THAT MAN 6: (The Anniversary Story) by Nelle L'Amour

Author:Nelle L'Amour [L'Amour, Nelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Nichols Canyon Press
Published: 2018-06-20T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Blake

DAY 7

I’m in a stupor. For a minute, I don’t know where I am or what day it is. The haze doesn’t last long and lifts quickly. Squeezing my eyes, I remember. It’s December 21st. Both my fortieth birthday and tenth wedding anniversary. I’ve been trapped on a deserted island with my wife for a week in the middle of the Indian Ocean. And for the past few days, there’s been some kind of motherfucker storm, maybe a monsoon, and I’ve been confined to the airplane I had to bring to an emergency landing, taking care of my gravely ill, injured wife. I blink my eyes open and gaze down at her. For the first time in days, she looks peaceful. Her breathing is even, and when I put my hand to her forehead, her skin is cool to my touch. Her fever’s broken. Thank fucking God.

I fell asleep last night wearing earbuds and when I remove them, something is different. The rain’s not pounding against the plane, and the aircraft is no longer shaking. I reach across Jennifer and lift the window shade an inch, not wanting to wake her from her sound sleep. A ray of sunshine peeks through the slit. The storm’s died down.

With guarded optimism, I start my fortieth birthday with a trip to the toilet. Clad in my still damp board shorts, I do my morning business, taking a leak to get rid of my morning wood. Contemplating the day, I rake my hand through my unruly hair and then rub my hand across my thick beard. I must look like a fucking caveman. Having not shaved or bathed for seven days (except for some dips in the ocean), I’m not smelling like a rose. And that could be an understatement. Weather permitting, and of course, only if Jen is stable, maybe later today I’ll get off this damn plane and take a dip in the ocean. Wash my hair. And put a razor to my face.

With a bottle of water in my hand, I return to my wife. And get an unexpected surprise. My tiger’s awake and she’s struggling to sit up. I rush to her side.

“Jen, let me help you!” Dropping the bottle on the floor, I circle my arms around her and get her into an upright position. Fixing the blanket around her, I notice how pale and thin she looks. Blinking her eyes, she also looks confused.

“Blake . . .” Her voice, a hoarse whisper, trails off as if hurts to talk.

Reaching down, I grab the water bottle. “Here, baby, drink some water.” I hand her the bottle and she puts it to her soft lips, which I kept moist thanks to the first aid kit. She takes several gulps, one after another.

“Baby, drink slowly.”

She takes one more sip and then asks, her voice stronger, “Blake, what are we doing on the plane? Are we going home?”

My heart stutters. I wish I could tell her we were, but instead I inform her that we’re still on the island and weathered a major storm.

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