That night I tossed and turned and got very little sleep. Deep down I knew it was because my feelings for Daniel were just that, feelings. I had spent years training to keep my feelings at bay. After hours of tossing and turning I decided sleeping was futile so I got up and dressed for a long run on the beach. After my run I sat on the porch swing, my father had built for me when I was a girl, and sipped my coffee and watched the sunrise.
A little while later I went inside and got ready for my day with Daniel. He knocked on my door right at 7:30 wearing khaki pants and a navy sweater that clung to his rippling muscles in just the right way. "Good morning Ems, you look amazing. Who knew you could make casual look so good?" he said smiling at me as I locked my door. I was wearing a black and white halter dress and sandals. "Thank you! You look pretty good yourself. How are you feeling?" I asked genuinely curious about what he was feeling going into the stressed filled day ahead. "Nervous as hell" he replied taking my hand as we walked to his car.
We drove the 2 hour journey to the rehab facility, and I tried to fill the time with small talk but I could see that, that wasn't helping. So I took his free hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze before asking "Do you want to practice what you're going to say?" He stole a quick glance at me and smiled before taking a deep breath and saying "Sara I'm sorry that it's taken me almost a whole year to muster up the courage to come and see you. I know this is probably too little too late… But I just want you to know how sorry I am that I did this to you. That I risked your life! I'm sorry that I didn't take a step back from my anger and booze filled haze to realize that I was in no shape to drive. I'm so sorry and I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness, and I won't insult you by asking for it. I'll just say that I hope one day you won't hate me anymore." I squeezed his hand once again and said "That was good. I'm sure seeing her for the first time in a year will be rough but just remember that I'll be in the hallway sending you positive thoughts."
We arrived at the rehab facility and found out what room Sara was in and approached her room. I kissed Daniel's cheek and whispered "Good Luck" in his ear before he entered her room. Almost immediately I could hear a female voice, presumably Sara, say "What the hell are you doing here? I don't want to hear anything you have to say. GET OUT!" followed by Daniel's hushed and dejected "I'm sorry." He walked out of the room and straight into my embrace.
"Daniel I'm so sorry. I never should have suggest that we come here." I whispered. He pulled back and looked me in the eye, moved a strand of hair from my face and replied "No I'm glad you suggested it. I needed to see for myself the consequences of my actions. I didn't get to say my apologies but maybe that's for the best. It will remind me that my actions have an impact on the lives of others, even the woman I'm dating. I don't want anything like this to happen between us. I don't want you to ever hurt because of me. I don't want you to ever hate me."
We silently walked hand in hand back to the car. After Daniel got in the car he turn to me and said "I don't know how long we'll be together, a few months, a year, 10 years, forever, but I promise to always be honest with you." I don't know what came over me really except that I wanted to believe what he was saying. I wanted to believe that we could have a real relationship despite my holding back my true identity, but I pulled Daniel into a deep and passionate kiss that rocked us both to the core. "Wow" he said as we both came up for air, and then we left and headed back to the Hamptons.
When we arrived back at my beach house I asked "You don't have any plans tonight do you?" "Spending time with you I hope." He replied with that sexy dimpled grin of his. "Good. How about you come over and I'll make you dinner and maybe some dessert." I said raising my eyebrows suggestively on the word dessert. "Sounds like fun. What time would you like me to come over?" he asked smiling as I unlocked my front door. "7:00? Maybe bring some of your favorite movies and we'll have a his and hers favorite movie marathon." I said opening my door and spinning back around to face him as he said "I'll see you then." He kissed me passionately before adding "until later gorgeous" and walking back to his car.