She awoke to the sound of the sea. The crashing of waves whipped up by the wind.
She swallowed, rubbed her eyes, realizing she wasn't in bed she mentally assessed the situation. In a dizzying, spiraling moment she remembered the details of the night before. Remembered the feeling as Glen said the video was uploading, the slightly panicked run into the kitchen, the seconds that stretched like an eternity as Joe refreshed the app. And then the sickening ...
'Hey. Good morning my love', Joe's voice cut through her thoughts. Low and gentle it matched her need at that moment. She felt fragile. Unsure. A little confused.
She needed a moment for her mind to catch up, to fast forward through the events of a few hours ago and to stabilize her in this moment.
As she moved her head on the cushion under her, Joe approached.
He knelt on the floor and leaned into her. Brushed her hair back from her forehead. He kissed her lips gently. Kissed her temple. Lovingly ran his hand across her hair. 'Good timing, I just made some fresh coffee', he said quietly, continuing to stroke her hair, giving her time to waken. 'Let me get you some', he said with a little smile and retreated back into the kitchen.
'No, take it easy, there's no rush', he said as she struggled to sit up on the sofa as he returned. She looked around, her still sleepy mind a jumbled mess of confusion. 'Where is everyone?' she asked him. 'Tony and Dave are gone to lie down. Glen is too. Isabella and Donatello went home a few hours ago, remember?'
She blinked. 'Oh, yeah, I do remember', she said, her voice slightly hoarse. The fresh tears on Isabella's face came back to her in a forceful memory. The tight hug the other woman gave her. The pat on her arm from Donatello. 'Call us if there's anything we can do', he said as he kissed her cheek, shook hands with Joe.
She remembered Joe's arm holding her tightly as they closed the door after their guests.
Together they turned to go back to the living room.
Joe had pulled her to him.
Alone in the hallway, out of sight of everyone he had held her close and she had let her tears run hot and salty and plentiful.
Returning to the living room her sisters had held out their hands to her, enveloped her in hugs and love. Made her lie on the sofa. Told her to rest. To sleep. That she'd feel better in the morning.
Joe had squatted down to talk to her. He had been so wonderful. So kind and patient. His own mind must be spinning, she remembered thinking, but here he is putting me first as always. She remembered the rush of love, of emotion that she felt towards him in that moment. She reached out. Wanting to hold his hand. Wanting to connect with him. She needed him and she knew he needed her. She vowed for the billionth time to be there for him, to walk the path ahead side by side.
'Baby I've got to go back, try to control this', he had said to her, inclining his head towards the room where so much had happened over the past few days, the past few hours. She pulled his hands together, enveloped them within her own. His were warm and comfortable against hers.
She understood he had work to do but she was unwilling to let him too far outside of her proximity. She wanted him to know she had his back too. Wasn't letting him face this alone. 'Don't leave the house without telling me ok?' she asked him. 'I don't care if I fall asleep, you are not to leave without talking to me', she repeated, her tone emphatic. 'I promise', he replied, his voice audible to her alone as he reached in and kissed her forehead. 'Let the girls take care of you for a while, baby. I'll be back just as soon as I can' he assured her, placing a soft kiss on her hands before disentangling his from hers. 'I won't leave without you knowing', he promised.
