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“Idothink of her as a daughter. She’s been like one of my kids for almost as long as I’ve known how serious you two were about each other.”
“I don’t think so,” I countered, putting myself in danger of another scolding. But I wasn’t a kid, and I had to stand my ground. “Maybe, you don’t believe you’re unfair to her. I think you need to consider how you treat Mimi and compare it to how you treat Wilt, Morrie and me. I know that Mimi isn’t your biological child, but she’s my wife, and we both hope, God willing, that she will one day be the mother of your grandchildren. You need to get right with her before that day comes.”
She didn’t say a word, and I’m not sure what I’d expected from her. Instead, she spun away and marched back to her truck. Dirt and gravel spit up as she metaphorically stomped away.
“That went well,” I muttered, shaking my head and looking back to the task I needed to get finished, so the crop sprayer could get this field watered today.
It could wait a few minutes. Since my work had been interrupted already, I moved over to the shady side of my truck and sat on the ground, leaning my back against the tire. I dialed Mimi on my cell, my dusty hands leaving marks on the screen.
“Hi, baby,” I said when she answered, so darn happy to be able to call her and know she was mine again—not that she’d ever stopped being mine. But we were together and determined to make things work. That was all that mattered, and it filled my heart to overflowing. “How are you and my other baby?”
“We’re good. I’m picking out paint colors. I had a really nice talk with Sable. She was so sweet about answering all my million and twelve questions, even though I’m kind of competition to her.”
“Yeah, well, you want to focus on coffee mainly with occasional sides of sweets, and conversely, she’s got bakery items with coffee available. You’re opposites. Plus she’s a good forty minutes away from here.” Of course, my thoughtful woman would worry about that. Closing my eyes, I pictured her seated on a stool at the shop I’d built for her, surrounded by paint swatches while she decided the décor for the place.
“That’s kind of what she said. I might even buy some baked goods from her for a bit while I get into the swing of things.”
“That’s a good idea. You know considering the situation.”
“That I cash in on her baking since I’m baking a bun in the oven myself?”
I chuckled at her joke, shifting my position against the tire and wishing I was with her. It had been a few hours, and my arms already ached to hold her. The desire was worse than ever, the anxiety over our separation amping up my borderline obsession. “Have I told you how damn happy I am?”
“Once or twice.” I heard her smile over the line.
“How about how much I love you?”
“I love you more,” she whispered, the sound nearly a giddy sigh. The two of us were going to be so dang happy. I wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of that.
“How long are you staying there today?” I asked.
“Just until three. The doctor’s office got me scheduled to come in today. Thank goodness she’s a GP and there are HIPPA laws or everyone would know our little secret.”
I glanced at my watch. I could finish up here, shower and still have time to go with her. “I’ll meet you at the shop at two-thirty. Okay?”
“Are you sure? You don’t have to come with me, if you’re busy there.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” This was another of the big events in our life, and one of our baby’s firsts. The world could come crashing down, and there would still be nowhere else I’d want to be but at Mimi’s side.
