Maybe in Moab

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Sydney rolled her eyes and kept walking. “Sure you were. Get a life, Aaron.”

  When she got home, she was exhausted. Between the picnickers she’d had to get onto, the people trying to bring dogs into the park, and her co-workers, she was ready to scream.

  When she walked in the door to the apartment, she was determined not to cook supper. She didn’t care what it took, but she just couldn’t do it. She was greeted by the aroma of well-seasoned Mexican food. “Jackson? Did you cook?”

  He grinned at her from the kitchen, a bit of flour dusting his nose. “I did. I made four different kinds of empanadas.”

  “I think I love you!” She said the words casually as she hurried to the kitchen, but she noticed the panicked look on his face. She wanted to tell him to just go away and let her grieve her marriage in peace, but instead she kissed his chin. “Thanks for cooking. I’m exhausted, and I wasn’t looking forward to even thinking about food. How was work?”

  He was relieved she changed the subject so quickly. “It was good. I did four covers today, and only one was rejected.”

  “Is that a good ratio?”

  “It really is. I always wonder why people complain about everything.” He shook his head. “Sit, and I’ll serve you. Do you want chicken, beef, or beef and bean?”

  “I thought you said you made four kinds.” She wanted the option of all four.

  “The fourth is apple cinnamon for dessert.”

  “Oh!” Sydney couldn’t complain that he’d made dessert. Not one little bit. “I’ll have the beef and bean then.”

  He set two empanadas in front of her, and sat down with two of his own. “I hope you like them. My mother never learned to cook, but our housekeeper made these when I was little, and they were always my favorite.”

  She cut into the flaky crust with the side of her fork and bit into the confection. “This is amazing! You really can cook!”

  “Only empanadas.”

  “I’ll teach you to make enchiladas too. What else do we need to eat?”

  “I can agree with Mexican food for every meal as long as it’s not the place in town.”

  As she ate, she talked about her day. “There was this family who thought they needed to bring their huge Labrador into the park with no leash. I cannot understand why they can’t read the posted signs and figure out for themselves that dogs aren’t allowed unless they’re leashed, and then they’re still not allowed on hiking trails.”

  “People are stupid.” He said the words with the long-suffering air of someone who had recently lived in the most populous city in the country.

  “They really are! And then there was a group of picnickers who thought I was their maid, and they wouldn’t clean up their mess until I threatened to fine them. Ugh.”

  “That sounds like it was rough.”

  “How long did it take you to do all your work today?” she asked. She knew so little about his work, and she felt like she talked about hers all the time.

  “About six hours or so. Sometimes it takes longer. I’m backed up at the moment, so tomorrow I’ll probably work more. I just wanted to make a nice supper for you.”

  “I appreciate it.” She grinned. “It’s seriously the first thing that’s gone right all day.” She couldn’t help but wonder about her conversation with Dr. Lachele that morning. The woman had sounded like she’d lost her mind. She wouldn’t answer any of the questions about the Guild of Godmothers. What could it mean?

  “Well, I’m glad I did something good, then.” He reached over and took her hand in his. “I’m going to do the dishes as well. You get to relax this evening.”

  “Maybe I’ll take a bath!” She’d always loved long baths with candles in the bathroom and bubble bath, but she hadn’t taken one that way in years. She felt like she was always too busy.

  “You should.” He got up and served them both a dessert empanada. “What else happened today?”

  She shrugged. “I got a lot of ribbing about you. Everyone wanted to know who I’d married and everything. It was ridiculous. But since you’ve met two of my co-workers, it was bound to happen.”

  “Does it bother you that people are curious about me?”

  “Not at all. I think I would be, too. I just think it’s interesting that so many people are asking questions. Kind of bizarre, really.” She shrugged. “What about you? Did you announce to all your clients that you married?”

  He laughed. “My clients and I don’t actually chat about personal things a lot. I mean, there are a few I’ve worked with for several years, and I’ll tell them little things, but I don’t always give away a ton of information.” He shrugged. “I’m one to keep my private life private.”

  “Me too, but it’s hard when people are always up in my business.”

  “I would be really frustrated.” After they had finished their desserts, he made a shooing motion with his hand. “Go and get your bath. Take a book with you. I won’t disturb you.”

  “I’m going to take you up on that.” She went into her room and grabbed her Kindle. She knew a lot of people would have a problem with reading with an electronic device in the bathtub, but she wasn’t about to drop the thing into the water.

  Two hours later, she emerged from the bathroom, her face pink from the steam, and her fingers and toes all wrinkled from the water. “That was wonderful. Thanks for not minding.”

  “Everyone needs a little alone time. As far as I’m concerned, you can do that every night if you want.”

  “Well, I do want some time with my new husband.” She curled up onto the couch beside him, resting her head on his shoulder. “What are you watching?”

  He shrugged. “I found this show Blue Bloods. Had never really heard of it, but I’m enjoying it.”

  “Oh, I love Blue Bloods. Are you Netflixing?”

  “Is there another way to watch TV?” Jackson asked with a grin.

