Keep Me Safe

Chapter 92

"Do you need help carrying your bags out?" Spencer asked, a sad smile plastered to her face.

"You better not. I don't want you to hurt yourself," Toby replied, being as caring as always.

Spencer didn't have enough energy at this time of morning to fight back, so she just followed her husband out the door. A one week business trip wasn't ideal, but was the only way Toby would get the promotion he was so keen on receiving.

"Don't miss me too much, okay?" Toby whispered into her hair. His arms were firm around her, yet gentle as his touch always was.

Spencer only burrowed her head deeper into his shoulder. "Impossible," she murmured.

Smiling, Toby pulled her even closer to his body. "You'll do just fine. Study hard, look at stuff for the nursery, and Skype me every night. Got it?"

Spencer pulled away to fake-salute him. "Aye-aye captain."

With one last tender kiss, Toby eased himself into the drivers seat and shut the door. He held his wife's hand through the open window, tracing circles on her palm with his thumb.

"Be safe," he said.

"Likewise. I love you," Spencer replied.

"I love you, too."

And the tan truck barreled around the curve and out of sight.
-
The third night was the worst. After a particularly stressful day at school, all Spencer wanted to do was come home and sleep. But of course she had to make dinner for herself, so she did.

And everything was going according to plan until her plate of food slipped out of her hands on the way to the dining room table. The plate shattered and the food scattered across the dining room floor.

Collapsing on the floor in a sobbing heap, Spencer cursed her damn pregnancy hormones. If she just had Toby here, he'd be able to pick up the spilled food and tell her it was okay and that she wasn't overreacting.

After she came to her senses, Spencer picked herself up and cleaned up the mess she had made. She heated up a box of pasta instead and ate in front of the TV. After watching an episode of Friends which turned into four episodes, she picked up the phone and dialed his number.
-
"When you're missing me, just remember that I'll be back. And I'll be there to clean up your spilled food," Toby said, warning a laugh from his wife. "And I'll be there to rub your stomach and feet whenever you need me to. And I will make love to you like you've never known."

Spencer, now lying in bed as it was ten o'clock, smiled to herself and thought about just how wonderful he was. Out of all the people in the world, she was the lucky one who got Toby Cavanaugh all to herself.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Spencer remarked, "that sounds amazing. I cannot wait."

"Better get some rest. You'll need to get as much sleep as you can, because when I get back, we're going to work on that nursery," Toby said on the other end of the phone.

Turning off the light, Spencer complied with his request, burrowing under the covers. "I love you," she sighed, sleep already pulling her under.

"I love you, too," Toby replied. He stayed on the line until he was sure she had fallen asleep.