He found her waiting for him in the entryway, her eyes lacking their usual sparkle, but beginning to take in her surroundings. "Is it okay if I wander around, or would you rather escort me?"
"Sue, sweetheart," he began, physically hurting at her lost look, "This is your home. You can go any where at any time and look at any thing you want." Hearing her wobbly sigh, he reached out and twirled a lock of her hair around his finger, "Is there anything I can do to make this easier for you? I feel so helpless, like I should be doing something."
Lifting her head, she allowed herself to get momentarily lost in his eyes, desperately needing a bit of normalcy at the moment. There were shadows where none had been before, a deep-seeded weariness that tugged at her soul. Reaching up, she squeezed the hand that was playing with her hair, "You are doing something, Jack. You are letting me take this at my own pace, and being so sweetly encouraging. You're gonna make some lucky girl a great hus..." She trailed off in horror, realizing what she was about to say. Backing away, she turned and made her way into the Living Room. "So, how long have you lived here?"
Waiting on her to turn and face him, he answered, "We've lived here since before Emily was born. You and I started off in my apartment, but we knew it would be too small with a baby, so we found this house and were moved in two weeks before her birth."
"When is her birthday?"
"The 13th of March."
Sue nodded, resuming her perusal of the large room with its high ceilings, its starkness troubling her. She wandered from there, through the dining, kitchen, and den area, loving the openness of the layout, and commenting on such. "This is such a great house for family, for company, for sharing. Did you...we have many dinner parties, much company?"
He hated to dash the hope in her eyes, noting that her questioning was becoming more and more specific, her instincts and observant nature evidently restored with her memory. Finding it hard to hold her gaze, he let his eyes roam the room, but kept his mouth toward her. "Not really. There never really seemed to be a good time." Finally looking back her way, he added, "Maybe we can change that, though."
She toured the master suite, which was located on the main floor, noting its spacious size and the to-die-for master bath and the 'his' and 'her' walk-in closet. "Wow! This is amazing. I don't know if I would ever want to leave this area. It's got everything, including a private sitting area."
"I thought you might like this," he said, the hint of a smile forming on his face. "And come look at this," he added, waving her toward a door. "It's our own private patio with a hot tub. Very ROMANTIC."
Sue took in the lover's nook and felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. "It's very nice," she murmured, turning away. "I guess the rest of the bedrooms are upstairs?" she questioned, turning back to catch Jack's dispirited nod. Making her way upstairs, she again noted with delight the openness of the sitting area, which looked more like a play room for Emily. Both sides of the area were flanked by two bedrooms with a connecting bath between each. Sue noticed Emily's room and headed there first, glad to finally see a room with some warmth. The room was precious and exuded personality from the animals piled high on the bed to the painting easel in the corner with a spectacular rainbow in mid-creation. "You did a really great job in here, Jack," she complimented, knowing that this was the room in which he spent most of his time. Not waiting for a response, she quickly walked through the other three bedrooms, noting, but not commenting on, the presence of a few personal articles in the one adjoining Emily's. Once she was back to the play area, she asked him, "Have I missed anything?"
"Not really, maybe a bathroom here and the laundry room, but I'm sure you'll discover those soon enough."
"It's an amazing house, Jack. Just the kind I would have picked out...which surprises me."
"Surprises you, why?" he asked, watching her closely.
"Because I don't think I was very much like myself the last several years. While this house would be one like I would choose, nothing else about it is remotely me. At least not the me I am today. I guess it's more 'her' and I don't think I like 'her'."
He moved toward her, intent on easing her obvious distress when he stopped suddenly, hearing voices from downstairs. "We have a lot to talk about, but it will have to wait. Lucy and Emily have just arrived."