A/N: Ah! I knowwwwww; it's been too long! I genuinely hope everyone is remaining safe and healthy during this difficult time.
This update is a monster of a two-part chapter—even for me!—so I hope this makes up for the months that have passed. If you need a reminder (which I'm sure you do), this chapter takes place two days after the last. Also, consider this a mild m-rating disclaimer for a small section…
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :)
What Is The Plan? — Part I
It was the faintest smell of coffee that wafted under Peter's nose and stirred him from the realm of sleep.
He didn't dare open his eyes to investigate the reason behind the seductive nutty aroma, despite the temptation to get out of bed and grab a cup.
There was a slight chill in the air (courtesy of early December record lows) and a steaming mug of roasted beans brewed to perfection seemed the first good remedy to warm him and start the day.
But he wasn't in a rush. And putting off joining the rest of the world to lie in bed with his wife was a better idea of the two.
As he thought more of it, in his drowsed state, he didn't see her at all yesterday. Two quick phone calls was the only contact they had, a matter he attempted to overlook just before he fell asleep last night.
He blindly rolled over and extended his right arm to the other side of the bed.
Empty and cold sheets greeted him instead of Alicia's expected warm body.
He swept a palm across the space, and then laid it there for a second, letting the vacancy register; further cementing a link between the smell of coffee and her nonexistence.
Where is she?
His eyes slowly, and begrudgingly cracked open to examine her side of the bed, the confirmed absence jarring him partially awake.
From the appearance of the barely touched sheets, he wondered if she slept here last night. Nearly forty-eight hours after their session the other day, and she was still … off. An off-ness he wasn't sure how to address or if he was even correct in his assumption. And his wife, true to form, had likely compartmentalized and buried that off-ness, using work to numb herself.
She'd done it before. This was her proverbial way to cope.
And he wouldn't be entirely surprised if his hunch was correct. It was more or less the switch of gears — from present to a partial shell — without warning in the short span of time that concerned him most.
So again, where was she?
Confusion teetered on worry began to blast through his mental fog while he rubbed his eyelids when the sound of an object falling onto the floor, followed by a not so subtle groan from Alicia, caught his attention.
Her back was to him. She was distracted with replacing whatever fell off her vanity that she didn't notice he was awake.
He rolled onto his back and bit back questions about her late night, opting to pass a few minutes by watching her get ready for work before announcing his presence.
"Morning," he said after a moment, his voice deep and laced with sleep.
Alicia spun around.
"Morning — sorry." She projected a shy smile his way. "I was trying to be quiet. Did I wake you?"
"Nah." He propped a pillow behind his head while batting away remnants of sleep. "I um … didn't hear you come in last night."
"Yeah, I know. It was really late when I got in and you were asleep. I didn't want to wake you," she said, distractedly flipping through blouses.
Peter resumed watching her move about the room, mission-focused and undeterred. Her pace was swift and light, as if she'd had at least one cup of coffee. She never moved this quick in the morning even after a solid seven hours of sleep.
He fought a yawn. Then another. It felt early. Too early.
A glance at the clock on her beside table confirmed it was as early as it felt.
The time was six thirty-five. The sun wasn't even up yet.
In the couple minutes he'd been awake, he pieced together that she not only slept just a few hours last night — he recalled dozing off around eleven — but had woken long before him. The light scent of her body wash hung in the air, rousing his senses, also telling him that she had showered and he probably had another forty minutes of seeing her face before she was out the door.
"Leaving soon?"
"Unfortunately." She stood in front of the closet, arms folded, contemplating her wardrobe. She shot a glance at him over her shoulder. "Need to prep a witness taking the stand Monday. I still have evidence to review before we meet this morning."
Alicia bent at the waist ever so slightly. The thin material of the robe accentuated the curve of her hip, leaving very little to his imagination. His trained eyes started to darken as a rush of heat soared through his body, inclining him to reposition his head on the pillow for a better angle.
Peter enjoyed doing this on the rare occasions he was able. Simply, watching her be her. To him, she was sexiest in these moments. If he remembered correctly, some of the best sex they've had stemmed from these moments.
Alicia shot another quick glance at him over her shoulder, this time, a subtle twinkle in her eyes.
