After the dishes were cleared, they sat at the table, sipping their coffee. Margaret looked at him thoughtfully. "You know, I bet that Trapper and BJ would get a
kick out of this news."
"What news?"
"About Frank."
He reached for her hand. "Actually they were just as surprised as I. They both send their love."
"You told them?"
"I had to tell them, Margaret. They knew Frank just as well as I did. They deserved to know."
"Right."
"I'm serious. They were really concerned."
She smiled. "That's nice."
"They care about you, and so do I. Are you going to be all right?"
"I-."
"Sorry, stupid question." He rose from the table. Well, I should probably call the airlines, see if I can get a flight home at a decent hour."
She grabbed his hand. "No, please. Stay here a little longer."
He smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Sometime later they were watching a movie-something with Cary Grant in it-when Margaret fell asleep on his shoulder. As he had done before, he picked her up
and carried her to the bedroom. But this time instead of returning to the living room, he crawled into bed beside her. Almost immediately she snuggled against
him, her hair splayed against his chest. and as always he was content to hold her as long as she needed him.
God help him, he hoped it was a long time.
He was still holding her when his eyes slowly opened. He looked out the window. The sky was purple and pink, the day almost completely gone. Soon night
would fall once again.
Slowly he turned to nudge her awake.
"Margaret…"
When her eyes opened, he started to say something but instead of words, his mouth moved toward hers. One kiss became two and then three until it bloomed
into something that certainly wasn't planned and probably shouldn't have happened, but he was so glad that it did. Their clothes scattered around the room, he
vowed to love her like he'd never loved another woman.
It was late into the night when he awakened. He didn't want to leave her, but hunger encased him. He climbed out of bed, pulled on his robe and then padded
into kitchen where he made himself a sandwich. When he returned to the bedroom, she was still asleep, completely unaware that he'd gone.
But she awakened sometime later making it so easy for them to resume where they'd left off.
She was quiet at breakfast the next morning and they didn't have to look at each other to know what the silence meant. The mood was completely different than
the morning before, when they were laughing and sharing a wonderful breakfast. Now they seemed like complete strangers; stranger that had shared something
completely wonderful.
"Did you sleep okay?" he asked.
Color filled her cheeks. "Yes, it was wonderful."
"I'm glad. Look, about what happened…"
"We don't have to talk about it."
"I know we don't, but don't you think we should?"
"I don't know what to say, except… thank you."
He leaned to kiss her. "Well, that's not at all what I expected you to say, but I appreciate it. I thought-."
"What? That I'd be upset? Angry?"
"How do you feel about it?"
She looked at him thoughtfully. "You made me feel good, Ben. Loved. Safe."
The sound of his name on her lips caught him off guard. "You called me-."
"Ben, I know. Would you prefer Hawkeye?"
"No, it's all right. I just-."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. I love it. Thank you."
"So now what?"
"Well, there is something we need to talk about."
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
"I have to. My life… I have a life in Crabapple Cove."
"I know…"
"And your life is here, in Denver."
"You're really leaving?"
"I have to, Margret. I'm sorry."
She swallowed hard. "When?"
There was a long silence before he could answer. And when he did, it hurt like hell.
"Tonight…"