Free Falling for Her Husband by Karen Erickson

said, because thankfully, it was. Like a little miracle, his relationship between him and his wife was doing so well.
    She’d been home from the hospital for almost two weeks. During that time, she’d gone to physical therapy twice for her arm, which was now in a much smaller cast. Besides the PT, they only left the apartment for meals. Otherwise, they stayed in. Together.
    Talking, laughing, lying about in bed naked. Touching, kissing, making love. It was ideal. The way they were together, it reminded him of how they’d been when they first married. That honeymoon phase hadn’t lasted long, much to his disappointment. He’d returned to Italy for work. She’d gone on one photo shoot trip after another for her job. They were rarely together…
    And then it had gone to complete hell. Resulting in a terrible argument, ultimatums and an accident that could’ve ended Amber’s life.
    He was having his second chance and he wasn’t about to let this go.
    “Only because you are keeping the truth from her.” His mother paused, and he waited for her to continue. Because he knew she had plenty to say on the subject. “She won’t be upset if you tell her the truth, Vince. Look at what a wonderful, attentive husband you’ve been. She knows how much you love her. And I know that Amber loves you.”
    Vince breathed deep, unable to deny what his mother said. Yes, they were in love. Yes, things were going well. But he was scared. He’d finally told Amber that more time had passed than she originally thought, that she’d simply forgotten everything because of the accident and subsequent coma possibly giving her amnesia. She’d accepted that explanation, though she’d been curious. Asking him all sorts of questions.
    Was I still modeling? When did you come to live with me in New York? Have you met my parents yet? Why were we having such a heated discussion before the car hit me again?
    He was able to answer most questions and evaded the rest. How he hated that.
    “I told you I’ll tell her. But I’m going to take my time with it,” he finally said.
    “What if she finds out by mistake? What if someone else tells her that there was trouble between the two of you? How would she feel then? Like you’d lied to her, that’s how,” Mama said.
    “Who the hell could tell her besides you?” he said, his tone accusatory even though he didn’t mean it. But damn it, his mother was pushing every single one of his buttons and he didn’t have time for this shit. Amber was due back from physical therapy within the next fifteen minutes, so he needed to wrap this phone conversation up quick.
    “As if I would say such a thing to my daughter-in-law,” his mother said with a sniff. Great, now he’d offended her. “That you would even imply so is hurtful, Vincenzo.”
    “Sorry,” he said gruffly. He always felt like he was apologizing to the females in his life. “I swear, Mama, I will tell Amber everything. Slowly. I don’t want to overwhelm her.”
    “Are you approaching this situation slowly to protect Amber? Or to protect yourself?”
    As if he’d say “protect himself”. He’d sound like a selfish ass if he did so.
    But he guessed that made him a selfish ass, then because that was exactly why he was doing this. It had everything to do with him not wanting Amber angry with him.
    He didn’t want to lose the love of his life. If that made him a jerk, then so be it.
    “My darling, be good. Tread carefully around that lovely wife of yours. Make this right.” His mother rattled off a bit more of advice before he finally hung up with her and he flung the phone from his hand, watching with satisfaction as it landed on the seat of the overstuffed chair nearby, exactly where he wanted it to go.
    But the satisfaction left him as quickly as it came. He’d prefer smashing the damn phone against a wall and watching it shatter to a hundred pieces, but that was stupid. Pointless. He would have to channel his anger elsewhere. Turn the