She knew he was watching.
That two-second look sparked a second rush of heat that settled deep around his pelvis.
"And I need to see the kids before I leave," Alicia continued, draping a skirt and blouse along the arm of the chair in the corner. "Did you ask Zach last night how he did on his chemistry test?"
He cleared his throat. "B plus."
She ventured back to the closet. "Maybe we should get him a tutor? He's been struggling in that class this semester."
"I don't think that's necessary right now. He has time to pull it up."
Peter followed her movements from dresser to vanity to closet while replying to her musings on cue. They kept this going as he dashed into the bathroom to relieve himself and quickly brush his teeth.
She was still bolted in front of the closet once he came back into the room and climbed in bed. He relaxed against the pillows and picked up where he left off: engaged in idle chat while watching her get ready.
When she stood on her tiptoes and reached for a pair of shoes from an upper shelf, which drove the hem of the robe up the back of her bare thighs — a view he thoroughly enjoyed — did he lose his train of thought.
The last time they had sex crossed his mind. Had it been a week? Or longer? He couldn't pinpoint exactly when but if it was a week, in this instance, it felt more like months. The infamous stiffness lain against one of his thighs was to blame for his one-track mind right now.
"Hey," he said, interrupting her spiel on Zach's sub-par grades this semester.
She turned to look at him.
He casually flung an arm up over his head and waggled his brows. "I missed you last night."
Setting the shoes on the floor, Alicia clenched the top of the robe together with one hand as she walked around to his side of the bed, a demure smile stamped on her lips.
His eyes flickered once he caught sight of the unmistakable outline of her nipples protruded against the silk. Clearly sending him, in his opinion, an invitation to give them proper attention.
"Thank you for staying," she said. "Sorry I missed dinner."
"I followed your recipe to a T. No complaints."
She smiled. "Things will be back to normal soon. I hope so anyway. Only a couple more late nights until this case is over."
He pursed his lips. "So, is this going to be our new normal, then? You coming home late, me making dinner?"
"Possibly. Will that be a problem?"
There was a teasing lilt in her voice that roused yet another wave of warmth that shot from the depths of his abdomen to right on his groin. It was always the littlest things she did, unbeknownst to her, which turned him on.
"No, not a problem at all."
He reached out an arm and slipped a hand past the slit of her robe to connect with her upper thigh, settling into a caress while gazing up at her.
Alicia smirked once she caught his heavy-lidded gaze.
It was a telling smirk, a familiar one, which typically resulted in whatever they were discussing to rule in his favor.
She eased down onto the bed and folded a leg under the other. Her smirk broadened and eyes started to dance as she planted her hands on either side of his torso and peered down at him.
"You're not going to make me late."
Peter skated his palm plus a wad of the robe further up her thigh. "And why would I make you late?"
"Because I know that look," she whispered, leaning down.
He feigned innocence. "It means nothing."
"Uh huh …" She chuckled, sneaking a glance at the clock then down to his nimble fingers fiddling with the loosely tied knot.
"Ah" — he met her low eyes — "are we still on for tonight?"
"Our date?"
He nodded.
"We are." Her breath hitched when his thumb swept across the sensitive inner crease of skin right below her hipbone. "Speaking of, what are we doing?"
"We didn't decide."
"I thought you had this planned."
He brushed her hair back to fall across one of her shoulders, then cupped the base of her neck and gently drew her further down, steering her lips to his.
"I do. Just checking to see if you had something else in mind."
"Oh. No ... I don't."
Their mouths met. Gentle at first, then with urgency. From the sound of her low-pitched moan, he was confident her getting to work on time was now mostly an afterthought.
Here and now with her like this reminded Peter of a time when they often started their mornings this way.
It was years ago, about ten months into his tenure when he was first elected as State's Attorney and the duties of his office had started to infiltrate their home. On some mornings, before the routines of the day started, they would often lie in bed, wrapped in each others' arms, enjoying what she deemed 'their time'. Which was a slated hour or more they indulged in the intimacy they didn't the night before if he worked late. But when sex was on the menu, their time had no constraints.
History seemed about to repeat itself.
In a blink, and without invitation, Alicia readjusted herself to straddle his waist, her smile widening once she felt the slight swell of him. His hands automatically lifted to rest on the top of her hips.
