Her hands felt warm as they conversed with their eyes, and Jeff never wanted to let go. In love he truly was and he felt it every day that she was gone. Starr, as he saw her, was his soulmate, his trusting friend and confidante. Every waking moment that she wasn't there he would miss her terribly, feeling the pull of his heartstrings and wincing within the aches and pins that burdened him in her absence. But in his misery, he found the truth in the old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder.
"I've missed you," she said, her head resting upon his shoulder. "I guess the feeling was mutual. You never rose from your bed, never moved, but always cried. I know that feeling. I thought I couldn't go on without you. I want you to know that I trust you completely, darling…..and I hope you trust me, too."
"Of course I do, baby," Jeff replied sweetly, smoothing down her hair. "How could I not trust you?"
Starr slowly sat up and asked, "How would you feel…..if I told you that I was with another man?"
He stared at her, his heart starting to pull again. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged. "It didn't really happen. It's….just a question."
"Well," Jeff wondered, "why did you ask?"
"I was wondering what your reaction would be, how you felt about the whole thing," she answered. "I'm sorry. I guess it was just an inappropriate question asked at the wrong time."
Jeff sat up and took her hand once again. "I'm not criticizing you. You know that, right?"
"Unless I missed something, you never have," she pointed out. "I'd never want to hurt you, Jeff."
He stroked her cheek and pulled her close. "I wouldn't want to hurt you, either," he declared.
As they held each other, Jeff placed a hand on her stomach and sighed deeply. Starr placed her hand on top of his and a tear slipped from her eye. She knew they didn't want that to happen, either.