Chapter 19

"Would you like to take a walk with me?"

Not wanting to appear too eager, lest he startle her, Robbie made a big pretense of putting his bookmark back into his book and setting it on the side table. He smiled up at her, "Do you want me to?" He waited anxiously until she nodded, "Then let's go for a walk."

They made their way out of the house and fell into an awkward gait. Their hands were stuffed into their pockets. Robbie wanted to say something but he honored his promise to James and waited.

Laura watched Robbie from the corner of her eye, she didn't know how to start this conversation. She took a deep breath and jumped, "Do you have any regrets?"

Robbie looked at her shocked by the question, "About us?"

"No," she shook her head then shrugged. With a smaller voice, "Maybe."

He kept walking, his eyes fixed ahead, "The only regrets I really have are around not spending more time at home when the kids were small." He took a quick look at her. Her face was neutral but he could see the tension in her body, "What about you Laura, what regrets do you have?"

She stopped walking. Robbie took a few more steps before he realized she wasn't there. He turned back to her and was overcome by the look of agony on her face, "So many."

He watched the tears stream down her face and he was helpless, "Do you have any regrets about us?" He held his breath waiting for her answer.

Her head fell so she could look away from him, "Only one."

His heart fell, she regretted them, their relationship, "Laura, I'm sorry if I've given you any reason to regret being with me."

She looked up and reached for him, "Oh God, no, never about you Robbie, never about you."

He took her hand and pulled her to him. He cupped her cheek, "Then what is it Laura? You can tell me."

She closed her eyes, "Do you remember that first night at your flat?"

Robbie smiled as the memory of that night flooded into his mind. He stroked his thumb across her cheek, "It's one of my best memories." Laura blushed and nodded, "You have a regret about that night?"

She looked up at him and saw the concern, "Not about that night, not about what happened, what started."

"Then what is it Laura?"

"You asked me who I was that night. I told you about Malcolm but I didn't tell you everything. You offered me a clean slate and I took it. I should have told you everything, given you the chance to walk away."

He kissed her tenderly, "Laura, you don't have to tell me anything. I don't care about any of it. All I need to know is do you still love me?" She nodded as tears streamed down her face, "Do you still want to be with me?" She buried her face in his chest and he felt her nod against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her he kissed the top of her head softly, "Then I don't need to know anything else and I'm not going anywhere."

Laura dissolved into tears. Robbie tightened his arms around her lending her all of the support she needed.

She wrapped her arms around him inhaling his scent. She couldn't lose him. She pushed away from him, holding him at arm's length, "You may not need to know but I need to tell you."

Robbie smiled, somehow understanding. He offered her his arm smiling down at her, "Would you like to take a walk with me?"