Middle of a Memory

Chapter 8

Cole was staring out the window when Delilah came into the room. Without a word she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face to his back. She soaked in his warmth. "What are you thinkin about? What's on your mind, handsome?" She murmured.

He swallowed hard and turned to pull her into his arms. "How much I love you."

"I love you too." She looked up at him. "More than you could ever know."

"Let's get away... just you and me... some time to ourselves...."

She grinned. "As nice as that sounds... you have a tour coming up and I have the store. Caroline has done more than her share....I need to start pulling my weight again."

"I know but she can handle it a little bit longer can't she?" He was pleading with her. She knew something was up.

"Ok, Colden Rainey...what's going on?" She stepped back and crossed her arms.

"Nothing." He shook his head. "I just thought we could spend a little time away from Nashville."

"You're lying to me. I know you are. So spill it."

He sighed and walked over to the fireplace. He pulled an envelope from behind their wedding picture. She narrowed her eyes. "What's that?"

"It came two days ago....." He said quietly as he handed it to her.

She pulled a folded piece of paper from inside. It was a picture of her at the gym. She knew instantly who had taken it.

Her blood ran cold then hot as she lifted her eyes to look at her husband. "You've been keeping this from me? Why would you do that? How could you do that?"

"Lil..."

"No, Cole. I want an answer. Why did you not tell me about this before now?"

"Because I want to protect you....He's a sicko. He's crazy and there's no telling what he's gonna do, Lila. I'm your husband...."

"And I'm your wife, Cole. Not your fiancee, not your girlfriend. Your WIFE!" She glared at him. "You should have told me about this when it came." She threw the picture on the coffee table and stormed up the stairs.

Cole knew he screwed up. He should have told her about the picture but he honestly thought he was doing the right then by keeping it from her.

He went into the kitchen and opened a beer. He leaned against the cabinet to give her time to cool down. She was pissed and in a way she had every right to be.

After an hour he went upstairs and opened their bedroom door. She was propped up on the bed with her laptop. "Can I come in?"

"I don't know? Can you? You make all the decisions around here." She snapped.

"Look, I get it. You're mad...."

"No, Cole..." She closed her laptop and slid off the bed. "I'm pissed off that my HUSBAND decided I was better off not knowing something." She headed for the bathroom.

"Lila, stop." He snagged her wrist. "Look at me."

She turned to face him. "What?"

"I'm sorry that you don't get it...."

"No I get it, Cole... You're my husband and you're trying to protect me. But you should have told me anyway. You shouldn't have kept this from me. We're supposed to be partners. Partners don't keep things from each other.  Now you want to take me away and hide me....that's not happening."