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Designed Intent

Chapter 50

Friday Noon

"Will you call me and let me know how you are doing?"

"Malcolm, I told Dr. Manlowe I'm taking four weeks. I'll be back in four weeks. I'm not going to call you. Please, just go."

He looked at her deeply and she looked away. "Nothing has changed, you know, I still have feelings for you, Lass."

Gleason would not look at him. She stood in the doorway to the apartment, wanting him to leave – before Bobby arrived. "Go home to your wife and son, Malcolm."

He had said nothing about reuniting with Maeve, how did Gleason know this? He desperately wanted his cake and he wanted to eat it, too. "It's not over. Us, we're not over."

"There is no 'us,' Malcolm! Now go. Please."

"There was, could still be. I'll not forget that night, Gleason. We would have made love had Gussie not fallen. You wanted to, we were on your bed, undressing. I know you felt something for me. You still do. I know it."

"I am sorry that happened. It was a mistake. Go Malcolm, just go." She shut the door and Malcolm walked slowly to his car. He was backing out of the parking spot when the taxi arrived. Bobby exited the cab; saw the other man and the two men made eye contact. What the fu-! Bobby thought.

"Hi, Sweetheart," he said opening the door. Gleason stepped from the bedroom and rushed to him. "Don't run! Honey, you have to take it easy." They embraced and kissed tenderly. Bobby struggled with whether to mention that he saw Malcolm leaving. He wanted to see what Gleason would do – whether she would say anything.

"I am so happy to be going home, Love."

"It will be wonderful to have you home, the way it should be." Bobby removed his coat and tossed it on the sofa. "How are you feeling? Ok to fly?"

"Bobby, I feel wonderful. I can breathe and I have energy. I feel so strong."

He smiled and said nothing, waiting, wondering.

Gleason asked, "Are you hungry? We should finish up what I have here so it doesn't go to waste."

"Yeah, what do you have? Anything good?"

Gleason made cheese sandwiches and small salads with the last of the vegetables. She heated up the rest of the casseroles Gladys had brought over and had already thrown out the ricotta and cottage cheese pie. She poured the last of the orange juice for Bobby and he made a pot of tea for her.

"Love?"

"Hmmm?" he answered with a mouthful of casserole.

Gleason set down her fork and said, "Bobby, Malcolm was here earlier. I didn't call him, he just showed up; and I didn't let him in." She looked at her plate as she told him.

Bobby swallowed and set down his fork, wiped his mouth and calmly asked, "What did he want?"

Gleason sighed and said, "He, he told me how he felt, still feels, about me. He asked me to call him from New York."

"What did you tell him?"

She finally looked up at Bobby and replied, "I told him to leave. To go back to his wife and son. That I was going home for a month."

She looked at him, waiting for him to explode. It didn't happen; instead, Bobby reached for her hand, took it and said, "I love you, Gleason. That part of us is over. There are just us now. Just us."

Gleason stood, came around the table to him, bent and kissed him. "I love you, Bobby. I love only you. Forever."

Bobby slid back from the table and pulled her onto his lap. He held her and rocked. He nuzzled her neck and murmured, "Did you ask the doctor when it would be safe for us to make love?"

"She said six weeks."

Bobby pulled back and looked at her with shock, "Six weeks?!"

Gleason smiled and said, "Gotcha."

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Bobby and Gleason went together to return Gladys's casserole dishes and pie plate. They also took the lovely plant Dr. and Mrs. Manlowe had sent. "Hey, good to see you two! C'mon in," Gladys said, opening the door to her apartment in the main house.

"Oh, we can't stay. Thank you for the wonderful food, Gladys, it was kind of you to do that," Gleason said handing over the glass dishes; Bobby handed Gleason the plant. "I was wondering if you can water this plant whilst I am in New York."

"You're going back to New York?" Gladys asked looking from Gleason to Bobby.

"Yeah, she's coming home to recuperate. We leave in the morning."

"For how long? What about your classes at the University?"

"I'll be home for four weeks and my classes are all taken care of. Would you collect my mail or should I suspend delivery?"

"No, no. I'll be happy to collect it for you." No one said anything for a moment.

"We should be going. Thanks for looking after her this week," Bobby said, putting his arm around Gleason.

"Oh, I didn't do anything. That professor lady friend was here those couple a days. I just brought over her mail, seen if she needed anything."

"Thank you Gladys. I'll see you when I get back. Thanks again." Bobby and Gleason both nodded, smiled and Bobby led her to the steps. Gladys watched them leave and shut the door.

"That is one creepy woman," Bobby said, shuddering dramatically.

"Oh, she's nice. She's a very caring person."

"Yeah, well, I think she's got the hots for you."

"Don't be silly!"

Bobby's perceptions were rarely wrong about things. And, he was right about this one.

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Saturday

Bobby and Gleason entered their apartment and Bobby set down her bag; they brought home more clothing for her as she would be home for four weeks.

"Thank God you are home and safe," he said, embracing her, holding her tight, rocking her.

Gleason leaned against him, feeling so safe, warm, loved. "I love you, Bobby, I love you." She looked up into his face and he kissed her gently, chastely.

"I am so glad you are home, Sweetheart. I love you so much." Bobby had not felt such peace in a long time. "How do you feel? Do you want to take a nap? Are you hungry?"

"I want to be with you, Love, just be with you. Can we take a walk and then get some lunch?"

He smiled and hugged her, "Of course, of course."

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They walked toward the small park near their apartment, holding hands as they always did. The air was crisp and the leaves were turning. The curly-haired child popped up in front of them. He had stopped fading and felt excited. He didn't know why he was so excited, but his mommy wasn't sick any more and the blue that surrounded his daddy and mommy was gone; instead, he saw a golden light around them. Christian skipped ahead; he loved when they went to the park. He wished his mommy and daddy would see him and play with him.

Bobby stopped in front of the fountain and pulled Gleason to him. He enveloped her in his arms and whispered into her hair. "I love you. I love you." His voice was deep. He held her tightly.

Gleason leaned back in his arms and looked up at him. She saw him look deep into her soul. "Bobby . . . ?"

"Gleason, marry me."

She stared at him and her mouth fell open; she was not expecting this. This had never occurred to her. She knew they would be together forever, but marriage.

"Say yes, Gleason, say you will marry me." He felt his panic begin to rise. She will say yes, she will. Please say yes.

Gleason moved from his arms, took two steps back, and turned away from him.

"Honey?" He reached for her. "Gleason?" Oh, God. Oh, God.

She turned back and whispered, "Yes, Bobby, I'll marry you."

He wasn't sure he heard her, "What?"

Gleason moved to him and said, "Yes, I'll marry you."

He grabbed her and held her, "Oh, Honey, thank you. Thank you."

"Bobby, don't thank me. I love you. We should get married. We should. We are living together as husband and wife. We share everything. I will love you forever. It is the right thing to do."

"Oh, Gleason I love you. Let's go now."

"What? Bobby! Now? You mean today?"

"Yes, let's go right now. I'll call Judge Weisenstein, he considers me a friend. He'll do it." Then Bobby realized, maybe Gleason wanted a real wedding. He held her at arm's length, "Do you, do you want a real wedding?"

"No, goodness, no; but, let's think this through. We need to pick the right date. The date is important."

"Ok, but I want to do this soon. I don't want to wait. I love you and I want us to be married."

"We will be married soon. I promise, Love, I promise."

The little boy stood and watched his daddy and mommy talk. They were happy, so he was happy, too. The boy skipped over to the swings, got on and pumped with his legs, wanting them to come and push him, but they kissed and walked on. The empty swing moved in the breeze.

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