Dinner on Friday

52. Dante

A CHANCE TO REBUILD

I stood outside the guest room, reviewing my apology as I prepared to knock. Carla had remained in there all night and hadn't come to bed. I didn't know what I expected when I came home, but the coldness and emptiness in our marriage bed was not it. Although I planned on telling her exactly what happened, I secretly hoped she hadn't seen the video with Lianna.

The past few weeks had been a nightmare, but the distance between me and Carla was worse than any nightmare I've ever had.

I was in denial, but at the same time knew that I had fucked up. The bed was cold and empty without her, so what? It was what I deserved, so why was I here about to knock on her door again?

I missed her. So much. And I needed to know how she was doing.

That was why.

I missed her so much that I was willing to embarrass myself if it meant I could breathe the same air with her. And there was still so much we had to talk about.

Our conversation earlier hadn't gone as planned. I let my jealousy get the best of me, forgetting what was important. My wife. Her needs. Her feelings.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked softly. "Carla? Can I come in?"

There was a long pause before I heard her response, muffled and full of pain. "What do you want, Dante?"

"Please, baby, I need to talk to you," I said, opening the door before she could tell me to go away. "It's important."

She was sitting in a recliner by the window, her wheelchair parked nearby. Her back was to me, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. I wanted to walk over and give her a massage, but I decided to keep my hands to myself.

"I'm guessing you're not coming to bed tonight?" I asked, moving to stand next to her by the window. Looking at her face, I regretted the question because, once more, what the hell did I expect?

She pierced me with her brown eyes. "Be for real. I can't sleep next to you after seeing that video."

Her words pained me, and for a second, I forgot everything I wanted to say to her. I didn't like seeing her like this. Her light diminished. Unable to hold her sad gaze, I looked out the window, lost in my thoughts, until her soft voice drew me back to the here and now.

"That's not the only reason I'm not coming to bed. Ever since... ever since the paralysis, I sleep on the ground floor now. It's easier."

That made a lot of sense, and my heart ached at her words, knowing how much pain I had caused her. Her life, ever since she met me, had been nothing but a nightmare. The first day I met her, she lost a dear friend because of my life as a mafia Don's son.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't know what to do. I saw your life slipping away, and I just knew I needed to save you. I took a risk giving you that antidote."

"You saved my life. Thank you."

I looked down at her, noticing the black lacy pajamas she had on. I hadn't expected that despite knowing all her pajamas were mostly sexy-cute. In bed, I preferred her naked body, but since she wasn't always comfortable sleeping in the nude, I had gotten her the sexiest, high-quality lingerie/pajamas money could buy. My wife had a body out of this world; it was a shame to keep it hidden.

Before my thoughts could wander any further, I reigned them in. "How bad is the paralysis?"

"It's one-sided. I can't feel anything in my leg, but there is some feeling in my arm. I'm doing PT and have been practicing using crutches. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"