~ ~ ~
There was no emotion on his face, as if he had expected this and prepared himself. He sat up slowly. “I’m in for the duration, Julianna.”
She didn’t want to know what he meant. “There’s nothing left of our marriage except bad memories and a piece of paper. Tomorrow I’m going home.”
“Every time you turn around, I’m going to be there,” he said, getting up. He laid his hands on her shoulders. “I’ll be there, and you’ll wish you were stronger, braver, because you’ll want me there, but you’ll be too much of a coward to admit it. Until one day, one day...”
She flinched, but he shook his head as if daring her to deny his words. “Get some sleep, Julianna. Tomorrow you have a decision to make.”
“Tomorrow I’m going home.” she repeated.
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, his lips lingering for a moment. “The real trip home for both of us began in the middle of an airplane aisle four days ago.” His hands dropped to his sides, and he turned. In a moment he was gone, and she was left alone with no one to hear her protests.