A Beauteous Flower

Chapter 50 - The Preparation

The fire burned in dark red coals when she woke, but Madison was still toasty warm, and swaddled tight against Daniel's body. It was the most pleasant start to a day she could recall in a long time, so Madison shut her eyes and willed herself back to sleep so she could wake up and experience it again. Unfortunately, the birds chirped outside the window, so sleep dissipated with the sunrise.

Behind her Daniel still slept, and for Madison this was a long missed, sweet blessing. His quiet presence, his warmth and his gentlemanly snore were nectar. If she could have frozen time at that moment, she would have gladly done it, but no matter how she squeezed her eyes, the clock on the mantle continued to tick. A seed of dread told her that the peace of this moment had to end so that she could rescue a future full of these moments.

It was finally Friday, the day of the biggest gamble of her life. Either she and Daniel would come out on the other side stronger than ever, or their marriage would end in divorce. While she hoped for the former, she dreaded the latter and while she lay next to Daniel on that autumn morning, she asked herself if she really wanted to take that risk.

She could do nothing and just hope Daniel drifted back to her. Hadn't they made progress in the last couple of days? She had awakened in his arms. It couldn't be much longer before they began to make love again and they might live a long, polite life together. That didn't sound so bad. Not too bad at all when compared to divorce.

But it wouldn't be right. She would always wonder if Daniel felt she loved him and she hated the idea that she might curse him to a life where he never felt loved even if that life was with her. She drew such warmth and strength from him. Didn't he deserve that from her?

No, Cassidy was right. A life like that could only lead to resentment and hatred, and if she had to lose Daniel, better sooner rather than later. The idea of a life without Daniel tied her stomach in knots, but to consign Daniel to a life of emotional purgatory made her feel sick as well. She had to go through with this and pray for the result she hoped for. Madison sighed resignation and tried to lose herself in Daniel's embrace as she had when she first awoke, but that moment was gone in the flutter of fear.

Daniel must have felt her movements because he came awake in a start. For a moment he seemed confused, and Madison felt him lift his head to look around the cabin. She shut her eyes and feigned sleep in the hope that he would settle back to sleep so she didn't have to start this day and follow it to the conclusion. However, Daniel nibbled her ear and whispered her name and Madison flinched and gave the fact she was already awake.

"Morning," Daniel rumbled in her ear in that sleepy voice that always stuck the chords of desire in her. He stroked Madison's hair and kissed the back of her head and Madison took the chance to snuggle into his body to try and tease him. For a moment she thought Daniel ground against her, but then he sat up and rubbed his stubbled face, stepped over her and got up. Gandalf wound around Daniel's legs as Daniel stooped to pet him. Madison's heart sank a little as she watched Daniel move farther and farther away. Would this be the last time she woke up in his arms?

"You hungry?" Daniel asked her. The sleepy rumble had cleared from his voice and the spell of the warm cocoon faded away. Madison sat up like a condemned prisoner the morning the executioner came around.

"No, not really," she piped in voice the belied her melancholy thoughts. "Besides I need to go to town. I've got a hair and nail appointment. We've got a big date tonight and I want to look hot."

Daniel crouched down before her and his smirk made her heart flutter.

"Trust me. You're hot. 6:30 PM pick up time?"