Read Online Love Resisted (The Real Love Series) by Melanie Codina - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melanie Codina
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screen everyone was going to turn and look at her to see her reaction.
He slid his body up against hers from knee to hip. Taking his hand from her knee, he crossed it over her body and squeezed her opposite knee while pressing his arm firmly across her body. It was something he had learned to do for his son when he was younger and they’d attended grief counseling. Since the situation prevented him from wrapping her up in his arms to add comfort, the pressure of his body across her and at her side would help. He looked down at her and whispered, “Hey, take a deep breath and let it out slowly.” She still had her eyes closed, but she did as he said, which was a good sign. “Now open your eyes and look at me.” She did.
“Hi there,” he whispered with a smile, “I can tell you’re not doing too well, sweetie, but I need you to focus.” She nodded. “As soon as a picture of Marc appears on that screen, everyone is going to look at you.” She stiffened against him, causing him to apply a little more pressure with his arm and grip on her knee. She relaxed back a bit and even leaned into his side more. “It’s not cool, but that is what they ’ll do. So if you don’t want everyone to know how you feel right now, I need you to focus and step away from the edge.”
Around them, people were obviously enjoying the slideshow, as he heard some laughter mixed in with the song, which he thought was a great choice. He maintained eye contact with Allie and took in a deep breath, willing her to copy him. She did. Taking in another few deep breaths, he could see her calming a little bit. “Feeling a little better?” he asked. She once again nodded.
“Good. Now you’re gonna have to either watch it, or if you don’t want to see his picture, I can squeeze your knee when I see it, and you can direct your attention to your nephew or something. Anywhere but at the monitor.” She took in another deep breath and closed her eyes for a second before opening them and nodding at him. Squeezing her leg in acknowledgment, Mike turned his attention toward the slideshow and watched the years go by. It was when Jonathan reached about age five or six that Mike saw the picture. Jonathan sat perched up on the shoulders of a big man. Or at least he looked big next to Allie, who stood with her arms around his waist, smiling for the camera. Marc had brown thick curly hair, a full beard, and a great big smile. They were all wearing Padres jerseys and other gear, the background looked like they were at a game. What a great picture , he thought, as he squeezed Allie’s knee to let her know to be prepared.
Just as he predicted, people turned to look for Allie. He knew people did that kind of thing, not necessarily out of pity, but sympathy maybe. On the many occasions when it happened to him, he would have to remind himself he wasn’t the only one who lost a loved one. Everyone lost someone they knew and loved, and probably didn’t know what to do when they were presented with the memory of him or her. It wasn’t like they were reminded on a daily basis that your spouse was gone. For them, it wasn’t a constant thing, so the little reminders of it were probably sad for them. He understood it, accepted it even, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
ALLIE’s heart was beating like a rabbit’s. The sharp edge of the panic attack was hovering in the perimeter, just waiting to pounce on her. She hadn’t had one like this in a really long time; she wasn’t prepared for it and wasn’t exactly sure why it was such a strong one. Her guard had been down, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of Mike, and maybe the little bit of guilt she felt at the thought of her husband. This was ridiculous. She knew how to function with her grief, and had survived this long without totally losing her shit. So why was it happening now?
Strangely, even though she wondered if Mike was the reason she had the panic attack, he was definitely helping her
He slid his body up against hers from knee to hip. Taking his hand from her knee, he crossed it over her body and squeezed her opposite knee while pressing his arm firmly across her body. It was something he had learned to do for his son when he was younger and they’d attended grief counseling. Since the situation prevented him from wrapping her up in his arms to add comfort, the pressure of his body across her and at her side would help. He looked down at her and whispered, “Hey, take a deep breath and let it out slowly.” She still had her eyes closed, but she did as he said, which was a good sign. “Now open your eyes and look at me.” She did.
“Hi there,” he whispered with a smile, “I can tell you’re not doing too well, sweetie, but I need you to focus.” She nodded. “As soon as a picture of Marc appears on that screen, everyone is going to look at you.” She stiffened against him, causing him to apply a little more pressure with his arm and grip on her knee. She relaxed back a bit and even leaned into his side more. “It’s not cool, but that is what they ’ll do. So if you don’t want everyone to know how you feel right now, I need you to focus and step away from the edge.”
Around them, people were obviously enjoying the slideshow, as he heard some laughter mixed in with the song, which he thought was a great choice. He maintained eye contact with Allie and took in a deep breath, willing her to copy him. She did. Taking in another few deep breaths, he could see her calming a little bit. “Feeling a little better?” he asked. She once again nodded.
“Good. Now you’re gonna have to either watch it, or if you don’t want to see his picture, I can squeeze your knee when I see it, and you can direct your attention to your nephew or something. Anywhere but at the monitor.” She took in another deep breath and closed her eyes for a second before opening them and nodding at him. Squeezing her leg in acknowledgment, Mike turned his attention toward the slideshow and watched the years go by. It was when Jonathan reached about age five or six that Mike saw the picture. Jonathan sat perched up on the shoulders of a big man. Or at least he looked big next to Allie, who stood with her arms around his waist, smiling for the camera. Marc had brown thick curly hair, a full beard, and a great big smile. They were all wearing Padres jerseys and other gear, the background looked like they were at a game. What a great picture , he thought, as he squeezed Allie’s knee to let her know to be prepared.
Just as he predicted, people turned to look for Allie. He knew people did that kind of thing, not necessarily out of pity, but sympathy maybe. On the many occasions when it happened to him, he would have to remind himself he wasn’t the only one who lost a loved one. Everyone lost someone they knew and loved, and probably didn’t know what to do when they were presented with the memory of him or her. It wasn’t like they were reminded on a daily basis that your spouse was gone. For them, it wasn’t a constant thing, so the little reminders of it were probably sad for them. He understood it, accepted it even, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
ALLIE’s heart was beating like a rabbit’s. The sharp edge of the panic attack was hovering in the perimeter, just waiting to pounce on her. She hadn’t had one like this in a really long time; she wasn’t prepared for it and wasn’t exactly sure why it was such a strong one. Her guard had been down, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of Mike, and maybe the little bit of guilt she felt at the thought of her husband. This was ridiculous. She knew how to function with her grief, and had survived this long without totally losing her shit. So why was it happening now?
Strangely, even though she wondered if Mike was the reason she had the panic attack, he was definitely helping her
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