"Did you wake up with this in mind?" she asked.
Peter stared up and into her shimmering eyes, a single brow arched when her hips shifted against his groin. It felt like she had struck a match. His morning erection, which had been on the verge of simmering down, was back up.
"No, I didn't. But if you move like that again …"
She laughed. "Peter, really. We don't have time for this."
He sat up and slid his hands down her back, melding his torso against hers.
"Correction — you don't have time for this."
"Neither do you! Didn't the Richards trial start yesterday?"
His hands momentarily paused their journey across her body. "No, it starts Monday." He smiled as he said, "Are you running my office and yours now?"
"I overheard the other junior associates on the case mention it, and how your team has been … difficult."
"Well, no one ever wins by playing nice." He pressed his nose then lips to the side of her neck, whispering, "You smell good …"
She wove her fingers through his hair, biting her lower lip as she failed to contain a smile. He loved when she did that. The little lick of her lip followed by the quick bite, and then that smile.
It got him every time.
"Peter … I've been late everyday this week. I can't today."
Hearing the weakened resolve in her voice, he grinned. "And you won't be."
His stealth fingers disappeared beneath the hem of the robe to brush across her sex at the same time his mouth found the spot right below her ear he knew would tingle all the right nerves to shift her focus solely on him.
Her thighs clenched his torso as her eyes closed and grasp tightened in his hair.
"Peter …"
"Hmm?"
She abruptly leaned back to grab his face and stared straight into his playful eyes.
The second he saw her mouth opening, no doubt ready to spew a rebuttal, he blurted, "Five minutes?"
"Just five?"
A Cheshire smile stretched across his lips. "I mean … well, if you've got time for more …?"
Her eyes darted back to the clock: ten past seven.
"Ten." She tried to sound stern. "I advise you to make the most of it."
He quickly marked the time and smiled in triumph. "Yes ma'am."
Snickering, Alicia palmed his face and latched her mouth onto his as he rolled her onto her side.
Small fact (one he'd never forget): morning sex was her favorite. He learned this fact after she had Grace.
(Because her body changed trifold during and after that pregnancy. She was ultra sensitive in certain areas. She often described it as being in a new body, one they learned to adapt to and found was often at its peak early in the morning, right along with his libido.)
In all the years they'd been together, Peter could attest that sex was slightly better in the morning than any other time. Aside from her renewed post-baby body, he attributed it to the lingering effects of sleep; that deep relaxation reset erogenous zones and piloted all systems to go at a skilled touch.
But regardless of the culmination of reasons, their tried and tested morning formula was working because she was already circling the anticipated plateau.
Her fingers clawing at his hair and nails lightly digging into shoulders, told him so. And from the low grunts that erupted from deep in his throat, so was he.
Without so much as a cue, Peter slowed his hips to a stop and withdrew himself. He smoothly rolled her from her side onto her back, and resettled above her.
"What are you doing?" Alicia panted. Her entire body was flush a tint of crimson.
He shushed her with a kiss and rejoined them, resuming their tango without skipping a beat. It was when his thrusts transcended into bucks, making her toes curl, legs snake even higher around his frame and spine arch that he knew she finally accepted she indeed would be late.
Alicia flew out an arm and fisted the sheets while he gripped the headboard, steering them towards release. Marking roughly fifteen minutes post his allotted ten when her climax resounded in a strangled gasp and him right behind her, whimpering long and low in the crook of her neck.
"For the record," she gulped a ragged breath, "this is not … happening every morning after you move back in."
He angled up to see her face, breathing just as hard. "Is that negotiable?"
She exhaled a long-winded breath then wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned in for a quick kiss. "At the moment it's not."
He laughed lightly. "I'd say we still got it, huh?"
"Mm-hmm." She began to lower her legs from around his waist.
Peter checked the clock. "I'm almost thirty minutes over." He glanced down at her bare body, having long fully loosened the robe to splay around her like an indigo backdrop. "But feel like I'm just getting started."
She laughed throatily. "Save your strength for tonight."
His face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Tonight, you say?"
"Mom! Are you up?" It was Grace.
Peter looked over at the closed door then back to Alicia's unfazed face. "I want to know more about tonight before we get that."
