Authors: Lani Diane Rich

Time Off for Good Behavior (41 page)

BOOK: Time Off for Good Behavior

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“
How could you have meant that?
”
I asked.
“
You barely even knew me.
”

He shook his head, a mystified smile on his lips.
“
I don
’
t know. I guess I knew enough. But it was too early. I don
’
t blame you for running off.
”

I grinned.
“
Could you tell me again?
”

“
What? That I love you?
”

I nodded. He put both hands on either side of my face and looked into my eyes.
“
God help me, but I love you, Wanda Lane.
”

I smiled.
“
I like it. Lose the
‘
God help me
’
next time, though, okay?
”

He gave me a quick kiss on the foreh
ead.
“
Deal.
”

I stepped away and grabbed his hand.
“
We
’
re not done yet.
”
He laughed and pulled me back to him.
“
I was hoping not.
”
I scrambled from his grip and led him to the Santa throne, sitting him down again.
“
Stay right here.
”

I set up the shot in the
camera, grabbed the remote, and rushed over to him, sitting on his lap. I held his face in my hands and clicked the remote, which was followed by a flash from the camera.

“
Shouldn
’
t we be looking at the camera?
”
he asked, not taking his eyes off mine.

“
Oh
, we
’
re not done,
”
I said, tossing the remote aside.
“
I set it up for ten pictures.
”

He kissed me. The flash went off. We smiled for the camera, and it flashed. The flashes went on around us, capturing the moment as we posed and giggled like teenagers.

Aft
er a while, I led him back to the Christmas tree and handed him a carefully wrapped box. He sighed.
“
I
’
m sorry, Wanda, I didn
’
t think to bring your present...
”

I shushed him and walked over to the computer, leaning over it and looking at our shots. He walk
ed up behind me and put his hand on the small of my back. It fit perfectly.

We pored over the shots together, arguing playfully until we chose a favorite. It was one where we were sitting, smiling into each other
’
s eyes. I clicked print and turned to him,
motioning toward the present.

“
Open it.
”

He sighed and opened the package, pulling out a simple wooden picture frame. I grabbed the picture from the printer and handed it to him.

“
I think it
’
s time you started putting some new pictures on your mantel.
”

Qui
etly, he put the picture in the frame and turned it over, running his fingers lightly across the figures under the glass. I didn
’
t notice the stray tear on his cheek until he turned to me and smiled.

“
Thank you.
”
He pulled me into his arms.
“
I love it.
”

I
snuggled my cheek next to his chest, listening to the
boom-boom-boom
ing
of his heart, inhaling his scent. It was good. It was all good.

“
Hmmm,
”
I heard him hum above me.
“
How are you feeling?
”

I raised my head and smiled into his eyes.

“
Never better,
”
I sa
id. And damned if that wasn
’
t the truth.

The End

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