He entered the room a step behind her and stopped short, as though all at once becoming aware of where he was. Where they were. Not the spare bedroom, but the master bedroom. Her bedroom.
Anna dropped his hand and turned to face him. No words would reach her lips, so she tried to use her eyes to convey the fullness of what she was feeling. I need you, Robert. Here, with me - after all these years. I need you to hold me tonight. Please.
"You knew I was coming tonight."
No. Yes. "I hoped."
"Our anniversary night."
"Yes."
"I wasn't sure you'd remember," he told her slowly.
She shot him a look. Of course I would. How could I not? Despite everything that came after, it was the happiest day of my life. "You know me better than that."
"I wasn't sure you'd want to remember," he added, showing her a rare, precious glimpse of his heart.
There's so much I'd like to forget. But not that. Never that. "But you did."
The corner of his mouth twitched. "Yeah."
"Actually we have two anniversaries, you know," she said to lighten the mood, turning towards the bureau and slipping off her earrings. She addressed his reflection in the mirror along the wall, "Two weddings – they both count."
He grinned and dropped his duffle bag into an armchair across from the bed. "Does that mean I'm getting you two gifts each year from now on?"
What? Two gifts – no, Robert, you've just given me the best gift I could ever have. She spun to face him again and reached out to touch his arm. "No." Suddenly serious, "This is more than enough." Being with you is all I'll ever need. "Now, come to bed."
His eyes lit. He unzipped his battered bag and rummaged briefly before emerging with a clean pair of boxer shorts. Straightening, he slipped off his shoes and started to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"Wash first," she admonished. Who knows where that face has been today.
"Yes, mother," he griped back, looking for all the world like a petulant eight year old.
That's my Robert. "And shave," she added teasingly as she ran a finger over his day old shadow. "You look like something the cat dragged in."
A rumble came from deep in his throat, something between a purr and a growl, but he obediently turned and fished his shaving kit out of the duffle.
As he slipped into the bathroom Anna went to the bureau and began to rifle through her drawers. Something light, she decided, comfortable but not overly modest. Although I don't really have anything too racy any more. A sudden vision of black stockings with little red hearts popped into her mind, causing her to smile at the memory. Mmmm, I may want to rectify that, soon.
She shifted through her nightclothes, finally choosing a sleeveless blue silk nightgown and matching wrap. Then she reached into the bottom drawer and pulled out a small jewelry pouch. She weighed it in her hands, deliberating. Should I? Or is it too early? I don't want to scare him off. But it's been so long. Far too long. And some things will never change.
Yes, I want to do this. For myself, if not for him. Besides, most likely he won't even notice.
Anna puffed out a breath. With a quick movement she extracted the pouch's contents, tossed the empty bag back into the drawer and snapped it shut decisively.
At that moment the bathroom door opened. Robert emerged, and as he strode back into the room Anna found herself staring. The ramrod straight back, the sculpted biceps and abs – ridiculously toned for a man his age – the soft curly hairs on his chest, now growing gray like his scalp. She took him in in silence, savoring everything about him.
She suddenly found that her throat had gone dry. Tearing her eyes away from his body, she murmured, "I'll…be right back," and fled into the bathroom.