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Enjoy.
"Adrian! We don't have enough room in car for six suitcases!" Sharona was tired and a more than a little frustrated with Monk's behavior. He'd insisted getting a gift for everyone, not just her and Benji. He wanted to 'make a good impression'. Sharona had gone with him, helping him pick out gifts for everyone that was coming.
Adrian wouldn't tell her Benji's present, let alone her own. Gail had gotten some sort of French perfume from Monk and a swanky new handbag from Sharona. Aunt Marge was going to be given a mutual gift from Sharona, Monk and Benji, a new string of pearls. A few of Sharona's friends from around town were coming. Monk had gotten Cheryl a Beanie Baby ("She'll love the pink bear Adrian, honestly!") Katherine a copy of Hamlet ("She mentioned once that she'd seen the play but never read it.") and Marie the Moulin Rouge soundtrack ("She adored the movie, Adrian!").
Sharona softened for a moment at the thought of his honeyed eyes gazing into hers at they went Christmas shopping. She felt something tug at her heartstrings. He'd braved a crowded mall just for her, not even asking to leave early until she'd done all of her shopping. His present from her was nice and safe under the Christmas tree at home. She really hoped he liked it.
As Adrian came running out of the house with only three bags, he gasped, "Put these in the trunk, Sharona. I'll be right back." Raising her hands in defeat, she began to load the immaculate suitcases. He was probably going back to check the oven again, or the lights, or the heater, or his mailbox, or his carpet, or his vacuum cleaner, or his bed, or those fuzzy bunny slippers she'd bought him last year.
She was surprised, however, when he came jogging out with a half dozen red roses and a holly wreath. He smiled at her in his adorable Monkish way and said quietly, "Sharona, can we make a quick stop to the cemetery?" His deep amber eyes flashed an even deeper pain for a moment, and her heart melted.
"Of course Adrian. We'll go by a see Trudy for a few minutes." She patted his shoulder and got into the car. He looked at her gratefully for a second, then proceeded to wipe a few specks of dust off of the car. "Come on Adrian, we don't want to keep Benji waiting."
A few moments later, they pulled up to the cemetery. Monk and Sharona demurely exited the car, closing the doors quietly. The only sound around Trudy's grave was Monk's quiet speech.
"Trudy, I brought you these...these flowers. I re...remember the first date we went on. I bought you a red rose, and you...you loved it. And on every...every anniversary, I bought you a bouquet of them. Oh, and I bought you a wreath. I made sure that every holly leaf is perfectly in proportion to all others. Just for you."
Sharona smiled. It was nice that Monk still thought of his wife after all these years. But still, Benji might be getting worried. They still had to clean the house before Gail and Aunt Marge arrived tomorrow. "Adrian? Adrian, we have to go." She gently went over and laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, tears glistening in the crisp winter sun.
"In...in just a minute Sharona. I need to have a little...a little personal time with Trudy first. I'll be there in a minute." He gave her a watery smile and then put a hand on the cold tombstone.
"Sure, sure Adrian. No more than five minutes, okay?" He nodded and she turned around to leave. When she got back to the car, Sharona thought about how Monk would get along with Aunt Marge. Gail might prove a problem, but not one that was difficult to solve.
Back at Trudy's grave...
"Trudy, I love you. You know I love you. I feel like bursting every time I think of you. Especially on Christmas. All of the happy times we shared, and then all the hopes of sharing them with children. When I found out that...that you were two months pregnant, after the ceremony, I...I started to break inside. Actually, the baby might have broken me." Here he stopped and wiped at the tears. A few deep breaths of winter air before continuing.
"But, I want you to know...I've found someone else in my heart. I will always love you, but I think I love her too. I know that you would have wanted me to go on with me life, so that's why I'm going to ask Sharona to marry me."
Enjoy.
"Adrian! We don't have enough room in car for six suitcases!" Sharona was tired and a more than a little frustrated with Monk's behavior. He'd insisted getting a gift for everyone, not just her and Benji. He wanted to 'make a good impression'. Sharona had gone with him, helping him pick out gifts for everyone that was coming.
Adrian wouldn't tell her Benji's present, let alone her own. Gail had gotten some sort of French perfume from Monk and a swanky new handbag from Sharona. Aunt Marge was going to be given a mutual gift from Sharona, Monk and Benji, a new string of pearls. A few of Sharona's friends from around town were coming. Monk had gotten Cheryl a Beanie Baby ("She'll love the pink bear Adrian, honestly!") Katherine a copy of Hamlet ("She mentioned once that she'd seen the play but never read it.") and Marie the Moulin Rouge soundtrack ("She adored the movie, Adrian!").
Sharona softened for a moment at the thought of his honeyed eyes gazing into hers at they went Christmas shopping. She felt something tug at her heartstrings. He'd braved a crowded mall just for her, not even asking to leave early until she'd done all of her shopping. His present from her was nice and safe under the Christmas tree at home. She really hoped he liked it.
As Adrian came running out of the house with only three bags, he gasped, "Put these in the trunk, Sharona. I'll be right back." Raising her hands in defeat, she began to load the immaculate suitcases. He was probably going back to check the oven again, or the lights, or the heater, or his mailbox, or his carpet, or his vacuum cleaner, or his bed, or those fuzzy bunny slippers she'd bought him last year.
She was surprised, however, when he came jogging out with a half dozen red roses and a holly wreath. He smiled at her in his adorable Monkish way and said quietly, "Sharona, can we make a quick stop to the cemetery?" His deep amber eyes flashed an even deeper pain for a moment, and her heart melted.
"Of course Adrian. We'll go by a see Trudy for a few minutes." She patted his shoulder and got into the car. He looked at her gratefully for a second, then proceeded to wipe a few specks of dust off of the car. "Come on Adrian, we don't want to keep Benji waiting."
A few moments later, they pulled up to the cemetery. Monk and Sharona demurely exited the car, closing the doors quietly. The only sound around Trudy's grave was Monk's quiet speech.
"Trudy, I brought you these...these flowers. I re...remember the first date we went on. I bought you a red rose, and you...you loved it. And on every...every anniversary, I bought you a bouquet of them. Oh, and I bought you a wreath. I made sure that every holly leaf is perfectly in proportion to all others. Just for you."
Sharona smiled. It was nice that Monk still thought of his wife after all these years. But still, Benji might be getting worried. They still had to clean the house before Gail and Aunt Marge arrived tomorrow. "Adrian? Adrian, we have to go." She gently went over and laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, tears glistening in the crisp winter sun.
"In...in just a minute Sharona. I need to have a little...a little personal time with Trudy first. I'll be there in a minute." He gave her a watery smile and then put a hand on the cold tombstone.
"Sure, sure Adrian. No more than five minutes, okay?" He nodded and she turned around to leave. When she got back to the car, Sharona thought about how Monk would get along with Aunt Marge. Gail might prove a problem, but not one that was difficult to solve.
Back at Trudy's grave...
"Trudy, I love you. You know I love you. I feel like bursting every time I think of you. Especially on Christmas. All of the happy times we shared, and then all the hopes of sharing them with children. When I found out that...that you were two months pregnant, after the ceremony, I...I started to break inside. Actually, the baby might have broken me." Here he stopped and wiped at the tears. A few deep breaths of winter air before continuing.
"But, I want you to know...I've found someone else in my heart. I will always love you, but I think I love her too. I know that you would have wanted me to go on with me life, so that's why I'm going to ask Sharona to marry me."