She gazed up at him, her eyes full of an adoration he hadn't seen in a very long time. In this potted moment, she resembled that woman on the many mornings they used to start this way.
A woman, at the time, he was positive was happy and at peace.
Until now, he didn't realize how much he missed her.
"Mom?!"
"Our daughter's calling," she whispered against his lips grazing across hers.
"Judging from her tone, it sounds important," he whispered back. "Guess we should answer her?"
Alicia looped her arms around his neck. "I suppose." She peeped at their pelvises then met his gaze. "If, we are done here?"
"Are we?"
"Hm." She crept her eyes down his body a second time, then back up. "Maybe. You haven't had your morning coffee yet. I'm concerned about your stamina."
His mouth fell open; she covered her own as she burst into a fit of laughter.
"You didn't question my stamina a minute ago," he murmured.
"Aw …" Still laughing, she leaned in to kiss him. "You're right. It was …" She lightly passed her lips and tip of her tongue along the space right where his neck ended and collarbone began. "… just right."
Peter suppressed a moan. When she reached between them to seize him, he clenched her thigh, holding it as if his life depended on it.
"Are you starting something you don't intend to finish?" he hoarsely whispered.
"MOM!"
Groaning, Alicia craned her neck over Peter's shoulder, looking towards the door. "Yes, Grace?"
The doorknob jingled. "Why is your door locked?"
"What do you need?" she asked as Peter fixated his mouth back on her neck.
There was a moment of silence. Then, "Are you almost ready? My doctor's appointment is this morning. At eight thirty."
Alicia palmed her forehead. "Shit," she muttered under her breath. "I forgot."
"And you have to drop me off at school!" said Zach. "I overslept. I'll be late if I take the train."
"She's taking too long to open the door," they heard Grace say. "Did Dad go back to his apartment last night?"
"I don't know," said Zach. "I think so."
"Do you think she's sick?"
Peter stared down at Alicia, grinning while listening to their kids' debate their whereabouts.
"Does ignoring them make us bad parents?" he said.
Alicia cocked her head to the side, pretending to give the question a modicum of thought.
"I'm sure she's fine," said Zach. "When she opens the door, tell her we're out of milk."
At that, Alicia blew out a breath and closed her eyes.
"Mom, are you okay in there?" said Grace, followed by a soft knock.
"I'm fine!"
"Why do they have such bad timing?" said Peter, rolling onto his back.
"Oh, bad timing would have been about three minutes ago."
He caught the tail end of her grin as she scoot to the other side of the bed and got out.
"What are you doing?" asked Grace, impatience embedded in her tone. "Why are you taking so long to open the door?"
"I'll be out in a few minutes, Grace!" Alicia loosely tied her robe and glanced back at Peter. "Thanks for making me late," she said with a wink then ducked into the bathroom.
She had turned on the shower and was in the process of clipping up her hair once he ventured in behind her.
"I can drop off Zach," he said, adjusting his pajama bottoms on his waist.
She paused undoing her robe and faced him. "Okay. But um … the kids … we …" She planted her hands on her hips, looking around the room.
"They know I'm moving in tomorrow," he said, chuckling. "Are you really worried they know I spent the night, too?"
Alicia shifted her weight to the other foot, her thinking mask now on. He could visibly read her train of thought. She was probably thinking of how he tiptoed out yesterday morning — Thursday — before the kids woke.
"No. It's not that … I …"
He neared her. "The details don't matter now. So that both our mornings go smooth, let me help. It's the least I can do after you so generously spared your time."
She folded her arms as the corners of her mouth twitched, like she was trying not to smile. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"No reason. Um, okay. Thank you."
Peter watched her open the shower door, his gaze unabashed and blanketed in pride and lust.
She started to shed her robe then suddenly stilled. She looked back at him again.
"What? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm a lucky man," he said with a lop-sided grin. "And it's nice to have you back this morning."
Her shoulders dropped.
He didn't need to say more for they both knew where the latter part of his observation came from. Since Wednesday, she was fighting an internal battle to be present. One he could see she thought was secured and under wraps until a cloud of emotion just settled across her face, making him regret the comment.
"I'll go calm down the troop," he said. "Save me some hot water."
