Til You Come Back to Me Again - A Love Story

Chap - 20

Twenty

The Vows

Katia slept through much of the plane ride home. During the trip, I pondered how I had dreamed of taking her back to Mackinac one day for the Somewhere in Time weekend. She would have loved it. But now that dream, like so many others, would not be possible. The thought saddened me so much, I fought back tears.

On our way to the house, I stopped by the hotel restaurant and ordered some of Katia's favorite soup and sandwiches to go. When we made it home, I encouraged her to go up and change into her gown while I brought everything inside. She came down and we ate the meal, then we unpacked and put things away. I set the music box on her bedside table so she could always see it when she awakened each morning.

Katia finally took her medication and lay back against the pillows, watching me put the last few things away. I opened the music box and she smiled, her expression melancholy as the Rhapsody gently played.

I sat down on the bed beside her. "Can I get you anything?" I asked, brushing the hair away from her face, tucking a lock behind her ear. Her eyes suddenly filled and tears spilled down her cheeks. "What is it?"

"I'm just so sorry to put you through this."

"Oh, angel, don't be sorry. I love you. You are my wife and this is my place." She began to sob and I crawled over next to her and took her in my arms, pressing my lips to her brow and rocking her slowly. "Don't cry, baby. Please don't feel sorry." My own tears fell into her hair. I drew back a little and looked into her eyes. "Do you remember our wedding vows? We promised each other, Katia. I promised you we would get through this together." Holding her close, I softly recited our vows.

"I promise to love, honor and cherish you, and always be faithful to you, through the good times and the bad. My love for you is unconditional, Katia, and I promise you that my love will see you through clear skies and stormy days. No matter what comes, I will love you through it, forever and beyond."

"That will never change, tesora." Pressing her close still, I silently pondered our time in Mackinac. "If there is one thing I have learned from the story of Richard and Elise, it is that true love transcends all things. Regardless of the circumstances, there is always hope." My voice cracked. "And though I will lose you for a time, I have hope, and the faith that we will be together again. I know we will. It is that knowledge that will keep me going on."

Katia touched my cheek. "I love you," she whispered, raising her mouth to mine and I let the passion of her kiss roll through me, latching on to all she offered, her sweetness consuming me. These moments would forever be branded in my memory, each one logged and filed in the annals of my mind, to be cherished, savored and experienced again when the day finally came that she was no longer beside me.

* * *

I woke up just after five. It was Monday and there were meetings scheduled. For the first time in a long time, I wished I didn't have to go. The thought of being away from Katia was physically painful, and before going to sleep last night, I pondered conducting my meetings from home via the internet. My accountants could also meet with me there. I would speak to everyone about it when we met that morning.

My plan was to go downstairs and get a workout before showering. It was still dark, and I took a moment to lie still and listen to Katia's soft breathing, the strong longing to hold her close and stay in bed all morning causing me to linger longer than I should. Sighing, I finally eased from the bed, not wanting to wake her. Quickly changing, I went down to the exercise room, had a JKD workout, lifted weights, and went for a quick swim.