There she sat, next to her dearest friend, seemingly very happy and content. Inside she was worried, very worried. Her anxiety was caused by her ignorance. In the absence of facts she found herself filling in the blanks to explain her husband's behavior over the last few months. One issue that her mind could not comprehend was his bare finger … the fact that the band of precious metal had been missing for so long.
In the absence of pertinent facts her mind was indeed thinking the worst. The fact that he had left the party with one of her best friends didn't help at all. They had been gone for some time … her imagination was running wild.
The back door to the Bing home opened … two figures entered. Removing their coats they melted into the crowd.
She noted their entrance, she watched as he approached Chandler with a glass of Champaign in his hand.
She wondered …
She wondered why they had left. She wondered what they had discussed. She wondered why they had been gone so long. She would do just about anything to know …
Again she wondered …
She watched her husband as he talked to his friends. He would pat them on the back; he would laugh at their jokes.
And again she wondered …
Then it happened … he looked her way, just as she was looking at him. She smiled … he returned her smile.
He left his friends and walked over to the couch, leaning over, whispering into her ear …
"Can I talk to you … alone?"
"Sure. Where?"
"Let me get your coat … we can go out on the deck, if that's alright with you."
"Sure, let's go."
She found herself out in the backyard, on the deck, with the man she loved. They had been married for many years … yet, in a way he seemed as would a stranger. She found herself at a disadvantage; she had no idea what he wanted to talk about.
He gazed into the heavens, into the crisp evening sky. He searched for a way to start the conversation. He paused …
She became concerned …
"Rachel, how long has it been since we've been together, alone?"
"We're alone right now Ross."
"No Rach, how long has it been since we spent any length of time together, alone? You know, just the two of us."
"I guess it was our honeymoon." She replied.
"Exactly! We never seem to get any time alone, away from the kids. What would you think if the two of us just ran away together for the weekend?"
Surprised, that's the best way to describe her reaction to his question. Rachel had expected some sort of revelation ... instead she received an invitation to get away with her husband. She was surprised. She sat there considering his words, silently.
"So Rach, what do you say?"
Looking into his eyes her feelings quickly changed from surprise to elation. She was thrilled. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that he wanted this. Hope, feelings of hope filled her soul. She knew they had problems but his invitation gave her hope that perhaps they could surmount them.
Feelings of hope, peppered by concern …
"Ross, what about the kids? Who will take care of the kids?"
"I knew that you would be worried about the kids … you're such a good mother. Do you remember how worried you were about your skills as a parent before Emma was born?"
She nodded her head and smiled at his compliment.
"Rachel, I will take care of everything. The kid's accommodations are already set up and besides, Emma is a very responsible teenager, she will help take care of the others. All I need is your OK and we can start planning our trip."
She smiled. She was truly happy as her anticipation rose.
"Where do you want to go?"
"Rachel, anywhere your heart desires. All I want is for you to be happy."
… and he meant every word of it.