Planting a kiss to the side of her cheek, he softly smacked her bottom then left the room.
#
"Hey, Dad! Come look at this one."
Peter glanced to his right at Zach hunched over a jewelry display case, laughing a little too freely with a tall blonde associate. Father and son were spending the remainder of the afternoon shopping along the much-coveted Magnificent Mile in the name of love.
"Your son must be a charmer," said Shana, the partnering redhead associate of Harry Winston. She slipped a tray of necklaces back under lock and key while eyeing the pair. "Blake only smiles for certain …shoppers."
Peter grinned as they began to trek towards the duo at one of two centered glass cases in the showroom.
"I have both eyes on him."
"You two walked over at the right moment," said Blake, her natural raspy voice resounding in a seductive singsong. Peter came to stand beside Zach, looking at her expectantly. "I think we've found the one."
She laid a signature platinum straight-line bracelet atop the glass. The gems reflected off the glass in an array of prisms, lighting up their eyes.
The grin on Zach's face spread. "Mom will love it!"
Peter squeezed his shoulder. "It is nice. But Zach, we're looking for a necklace, remember?"
He glanced down at the bracelet then up at Peter, appearing to seriously weigh the options. "I think you should get both."
Slinging an arm around his neck, Peter smiled wide as he met the patient gazes of the associates.
"He got his license today. Thinks he's Richie Rich."
"Congratulations," said Blake. "Once you two pick out a gift, is buying a car next?"
Zach looked up at Peter with hopeful eyes.
"We'll browse," he said firmly. Dropping his arm from around Zach, he peered into the display case and surveyed the bracelets. "But we need a necklace first."
"You're in luck," said Blake. "Shana's our necklace expert and —"
"Ooh!" said Shana, simultaneously looking at the large clock perched above the entrance. The front double doors opened to reveal an elderly couple. "I lost track of time. The Price's are here to pick up their order. Sorry, Peter. I'll be right back. This will only take a sec. But you're in great hands!" She started to walk away. "Show him the lily cluster, Blake. It's perfect for him."
Nodding, Blake grabbed a set of keys. "So" — she sashayed over to an adjacent display case — "what's the occasion?"
"Uh … a fresh start." Peter glanced at Zach who was watching him closely. "For our family. I want to get my wife a little something to symbolize that, I guess."
"There should be more men like you in the world." She tossed a too comfortable smile his way before bending to retrieve a necklace. "Take a seat at the table over in that corner," she said with a nod of her head to the right. "I'll be right there."
They did as instructed.
Their eyes grew as big as saucers once Blake appeared on the opposite side of the table and laid the necklace on a black satin cloth with careful hands. She took the opposing seat.
"Here it is: the lily cluster. From what you just said, Shana was right, as usual. It is the perfect choice."
Peter and Zach continued to eye the piece in awe.
"It's designed after a lily in bloom. As I'm sure you know, lilies often represent new beginnings, rebirths. This necklace is a timeless piece purposed to embody that." She lifted it slightly to their eye-level. "There's a one point four marquise in the center, surrounded by about forty-eight diamonds, bringing its total weight to just shy of two point two carats."
"Wow," gasped Zach. "Dad, this, is the one."
"Oh yeah? Still think we need the bracelet?"
"No. This is enough."
Smirking, Peter looked down at the necklace, thinking that it was enough, and perfect.
An added a special touch for tonight.
This purchase wasn't necessary and he knew Alicia wouldn't expect it, but in the spirit of their marriage where it was now, he wanted to get her something nice and that would compliment the necklace — her regarded favorite — he got her for their first anniversary. As well as be a tangible symbol of remembrance of the miscarriages, and hopefully bring light to the off-ness he was still trying to place.
"Peter, what do you think?" Blake edged the piece to his line of sight. "It's enough?"
"I do believe it is." He glanced at Zach. "Sure this is the one?"
"For sure."
Peter clasped his hands together. "Then we'll take it."
"Then I will get this boxed for you." Blake folded the necklace within the cloth and rose from the table. "Be right back."
Zach smoothed his palms down his jeans and snuck a glance at his father out of the corner of his eye.
