Chapter Ten

The next day it was him who cooked the meal and she was his help. This arrangement seemed to work fine on each weekend, they were equals even when it came to dividing housework. Ever since the morning she'd noticed some change in his behavior, especially compared to the previous day and she couldn't think of any other explanation only that he must have made up his mind already about their future.

She was eager to know his decision, but she didn't want to urge him in any way, he had to have all the time he needed to tell her at his convenience.

"Can we talk?" he broke the silence that had surrounded them for a few minutes and he sounded rather serious.

"Of course," she said, placing down the knife from her hand, indicating that she was ready to turn her full attention to him.

"I've thought about it a lot, this opportunity and how it would affect us, what could be the consequences if I say no and I think I have to accept, because that is the smart thing to do."

He didn't take his eyes off her, not for a second, he obviously didn't want to miss her reaction. She had tried to prepare herself for this reply, because she had known it would be a little hard to handle, even if she understood why he would make that particular choice that he did in the end.

She was disappointed of course, on the other hand she couldn't blame him for choosing the safe path, especially because she knew he wasn't only thinking of himself, but her and the children as well.

"Say something," he nervously reminded her that she hadn't reacted yet and she chose the most obvious way to reflect her emotions, which was a smile.

"You're right," she finally found the words to say, "That is the smart thing to do."

One day ago she had felt like telling him not to accept the offer and just go with her on the other road, but now that she knew his answer all she could do was support it and try to think of how to go on from here, alone.

"I'm doing this for all of us, I want to be there for you, provide for you so you can achieve your dream, because I believe in you."

She was thankful that he let her do this on her own, even though she would have preferred it with him on her side, because it surely wouldn't be the same without him.

"I know," she said as she softly ran her hand on his cheek and leaned forward to kiss him.

She soon felt his hand on hers and after their lips parted he placed a kiss in her palm.

"I'm going to help you in any way I can," he promised and she smiled at him again.

"Thank you," she softly squeezed his hand that was still holding hers before she pulled it back and reached for the knife.

Her gaze fell on the onions in the bowl in front of her and without hesitation she chose to start chopping those next. As the knife was hitting the board her mind went to the offices she'd planned to rent for their new firm, with her and his offices facing each other, separated by a short corridor where their assistants would have been sitting. They could have seen each other through the glass walls, they could have been together all day, fighting for the same causes. It would be painful to give that office to anyone else, because no one deserved it as much as he did.

She soon noticed tears falling from her eyes, but she knew better than to wipe them with her hands, she just let them run down her cheek, trying to hide her face from him. But it didn't take long until she felt his hands on her cheek, literally wiping away her tears.

"These damn onions," she forced a smile on her face and put down the knife to search for something to dry her face with.

But before she could reach anything he folded his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"Everything's going to be fine," his voice sounded soothing and he moved his lips close to her cheek to kiss away the rest of the tears.