It was Mel’s turn to pull Lois in for a hug.
“I know Noah will understand, and I know we both want you in Connor’s life. A kid can never have too much family.”
Lois nodded in agreement, then turned toward her lawyer.
“We won’t be needing that court date after all.”
* * *
Noah: Hey. Can I come over? I need to talk to you about something.
Mel: Of course. Are you bringing Connor?
Noah: Not this time. See you soon.
Noah put his phone away and grabbed his keys. His mind was spinning after the phone call he’d just had, and he needed some answers, fast. Thankfully Ryan and Anna had taken Connor for a couple of hours, claiming they wanted to ‘practice.’ He hadn’t asked what Ryan meant by that, but had his suspicions that he might be an uncle before long.
While he drove to Mel’s house, Noah tried to make sense of how quickly things had changed. In many ways, he felt free, relieved, and happier than he had in a while. But there were so many unanswered questions as to why things had turned out the way they had, and Mel was the only person who could explain it all.
He still had a key to her apartment, so after knocking twice he let himself in. Mel was in the kitchen, making tea, and when he walked in, she looked up with a nervous smile.
“Hi,” she said warily.
Noah decided to get straight to it. “So, I had an interesting phone call from Carla this morning. She said it was a shame I hadn’t been able to attend the meeting yesterday, but that my wife had spoken so lovingly and convincingly about me as a father that Lois and Craig decided to drop the custody suit. Apparently, they wrote me a letter of apology that is waiting at her office and want to talk about plans to visit and get to know me soon. Any idea what she’s talking about?”
He folded his arms across his body, when what he really wanted to do was reach out and pull her into an embrace. She looked so nervous, yet so relieved for him at the same time. As if she didn’t regret what she’d done, but was worried about how he would respond. Of course, there wasn’t a chance in hell that he would be anything except grateful for whatever she had said to get Gigi’s parents to back off.
Mel came around the end of the kitchen counter, to stand beside him. She fidgeted with her hands nervously and Noah ached to reassure her. He forced himself to stay back, not trusting himself not to betray his true feelings.
“I told you I would do anything I could to help,” she began hesitantly, “and it seemed like a good idea to at least try and talk to them. I wasn’t sure they would agree to it, but Carla said it was worth a try. I mean she thought you would be there too, I guess she figured it would be like a final mediation or something, but…” Mel shrugged bashfully. “I guess I said what they wanted to hear. I’m sorry I went behind your back.”
Noah could not wait a moment longer to have her in his arms. With two steps forward he was within reach and pulled her into the warmth of his embrace. His heart pounded with the sensation of just how right it felt to hold her like this, and he allowed himself just one minute of savoring the feel of her against his body.
“Melanie. Do not apologize. What you did, means everything to me. Thanks to your little speech, Connor is mine. I don’t have to worry about them trying to take him away from me anymore.” He pulled back slightly and looked at her with a sad smile. “I’m just sorry you had to lie to all of them, again, about us. I hate that I put you in that position.”
Now it was Mel’s turn to pull back. Her eyes stayed downcast, and a faint blush came across her cheeks. When he reached out and gently tipped her chin up so he could look at her face, Noah was surprised to see her eyes, usually full of confidence and fire, brimming with emotion and tears.
“That’s the thing, Noah, I wasn’t lying,” she whispered.
Baffled, Noah just looked at her, his hand sliding down from her face to his side.
“I didn’t have to lie when I told them how amazing you are, and how much I love you. I told them the truth when I said I loved Connor like he was my own child and that I wanted the three of us to be a family. I didn’t lie. I meant every word.”
They were the words Noah had dreamt of hearing. The answer to his wishes, the best possible thing he had ever heard her say. Which is why he surprised himself with his response.
“Mel. I love you. You know that. But in all the time I’ve known you, you’ve made it abundantly clear to me and to everyone around us that you don’t want to be in another relationship. Hell, how many times have you told me you refuse to fall in love with me? I want to believe you, so badly, but I need some time. It’s not just me anymore, there’s Connor as well. And I know you love him, but what if you decide you can’t be with me after all? Where does that leave him?”
Noah stopped, hating himself for being the cause of the tears that now streamed down her face. It would have been so easy to just accept what she said and fall into her arms, but he was wary. She’d pulled away from him so many times, it was hard to believe things were different.
With a sigh, he pulled her back in against his chest. She went willingly, her arms tightening around his waist. He could feel her body wracked with sobs and his heart broke all over again.
“I love you, and this isn’t over. Just give me some time, okay?” he asked softly. When he felt her nod against his chest, Noah knew he had to leave now, or he would never be able to make himself go. “I have to go and get Connor. I’ll see you soon.”
Noah bent his head down and captured her lips with his, closing his eyes and pouring his every emotion into the kiss. She met him stroke for stroke, her salty tears mixing on their tongues. He eventually pulled back, pressed one final kiss to her forehead, then turned and walked out the door.
Only when he was in the relative privacy of his own car, did Noah let down his guard, with a huge exhale.
She loves me.