Since Peter picked him up from school early hours ago, he'd felt as if Zach wanted to ask him something but was hesitant. He didn't have a hint of a clue for what that could be or how to broach the topic.
"So," Zach started, breaking their odd three second bout of silence. "Mom has really, forgiven you?" Peter reached into his breast pocket for his wallet. "Or is this to ask for her forgiveness?"
Peter froze. "What? No. That's what you think this is?"
"I don't know. You're moving back in tomorrow …"
"So I need to get your mom a gift to seal the deal?"
He shrugged.
Peter signaled to Blake, heading their way, to give them a minute. He turned in the chair to look his son in the eyes. "Zach, I'm not getting this necklace as an offering or a thank you. I'm getting it because I love your mom. That's it."
"Okay," he said nonchalantly.
"You don't believe me?"
"Dad, it's not that."
"Then what?"
Zach looked past him at customers walking through the front entrance. "I heard you talking to Eli earlier before we left your office."
Peter cast his eyes down. The conversation he'd been avoiding had been heavily sitting on his conscience for the past two hours and counting.
"You haven't told her," said Eli.
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm working on it."
"Peter, time is not on your side. You do realize if you say yes on Monday, we announce on Friday, right?"
He nodded. "I know, I know."
Eli spread out his hands atop the conference table. "Look. I get you're trying to be a reformed family man. If that is more your priority than the governorship, then I respect that. But do me the favor of letting me know so that I can decide what to do next."
Peter lolled his head from side to side. As he studied Zach's pensive profile, for the first time, he could honestly say he regretted not telling Alicia sooner. He was more worried about the gut feeling he had for her predicted reaction coming true. If his gut feeling was right, he might as well throw the governorship out the window.
"What'd you hear?" he said to Zach.
Zach's wide eyes, practically identical to Alicia's, staring back at Peter, began to feel like a déjà vu for when he and Alicia would discuss this.
An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach.
"Does Mom know you're going to run for Governor?"
Peter blew out a long breath. "No." He dropped his head then lifted it. "Not yet. We're planning to talk about it."
"But you are going to run?"
"I'm not sure. Depends on what your Mom thinks." Peter's eyes narrowed. "What do you think about it?"
"Well, it would be cool if you do."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. But if you didn't, that's cool too. I kind of like our life now. It's good."
Peter warmly smiled. "It is, isn't it?"
"Yep. So, if you do become governor, then we could get away with anything?"
"Okay, Zach. No you can't, and that's not why I'm running."
"It's not?"
Rolling his eyes, Peter rose from the chair and nudged him towards Blake waiting at the counter.
#
The doorbell echoed throughout the apartment followed by the murmurs of Zach's and Peter's voices.
"Sounds like Dad's here," said Grace. She set the hairbrush down on the vanity and swooped her Alicia's hair back over her shoulders. "It's sweet he's picking you up for your date."
"Yes, your father is keeping chivalry alive," Alicia said airily, but with a smile. "Dad's really picking me up because our apartment is closer to downtown than his. But" — she sucked in a breath — "that changes tomorrow."
"What time is he moving all his stuff back?"
"Sometime in the morning." Alicia eyed her daughter. An unsettled look spanned across Grace's face, triggering her alarm of panic. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I guess …" Grace began to fidget. "I think I got used to Dad not being here that it will be weird when he lives here again."
"It'll be an adjustment for all of us." Alicia secured a pair of studs to her earlobes. "Sure you're still okay with that?"
Grace plastered on a bright smile. "I'm okay with it." She smoothed a final stray piece of hair from her mother's face. "There. Your hair is perfect!"
Alicia stepped back to admire her handiwork in the full-length mirror, watching via the reflection as Grace plopped onto the bed.
"And you really don't think the dress is too much?" she said.
Peter's only clue for their plans tonight was that she dressed nice, but not casual. Translation: wear a cocktail dress. She pivoted to her left slide and slid her palms down the front of the fitted burgundy satin dress.
Grace rolled onto her stomach and studied her in the tasteful one-piece.
Quarter sleeved and midi-length, with an accompanying front and back low v-neckline along with a split up the back, she wondered if her daughter thought it accentuated her slim frame just right as she did in the store earlier.
"No, Mom," Grace said to her relief. "You look great! Dad will drool when he sees you."
