Page 67 of Unexpected Union

“Still eightminutes,” he murmured once she was able to walk again. “Are yousure you can be walking? I don’t want the baby to drop out on hishead.”

Shegiggled softly,squeezing his hand.

“Thankyou for coming back. What would I do without you?”

“Hold thatthought, Audra.”

“What do youmean?”

“Where shouldI start?”

“At thebeginning?” she suggested, hoping whatever he had to say would takeher mind off the growingfear she wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time for her baby’sbirth.

“I wishI knew where that was. When I first saw you and you took away mybreath? When I knew I wanted you in my life forever? Or was thebeginning of this part when after wewere married I fell back into old habits. I’d beenalone a long time, Audra. I think I never cultivated the ability toshare. I thought I had to give you everything, so I worked harderto earn more.”

“All I wantedwas you.”

“Thesepast few months have been hell. The apartment is twice as empty than before. Yourghost is everywhere.”

She gave awatery giggle.

“Mitch, I’mnot dead. How can I have a ghost?”

“I don’tknow, but you haunted the place. I stayed away more than ever toavoid going into our empty home. Worked longer hours to drive you from mymind.”

“Wouldn’t it havebeen easier to just invite me back?” she asked.

“And change mylifestyle when I was so sure you were the one in the wrong toexpect me to alter the way I lived?”

“Well,when you put itthatway…”

“InsteadIwas wrong.We both needed to alter our single lives to accommodate our marriedone. But me more than you.”

“Ohhhhh!”

She bentover again, braced against her husband. He held her securely,waiting patiently. He never gave a hint of worry and Audra drew strength fromhim.

“Andwhen did you come upwith this notion that we might both need to change?” she asked,breathing hard, almost daring to hope.

“Theother night when I sat in the pouring rain. I did a lot of thinkingthen. You knewhowdangerous it was to be exposed to the elements like that. I think Iwould have made it, but what if I hadn’t? What if I haddied?”

Sheshivered at his words. She’d had more than a few frantic thoughtsalong those lines. What would the world be like ifMitch wasn’t in it?

“My life isn’tworth much without you. I’m like an automaton, going through themotions. Work is no longer a passion, but a drug—to dull the acheof your leaving. And you were right, the Boston legal system won’tcome to a halt with my absence. I like to think I make acontribution, but so do all the others in the D.A.’s office. We’rea team, not soloists.”

“I thinkthey’d sorely miss you if you were gone. But not collapse,” shesaid.

“We’ll testit.”

“How?”

“Firstof all, I’ll take thetime off the doctor recommended. I’ll learn to delegatemore. I’ve found I like doing other things—if I do them withyou.”

Her heart ratesoared. Throwing caution to the wind, Audra stopped to wind herarms around his neck and hugged him close.

“I loveyou, Mitch,” shewhispered.

“I loveyou, Audra—more than I ever thought possible.”

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