Corpus Christi, TX
A Friday in September (the year doesn't matter)
We didn't arrive at our hotel until well after dinner time, and I was so weak with hunger I thought I'd keel over. I hadn't eaten before our flight because I had a nervous stomach. Not from flying, though. I was nervous about the following day.
It had been a long time since I had presented at a conference, but the following day I'd be giving two different hour-long talks at the Southwestern and Hispanic Genealogy Conference. At 10 am I was to give a presentation on Non-Spanish Origin Populations of Northern Mexico. Then after lunch, at 1 pm, I was scheduled to give a talk called Researching Catholic Archives. The rest of the day would be filled with my attending other presentations and think-tanks, and networking with other genealogists. I was excited to be back and active in my field, and to be able to spend time with colleagues. But I was also nervous about presenting.
Ed wouldn't be attending the conference with me - his presence would likely be a distraction to some of the conference attendees, plus he'd probably be bored out of his mind. Luckily enough, a former school-friend of his brother from back home actually lives in Corpus Christi. Greg went to medical school at Baylor in Houston, and is now an anesthesiologist at the Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi. He was able to take the day off of work, so he and Ed planned to catch up with each other while I was busy being a genealogy geek.
We got to our suite - at the same hotel where the conference would be - and quickly cleaned up and ordered room service for dinner. By the time we were done eating it was late enough that I was ready to collapse into bed. I set my phone's alarm for 6:30 the next morning. I planned to get up early and go over my notes and double-check my Apple Keynote slideshow before my morning presentation. I also needed time to shower, dress, and eat.
I felt kind of bad - like I'd be neglecting Ed. But he assured me that he was happy to be there, even if we wouldn't see much of each other until dinnertime. A lovely banquet was scheduled that evening for all conference-goers, and Ed would definitely be attending that with me. In the meantime, he seemed excited for me, and proud, too. He was also looking forward to meeting up with his childhood family friend.
We were in bed before midnight, both pretty wiped-out from our day of traveling. We'd flown into Houston and then drove 3 ½ hours to Corpus Christi. All I wanted was to feel him wrapped around me as I drifted off to sleep, and he seemed to be of the same mind. We climbed into the bed, arranged our covers and pillows, and ourselves into a spooning position.
"Sweet dreams, sweet girl." He kissed my temple and rested his chin over my head.
I laced my fingers through his and brought our joined hands up to my lips, kissing the back of his.
"Goodnight, Teddy. I love you."
"Love you, too. You're gonna kick ass tomorrow."
I smiled at his words.
"I don't know. I just hope I don't embarrass myself."
"That won't happen. This is what you love to do. You've researched these subjects extensively. YOU are the expert, here. You'll kick ass."
"Thank-you. I hope you're right."
"I am."
He kissed my temple again, and then brought his hand under my t-shirt to cup my boob. He lazily brushed his thumb over my nipple just a couple of times before taking a breath and settling down under our covers.
I closed my eyes, and I think we were both asleep within a minute.
Saturday Morning, about 6am
YOU ARE READING
Because Purple EXTRAS - more Ed & Kate!
Fanfictionvarious one-shots, blurbs, etc...that still are part of the "world" of the multi-chaptered story of Ed & Kate, but don't quite fit in linearly. They are in the order the were written - NOT in proper time sequence.
