Chapter 38
"AJ, what is it? Is something wrong?" she asked in concern.
"Who are you?" he asked getting up from the bed and reaching for his clothes.
"What do you mean? You know that I'm, Thea, your wife!" Taya protested.
"No, my WIFE had an oval birthmark on her inner thigh…YOU don't!" he said as he pulled on his pants, and glared at her.
"AJ when they gave me a new identity, they had to remove all identifying marks. If you don't believe me, then ask me something that only you and I would know the answer to!" she pleaded with him, getting out of bed and going towards him.
He backed away from her, as if he thought that her touch would burn him. AJ didn't know what to believe right then, he had accepted that this woman was his wife, and now, to be faced with the loss of her birthmark, how could he be sure? But what she said was reasonable. If the Company had known about the birthmark they could have insisted on its removal. However, if he did ask her this question that she was demanding that he ask, it would prove that he had his doubts, but then again, he had to be sure, for his own peace of mind. "Alright, what was the promise you made me that last day in my office when you came to say good-bye as you left on your mission?" he asked at last.
Taya closed her eyes and remembered that day; she had relived it so often in her mind while she had been away. The words they had spoken to each other had become etched on her mind, although they had spoken on the phone a few times before she was reported 'dead' it hadn't been same as that last time together. Opening her eyes she looked deeply into his and said, "I promised to always keep you in my heart, and to return to you as soon as I could."
With an exhausted sigh, he sunk onto the corner of the bed. No one else could have known that, they had been alone in his office and those words had also been etched on his heart. Thinking her dead he had treasured that memory, and here was the proof that he had needed, that this was Thea, his beloved wife. The emotional roller coaster he had been through in the last few minutes had drained him, burying his head in his hands he groaned and began his apology, "I'm sorry for doubting you once again, darling. This has been more difficult than any reunion should ever have been. I don't blame you, but that damn Company of yours!"
Going onto her knees in front of him, she pulled his hands from his face. When he looked at her he saw that there were tears rolling down her cheeks, "AJ, my love, you have nothing to blame yourself for! It was only natural that you would be suspicious when you found my birthmark gone. I should have realized that when we made love, you would've noticed and I should have told you before hand. However, I was so carried away with my desire for you, that it never entered my mind. Please forgive me!"
"I would guess that there wouldn't be much reason for you to tell anyone that. If what you say is true and there hasn't been anyone in all this time, I can see that something like would have slipped your mind." With a tender smile he caressed the tears from her face, "Is there anything else that I should know before I take you back to bed, my darling?"
"Only that I love you more than life itself and there was no way that they could remove that from my heart."
Getting to his feet, he pulled her up with him and guided her back to the bed. Taking off his pants once again, he climbed in next to her and softly said, "Maybe we could just hold each other for now, and start this again when we have gotten some rest?"
"That sounds good to me, just being in your arms is enough for me. Your arms are my safe harbor, and I can rest there without fear."
To be continued…..