My Everything

to get back to. I told my sub I’d be gone a year and I miss my patients.”
    “I understand,” he says. He taps me on my shoulder. “I’ll see you downstairs in a few minutes.”
    I turn back to my desk and finish what I was working on. It’s hard to believe that my year is up. I’ve learned so much and can’t wait to get back home to Beaumont and join my practice again. I know that when I see Josie, I’ll be able to smile at her and wish her a good day. I no longer harbor those types of feelings for her.  I finish the letter I’m leaving for my replacement and set down my pen.
    With one last look I walk into the great room. My friends are all here to say goodbye. I seek out Aubrey as she extends her hand to mine, linking our fingers together. We’ve been together for three months now. I know it’s not a long time by some standards, but for us it’s enough. Tonight, when we reach London, I’ll finally be able to make love to her. We’ve waited. We’ve been good. And until last night we hid our relationship from our colleagues. We know some suspected, but we kept everything platonic and professional during the daylight hours.
    When Aubrey asked me to marry her, I wanted to say no, but then I remembered what it felt like each time Josie said that word and couldn’t do that to her. Unconventional? Yes, but perfect for us.
    We walk hand in hand to the center of the room where the pastor is set up. I kiss her hand and look at him, nodding that we’re ready.
    “We’re gathered here to celebrate the union of Nicholas and Aubrey…” I look at her, giddy with excitement. She’s going to be my wife and she’s coming back to Beaumont with me. She’s hasn’t decided what she wants to do. I told her I didn’t care, as long as she was with me, it didn’t matter. Secretly, I’m hoping there’s a baby in our future and that she’ll want to stay home and be a mom and if not, so be it. We’ll be together. That’s all that matters.
    When I look at her, I know what true love feels like. It’s the butterflies you get every time that person walks into the room or you get a whiff of their perfume from another room. Aubrey does that to me. I knew that night, not so long ago, when I opened up to her that she’d be my wife. If I had to stay here another year to prove it, I would’ve, but I’m thankful she was smart enough for the both of us.
     I soon realize I was too focused on watching her that I missed my ceremony. “You may kiss your bride,” the pastor says. I pull her close, my hands cupping her delicate face and press my lips to hers.
    “I now give you, Dr. and Mrs. Ashford.”
    We raise our hands to the cheering of our friends. We walk down the aisle hand in hand. I pick up our bags and we head to the waiting van. Aubrey gives out hugs while I load our bags. I stand there watching her and thank God every day for her. She showed me the true meaning of love and patience. Maybe I should thank Liam. If he hadn’t shown up, I probably wouldn’t be here today.
    I lift my bride into the van and wave at everyone as we head off into the sun to start our next chapter.

Chapter 6
     
    “Good morning.” My lips skim against her bare skin, desperate for her. Since arriving in Beaumont our honeymoon has come to a screeching halt. I suppose living with your new in-laws, ones you’ve never met, sort of kills the mood. I’ve promised her we’d move as soon as we found a place of our own.
    “What’s so good about it?” I pull her blanket down, slightly, uncovering more of her. For two weeks I’ve grown accustomed to her sleeping in the nude and now she’s covered in a very offensive tank top. I kiss my way down her body, lifting the hem of her shirt and placing my lips on her back.
    “Nick.” She mumbles into her pillow. One thing I learned about Aubrey since being here is that she does not like the cold. At all. Not even in the cute winter jacket my mom picked up for her. I suppose I should’ve warned her before we got married, but honestly the thought never crossed my mind.
    I flip her over and attack her lips. This is as far as we can go and it sucks. Falling in love with her in Africa was hard enough, but to have already had her and not be able to touch her, it’s going to be the death of me.
    “What do you want to do today?” I trail my lips over her collarbone.
    “Don’t you have to work?”
    “Doctors don’t work on the weekends.”
    Aubrey adjusts under my weight causing more