Behind The Mask

Chapter 17

Michael’s POV

I almost can’t believe it happened. I need to do something and check if I’m awake and this is real or I’m dreaming. She simply said yes. She’s gonna give us an honest chance and I can feel that she really means it and she’ll put her heart and feelings on the line for us.

I gently pinch my thigh and I squeal with the unexpected pain.

“What happened, baby?”

She said it so naturally…so freely. Oh Jesus, I’m floating up to cloud nine!

“A…a mosquito, I think…” I answer sheepishly.

“Time to go. It’s gonna get really dark, really soon and really suddenly. Don’t get scared, OK?”

“Why would I?”

“It’s not like what you’re used to…you know, the twilight, light fading slowly… Over here it’s like, now it’s light, three minutes later it’s pitch dark.”

“The many secrets of the Veldt” I muse.

“You’re just scratching at the surface, Michael. The world of the Veldt still has secrets for me, and I’ve lived most of my life here.”

We get to the Jeep and she starts it. I think of today. I came here in the early morning, worrying and wondering and I’m leaving it completely, utterly happy. There is still a long and hard road ahead. We don’t know very much about each other. We don’t have any clue what tomorrow brings. But I know that if we are true to each other and put our love ahead of any petty differences, we can succeed to create a beautiful and long-lasting bond. My marriage to Lisa was useful even as a negative example of how not to build a relationship. I learned positive things, too. How to adapt from being a single guy to being with someone, who has a claim on your time, confidence and thoughts. I learned how to share my inner world. Lisa did not fully appreciate how much it took me to tell her things that I’ve never told anyone before. But Anouk is not Lisa. She’s the classic example of still waters run deep. When she’s at the most quiet moments, that’s when her mind works faster. Sometimes I look at her and she widens her eyes, as if she thinks I’m spying on her thoughts.

But not anymore. Now she will open those amazing blue eyes to me, and let me see inside.

“You’re quiet…” she notes, in a slightly nasal voice.

“I am thinking….about us….”

“And….what are you thinking about? Along what lines?”

“How happy I am that we’re together now. How we’re going to get closer and build more and more love and confidence between us. I…I’m not really a guy of many words in relationships…I mean….there’s more to what you do than what you say.”

“That’s true. I like the way you think. Most guys will baby up and baby down you, but when you’ve got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and call him for help, he’s gonna bail out somehow and leave you to fend for yourself. Based on true facts. Happened to one of my friends.”

“Really? Wow, that’s so heartless! What happened next?”

“Me and my old Jeep got her back home and towed her car to the repair shop. Sad thing is she’s still with the guy. Married him, too.”

“Come on!”

“He’s smooth with his words…”

“Words are nothing in front of clear evidence that he’s a jerk.”

“Well, then let’s just promise each other not to drown us in words. Let’s just agree that actions speak way louder. What do you say?”

She has stopped the car in front of the hotel gates to open them. I jump down from my side of the car, open the gates then run ahead to open the garage door.