22. SIMPLE GRIEVANCES

Tightness squeezed Garrett�s chest as his wife slowly hung up the phone receiver. A lazy meow emitted from Cadfael�s vocals and he proceeded to slink around her feet, begging for a luxurious petting. Absently one hand curled around his sleek form and lifted him to her lap while with the other she grasped for Garrett�s touch. Tenderly, he wrapped his long fingers about her slim ones, resting their joined hands upon her shoulders.

Her voice bore frustration "She sounds fine, but I can tell she�s tired and worried. And there�s nothing I can do."

"Sweetheart, there is something you can do, at least for me."

He loosened his grasp upon her hand before kneeling on the carpet beside the sofa. His soft dark eyes pleaded with her, fingers caressing lightly down Carissa�s cheekbone before nestling in the soft blond hair at the nape of her neck. She reached up and gently laid her palm across his tanned neck.

Concern permeated every nuance of his voice. "Please don�t worry. You know Doctor Harrison has warned against any type of emotional upheaval in your life right now. Promise me that you won�t fret over this and worry it in circles like you normally do when danger threatens someone you love. It�s a wonder you don�t get ulcers every time you think of Caitlin out on one of her archeological expeditions."

If not for the sincerity on his countenance she would have given way to the sudden rush of rebellion. His overprotective nature occasionally irked her, but in this matter she knew he was right and her shoulders slumped slightly. One hand idly stroked down Cadfael�s side starting his mammoth purr. "You�re right, and I know it. But if Charity needs me, I�m here, and she knows that."

His heartstopper smile beamed across his features, as if she�d just given him the Christmas present of the year. Familiar warmth spread throughout her chest upon gazing so intimately into his handsome features, and she exhaled a sigh. The pad of his thumb circled across her temple, before he murmured huskily, "I�ll go finish breakfast. You must be starving by this point." She bounced lightly back into position, reaching for the remote control to their CD sound system. "You bet, buster, so feed me well. I�m eating for two now."

Garrett exited to the kitchen with the sounds of her favorite song by Jake floating in to him. As soon as he was out of Carissa�s perceptive sight, the smile dropped from his lips and the muscles in his arms clenched tightly. For the first time in his life, Garrett was keeping a secret from his wife and it was killing him inside. But this wasn�t something that could be shared, so continuing to veil his unease remained the only option.

His phone vibrated against his hip just as he reached for another slice of mildly toasted bread to drop into the sweet concoction meant for French Toast. Sliding the toast back onto its plate, Garrett snatched the cell from its moorings and, expecting a fellow ranger, grated out, "This is Garrett." Jaw nearly dropping at the cultured, masculine voice which said, "Garrett, this is Richard," Garrett hurriedly slid open the silent sliding glass door and crept out into their backyard before responding.

"All right, Richard, what�s happening?"