Chapter 28

Robbie stared at her, stunned. He played her words over and over in his head, "You said yes?"

"I did, the idea of running away was appealing."

Contempt flowed through his words, "And where were you going, when you ran away?"

She smiled, remembering the conversation with Malcolm, "Mallorca to start. Then anywhere there was sun and sand and people who didn't know us."

Robbie shook his head, it was all too much. He'd known he didn't know everything about her but this was out of the realm, "I can't do this Laura it's too much."

"Robbie, I need you to ask me one more question. Once I answer it if you go, I will understand."

"What's the question?"

"Ask me why I didn't go?"

"What difference does it make Laura? You were going to leave. And it seems like you were going to leave me just like you left Malcolm. So what difference does it make?"

Her voice pleaded with him, "Ask the question Robbie, please."

"Fine, Laura, I'll ask the question but as soon as I hear the answer I'm leaving. I need to be away from you." She nodded, "Why didn't you go?"

She smiled, the memory of that day as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.

The knock at the door surprised her. She looked at her watch, the car was early. She closed the suitcase and smiled. If it wasn't packed by now, she didn't need it. She would just buy new. Lifting the suitcase she carried it carefully down the stairs. She would let the driver in and he could take the suitcase while she gathered her last few items.

She opened the door but rather than a liveried driver, it was Robbie Lewis, "Robbie, what are you doing here?"

He rubbed at the skin under his right eye, "I didn't hear from you today and I wanted to make sure you were OK."

"I'm fine Robbie."

"Did you get any rest last night?"

Her mind flashed to what she'd done the night before. The images were filled with bare skin, warm mouths, teeth. It hadn't been restful but it had been what she needed, "Some."

They stood in the doorway awkwardly. Laura not inviting him in because she didn't want to explain the suitcase. Robbie wanting to check on her but more, he just wanted to see her. No, he needed to see her. He needed to make sure she was whole.

"Do you think you might like to go for a walk?"

She looked up at him, "Now?"

He shrugged, "Unless you've got something better to do."

Looking up at him she saw all of the hope of a promised future. It was then she realized she didn't need to run away to find happiness, it was waiting right here for her. She shook her head, "No, I don't have anything better to do at all. A walk sounds nice."

Robbie stared at her in disbelief, "So you did it to him again?"

"In a manner of speaking. I called him. I told him I was delayed to answer some questions for the police. I told him I would be along in a day or two."

"You never went."

"No because when you walked me home you asked if I might not be doing anything the next day. And then the next and the next."

"And each day you lied to him. Did you tell yourself it wasn't a lie because I was a cop? Is that how you justified it?"

Laura looked away. His question had hit too close, "On the fourth day he didn't answer. I called the resort, he'd checked out, left the island. I tried to tell myself he knew it wasn't the right thing to do. We weren't coming back together because we were in love any longer. We were grabbing onto something familiar to get away." She turned back to him, "Three weeks later he was back on the telly, back on the job. The divorce papers came by messenger a few months later. There was no note, it was done. He went back to his life, I stayed here, with you."

"I need to go Laura. I have to clear my head."

She nodded, "I understand. I don't want you to go but I understand. I love you Robbie. I should have told you all of this years ago. I didn't because I was scared you would think less of me. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, me too Laura. Had you told me this years ago, I wouldn't have thought less of you. Now, well now, I don't know. I just need to get away."

She watched him walk away. Heard him open the hall closet to retrieve his jacket. When the door closed she chased into the kitchen. As she heard his car start the tears burned a path down her cheeks.