Chapter 28

“Oh…Carol. Oh Carol,” he moaned, trying to roll away from her, “I’m sorry.”

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, refusing to let him leave. Pulling his mouth down to hers, she gently kissed him. His whole body shifted toward her, like water shifting to the moon. She rocked her hips, encouraging him to continue, to move again.

Now that the fire in his chest had cooled, there was nothing to replace it with but relief and love. Instead of thinking of the years she was gone, he just enjoyed these moments he had with her in his arms again. Instead of thinking about the agony of her absence, he concentrated on the grace of her presence.

Before Daniel could completely lose himself in her, the distinctive sound of the front door closing pulled him back to the real world. He jumped away from Carol like he had been burned, racing to the window in time to see his mother hurrying down the walk, back to Emma’s car, just as Emma was helping Rebecca out of the front seat.