Convalescence

Content

It's a Sunday morning, sunny, bright, and her last name is Short. 

Has been for about thirty-six hours, now, and across from her, sprawled as much as the wrought iron chair will allow, her new husband taps his ring finger against the warm porcelain of his mug, simply to hear the click of the new silver band that occupies space there. He seems rather content, now, as opposed to the nervous energy that'd emanated from him up until he slid the ring on her finger. 

"You look better," she observes, sipping at the almond milk latte he'd carefully crafted to wake her with; held the thing under her nose and lured her out of bed and onto the porch to watch the sun come up over the grassy knolls that formed the ranch. "You seemed nervous until we said I do." 

A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth and he shuffles his free hand through his dark hair. It's not as black, anymore, more of a dark chestnut, almost pure auburn in the warm Oklahoma sunshine, silvering at the temples, and curling around her fingers when it's damp. 

"I get the jitters," he tilts his head to look at her, blue eyes bright as the morning sun. "But, I've got my girl, I'll be fine." 

"But, are you happy?" she raises an eyebrow, face hidden behind the warm porcelain of her coffee mug, hands curled around it for warmth and security. 

In the soft light of a breezy Oklahoma Sunday, Christian Kane smiles, so big and wide, she's afraid it might crack his face in two, but it's okay because it crinkles his eyes at the corners and the blue shimmers so beautifully and he tips his head back to release a deep breath. 

"I'm sitting on the back porch of an Oklahoma ranch with my wife, drinking coffee, and watching the sunrise." he finally breathes, looking over at her, again, smile still in place, eyes still bright, and she swears she's never seen someone radiate their emotions so plainly. "Yeah, Lin. I'm happy. Happier than I've been in a long time." 

"Good."