“I don’t know Lace, but we can ask him when he wakes up. He owes you that much at least.”
“Why am I so unlovable?” She laughs, but there is no humour behind it, only pain, and that slices me in two.
“Hey, that’s not true, and you know it. You have a whole family that loves you, and friends who would do anything for you.”
“Just not my own dad.” I don’t have the answer for her. I can’t because I’m not in her position. “Enough about me being a Debbie Downer, how did today go?”
“We don’t have to talk about that if you don’t want to.”
“Please, Cole.” She gives me those pleading eyes.
“It was a good session. I’ve– I’ve asked for more…” I pause to look at her, unsure of what she might think, but she gives me an encouraging smile. “I also told her and my mum about DBD. She’s going to get my dad to speak to Clive, the family lawyer.”
She shakes her head. “Cole, no. I can’t possibly let them do that. It’s going to cost a fortune, and I need to save for that…”
“Lacey, stop. He owes my dad a favour anyway. And before you say anything, this has nothing to do with us being what we are now. You were always part of our family, way before us. They want to help. It’s okay to let people help.”
“I feel like I have nothing to give them back…”
“You. You’re enough.”
I am going to spend the rest of my life making sure that this woman knows she is worth every bit of love sent her way and shielding her from those who aren’t worthy of her love in return.
**********
We spend a couple more hours in the hospital with Don, but he stays asleep. By the time the nurses come around to let us know visiting time is over, Lacey’s eyes are closing on their own.
She asks the nurse for some paper and a pen and leaves her dad a note to let him know we’ve been there and we will be back in the morning. As we’re leaving the hospital, a thought hits me: I want to make her smile and end her day on a positive note.
“Hey, you up for a quick ride somewhere? I have something I want to show you.” She smiles up at me and nods.
I just hope she likes it.
**********
I pull up to the worksite, where the frame has been erected and is currently waiting in the setting sun.
“Cole, I thought this was supposed to be a surprise. You’ve brought me to your worksite? I’m not having sex here if that’s what you think.” She stands with her hands on her hips.
I bark out a laugh. “Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t my main worksite. This is a side project for Peterson Construction. What do you think?”
“It’s a frame of a house. It’s great.” She gives me a very sarcastic thumbs up, and I have to bite back a smile.
“How many bedrooms do you want it to have?” I watch her closely.
“What? Why would I want to know how many bedrooms– Wait…no!” I watch as the moment unfolds, the penny dropping.
“Do you like it? Is this okay?” I start to panic when she doesn’t say anything.
“Cole Peterson, are you building us a house?” She isn’t giving anything away.
I walk over to her and place one hand on her bump, cupping her face with the other. “Not a house. I’m building us a home, Lacey. You, me and Peanut.” She plants a searing kiss on my lips, and I know I’ve made the right choice.
This is ours.
Our beginning.
Our place.
