I Love You Because

Bronwyn smiled as she put fresh water in the vase and re-arranged the Valentine’s bouquet Ed had given her a few days before. Ed had asked Joimus for something special, something Australian. Bron grinned as she put the finishing touches to the bottle brush flowers and eucalyptus leaves, remembering the worried look on Ed’s face as he’d handed them to her. She was thrilled, and spent the next couple of hours reassuring Ed that she loved them much more than predictable roses.

Placing the vase back on the coffee table in the lounge room, she went off in search of Ed. She knew he would be where she left him, on the glider on the porch as he still wasn’t too mobile.

She stopped off on the way outside to get a pitcher of iced tea out of the fridge, along with two tall glasses, and then went through the kitchen door and round the corner of the house.

She stopped dead on seeing the glider empty and quite still. Putting the tray down, she looked around. No sign of him. Walking back into the house she called his name…silence. She could tell that the place was empty, but still went through to the bedroom and en suite bathroom, then checked the other rooms as well.

Trying not to panic, she went back outside and stepped off the porch, headed towards the lake. After only a few steps she saw him, and let out the breath she didn’t realise she had been holding. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she put on her brightest smile and walked to where he was sitting, watching a black swan gliding across the surface of the water.

Sitting down beside him, she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him gently on the temple. "Hello, lover. How long did it take you to get down here?"

Ed turned and smiled before answering. "A fair while, honey. Almost fell down rather than sit. I might just have to get you to help me back up."

"It will be my pleasure. Are you ready now?"

"No, Bron. I’d like to stay here a bit longer."

"Hang on then," Bron answered, jumping up. "I’ll be right back."

Minutes later she was back with the cold drinks, a car blanket and a couple of cushions. "Might as well get comfy while we’re here."

Ed watched her fussing around to make a comfortable place for them to both sit and wondered…he wondered why she was with him, what she saw in him. Most of all he wondered how much longer she was willing to wait for him to be fit enough to have a proper relationship with him.

Bron poured out their tea and handed him a glass. She watched him swirl the glass, making the ice tinkle in the soft amber liquid.

"What’s wrong, darling?"

Ed said nothing for a moment, then put his glass down and turned to face her. "You know I love you Bron, don’t you?"

"Of course I do. What makes you think otherwise?"

"Bronnie, I’m almost 15 years older than you, and right now feel about 100. I’m pretty useless, can’t do anything for you, can hardly do anything for myself. I feel I’m a burden…"

Bron stopped him by placing her hand gently across his mouth. "Ed Hoffman. I think I fell in love with you the moment you told me I had paint on my face. I didn’t want to be with you because I felt sorry for you. I saw beyond the man in the hospital bed, trying to hide his pain. I loved the way you spoke to me, loved your silly jokes, loved just sitting there holding your hand while you slept."

"But…you need more from a relationship. Something I can’t give you."

"Yet, Ed…yet. You’re getting stronger every day, and once you start therapy there’ll be no stopping you. I don’t want anyone else, Ed. I want you. And I’m willing to wait as long as it takes for you to be fit enough to…"

She was cut off by the most sensuous kiss Ed had given her since they had met, and they both ended up breathless, lying side by side on the bank of their lake.

Ed sat up, grinning at the look on Bron’s face. "Wow! Ed, there may be snow on your roof, but there’s fire in your boiler," Bron said huskily.

Ed gently brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "I love you, Bronwyn."

"I love you too Ed, and always will. Anything you ever need from me, you just have to ask, my love."

Ed looked at her for a minute, then smiled. "Well, darlin’, right now I’d be more than happy for you to help me get back to the house…I think we need to continue this conversation in comfort."

"Ah, you want to relax on the sofa?" Bron asked.

"Well, honey. I was thinking the bed just might work," he winked.