ALWAYS BEEN THERE: A Lloyd Hansen Story

chapter thirty-seven

Lloyd

I woke up to the sound of my wife breathing heavily and sitting up. Nightmares again.

I rubbed her back. She jumped lightly, but looked over. I smiled.

"Hey..."

She sighed and laid back down. I moved to look at her. She was red in the face and teary eyed.

"Turn." I whispered. She turned on her side. I moved to spoon her. She hugged herself as I held her.

"You wanna talk?" I asked.

"Not really...can you just..can you talk?" She asked in a groggy voice.

I kissed her neck. "Well...Christmas is coming. Do you remember our first Christmas together alone?"

She nodded.

"Lloyd I don't think it's safe to go." Camille said. I looked out the window of the frat. We were the only ones left at the frat.

It was Christmas Eve. We were set to go back to our hometown. I was gonna bring her to her moms.

"Let me call my parents." I said.

"I'll call my mom." She whispered.

I went to call my parents, and they advised not to go. Camille's mom said the same thing.

She sighed.

"Okay. Let's stay. No one is here so we can go downstairs and open each others presents in front of the Christmas tree." She said.

I nodded. "I'm sorry Christmas got ruined."

"No. God this isn't bad at all. I really didn't wanna meet my moms new girlfriend. Or go home." She said shyly.

I smiled and pulled her in. She hugged me close.

"Merry Christmas sweet girl."

"Merry Christmas."

"In the snowstorm?" She whispered. I nodded.

"I really loved what you gave me."

"Cause you still wear it." She whispered as she touched the ring on my pinky. I smiled.

"It's my favorite."

"You have a wedding ring." She said. I chuckled.

"That's my second favorite." I said. She let out a little laugh. Good. She's laughing.

She moved to look at me. I smiled.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too sweetheart. Now. Tomorrow morning I think I'm gonna take you to my therapy appointment."

She gave me a look. I kissed her head.

"I'm not going to your therapy appointment."

"It's helped me since everything. I tell my therapist about you a lot. It would be nice to talk to her for one session."

She sighed and turned to be buried in me. I kissed her head.

"You in pain?" She asked.

"No." I said. "I'm okay." 

She looked up at me and sighed. She had cold sweats still. I didn't say anything. I knew she wasn't sleeping well and she was moody.

I just trailed my fingers down her back. She smiled.

"Come on." I whispered as I stood up groggily. She looked at me.

"What?"

"Let's go take a shower."