Marriage of Necessity

~16~ Say Goodbye To Yur Ocean

The next morning I'm awakened to Matthew gently brushing the hair out of my face. When I look at him, he smiles softly.

I still can't believe I get to see him smile.

"Mornin'," he says, his voice laced with sleep, making it even gruffer than normal.

"Sleep well?" I ask, stroking his naked chest, feeling a blush creep in.

"Best I've slept in three years," he says, grabbing my hand and rubbing his thumb against the back of it.

"Really?"

He nods.

"We need to leave in a bit to catch the train, but it ain't sitting right with me that I won't have ya for days. Wanna do what we did last night again?"

I feel the blush take over my cheeks as I bite my lip. I can't even answer him, I'm so embarrassed. I just nod. Once I give him the "ok," he slips my nightgown off of me and immediately kisses me deeply. Every nerve-ending I have is radiating and tingling.

When he gets on top of me, and we repeat last night, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much more enjoyable it is. There's no pain at all.

Once we're dressed, packed, and respectable, we leave the room and go towards the train station.

"We still have time to walk to yur ocean if ya wanna' see it once more," he says, tucking a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

I agree, and we spend the next little while enjoying the ocean once last time.

Once we board our train, he gives me the window seat and sits next to me, holding my hand.

"Is Ruthie pretty sore with me?"

He shakes his head. "It's me she's mad at"

"You? Why?"

"She hollered that I was a fool, and I was just bein' stubborn, provin' to everyone that I enjoyed bein' miserable."

"She did?"

"Mmhmm. Anthony started takin' her towards the barn to whip her, but I asked him not to. She was right, and I knew it. Still took me a month to admit it, but I knew it."

"How about the children?"

He sighs as he stretches out his long legs, trying to get comfortable. We have a long way to go, and I have a feeling the bench across from us won't be empty for long.

"Matthew is gonna act like he still hates ya. Just give him time."

"Don't whip him for it when he does."

"I still make the rules, Sophie."

"And I can still tell you how I feel, Matthew," I snap.

He changes the subject.

"Remi is pretty upset with ya for leavin'. I have a feelin' that it's gonna be a while for her to come around."

"And Jamie?"

"He wants his ma back."

Tears fill my eyes, and I attempt to stop them as I look away.

"Why do ya do that?" He asks, turning my chin so I have to face him.

"Do what?"

"You don't cry in front'a me. Did me spankin' ya even ever hurt?"

"Of course it did"

He shakes his head. "Rebecca always hollered, almost from the moment I started. You don't make no sense, Sophie."

"Sorry," I chuckle as I get in my bag and get us a couple of sandwiches.