Just One More Day
"I was thinking that perhaps we could start organising the holiday Henry bequeathed to us. Where would you like to go? Jill?" He prompted again when there was no reply.
"Mmm?" She raised her head and looked over at him. Her eyes were distant and took a while to focus on him.
"I said where would you like to go?"
"Go? Sorry, I don't understand."
"Henry's bequest. Our holiday."
A little realisation and understanding dawned on her, yet she was still slow and hesitant in her reply. "Oh. I don't know really. I'll leave it up to you."
This comment confirmed his thoughts of the past few minutes and drew a frown on his brow. This wasn't like Jill at all. If there was a decision to be made, she would be loath to let anyone else make it for her, even him. And he didn't like the expression on her face; something was definitely bothering her. "Jill, love. Is something the matter?" He asked upon seeing a dullness once again creep upon his wife's features.
"What?" She seemed surprised by his question. "No, no I'm fine. I'll erm… I'll rinse these out." She rose, gesturing towards the empty tea cups upon the coffee table as she made to pick them up. It was with a slightly dazed expression that she exited the living room.
His frown deepened. Something was definitely amiss. He tried to pinpoint exactly what might have happened to upset her so much. She was fine that morning, laughing with the children as they prepared breakfast. They even shared a chaste kiss and cuddle in a lull in the morning bustle. So it was must have happened at work. Perhaps a patient was bothering her. He was about to conclude that that must be the cause when a sudden memory sprung to his mind. The week before, they'd taken the children to the beach one afternoon. Tom and Katie were building a sandcastle palace, with Jonathan's hindrance. He was lazing, stretched out on the picnic rug. But Jill had been sat bolt upright, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles were white. He'd had his eyes shut against the sun's glare, but had become aware of unusual ragged and uneven breathing from the woman beside him. He'd looked up and seen such an intense look of worry on her face that it made him want to take her in his arms and protect her from everything. But instead he'd questioned her. She'd snapped out of it immediately, smiled and… And changed the subject, successfully side-tracking him. He'd thought nothing more of the occasion until now. But now that had presented itself, several more occasions came to mind. It seemed she had been acting strangely for a while, and he'd failed to notice.
With a sigh, he rose and went in search of his troubled wife.