I can’t wait to put my feet in it.

I walk down to the edge of the water and stand still, waiting for the water to rush forward and engulf my feet and ankles.  Oh my, it’s so cold!  I giggle and do a little dance in the water, splashing about, getting used to the cold, looking down at my toes.

I need a pedicure.  Maybe I’ll call Nat and see if she wants to go with me after work this week.

Work.  I’m not ready to go back.

“There you are.”

I hear Nate call from behind me and I turn to smile at him.  He’s pulled on his jeans and a sweatshirt, but he’s not smiling.  He looks pissed.

Great.

“What’s wrong?” I ask and walk toward him.

“You were gone when I woke up again.”

“Uh, you were asleep, Nate.  I just came down to the beach for a bit. Where else would I go?”

“I hate waking up and finding you gone.  Bad memories.” He hugs me to him and kisses my hair. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’ll wake you next time and tell you I’m up.” I pull out of his arms, but link my fingers in his. “Take your shoes off.  I’m not done wading in the water.”

“It’s cold.” He frowns down at me. “I don’t want you to get sick.”

“Oh stop, I won’t get sick.  C’mon, it’s fun.”

Nate removes his shoes, rolls his pants to his knees and we walk through the water down the shoreline.

“I’m not ready to leave,” I murmur and take a deep breath of salty air.

“We don’t have to head back until this evening if you like.” He kisses my knuckles and smiles at me.

“I know. I guess I’m not ready to go back to work tomorrow either.” I shrug. “Probably not something I should admit to my boss, I know, but there it is.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asks.

“Oh, nothing,” I wave his statement aside. “There’s no drama. I’m just not a great actress, and the whole ‘you’re my boyfriend at home but just my boss at work’ thing is tiresome. By the end of the week I’m exhausted from being afraid that I’ll say or do something inappropriate.”

“You know, baby, if you ever decided you didn’t want to, you don’t have to work.”

I laugh and kick the water, splashing. “Right. I do have to work, Nate.”

He pulls us both to a stop and looks down at me with serious eyes. “No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.” I shake my head and rub my forehead. “I like my job. I’m good at it. And yes, I’ve been smart and I have a nice sized nest egg, along with a bit of an inheritance, but I do have to work, babe.”

“I can take care of you,” he whispers. Oh, I love him.

“But you shouldn’t have to, that’s the thing.” I start walking again through the water and Nate follows me. “Besides, what would I do if I didn’t work? I’d go crazy. I’m not crafty. I hate TV. I need to do stuff.”

“You are too crafty. What about making more signs like the one you gave Natalie for the nursery?”

“Oh no,” I laugh up at him and shake my head. “That was a one-time thing. It was fun, but I’m not artistic.”

“I thought it was great.” He kicks water up, splashing my legs, and I giggle.

“Well, it’s not a career.”

“What if you had kids?” he asks and I immediately shut down inside. I do not want to have this conversation. I’m not ready.

“Don’t go there.”

“It’s a valid question.”

“Kids aren’t even on my radar, Nate.”

“What is on your radar, Julianne?” We aren’t looking at each other, we’re just walking, hand in hand, through the water, watching the waves and the birds.

“You. Work. Family.” I shrug. “That’s plenty for now.”

“As long as I make the list, baby.”

“You’re at the top these days, ace.” I smile sassily, and try to lighten the mood. “In fact, I like it when you’re on top.”

He laughs, a full-on belly laugh, and splashes my legs again. “Okay, funny girl.”

***

Pedicures tonight after work?

I send the text to Natalie and resume reading a report on my desk. I have so much to do! Three reports to write, Nate sent me a list of items he needs researched, and we have a meeting in just a few minutes.

My phone pings with a response from Natalie. Sure! I’ll bring Liv. She’ll sleep.

Perfect! Can’t wait to see you both. Will call when I’m on my way to pick you up.

I smile and gather my coffee and things I need for the meeting. I’m so excited to see Nat and the baby. It’s just what I need.

We all file into the conference room and sit in our usual places. We don’t have assigned seats, but we are people of habit, and always sit in the same chairs. There are six of us; Nate and I, Mrs. Glover to take notes, and the other partner, Mr. Luis and his team, Carly and Ben. Mr. Luis is in his mid-forties, graying and pot-bellied. He’s a shrewd business man, and is not at all friendly in the office. He’s all business.

Ben is much the same way. He’s about my age, not much taller than me, thin and wears glasses. He’s handsome, and very intelligent. He’s not rude, he’s just all about business, which I can respect and even admire.

I have no idea if either man is married or what their private lives consist of, and that’s just fine by me.

Carly sits across the table from me, dressed in a green shift dress, her red hair pulled back in a bun. She looks over to me offers me a fake, brittle smile.

I don’t reciprocate.

I glance casually over at Nate and he’s watching our exchange, running his forefinger over his lower lip in thought.

My fingers unconsciously touch the silver heart at my neck. My birthday diamonds are in my ears and I’m wearing my birthday tennis bracelet. I’m draped in my man, he’s sitting three feet from me, and I can’t touch him.

It’s a little weird.

When everyone is settled, Mr. Luis begins the meeting, bringing us all up to date on account statuses, what needs to be worked on and what’s not working at all, then he turns it over to Nate.

He passes around some of the reports I put together this morning to each of us. “Miss Montgomery put these reports together this morning. I’d like to go through them now, since I have you all here.”