Rory was speaking to Gray over the phone. Suddenly, he stopped and hung up when he saw Matilda crying. He looked over at Karen and Luke absorbed in their kisses.
That must have been the reason why she has gone to Karen's. His wife is a very caring lady, he wondered why he always misunderstood her.

The sob that racked her body frightened Rory. He hurried to her and pulled her to him. He wrapped his arm around her, he tightened his embrace, trying to comfort her.

" It's okay, Tilda. I got you". He whispered quietly. She let out a high-pitched wail.

" Shshsh...I got you, dear". He let his lips graze the top of her head lightly.

He ran his hand over her trembling back, up and down, slowly trying to soothe her.

The moment she stilled he ushered her outside leaving Karen and Luke behind.

Through out the drive to the beach house, Rory kept stealing glances at his wife. She looked pale, he has never seen anyone so pale.

His car pulled out in front of the Beach House.

He alighted and walked to the other side of the car to open the door for Matilda.
She nodded and hopped out, her tear- swollen eyes unfocused and weary.

She slipped.
Her legs buckled.
Rory clutched her firmly against him to keep her from falling.

She was burning up. Too bad

She held her head and collapsed on his chest.

" Matilda! Matilda!!". He shook her.

**

A Strange noise woke her. Eyes flinching wide, she looked at the bed. And, realized what she was hearing. A ringing phone.

She groaned. Her mouth was sour and her head hurt like crazy.

She turned to see Rory come up with an elbow. He sighed in relief.

" Finally, you're awake". 

She attempted to get up but he pushed her back down. " You need to rest".

He took away the cold towel he placed on her forehead as he touched her head to feel her temperature. She was better than before.

He had been really scared to death when she had passed out earlier.

He settled his chest to her side, curved her body around his, slid his arms around her. Gradually, she closed her eyes as her lids grew heavy.

Much later, he woke up. He prepared dinner and bought her Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen tablets.  He walked gingerly into the bedroom. Matilda was still fast asleep but her eyelids were flinching, her pale lips parted, her breasts rose and fell as her brow furrowed in a frown.

What a temptress

He could stand right here watching her all day and never get tired. He forced his eyes from her and went to run a bathing water in the bathtub. He was worried about waking her but when he got back into the bedroom, she was awake.

Struggling to sit up, she grimaced as her effort was futile. He hurried to her to support her.
Earlier, he had pulled off her sweat shirt so that she was left in singlet and her Jean.

" How are you feeling?". He asked in concern.

She closed her eyes. She felt hot all over and the pain in her head was unbearable.

" You're okay?...I've prepared cool water in the bathtub'

She opened her eyes " I'm fine". Her voice trailed off" I'll have my bath now".

She weakly struggled out of bed as her husband watched her intently.

She walked torpidly to her wardrobe to search for her robe, abruptly, she stopped and dropped to her knees, sweat dripping down her neck. Rory ran to her.

"Tilda"

Without waiting for her response, he took out her robe and a towel and carried her in his arms into the bathroom.

He closed the door behind him and reached for her singlet to pull it off.

She was too weak to take out her robe, so how in the world would she be able to have her bath herself? And, besides she could slip into the bathtub and drowned to her death.

Her warm hand held his " No". She whispered as she slowly shook her head.

He pressed his lips together. He fought the urge to shake her and tell her he wasn't going to rape her and he wished her good health. How could she be so modest, even in sickness?

He had no option but to bathe her in her outfit.

He tenderly lowered her into the bathtub and gently caressed her face with the cool water. He bathed her, carefully avoiding sensitive areas of her body. Her singlet now wet clung to her breasts tightly revealing her cleavages and her peach coloured brassiere. He swallowed at how sexy he found her to be.

" Foolish you, your wife is sick and you are lusting after her!" . He  cautioned himself.

He carried her back to the bedroom but this time, he didn't put her on the bed, he sat her on the dresser.
Searching through her wardrobe, he found a black sundress instead of her usual baggy and oversized t-shirt.

He handed it to her

"Wear this".

Her lips tightened in protest.

" I'll be out, when you're done let me know. Your dinner is over there". He pointed to the nightstand.

He shut the door behind him.

She should quit being stubborn and let him dress her up, she thought as he left.

" Stubborn". He muttered. That was the right word to use.

About thirty minutes later, he knocked on the door before entering. She was lying in bed dressed in the sundress he had given her earlier, her locks spreading on the pillow.  He handed her the tablets of drugs.
She used them and he made sure she drank a lot of water in order to stay hydrated.

" Thank you". She whispered.

He smiled sweetly.

