The Fourth Catch

Chapter 10: Back To Reality

It had been three days since Melanie and Anthony had gotten back from their trip.  Now that they were back, unfortunately Anthony had to go back to work.  To deal with the case that he had been working on before he had left.  Needing to be used as a witness as part of the investigation.  Melanie had been on her own the last few days again with Beth, as he had been gone before she woke in the morning, and didn't come home till she was usually asleep.  Though since she was a light sleeper, she could usually hear him come in and would wake up to visit with him for a few minutes before letting him get some sleep.  The conversation mostly consisting of how the day had gone at the trial.

Since today was another one of those busy days with Anthony at the office, and Levi had also been called into work with the case, the two girls had decided to get together at Victoria's house so they could visit and catch up.  Victoria was dying to know details about the trip.  Victoria for once didn't have to go to work.  As they hadn't seen each other since before the trip.  The two thought it would be a good idea to get together, let Beth and Jonathan have their long overdue play date.

As Jonathan and Beth had grown rather tired after playing most the morning and both had chosen to take a nap at the same time.  Melanie and Victoria quietly sat out at the kitchen table to visit so they wouldn't wake the kids.  "Would you like anything to drink?  Coffee?"  Vic asked as she reached for a glass for her to get some water.  Melanie shook her head.  "No thank you I am fine." 

Once Victoria had gotten her glass filled with water, she sat down in the chair across from Melanie.  "So.  When do I get to hear all the details of the trip?"  She asked.  Melanie chuckled a bit at her friend.  Melanie was honestly surprised that her friend had been able to hold the question in that long.  And didn't jump at the chance to ask as soon as Melanie had gotten there.  But the two had gotten busy with the kids, playing with them.  Until they had decided to take their naps.

Melanie had fun while she was away.  Not being in the pressure of others on what she should do when it came to her love life.  But she also did tend to miss Victoria just a little bit.  But she wouldn't admit that out loud.  Since meeting in college they hadn't really been too far away from each other that much.  "It was fun."  She stated.  Not saying anything at first as she wanted to keep Victoria in suspense and see what her response would be.  Vic scrunched up her nose hearing her friend's words.  "Oh come on!  Is that all I'm getting for details?!  You've been leaving me hanging for the last three days!"  Melanie laughed before she went to continue on explaining the rest of her trip.  She didn't tell her everything.  About some of the personal conversations her and Anthony shared.  But she told her a few of the places that they had gone to visit, along with some of the places they had gone to eat at.

Victoria smiled as she heard Melanie explaining everything that they had done.  She noticed that she seemed to be in a good mood as she told her story.  Victoria could see that Melanie had changed a lot the last months when Beth came along.  Victoria could also see that Melanie was finally starting to let her walls down.  Just like everyone else.  Victoria noticed Melanie was becoming her old self again.  "Sounds like you had a really great time.  Perhaps in a few years or so when Beth is older the three of you will be able to take a family vacation."  Melanie glanced at her friend with a small grin.  Her and Anthony had a bit of the conversation themselves.  Of taking another trip.  "Perhaps.  Someday.."  Melanie didn't say it out loud because she didn't want Vic to get too excited. 

By stating it to Victoria, she was giving her friend hope that everything was going to turn out for her and Anthony.  Melanie hoped that they would.  She knew that they would.  But Melanie still wanted to have that own little time of just them.  Just like when they had gotten engaged.  Melanie had wanted to keep that part of the trip to herself yet.  She wanted to wait to tell Victoria those minor details.  For now, she just wanted that moment to be kept between her and Anthony.  She would tell Victoria some time.  Just not quite yet.  Melanie had been so wrapped up on some of the moments of her trip.  Her mind was back in Australia.  That she hadn't realized she started blocking Victoria out while she was trying to speak with her.