  “Mind if I watch with you?” Sydney wasn’t about to take it for granted that he wanted her around. She knew he was feeling uncomfortable with her at the moment.

  “Not at all.” His arm came around her. “I can even make popcorn if you’re hungry.”

  She shook her head. “No, I ate too much supper. I’m still stuffed.”

  They watched a couple of episodes together before getting ready for bed. She’d been worried about how things would go with her going back to work and them not spending every waking moment together, but it had been a good day.

  As she settled into his arms, she yawned. “Thanks for making my first day back at work so easy.”

  “No problem. And if you have a microwave at work, I’ll send a couple of empanadas for your lunch tomorrow. I made enough for us to have extras for a few days.”

  “That sounds great.” She kissed his cheek. “Who would have thought being married was so easy?” She closed her eyes, and she remembered the way he’d reacted when she’d told him she loved him after she found out he cooked supper. Maybe marriage wasn’t so easy after all.

  Sydney called Alexis on her lunch break the next day. “What am I going to do? I think I’m Dr. Lachele’s first screwup.”

  “You are not. I thought I was at first, but look at Dirk and me now. We’re happy! I’m sure you will be too. Just give it a little time. There’s a reason she made us sign those contracts saying we’d be together for a year. What’s the problem? You don’t get along in bed?”

  Sydney groaned. “Everything in marriage is not about sex.”

  “Well, a lot of it is. What’s wrong?”

  Sydney briefly described what he’d told her about Paisley. “And he told me that his biggest fear was falling in love with me, because then he’d lose me.”

  “Oh, that’s so sad!”

  “Sad, yes. Tragedy for me, yes. I’m married to a man who is never planning to love me.”

  “Never? I think you can convince him otherwise.”

  “I’m not so sure.” Sydney sighed. “He wanted to wait at least two weeks before consummat
ing, and we didn’t, but it was out of respect for her that he even wanted to. Everything he does seems centered around this woman who’s been dead for two years. I can’t compete!”

  “Why would you even try to compete?” Alexis asked. She was a life coach, and she seldom let people dwell on the negative.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, I really don’t. You cannot compete. She’s dead. There’s no point in even trying. Helping him to get over how he feels is where you should be now.”

  “How on earth am I supposed to do that?” Sydney had gone to Alexis for advice since their first semester of college.

  “Love him. Be kind to him. Just stay the course, be the best wife you can be, and I’m sure he’ll fall in love with you. He’s probably half in love with you already, but neither of you realize it yet.”

  “I sure hope you’re right. I’m not sure what I’m going to do otherwise. I’m already head over heels in love with the man, and I feel like I’m losing my mind trying to figure out the right thing to do to make him love me back. I even cooked for him!”

  Alexis was quiet for a moment. “You mean you cooked a real meal? Like the kind you made for me once?”

  “Yes!”

  “Wow. I don’t even know how to respond to that, Syd.”

  “I don’t either. It’s crazy the lengths I’ve gone to. I want him to love me so much.”

  “I know. He’ll get there. You are the most lovable person I know!”

  “Thanks, Alexis. You always know the right thing to say to make me feel better.”

  “Good! I’m going to go then. I have to get back to work.”

  “Love you!” Sydney said as she pushed the end key, not waiting for her friend to respond. She already knew Alexis loved her. It was there in everything she did.

  Sydney got to her feet and took her lunch out of the microwave. She didn’t often eat in the employee break room, usually preferring to eat outside, but today was one of those days. She needed to eat the food her amazing husband had cooked.

  Bryan, one of the other rangers, came into the break room and stopped to look at Sydney. “What are you doing eating inside with the rest of us? Slumming?”

  She grinned. “I prefer to eat outside, but my husband made fresh empanadas, and they’re amazing.”

  “Sounds good to me. They smell wonderful.” Bryan looked at her for a moment. “I can’t believe you got married. Do you realize how many of us had bets going that we would be able to get you to marry us?”

  “Really? Why?”

  He shrugged. “You’re the prettiest female ranger in the park. We were all interested, and you didn’t show any interest in anyone. So…you were a challenge.”

  “Well, I’m glad that’s past tense. I’m happily married now.” She couldn’t quite meet his eyes when she said happily, but she was determined she would be happily married. Eventually. Maybe.

  Bryan sat down across from her. “So what’s he got that the rest of us don’t?”

  “Pardon me?” Sydney said. She couldn’t figure out what he was talking about.

  “That new husband of yours. What’s he got that’s so special?”

  “Me, apparently.” She picked up her phone and started playing games, refusing to engage in this conversation. What was wrong with the men she worked with? Most of them hadn’t even asked her out, and now they were suddenly all interested in the man she’d married. They could all take a flying leap as far as she was concerned.

  When her phone rang, she answered it immediately. “Hello?”

  “Sydney, you haven’t called me in days. I thought you were dead!”

  “Mom, I’m fine. Just busy.” This was not the time to talk to her mother. Not with Bryan listening to every word.

  “Well, I called while you were at work to make sure that new husband of yours hasn’t killed you yet.”

