Chapter 6

She was finally calm as she unlocked the door. Halfway through her walk she realized it was foolish to get upset. It wasn't as if she planned to leave him. She loved him, it was a simple fact. And she was certain, in his own way, he loved her. Perhaps after losing Val, he couldn't feel the same about anyone else. She could love him enough for the both of them.

Pushing the door open, she was surprised to find him sitting at the table, a cup in front of him. He turned when he heard her. She could see the relief on his face.

"Where have you been?"

"I went for a walk. Needed some time alone, to think."

"You couldn't leave a note?"

"I didn't figure it mattered."

His laugh was almost a bark, echoing in the distance between them. "I've been worried sick."

"Why? I walk at night regularly."

"And every time, I worry."

She dropped her keys into the bowl on the table. Anger flared as she realized he was angry with her. "Which is absolutely ridiculous. It's not as if we live in some high crime area." Raising her chin, spoiling for a fight, "Or are you worried because I found out your dirty little secret?"

Robbie shook his head, "What?"

She waved her hands around, "Is this all just make believe for you? Something you have in private but don't share anywhere else?"

"Laura, that wasn't what you think. That man knew me when I was married to Val. When I bought the canoe, he asked about her and I said she died." At the uncertainty on her face, he stood, taking a tentative step toward her. "I only bought a canoe from him. It's not like I shared the intimate details of our life with him."

"Then why did you pull away from me when you saw him." At his sheepish look, she challenged me, "You're ashamed."

"Of what?"

"Of me, of us." Her voice lowered, "I get it, you don't feel the same as I do. Maybe you can't…"

"Laura, I don't know… What do you mean?"

Tears filled her eyes, "I understand, Robbie." Seeing his confusion, she explained, "There's always one person who loves more than the other. I get it, you care for me but you don't love me."

Robbie blinked, trying desperately to understand what she'd just said to him. Why would she think he didn't love her?

"It's OK. Because the truth is, I think I always knew. I might not have wanted to admit it to myself, but I always knew…"

Robbie pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her. His lips crashed into hers, silencing any further words she might utter. He clung to her, tears sliding down his face as he realized the millions of tiny ways he had hurt her.

Long before he was ready to stop kissing her, he softened the kiss. Attempted to pour all of the feelings he'd never expressed into the kiss. Finally, he rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, Laura Hobson. I don't know what made you think I didn't, but I do, more than I can ever tell you."

She looked up at him, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "Then why don't you ever say it."

"I say it."

Stepping away, she shook her head. "No, you don't. That was the first time you've ever said those words to me."

Robbie stared at her, wracking his brain trying to think of a time he'd said those words to her. He couldn't remember a single time. A series of "me too's" rang through his brain closely followed by moments where he'd been overwhelmed by his feelings for her and had simply kissed her.

Her voice interrupted his reverie, "I need to hear it, Robbie. I need to know it."

"Did you really not know?"

She shrugged, "People don't know how you feel unless you tell them."

"That's not the first time you've given me that advice."

She looked down, "It was as true then as it is now." When he stepped forward and took her hand, she looked up at him, "Why did you pull away?"

He laughed, tightening his grip on her hand when she attempted to pull away. "That was about me, not you." Seeing her doubt, he smiled sheepishly, "I don't know how to introduce you. Girlfriend makes me feel like a fumbling lad, partner seems so sterile and lover seems a bit too much. So I pulled away from you, then I could just introduce you as Laura."

Seeing the tears streaming down her face, he pulled her to him. "I'm sorry, Laura. I promise to figure it out. Tell me what you want me to call you and I will scream it from the rooftops."

Smiling up at him, "You make it virtually impossible for me to stay mad at you."

"Am I forgiven?"

She nodded, "Always. But, Robbie, I need to hear it. I know it's probably foolish and I should be happy that you show me in so many ways…"

"But people don't know how you feel unless you tell them." Tracing his thumb down the curve of her cheek, "I promise to tell you every single day for the rest of my life."

"And you promise not to stop showing me?"

He smiled, pulling her closer to him, "I promise. Now before I take you upstairs and show you exactly how much I love you, why don't we settle the question of how I should introduce you."

"How would you like to introduce me?"

He paused for only a second, then dove in. "Left to me, I would introduce you as my wife."

Laura's eyes widened, despite her belief that she didn't need a ring or marriage hearing him say those words shifted her thinking. Suddenly it seemed to be exactly what she needed in life.

"I think I might like that as well."