The following day, she was all better. Her temperature returned to normal, something Rory was so happy about. He barely slept last night, he was checking on her to make sure she was alright.

Humming chirpily, he prepared breakfast of omelette and lemon juice. Arranging it meticulously on a tray, he took it to her in the bedroom. Luckily, she was awake.

" Good morning"

She whispered her greeting in return as he sat on the bed with the tray on his laps.

You don't have an idea how worried I was , Tilda. He thought.

He watched her nibble slowly on the omelette. He waited patiently for her to finish her meal, cleared the plate and said" You should have your bath now".

He looked at her as though he wanted to carry her into the bathroom. Following his gaze, she hurriedly spoke.

" I can have my bath myself".
Immediately, she flew out of the bed. In a jiffy, she grabbed her towel and ran into the bathroom.
He bit back a smile. Ladies and their insecurities.
Never in his whole life has he seen a lady as modest as Matilda, but, hardly did she know that girls would die to have him bathe them.

*

Rory looked at the park, designed for strolling. During the day it was always crowded, by evening, it was deserted. It was a free space, not fenced, it was very safe; it had lawns and trees and no bushes where anyone could hide.

" It feels good to be out here this evening, right?".

She grinned  " Yes"

The evening was so calm, the sky slightly dull and the soft breeze blew her locks freely.

" Thanks Rory". She said.

" What for". He asked, a bit surprised.

" Just for being nice and all...you helped me when I was sick".

He frowned " It's my duty as your husband".
The statement came out of his lips before he could stop himself.
Very quickly, he added " I couldn't watch you sick like that. Even though you think I'm mean...and like I said, you dying on our honeymoon will be suspicious. You can't die now, not yet"

Ouch?  That hurt. He did all this for fear of losing his company?

" You're mean". She said simply.

He cocked his head at her, a small smile spread on his lips. He watched as her stubborn lips set in a hardline. Of course, he was mean but it hurts hearing it come from her.

He looked ahead. The park was deserted except for a mother and daughter.

It was meant to be like this from the start; being friends with him, having a friendly conversation with him. They would have gotten along really well if only he hadn't chosen to be a jerk.

The sky was indeed beautiful, it looked like notes in the air and the dull sky gave the atmosphere a calm feature. It was unusual, there were always horde of tourist here in Maine during summer, but this evening it was so serene, so safe.

Rory thought she could be so surprising at times. This was the same Matilda who used to yell and pick a fight with him. She was vulnerable. From the moment she had cried at the Cinema, his heart had changed towards her.

" I see why you chose Maine for our honeymoon, it's a very beautiful place".

" I never thought you'd like it". He admitted.

He brows shot up in surprise" Why?. I love it. There are beautiful sceneries...

" WOW! Then we can check out the fjords in Portland sometimes".

She chuckled " let's do that".

He glanced at his phone " Oh right. I forgot to tell you. My aunt will be hosting a banquet at her house in town next week".

She grimaced.

She wasn't ready to meet another relative of  Rory Brown. She couldn't forget her meeting with his parents; when she had embarrassed herself.

" You don't have to go if you don't want to".

" I'll think about it".

He moistened his lips causing Matilda's breath to hitch.

A bottle blonde with full hair covering her eyes and nose passed beside them with her Chihuahua puppies.
Rory and Matilda shared a laughing glance.

" She looks like a dog". Rory said with a suppressed laughter.

She laughed hysterically " Oh Rory"

The evening ended on a good note and they walked back to the beach house.

*

LEANING AGAINST HIS CAR a short distance from the beach house, he crossed his arms against his chest, waiting patiently for his wife to come out of the house. They had gotten home yesterday realizing they were out of grocery.

She ran to him " I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, I forgot to make a list of what we needed"

" It's fine. Get in"

At the grocery store, Rory amazed her. He assisted her  in picking out the needed item.

When they got home, she stocked there freezer with food item and started preparing dinner. She put on her apron and rolled up the sleeve of her shirt. She pulled up her locks in a bun, then she saw him at the entrance of the kitchen staring at her.

" For how long have you been standing there?".

He cleared his throat " Long enough to see you wear your apron and...

Raising the second apron to him, she said " Want to help out?"

" Sure"

He stepped into the kitchen and collected the apron. He slipped it on and tied it behind him.

She smiled. She thought he would be a drop dead gorgeous chef if he was a chef.

" Dice this". She passed him a bowl of carrot.

The dimples flashed in her cheek as she seasoned the fish. She walked passed him, putting the seasoned fish in the oven.

" Rory, that's too big, make it smaller". She said.

" Like this?".

" A bit smaller ". She walked to him.

