Noble eased the key gently into the lock and turned it to the right. At the same time, he tightened his jaw, hoping his entry would not disrupt the silence. He crept through his apartment, removing his clothing along the way, and then he slithered in between the bed sheets.
“That was an enjoyable evening,” mumbled the sleepy voice next to him.
Noble, pleased she was half-awake, rolled over for a goodnight kiss.
Amanda pushed back kiddingly, and probed, “Why did you and Adam have to conduct business tonight? That’s not your usual style during a social evening with friends.”
“I needed to discuss a critical issue with him,” Noble whispered. “It’s germane to a case I’m working on.” Artfully, he diverted the subject, pulled her into his arms for a more passionate embrace, and cooed, “I love you. Now let’s get some sleep.”
“Noble—wake-up.” She rocked his shoulder several times to no avail. His body continued to squirm about in the bed. “Noble—Noble.” she uttered in a more forceful, but fearful tone.
Suddenly, he awoke from his fitful sleep flailing his arms, startling Amanda even more.
“Darling, are you okay?” she asked in a calming voice. She had never seen him so vulnerable. She refrained from commenting, but it caused her great concern.
At last, Noble sat up in bed and strained to slow down his breathing. Then he began to sound off. “I had a terrible dream! I was falling, falling deeper and deeper into a dark hole! My body became numb and I couldn’t feel my legs!” His breathing again accelerated.
Amanda rubbed his back in an attempt to calm him down. “It’s okay. You’re with me. You’re not falling.”
“It was so dark! I realized I was surrounded by water! I was confused! I couldn’t breathe! Then, as I gasped for my last breath of air—I found myself standing on a bridge—looking down into an abyss…”
“Darling, calm down please! You’re scaring me.”
“Let me finish!” He held her hand gently and in a steadier voice, said, “A face was staring back from the black water, but it wasn’t my reflection.” He gulped several times and then stared into her eyes and said, “It was his face.”
“Whose face?” Amanda’s heart ached to see him looking so helpless.
Noble refrained from answering.
“Honey, how long has this been going on?” Her expression was total wonderment.
He glanced away and admitted, “For a while. They are just more frequent.” Then sounding natural as though the dream never happened, he looked once again into her eyes and said, “Amanda, when you think you’re about to die, you search for a reason to live—you were the first reason that entered my mind.” Noble took a moment, and then before he lost his nerve, he blurted out, “Will you marry me?”
Amanda was blown away by the question as she struggled to grapple with the events of the last several minutes. For the first time she was speechless.
“Does your silence mean no?”
Piercing through her fog, she cried, “Yes, yes, I will marry you. I love you so much.”
“I love you, but…” Noble stopped mid-sentence, wanting to select his words with the utmost care.
Amanda retreated into silence again. She had expected a possible caveat, despite their intense romantic interlude. She also surmised any response would be useless.
“Much to my dismay we have to wait until this case is over.”
“You mean Simon.”
“Yes.”
“Darling, you’ve spent the last nine years going after him. Before that, Hamilton spent another fifteen years. Simon has escaped twice. What makes you think it will ever be over?” Amanda realized she was pleading, but she could not hold back at that life-changing moment.
“I just know!” Noble shouted. “This time I will capture the S-O-B and close the case forever!” He despised the pain he caused Amanda and softened his tone. “I just need a little more time to seal his doom.”
He kissed Amanda gently and apologized. “I regret you had to see me in such a foolish state.” Then he allowed, “I do believe in the notion that dreams of falling are just an indication of feeling overwhelmed and anxious. It’s good old fashion stress.”
“According to Freud, it’s an indication that you’re surrendering to a sexual urge.” Amanda glanced at him with a come-hither, twinkling smile.
Noble gently rolled her back into bed to seal the deal.