Xavier had his Sunday chores done well before Abigail's phone call.  He had been putzing around the house, trying to keep his mind off his desire to call her and talk to her.  For the dozenth time he pulled out his phone and looked at her icon which was a picture of her he had snapped on a vacation a few years back.  She looked happy, he wondered if it had been an act or if she really had been happy with him.  His thumb hunger over the icon for a moment as he wanted to call her only to be startled by the screen showing the picture now in the full screen indicating she was calling him.  This was no time for playing it cool, he answered as quickly as his suddenly trembling fingers allowed.<br/><br/>"Hi yourself."<br/>"No not all I've been up a while, missing you trying to keep busy.  Did you sleep well?"<br/>"Sounds like you had quite a day."  He felt a knot in his stomach as he realized she probably had a better day alone than she would have with him.<br/>"Yes, please, I would love to see you!  Are you on your way?"  No poker face today, he let her know how eager he was to see her.<br/>"Oh, well yea, I guess I'll see you then, I'm looking forward to it."  His disappointment at having to wait was palpable but he still tried to sound upbeat and not resentful.<br/>"I was thinking of taking some time off, though I suppose you still have to teach this week don't you but that will be ok."<br/>He was trying not to pant audibly into the phone at his excitement.<br/>The both spoke at the same time "I love you"  Though Xavier's was less hesitant and broken.<br/>His heart rose as she said she didn't want to get a divorce, until he heard her say 'but' then it plummeted back to the earth with a heavy thud.<br/>"Yea, let's talk, I know I don't want to get a divorce..."  He almost said 'no buts' but didn't want to get in a fight with her over the phone.<br/><br/>Instead of making a reservation he decided he would cook, something on the grill but not any of the usual dishes, tonight would be something different.  He spent some time online, then went shopping.  He made sure they had candles for the table and did everything he could to show her how special she was to him.