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A family? A future? A marriage?
All that stuff,I type, smiling down at my phone, my chest whelming, heart beating and sending warm sensations around my body.I want to come and find you now, but I’m thinking of when we have kids. I’m thinking of teaching them the importance of facing up to the consequences of their actions. I have to set an example for them, Della before they’re here…
You’re going to make an incredible father.
My smile widens, despite the dark circumstances.
You’re going to be an amazing mother. I saw you storming over to those men. God help anybody stupid enough to threaten this mama bear’s cubs.
The same goes for anybody who threatens papa bear’s cubs… I think you made that clear.
We’ll do our best by them,Della.I’m so hungry for that future. But I also can’t wish it was here now, because that would mean sacrificing precious time with you. I want to savor every. Single. Moment.
The office door opens. I look up from my phone, finding Mary standing in the doorway.
She walks over, wringing her hands.
“Bad news?” I ask, as I quickly fire off another text.
I’ve got to go, Mary’s here. I’ll see you soon.
I almost addI love you, but I want to say it in person.
Or is that an excuse? A way to avoid the possibility she might not say it back?
“I don’t know,” Mary murmurs. “I did my best.”
Standing, I ask, “What did you tell her?”
“The truth is that you’re a credit to this place. You’re not the same as Paul. You’ve never shown interest in any of the students before…that your relationship with Della must be extremely special for you to risk it. She said something to me, Elias, before I followed you and Jocelyn. She said you two are forever. Is that true?”
“Yes,” I say firmly.
“But it only started recently, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” I say again. “But it’s like you said, with you and your husband. Sometimes, you just know.”
Jocelyn appears at the door, frowning at me. “Come on, Elias. We need to talk.”
After exchanging a look with Mary, I walk toward the office.
A small shiver of regret touches me as I reflect this may be the last day I’m on Second Chance grounds. But the feeling is nothing compared to the overwhelming roaring of my soul, telling me I did the right thing by defending my woman, telling me I’ll always do the same.
“You’ve put me in an awkward position here, Elias,” Jocelyn said once we’re sitting opposite each other on the desk.
Sighing darkly, I say, “I know. I didn’t plan on it going down this way.”
“Dating a student.”
“We’re not dating,” I cut in.
She narrows her eyes, sticking her upper lip out in a truly British manner. “Elias, let’s not start this conversation off with dishonesty.”
“I meandatingdoesn’t accurately describe what’s happening between us. We’re far past that point. I love her, I will propose to her, and we will have children together. We’re going to be together for the rest of our lives.”
Jocelyn sits back, her fingers steepled, watching me for a few moments.
It gives me time to savor the feeling of saying I love Della out loud, even if she’s not here to listen to the words. At least it’s out there now, no longer just bouncing around inside of me.
