Generations: The Long Game

Four Nights with the Knights - Last Night

Marjorie had put Emery to bed and taken Rory in the room with her the night before. She had locked the bedroom door. Not to keep him out, but to let him know he wasn't welcome. She hadn't slept well. They had slept in the same bed for so many years now that sleeping without him seemed foreign but missing him was not a reason to forgive his behavior.

As she settled Rory after her morning feed, she realized the hall shower was running. He was awake. She couldn't punish him forever. She unlocked and pulled the door ajar before returning to the bed. He would need to come in for clothes anyway, so it would give her an excuse.

He entered the room and looked at her. He almost looked like a dog that was caught in the act. A mixture of guilt and self pity.

"Marjorie I ..."

"Reece I ..."

They both spoke simultaneously and caused each other to laugh. "Go ahead then." She waited for him to say his piece.

"Marjorie, I am incredibly sorry about the things I said last night and how I behaved. There is no excuse for what I have done. I am scared. We need to know why you have no appetite."

She tried to let all of it sink in before responding. She didn't feel scared, but she was becoming concerned. Her plan was to talk to the doctor at the six week check up, and she was hoping he could be okay with that. "Reece I ... I know you are worried. I am too, but we are less than two weeks away from my check up. Let's give it until then."

They went back and forth for a little while, but he eventually agreed to wait for the check up, and she agreed to tell him if any other symptoms came up. She pulled him into an embrace and placed a tender kiss on his lips before he left for the restaurant.

Her day went much as it had done for the last four and a half weeks. As Rory napped, she sat on the floor with Emery repeating names of colors when Reece walk back in. He stood in the doorway with a broad smile on his face watching them. He could watch her with their children all day. When she finally noticed him standing there, she looked up and smiled. He could get through anything in this life with that smile. With her. Which their little family.

That evening, after they had put the children to bed, they cuddled up on the sofa in silence. His mind still awash with thoughts of possible outcomes. He had done some research while cooking. Some of the possibilities were quite scary, but she had no other symptoms. As he relaxed into her waiting for the calm to hit, she tensed.

"What was that? Why did you just tense like that?"

She looked up at him with concern in her eyes. "I am not sure. It has happened a few times the last few days. It is pain, but it could just be my body healing from having Rory."

He didn't really believe that. She wouldn't look so concerned.

Everything will be fine, my love, I will be fine.