Alicia glanced at her reclined form then tilted her head to the side, drinking in her own reflection.
She bought the dress — and a certain set of lingerie — during lunchtime earlier this afternoon, using how she and Peter started their morning as fuel behind the purchases. When she tried it on at the store, she thought she looked good in it. And after she loosely curled her hair and applied makeup, she was mostly convinced.
"I don't know." She started to readjust her bust; more like try to minimize it. The lingerie, tag lined: Designed for Your Inner Sexy and claims, "intricately sewn to ensure comfort and perfectly enhanced curves" was certainly performing as advertised.
"Maybe I should change." She half-spun and looked over her shoulder at the back view. "It's a bit cold out …"
Grace sprung up from the bed and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Don't. You look amazing and you're going to have a great night out with Dad. I'll go tell him you're ready."
Before she could protest, Grace skipped to the door and swung it open.
She was nervous. And didn't know why she was nervous. After all, she was only going out with her husband for the night. What could happen?
Blowing out a breath, Alicia stepped into her heels, quickly touched up her lipstick, dabbed on perfume and fluffed her hair, then grabbed her coat and clutch. With a final glance in the mirror, she switched off the light and began to leave the room when her cell phone rang.
#
"Wait until you see Mom," Grace squealed as she strolled into the family room.
Three pairs of eyes floated to Alicia's bedroom doorway, waiting for her to emerge.
The eagerness in Peter's eyes faded when a minute passed and he heard the muffled sound of his wife on the phone.
"Mom?" called Grace.
Alicia reappeared in the doorway, phone pressed to her ear, a finger risen to signal she'd be a minute, then closed the door to a crack.
"So Dad, what time are we going to look at cars tomorrow?" asked Zach.
Grace grabbed the remote and settled between them on the couch.
"He's getting a car?"
Peter's eyes were glued to Alicia's bedroom door. "Not yet. You're both still on punishment."
"But Zach tried for his license —"
— "Is that why Grandma has to watch us tonight?"
Grace looked at Peter, her face contorted in a fit of annoyance. "She is? Dad, we can watch ourselves."
"Zach's not getting a car and yes, Grandma is coming over tonight. She'll be here in about an hour. Don't give her a hard time," said Peter distractedly, rising from the couch. "Be right back. Going to check on your mom."
He walked towards Alicia's bedroom door and pushed open the frame.
#
"That conflicts with Watson's testimony." Alicia turned from rummaging through her purse on the bed to see Peter slowly widening the door. Covering the receiver, she mouthed at him, "Work", then resumed digging through her purse for a slip of paper.
"Okay, I'll ask Kalinda to check with Mrs. Watson …"
She missed the sudden rise of his brows at the mention of Kalinda.
"Uh huh … I'll look at it tomorrow … it's fine, Will … okay … bye." She slipped her cell phone into her clutch. "Sorry," she mumbled.
Peter closed the door. "Is that my competition for the night?"
She didn't laugh at his joke. Or offer a comeback. Instead, she sat on the edge of the bed, dropped her chin to her chest and breathed a deep-seated breath.
"No," she finally answered.
He was watching her. She felt it.
The incubation type monitoring was confirmed when she looked up to see him easing down onto her vanity chair and re-centering his gaze on her.
His brows started to thread when she didn't elaborate.
What's the best way to say that upon seeing his face and then uttering Kalinda's name, she was reminded?
It had grown to be a taboo between them. She hated it, and hated herself for reacting this way every time. It was like a silly but justified insecurity that she'd never rid of. Endless sessions of therapy could never make her forget.
"What's wrong, Alicia?"
"Nothing … work."
"And what else?"
"I don't think you want me to say what else," she said sharply.
She didn't mean to respond that way, but she couldn't help it.
Peter leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees, then wove his hands together.
Alicia recognized that stance. Her posture stiffened slightly in response. He was gearing up for an avoided conversation. Which no doubt would veer left. This wasn't how she envisioned their evening to start and frankly, she didn't have the energy for a fight.
"Let's talk about it," he said.
Crossing her arms, she shook her head defiantly. "I don't want to go there, Peter. Not now."
He in turn sat upright and sighed, and took heed, to her relief, by not uttering another word.
