"It's in my office." Nadine softly shared as she caught Blake in the hall. "Whenever you want to, come have a look and make sure it's in order."
"Uh, give me a few minutes? I'm about to send her to meet with Russell and then I'll be in."
"Sounds good." She headed back to her desk. The box was tucked on the couch, so when Blake made his way back to her fifteen minutes later, she watched as he carefully opened it. "You've been working hard on this." She observed.
"I called everyone I could think of- his family, friends, POTUS even. I found as much as I could. Do you think it's too much?" He worried.
"No. I think it's a beautiful gift."
The professionally bound book was filled with photos he'd procured from anyone he could think of, he wanted pictures that perhaps hadn't been seem before. The anniversary of Henry's passing was approaching quickly, and Blake had thought collecting photos that marked the history of their twenty-five years of marriage would be something she would like.
"She'll cry but it's wonderful. When are you giving it to her?"
"Tonight, or tomorrow morning. She said I didn't have to leave, but I want to give them time to be a family, so I'm crashing with Matt a couple nights. I'll probably regret that choice, but he was the first person I thought to ask, and he said yes."
"And you'll be in as usual?"
"Yes. Elizabeth will be off three days planned, but I will be in as usual to do whatever needs done." He put the book back in the box. "Life is moving on. Alison hears from colleges next week, Stevie too, then Ali graduates. Stevie is still postponing a wedding, but it's all… moving forward."
"And how is Blake's life going?" When she got a confused look back, she laughed. "For all intents and purposes, you're in a relationship, no matter how unconventional. That's a big life change for anyone."
"Yeah." He agreed. "Eighteen months ago, if you'd said I'd essentially have three kids, a niece who acts like I hung the moon, and a partner of undefined connection, I would have thought you'd lost your mind. And now I've made meals, bought groceries, sat up for curfews and had talks I never imagined having while breaking up fights and… I don't know… doing laundry? I have found myself anticipating Alison's college acceptance, giving piano lessons, and rooting for Stevie at Harvard, though that could be a bit more self-motivated."
"And?"
"And now I worry that everyone is healing and moving on, which is good, but I gave up a year… Not that I regret a minute of it, but the thought of it being time to walk away terrifies me." He sighed and sank back against the couch. "Does it make me crazy?"
"No. What makes you think you'll have to walk away? Has someone said something?"
"Well, no. But the whole deal originally was… I don't even remember anymore. There was never a giant discussion about how long it would last or when it would end."
"Maybe there needs to be." She smiled at him gentle, she could see how distraught the topic was making him. "And perhaps sooner rather than later."
"But…"
"I'm telling you, Blake. Trust me. You can't live in limbo like this, decide what you do or don't want and then have a discussion."