Lovely. Just lovely.
I thought the argument between Beth and Josh in the beginning was an important statement. Their relationship is deteriorating and they are not on the same page. Beth chafes. It makes me wonder if she would be more accomodating to Josh if Mick wasn't in the picture or if Josh's need for a more 'ordinary' girlfriend would have done them in. We know that with Mick in the picture it's a done deal.
“Thank you,” both men responded a bit surprised and taken aback. Looking at the gifts, each fell silent. Thinking about how long it had been since they had given or received gifts. Beth could tell that now it was they who were caught off balance.
You could just about
taste the tension in this scene. Perfectly done!
Mick was curious; he hadn’t expected to see Beth at all this holiday season. Josh had been very obvious when he mentioned to Mick that tickets for both of them to go to Boston, were a surprise for Beth. Yet, here she was. Privately, he was in turns both glad and torn. Boston is where he knew that Beth should have been, not here with them.
The ever torn Mick. He wants Beth to be happy with Josh but he wants her for himself. She's better off without him but he wants her with him. It's always up to Beth to persue him.
Taking the chain in his hand he stepped behind her and fastened the lock. His fingertips couldn’t help but brush against her neck where her hair was swept away. Beth’s head was slightly tipped to the left and he leaned into her scent, savoring it like she had done with the wine earlier that evening.
It thrills me the way he steals these moments. Like they are forbidden and wrong but he HAS to have them.
“Instead you have spent the evening talking with two old men,” Mick started to banter with her. Better lighten the mood he thought. How do I tell her that I don’t think it would be a good idea, when he noticed the tear glistening in the corner of her eye. “Alright,” Mick replied.
It makes my heart melt how he cannot deny her. Of course, it's what HE really wants too.
While he was lost in thought, searching for something to say, Mick realized that Beth had fallen asleep there against his chest. Mick sat, listening to her heartbeat and watching her sleep. He liked to just listen to her, to cherish every breath that flowed in and out of her. As she stirred he caught her goblet, set it on the floor beside the sofa, and wrapped an arm across her chest, embracing her lightly.
I had to clutch my chest reading this. So bittersweet. This is exactly what he wants but believes it to be fleeting, temporary. It hurts so good.
The moment was broken when they reached her door. Beth fumbled with her keys, dropping them and they bumped awkwardly, trying desperately to recover the moment. Mick finally had them in hand, unlocked her door, handed the keys to Beth and turned to go, when the sound of her voice stopped him.
This moment was defining for me. Because as much as they are in sync with each other they can be glaringly out of sync. It's like when they aren't thinking to hard about it, it works naturally for them. But when they are thinking about it they are all thumbs.
“You aren’t going to even say, goodbye?” Beth asked.
In one sweeping step he wrapped his arms about her, pulling her close. Every time she says that word, a place in my heart dies, he thought. As Beth raised her face towards his, Mick knew that this kiss would fill that ache.
That left me with an ache as well. Beth has been in his life for 22 yrs. She has pretty much BEEN his life. What will he do without her?
I can't stress how happy I am that this was chose for the discussion. I'd have missed it otherwise and that would have been a real shame.
AN: How
did Beth get Josef's middle name?