Chapter 18

"Are you serious?" asked Pete from the doctor with disbelief.

"Yes."

"I mean you heard it right?"

"Of course... Look, I don't understand it either, but he let her go for a whole month, that's sure."

"Okay," he was deep in thought.

"I know it's strange from him and I also had doubts, but..."

"I guess it took a long time to convince him."

"No, not at all. He agreed quite easily."

"I see, then it must be a trick!" said Pete immediately as realization hit him like a brick. "I can't believe that nothing is sacred to him."

"Well I don't think it would be a trick, because he was quite..."

"Quite what?"

"... Bereft of hope."

"Really?"

"Yes, he was down in the dumps."

"Maybe he is just a bit frightened," Jill cut in.

"How you mean that?" asked Pete.

"You know he went too far and that's why his wife swooned, so now he regretted it."

"Yeah... that could be true."

"But the point is," continued the doctor. "That I can take her to that sanatorium tomorrow. So now, I think we should go to rest a bit, because this day was a bit too long for all of us."

"That's right, then see you tomorrow doctor."

"Good night," he nodded and left them alone.

"... So you want to tell her now?" asked Jill, turning to Pete.

"No, I think just in the morning, because she barely could fall asleep after this whole thing."

"Oh I see, then you should wait indeed. Anyway I'm sure she will be very happy about the news."

"Me too... but now I think it's better if I go back to her, sorry."

"Of course, just go." she smiled, always amazed on his tenderness.

OOOOOO

"Are you awake?" whispered Pete in the darkness as he caught noises.

"Yes, just heard talking from outside. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, the doctor came back with the news that your husband let you go to the sanatorium for a month."

"You're joking..."

"No, not at all."

"Oh my God!" she sat up. "It's... I just can't believe it," she felt so many things at the same time. "But you're not happy with it, right?"

"No, it's not about that," he sat down on her bed. "It's just strange... I mean until now he was totally against it and now he just suddenly let you go? It sounds like a trick to me."

"I know, but please don't bother with it Pete," she said softly. "The point is we can go, and that's perfectly enough."

"Maybe you're right," he sighed.

"That reminds me, when can we go?"

"Uhm... the doctor will take you there tomorrow and I will go after you, if it's okay."

"Of course it is," she was so happy. "Gosh, I think I have to start packing a few things right now."

"In the middle of the night?... Okay, okay!" He held up his hands playfully, "As I see it's better if I won't tell you that you should sleep instead," he teased her.

"That's a wise decision indeed," she chuckled. "And I think maybe you should do the same."

"Yes, of course... then I'll come back after I finished."

"Perfect," she whispered happily as she gave him a quick kiss.

OOOOOOOO

After Pete left her suite she started packing a few personal things, while she stopped from time to time thinking on what he said before... what if it's just a trick?

This thought somehow could not let her rest, so a few minutes later she was standing right before her husband's office,

"It's just me... can I come in?" she asked softly and her husband immediately felt her weakness... and knew not all was lost.

"Of course. How are you?"

"Much better thank you... Uhm, I didn't notice you left my suite."

"I've waited until the doctor arrived," he seemed so normal now. "I wouldn't have left you there alone... I mean without real help."

"That's good to hear, thanks."

"And I think that sanatorium is not that a bad idea as I thought before."

"..."

"That's why you're here, right?"

"Yes..."

"So it's true. You can go whenever you want, I'll not stand in your way." he said, but she just looked at him. "That's what you wanted to know, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then what's the matter?"

"I just... can't understand why you changed your mind, that's all."

"But it's simple, I saw too much..."

"Saw too much?"

"Yes, when I saw you with him," he sighed sadly. "I had to realize that the way I can love you will never be enough for you."

"... Oh my God," she was shocked. "So you love me?...Really?"

"Of course I do love you Sarah." he said it so quickly, so natural that she barely could breathe. "That was never a question for me."

"Then why were you so..."

"Just say it," he braved her softly.

"... so heartless with me?"

"Because I just wanted to help."

"..."

"Look, you were so depressed... I saw how much you can't find your place, so I thought work therapy would be effective against it. You know, something what keeps your mind busy, so you won't have too much time to think."

"Gosh, I had never thought of that..." she said guiltily, then suddenly something else came to her mind. "And... and what about this bedroom thing?"

"That was just another bad decision it seems," he sighed and stepped closer. "I'm just trying to repair our marriage somehow. I thought if you move back to our bedroom and we sleep next to each other, you will feel again something... anything for me."

"Oh John..."

To be continued...