Checkmate.
A minute of silence. That's all she needed. Just one, and she could momentarily forget the betrayal and focus on how in love she felt in bed with him this morning.
Just one …
"Well," he said after, she guessed, about a minute and half passed, "I love you."
She swallowed and nodded. "I know."
"And, you look, amazing."
At that, she half-smiled. Eyeing him in his simple charcoal suit and black dress shirt — the top two buttons undone — her smile grew.
"How many times have we been here?" she said, her tone lighter.
"What do you mean?"
"About to go out. Then you would get a call from work that sometimes pulled you away."
"It's like we've switched roles, huh?"
She shrugged and reached for her coat. The unsaid reminder of the consequences that came from those calls, that weren't always work, made the air thick.
She draped her coat over her forearm and rose from the bed. "We should get going," she said.
"We should, but before we do … come here."
He stood.
She laid the coat onto the bed as he reached for her wrists, and pulled her to him. He lifted her chin with his thumb, searching her weary eyes.
"It's still nothing?"
She let him pull her closer. She rested her palms on his chest, and took comfort in the feel of his fingertips massaging her lower back, his forehead pressed against hers.
"Because," he said, sighing, "it's okay if it is something …"
"It will always be something." She leaned back to match his gaze. "Won't it?"
"Only if you let it."
There was such certainty in his eyes that she believed it. She needed to. At least for tonight. She didn't want to spoil it before it began.
"Uh," said Peter, "before we go, I have something for you." He lightly pat his breast pocket. "Zach and I did a little shopping this afternoon after he got his license."
She eyed him as he stepped back and pulled a ribboned navy square box from beneath his jacket.
"What's that, Peter?"
These boxes. No matter their shape, size or origin, had a history of making her heart skip one-way or the other.
He turned over her right hand and set it in her palm. "Open it."
With a racing heart, Alicia undid the ribbon and removed the outer casing, handing it to him. She shook her head, trying not to smile.
This was so like Peter. Her Peter. Always showing up in an untimely moment of romance.
She slowly lifted the top of the box; her mouth parted slightly. "Peter …"
"Tonight begins a new start for us. I got this for you in the spirit of that. As well as something else."
"What?" She was still digesting the necklace, mesmerized.
"Anything about the design familiar?"
She lifted the box to her eye-level. "I don't think so."
"They're lily petals. As you know, lilies are symbolic. Used often to represent rebirth." He ran a finger along the length of the chain. "Years ago, our life took a course neither of us expected." He inched closer; his voice dropped to an octave just below a whisper. "You still deal with the aftermath from that. I do, too. This necklace … is me saying, I'm there with you … keeping them close. Never forgetting."
Her lower lip started to tremble. This unselfish gesture, although small, meant more to her than she'd ever be able to say.
"And as perfect as this would be around your neck tonight," — his eyes honed in on her cleavage — "I like this undistracted view better."
She smiled the best she could as she blinked away tears threatening to spill over her lower eyelids.
"It's beautiful. Thank you," she tearfully whispered, leaning in for a kiss.
"I can't take all the credit. Zach decided this was the one."
Thinking of her boys putting their heads together for this gift prompted another quick kiss.
"I'll thank him, too."
"I'll add, I didn't give you this just now to ... smooth things over, but, I want you to know and show you, that I am here. Changed."
"I know you are."
He slowly nodded. "So you good?"
"I am."
"Then let's go. Think I'm getting hungry," he said with a wink.
Dabbing the corners of her eyes, Alicia closed the box and set it on her vanity. She picked up her coat and clutch, took his outstretched hand and followed him to the door. Just before he opened it, she grasped his upper arm and held his puzzled gaze.
"That really meant a lot to me," she whispered.
Peter smiled a smile that reached his eyes, which stirred something in her she hadn't felt in awhile. With a final kiss to the back of her hand, he led them out the door.
...Last note... Since the show robbed us of many parts and moments (e.g., AP's date night!), I left them all in this very beefy chapter, hence the length! So I'm crossing my fingers that I don't lose you all along the way with the many moments and details, and many more moments to come.
Part II is right around corner, and promise I don't mean a month around the corner.
Thanks so much as always for reading. :)!