are you still planning to go?”

“Yes. I’ll bedone here in a minute. Are you planning to eat breakfastfirst?”

“Alreadytaken care of.”

“Oh.” Hefrowned.

If hethought she planned tofeed him while he ignored her, he’d better think again.

“If you’ll beready soon, I’ll have another cup of tea.”

“Yes, I—What?”His attention again focused on the phone.

Audrawent back to the kitchenand prepared a cup of herbal tea. Waiting twenty minutes while shesipped the fragrant brew, she gave up and left for her walk.Alone.

“Goodmorning, Audra, lovely day, isn’t it?” Mrs. Carmichael called asAudra passed their cottage on theway to the path to the lake.

“It’sbeautiful. I’mgoing tosee if I can walk around the lake.”

“That’sambitious. It seems quite a long way. Don’t get too tired. Won’tyour husband be joining you?”

Audrasmiled and tried to ignore the disappointment thethoughtbrought.

“Nottoday. He’sworking. If I get tired, I’ll stop at the main lodge and havesomeone bring me back.”

“Goodplan. We hope to take one of those rowboats out today. John wantsto try his hand at fishing. I told him that was fine, but hehadto clean any wecatch. Of course, if we’re really lucky, we’ll have enough for afish fry and can invite you and the honeymooners over tomorrownight. Enjoy your walk, my dear.”

Audra wavedand set off.

Themorning was still cool enough that the sun feltgood on her arms and face. She’d brought ahat to wear, but carried it in her backpack now, with her lunch.The silence was delightful. She could hear songbirds singing fromthe trees. The lake lapped gently along the shore, soothing andtranquil.

She’denjoy the day and notfeel disappointed Mitch was not with her. When she had arrived atthe cabin, she hadn’t expected to see him. There was no reason tofeel short-changed that he preferred work to a walk.

But shedid—because he’d said he’d come last night.

For afleeting moment she’dthought he might have changed, that maybe the accident might haveput things into a different perspective.

Or that hemight want to know more about the baby.

So much forexpecting a miracle.

Mitchclicked off the phone andleaned back. The dizzy spell caught him unaware as always.Waiting patiently until it passed was difficult. He wasn’t used towaiting for many things. How many more attacks would he have today?He should be keeping score. They were growing farther and fartherapart, as the doctor said they would. But he still experienced farmore than he wanted.

Slowlyhe became aware of the silence. Where was Audra? Shouldn’t he hearher fussing around? Was she ready to go? As the dizziness faded herose and went into thekitchen. It was empty.

Turning,he went back to thestairs. Her bedroom door was open, the room empty. Therewere few personal items evident. Her scent seemed to cling in theair—light and flowery. How had he missed it that first day? Itseemed to be everywhere.

Suddenlyhe wanted to locate her.Take that walk, find something else to do besides reviewing thebriefs that waited to be read and dealing with the next set ofpapers his secretary would be sending.

Audra wasn’ton the porch.

Hewondered if she’d gonewithout him. A glance at his watch showed it was almost noon. Wherehad the morning gone?

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