At past four, dinner was set. They didn't sit in the dinning room, rather they sat by the fireplace to eat. It was a cozy setting. A throw pillow was on her laps while another was behind him as they say opposite each other on the bare floor.

The settings was perfect but something was missing- wine. she seemed to notice it too.

" I'll get the wine". She said .

She disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared moments later with a bottle of wine and two glasses. She leaned around him to arrange the glasses and in the process her breast grazed his shoulder. Her scent...she smelled like strawberry- the scent combine with her breast that grazed his shoulder crowded his mind with sex rated thought. Oh God...he badly hoped his thought wasn't showing on his face.

After dinner, they fell to talking. He talked about his family, his brother especially. He talked about his childhood and she found herself laughing at his small jokes.

" How about you? Do you have any story to tell?".

She stopped eating and drank a glassful of wine.

" I don't have an exciting story".

He waved his hand in dismissal " Not to worry then"

She sighed.

" I have two sisters, Belinda and Cassie...
Of course he knew that.

" We were one happy family. Our parents were not rich like yours...my dad was a Banker while my mom was a Teacher. Cassandra and Belinda were the best daughters ever, they always did their chores, they listened to every instructions our parents gave. Unlike me..". She chuckled. " I used to give them a tough time. I was never interested in doing the chores instead I enjoyed hanging out with boys, watching football matches and going to the gym. I even beat up bullies...

Rory chuckled. " I should be careful then, you might beat me up one day".

She hit him lightly as she laughed.

"Don't worry, you're safe. I quit a long time ago"

" I lost them both the same day...in a car accident." She blinked back tears " My only regret is I was never good to them, I never listened to them. If only I had known, I would have been at my best."

There was silence before she broke it. " Then Cassandra took up their responsibility. She worked as a Janitor when she lost her job as an accountant in a law firm. She paid my tuition free and even Belinda's, she made sure we didn't lack anything. Then, she met Gray and...I met you and here I am". Her smile was bittersweet.

He said nothing.

She looked at him " I told you it's not an exciting story"

He kept quiet as though he felt her pain.

" Rory?". She waved her fingers before his face.

" I'm right here".

She cleared the plates and washed them in the kitchen.

That night, when he retired to bed, he thought of their conversation. He liked the way she opened up to him, the way her brown eyes had glittered when she had spoken about her sisters. She's been through a lot. He regretted not consoling her and giving her kudos.

He wished...what? That he could rewrite the story of her life? That was impossible, but when he thought of what she had been through, he wished he could alleviate her pain.

***

Things were going smoothly between them both and she liked it that way.

After a late night dinner at a Restaurant, they walked home. The night air drifted through as their foot made little noises as they emerged the beach house.

Her phone rang.

" Hello?". She said disappointed that the phone chose to interrupt the moment of silence between her and Rory.

" Hey gorgeous". Smith said loudly over the phone " I've been upset for no reason...I've missed you so fucking much".

She bit her lips because Rory could hear him. She saw his eyes harden, his lips set in a grim line and his jaw twitches.

" Talk to you later". She said and hung up.

Rory's brow drew together " Wow! That sounded so romantic. At first sight, I never knew you'd be a seductress or even worse a whore. So now tell me, among these men you throw yourself at...who among them have you fallen in love with?" He asked calmly.

Even in calmness, she felt his rage.

She tried to keep her anger at bay but failed in the attempt. Her eyes darkened, her brow furrowed into a hard frown.

" Thank you so much for reminding me of my profession! Mr innocent. I wasn't blind when you had a romantic time with Celestine...fuck you!"
She wanted to say more but her jaw trembled.
Not able to hold it anymore, she ran away from him.

" Tilda!". He called, a few minutes after staring at her running figure.

He ran after her " Tilda!"

Tears was threatening to fall down her cheeks but she bit her lower lips and sniffed. No..no don't cry...his opinion of  you doesn't matter, he is just a fool. She said those words to herself as she ran towards the beach.

He caught up with her and grabbed her arm tightly.

" Tilda..

" Let go of me!" . She yelled.

He sighed. " Listen to me"

" Just let me go!".

" Listen... Celestine is into me but I'm not into her, okay?".

He could only think of himself, he could only coerce her to listen to him and never give her a chance to explain herself.
She concluded that she owed him no explanation.

He forcefully pulled her into his arms. As she perceived his masculine scent, the scent of his cologne and aftershave, all thought and worries suddenly disappeared.
He pressed a light kiss to her forehead and held her in his arms for a long time before they sat by the beach and watched the full moon.

Mad oh!!!

What's wrong with Smith sef? That guy ehn.

Please vote and comment.