Author's notes: Thank you for all the wonderful reviewers, to my regulars who's support is invaluable to me, and to all others who bless me with their thoughts and feelings about the story. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Teresa wakes up from the dream and looks over at Patrick in alarm. She studies his face, it looks peaceful, there's no evidence of any pain on his features, his breathing is steady and strong. She'd rolled off him during sleep and so moves back to resting her head on his chest. He wraps his arm around her and says softly:
"Is everything all right."
"Everything's fine. I just woke up and was missing you."
She can feel his muscles move beneath her as he tightens his hold and she knows he's smiling.
"That's good. I like being missed."
She moves her head and looks up at him.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm good."
"Are you sure?"
He looks at her quizzically.
"I'm sure."
"Good."
She snuggles up closer to him, though that's not really possible, and they fall back to sleep.
Patrick wakes up to find Teresa has rolled off him again and he turns on to his side spending a few minutes just staring at her back, and enjoying the knowledge that she loves him too and that there's a real possibility that this will be his future, waking up beside her every morning. As he looks at her and desire builds within him, a conversation with his doctor before leaving the hospital comes to his mind. He was only half listening when she spoke about intercourse, it wasn't something he expected to have to deal with. He'd considered himself still married for so long, he didn't see himself getting back in to that game very soon, but she'd warned him against it for an amount of time, something about his heart and the damage the taser had done. How long was it? Has the time passed? He will have to check it out when he gets back...when they get back to Sacramento.
He rolls over and slips out of the bed, being careful not to wake her. He leaves the bedroom and walks to the room he shared with his wife. As he lays his hand on the door knob he notices that the dread that usually accompanies him as he enters this room, is now at a manageable level. There's regret and there's pain, after all he loved them dearly, they were his world, and he will always remember them, but whereas missing them had full reign of his heart, the void they left behind is now filled with his love for Teresa. He pushes open the door, he looks around, it's room, just a room - almost.
Teresa found him in his usual morning place, on the deck with a cup of tea in his hand. The aroma of coffee filled the air as she entered the kitchen and she poured herself a cup before stepping out side.
"Good morning Teresa."
She moves up close and kisses him.
"Good morning."
Patrick licks his lips.
"I can get use to waking up to a morning kiss, it could almost replace my cup of tea."
Teresa smiles at him.
"Almost huh. Let's see if I can change your mind."
She kisses him again, deep and lingering. As they part she looks at him questioningly keeping her mouth just inches away from his.
"Well?"
She sees the twinkle in his eyes. He licks his lips again.
"You...I think."
Teresa has to move back a little as he brings his cup unto his mouth and takes a sip, he looks thoughtful.
"No..definitely your kisses win out."
He puts down his cup, without losing eye contact and moves towards her, she pulls back.
"Think again, I'm not a woman to be toyed with."
Patrick laughs and reaches out and grabs her, pulling her on to his lap.
"Not so fast. It's always good to get the rules out there at the beginning, so no toying with Teresa. I'll remember. Now I have a rule, I need three good morning kisses to start my day."
Teresa nods her head.
"Sounds like a reasonable rule."
"Well..!"
"Well what?"
"I've only had two."
"Ahh. Funny how that's worked out."
She leans in to him so their lips are almost touching, he smiles.
"It's just a coincidence."
"Right"
They kiss passionately.
"A very good morning Teresa."
Teresa keeps an eye on Patrick as the time approaches for the realtor and potential buyer to arrive. He seems relaxed and happy. They spent the couple of hours going around the house with a duster and a mop and vacuüm. Patrick argued when she shoved the cloth in his hand, but after yesterday she wants him to rest today. He did well but it caught up with him in the end, so today he's going to take it easy, whether he likes it or not. She admits to herself that her dream may be influencing her thinking. She's tried to put it to the back of her mind but it keeps resurfacing. She keeps telling herself that it was just a dream, but somehow she feels it was more than that. Patrick isn't out of the woods yet and she needs to be vigilant.
The door bell goes and it's the realtor. Patrick takes him around the house. He rolls his eyes at her as the realtor gushes about 'How he loves what they've done with the place'. After the tour they leave the realtor to it. A potential buyer feels more comfortable looking around the house without the owners there. They head for the beach.
They discard their foot wear at the base of the steps leading to the sand, their arms wrapped around one another as they walk close enough to the breaking waves that the water runs over their feet as it reaches the shore. They walk in silence, just enjoying the view, sun, and being close to one another. Jane's hit by how long it's been since he walked like this with a woman, to feel as if she's attached to him as they mimic each other's movements. His arm engulfing her waist, making him feel a protector. He looks across at her and she seems miles away deep in thought, not for the first time today, there's a tension in her face.
"Is something bothering you Teresa?"
She's startled out of her revelry and he see's something fleetingly before she smiles at him.
"No, no, everything fine."
He stops walking and turns to look at her. He brushes her hair away which is blowing in her face."
"You've known me long enough to know that there's no use lying to me. There's something wrong. If it's about us then I want us to talk about it, if it's something else, then I want to help."
A mixture of guilt and irritation crosses Teresa's face. Jane know's the irritation's there because she hates that he can read her and he can understand how annoying it must be, but it's a part of who he is, it's not something he can turn off. Teresa decides to use it as deflection.
"Patrick, you know I hate that. I don't want you reading me."
Jane shrugs.
"I'll do my best and I promise that normally I won't call you on it, but this between us is new and your hiding something is scaring me a little."
Teresa's guilt goes up a notch.
"It's silly really."
"If it's bothering you then it's not silly."
She looks away, gathering her thoughts and then looks at him.
"Angela was in my dreams last night."
Patrick catches his breath.
"She told me that she was happy about us being together..."
Patrick smiles with relief but sees that there's more.
"And?"
"She warned me to listen to you and to get you to the hospital. It was strange really, because she said you didn't know, but that I was to listen to you. What can you tell me if you don't know?"
Patrick's surprised, he certainly wasn't expecting this. He knows that he needs to reassure Teresa.
"I'm not sure what she means, I'm feeling good, I'm improving all the time. When we started this little trip and spent our first night on the beach at Half Moon Bay just building a sandcastle caused me pain, now I can go a whole day."
He moves a hand up to her face and cups it gently.
"You've worried about me for so long and now we're together it's taken it up a notch."
Teresa smiles but Patrick knows he hasn't convinced her.
"You will tell me if something changes?"
"I promise I will. I've never felt happier Teresa, I've no intention of cutting it short. If there's a problem I will tell you about it straight away."
He bends his knees to look her in the eye.
"Do you believe me?"
Teresa searches his face and is satisfied he's telling the truth.
"Yes, but if you ever go back on your word, I'll hurt you myself."
She smiles at her own words and Patrick laughs.
"I'll keep that in mind."
He takes her in his arms and hugs her tight, pressing his whole body against hers, he doesn't want to let go.