  “He hasn’t. All is good.”

  “Well, there’s no way I would know, because you haven’t been in touch. You could text your mother every once in a while.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll start texting and calling more often. How’s Dad?”

  “Well, he thankfully hasn’t had a heart attack from all of his worry about you, but it’s surprising. He has been staying up nights, fretting that you were hurt or worse.”

  Sydney sighed. “I’ll do my best to stay in touch better. I promise there’s no reason to worry about me.”

  “I’m still surprised you haven’t been eaten by a bear.”

  “I keep telling you there are no bears in Arches National Park. I’m safe!”

  Bryan started laughing, keeping his head down as he ate his lunch.

  “Look, Mom, I’m disturbing everyone in the break room. I’m going to have to let you go.” Sydney wanted to crawl under the table and finish eating her lunch there. Her mother made her crazy!

  “Fine. But you keep in touch better this time!”

  “I promise.” Sydney ended the call and put her phone down on the table. “Not a word from you, Bryan.”

  “Oh, I’m not saying anything at all.” The smirk on his face said everything for him.

  Sydney quickly finished her lunch and threw her trash away, putting her lunch box into her locker. She wasn’t going to stay in Bryan’s presence for another minute now that he’d heard that crazy conversation.

  As soon as she was back outside in her park, she calmed a little bit, forgetting her mother and Bryan and everyone else. No, she was going to be calm and collected, just the way she’d always been.

  Men would be forgotten and so would psycho mothers. She walked along the trail leaning onto a railing overlooking the river. The river was always calming for her.

  As she walked, she thought about different things she and Jackson could do together to be able to concentrate on their marriage. Maybe another hike was in order. Or something fun. She’d have to think on it. Maybe she could pick up a board game on the way home from work that night. The more time they spent interacting with one another, the better chance she had of him falling in love with her. And she needed him to be in love with her more than she’d ever needed anything in her entire life.

  She sighed. She’d get a game on the way home, and maybe on her next day off, they could do some canoeing down the river. She loved canoeing. He wasn’t as outdoorsy as she was, but he could learn. She hoped he could, anyway.

  Chapter 9

  By the end of the week, Sydney was a bit calmer about the situation. She was still constantly looking for fun things to do with Jackson, but they were falling into a rhythm that was making things a bit easier, even though she knew he didn’t love her.

  On Saturday, they took a canoe out onto the river and worked together to paddle it. She had used canoes with many different people, but she and Jackson were able to work together so much easier than she’d been able to with other people. She thought people should have to paddle a canoe together before getting married to prove they could really work together.

  While they rowed, he talked to her about the different covers he’d made that week. “There was one romance cover, where I was sure I was going to have to jump through my computer and strangle the author. She wanted the font bigger, then realized it was good the first time. Then she needed me to change the hair color on the model, but then I needed to change it back. Then I needed to make the man’s nose bigger, but then smaller again. When it was all said and done, she approved the original cover I sent her, after I spent another five hours fiddling with it and making it look the same as it had in the beginning. I don’t think she realizes that it ended up being the same, but it did. She’s still alive. You should congratulate me.”

  “You showed great restraint. I’m very proud of you,” she said with a grin.

  After their canoeing adventure, which ended with both of them in the water, drenched, they went to supper at the Mexican place. “Why do we eat here?” he asked after taking a bite of the food.

  She shrugged. “Because we’re both too
lazy to make decent Mexican food at home on a regular basis?”

  “That’s probably it.”

  “You think?”

  “Oh, yeah. I mean, I enjoy making empanadas, as long as it’s not more than once a month.”

  “I’m the same with my Mexican stuff. This will have to do until we feel like cooking again.” She took a sip of her Sprite. “I’m just glad you’re not complaining that I don’t cook more often.”

  “Why would I ask you to do something I’m not willing to do?” He’d never understood why men thought their women should do all the household chores if the woman was working as well.

  Sydney grinned. “Most men seem to think it’s the woman’s job to deal with supper, whether she likes it or not.”

  “Not this man. I think it’s our job to work together to make sure the household runs smoothly. I plan on changing diapers too. I won’t breastfeed them, but it won’t be because I don’t want to…”

  She tilted her head to one side. “Are you telling me you want to breastfeed our babies?”

  Jackson shook his head. “No, but I’m saying I would if I could. How’s that?”

  “A little crazy, but not so crazy I can’t deal with it.”

  “I think we should go home and play a board game. Do you like Scrabble?”

  She nodded. “I have it in the game closet.”

  “Then we will play. Prepare to have your ego smeared all over the floor of the apartment.”

  “There’s no ego to be smeared. Just confidence.”

  He laughed. “You’re going to be fun to have as an opponent.”

  “We’re married! We always have to be on the same side.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “No idea. Just a rumor I heard.”

  Once they were back at the apartment, she took the game out and set it up on the table. “Wanna make this more interesting?”

  He eyed her skeptically. “What do you have in mind?”

  “I was thinking whoever loses has to make supper tomorrow night.”

  He sighed. “If I lose, it’s burnt toast.”