Chapter 2
About a week later after I had cleared my schedule a bit I got off yet another plane at the San Diego airport, picked up another car, and again drove the road to Maria’s parents’ mansion by myself. I felt almost miserable. Sure, I couldn’t wait to see Maria again, but I couldn’t help thinking of how much this reminded me of before Maria and I were married. It shouldn’t have been like that. Not now, after so long.
When I arrived at the house I got out of the car expecting Maria to come out and meet me like she always had. Instead I was met by silence and a feeling of dread. I tried to push bad thoughts out of my head as I collected my bag and started for the main door.
Knocking quietly, I let myself in, and found Maria and her mother in the kitchen area. Her mother crossed the room and gave me a welcoming hug, then left the room to give Maria and me some privacy. At first we just looked at each other. So many things were just waiting to come out of my mouth, but I couldn’t think of one that would fit. So instead I just hugged her. I held her as tight as I could and ran my fingers through her hair. It was like a thousand words were being spoken between us. Words of comfort, words of concern, even words of love.
When we finally broke apart Maria pulled out two chairs from the kitchen table, and we sat to talk. “How was your flight?” she asked me.
“It was fine, as far as flights go” I told her.
“And your family, they aren’t mad at me for ripping you away from your schedule or anything are they?” she asked.
“They’ll get over it” I said and then grinned. She smiled back at me. I realized how much I had missed that smile of hers.
The conversation paused, lacking substance. “How is everything around here?” I finally asked.
“Alright” she said simply. “I suppose my father is doing a little better. Things are settling down a bit.”
For the next half an hour or so we chatted about trivial subjects. I knew we had important matters to discuss, but they could wait for the next day. At that point we just needed to get re-acquainted to each other after it had been too long.
Soon, though, it got late and we decided to turn in for the night. Crawling into bed next to Maria was refreshing. I had spent too many nights alone lately, and I was aching just to be able to hold her again at night. She turned to me and gave me a sexy grin. I placed my lips on hers for the first time in over a month, knowing that once I kissed her I wouldn’t be able to stop anytime soon.
As expected our kisses soon turned passionate. I pulled her as close to my body as I could, but I still didn’t feel close enough to her. “Mmm, I’ve missed you” I mumbled into her mouth.
“I’ve missed you too” she whispered almost purring into my ear.
I took that as a sign of encouragement and started to go for the straps on her nightgown, but she quickly pushed me away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked confused.
“I’m sorry Taylor, not tonight” she said simply confusing me more.
“Why not baby?” I pressed. “I’ve been waiting for this for over a month.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I just can’t” she insisted and then rolled over away from me.
I leaned over her about to get mad and press the issue more, when I noticed the tears rushing to her eyes. “Maria, baby, please tell me what’s wrong” I said softly, with concern in my voice.
“I can’t, not right now” she told me. “Please, let’s just go to sleep.”
I didn’t know what to do or what to say so I let it be. I laid down quietly trying not to think about how upside down my life had turned. I pushed all the bad thoughts out of my head let sleep come.
