Chapter 14

I dumped my bags on my livingroom floor. I was exhausted from the flight. These last 5 days without speaking to Lizzie have been miserable. All I could think of was her. I considered botching up the job so I could come home sooner but thought better of that. Being away from her for so long really made me think. Traveling used to be an adventure for me. Going new places, seeing new things used to excite me. Now that I'd had a taste of a different life, those things didn't matter to me anymore. I knew I had to see her. Lizzie and I were far from being over.

There was a knock at my door. I was hopeful but didn't dare get my hopes up. I desperately wanted it to be my Patrick. I wasn't even sure if I could call him that anymore. While he was away he tried to call me several times but I wouldn't speak to him. Now, I regret that. How could I have been so stupid?

Mother answered the door for me. "Hello, Patrick. How was your trip?" she asked leading him inside.

"Fine, Ma. Just tiring, that's all." He'd taken to calling her Ma and she loved it.

She brought him into the kitchen and we stood there face to face. He smiled at me. I smiled back. Ma muttered something about groceries and left.

I gestured towards the table and chairs. "Tea?"

He looked at me with eyes so sad I mentally kicked myself. "How are you, Lizzie?"

"I'm fine...and you?"

"I missed you. So much." His voice started to shake.

How could he be so wonderful after the way I treated him? My knees felt weak. I thought I might pass out. I hadn't eaten or slept much since the day he left.

I exhaled. "I missed you too, Patrick," I told him quietly. I couldn't control the tears welling in my eyes. I began to cry.

Patrick came to me and took me into his strong arms. I had missed the way he smells, the feel of him, and the way he looked at me just now. "Shhhhhh," he soothed, stroking my hair and wiping my tears; comforting me from the inside out. "It's okay, your Patrick's here now."

How did he know about that? Who cares.

I held onto him so tight. I didn't want to ever let him go. "I'm so sorry, Patrick," I said, finally calming down.

"It's okay, Lizzie. Don't worry about it." He lifted my chin up so I would look at him. "Happy Anniversary."

I smiled as I looked up into his handsome face, and the warmth in his eyes filled me like air in a balloon. I tried to respond but before I could his lips came down on mine with a force I'd never felt from him. He parted his lips and I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. His hands caressed my back and my hair and my face. I couldn't get enough of his touch. My body was on fire. We had agreed to take it slow, but we'd waited long enough. He lifted me up into his arms and started heading towards my room but then he stopped.

I looked up questioningly at him. "Patrick?"

"Where's Frankie?"

Oh yeah. "In school," I told him.

He looked around. "Where's Ma?"

"Groceries," I replied breathlessly.

"Right, " he said then kissed me again. It was too soon before he pulled away from me. He had a serious look on his face. " Lizzie, there's something I have to tell you."

Anything, Patrick. You can tell me anything. "Yes?"

"I love ya, Lizzie Morrison and I always will."

I'd been waiting to hear that from him. Now that he'd finally said it, I felt tears forming in my eyes again. Happy tears. "I love ya too, my Patrick. Happy Anniversary," I told him, my voice full of emotion.

He smiled, kissed me again, and brought me into my bedroom, kicking the door shut behind us.

A/N One chapter to go. The next chapter really is the last.