As much as Emmeline loved you, she sometimes regretted her choice. She had grown up wealthy and privileged on the mainland, with a nice summer beach house on the coast of Back Of The Moon island. You had grown up on a farm, eating what you raised and grew and making what little money you had last.

Her parents had not taken your engagement well. Yours had welcomed her into a humble home with a fresh apple pie and loving arms, all too excited at the prospect of holding the wedding in their wildflower meadow. Her mother had screamed about how she was wasting her life with you and her father had just quietly disowned her.

She loved you, and all the little things you did. You left fresh flowers on her bedside table every morning, scraped together enough money for chickens because she had been doing research and wanted to raise them, had built the chicken coop from scratch, had traded for and broken a horse so she could ride, made sure she was kissed awake when you were done farm chores before she awoke, let her keep the stray cat she had been feeding, still managed to keep your sex life fun and interesting.

Even so, couldn't help but wonder if she made the right choice. It had been you or her family, but she didn't know if she's made the right decision. She was only twenty-three and engaged! You always said, if she wasn't ready, you didn't have to get married. She didn't want to hold it off. She wanted to prove to her parents that she could have a good life with you. That you would keep her safe and do whatever you could to keep her happy.

It was dark when you woke and left to do farm chores, and pale dawn when you crept back into the little yellow farmhouse. You kicked off your boots, yawning as you collapsed onto your bed. You stayed awake just long enough to cuddle close, your arms around her waist. When she awoke a few hours later, she found you passed out next to her. You calloused hands were dirty from gardening and you smelt of sweat and straw.

With gentle nudges, she eased you into consciousness. You just pulled yourself close, pressing your face into her belly. She was warm and felt safe, so your half-asleep brain decided you needed to be close. Her thin hands began to card through your hair, holding you against her as you nosed at her skin. You knew you would need to get up eventually, but this felt good- too good to pass up.