AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”
“Because things are changing, and it might be for the better for everyone, but it doesn’t mean it stops being scary, or hard.”
I cover his hand with mine. “I’m so glad you came into my life when you did. You’re the one who made me see that sometimes change is exactly what we need.”
“The feeling is completely mutual, in case you were wondering. And if you’re interested in making any additional big changes, you’re always welcome to take up the right side of my bed permanently.” He gives me a lopsided, slightly uncertain smile.
“Are you inviting me to move in with you?” My stomach does a somersault, and my heart stutters.
“I’m extending an open invitation for whenever you’re ready for more change.” He cups my face between his palms. “In case you need reminding, I love you, Kitty. My favorite days are the ones where I wake up with you beside me.”
“I love you, too. And I’d absolutely love to claim the right side of your bed permanently. I’ll happily deal with a cat who gets jealous when we spoon and waking up to Wilfred breathing in my face.”
He dips down and presses his lips to mine. I feel his love, not just in his words and his kiss, but right down to my soul.
chapter twenty-eight
HART TO HART
Kitty
On Sunday afternoon I head back home. I definitely want to move in with Miles, but it means a lot of schedule changes and commuting out of the city to make my current client runs. It will take planning and possibly hiring another person. I can handle the bulk of the clients who are on the fringe of the city, and I have a handful I don’t want to give up, but I’m sure I can make it work.
The other, bigger issue is telling my mom. Especially since I just moved Hattie yesterday, and I’m aware that having two adult children move out one right after the other is beyond monumental. So I’m fully prepared to make the transition slowly, over several months if necessary.
I don’t want to abandon my mom, but I do want to start building a life of my own. One that includes Miles and Wilfred and Prince Francis. If I’ve learned anything since I met Miles, it’s that the people who hold you up are the ones you need to hold on to the tightest.
When I arrive home, my mother is pulling a fresh pie out of the oven. She stopped by Hattie’s yesterday to see the apartment. It’s the first time she’s driven into the city in years. Hattie invited me to come for lunch, and because her apartment is close to Miles’s place, it was easy for me to join them.
“Oh! I didn’t realize you were coming back tonight. I thought you’d be staying with Miles until the morning.”
“I have a couple clients I need to check on this evening, and I have early stops in the morning,” I explain.
“I was planning to have dinner with Marie.” Her expression reflects uncertainty. “Should I cancel? Or maybe you’d like to join us?”
I don’t want her to feel bad for having a life and living it. “That’s okay. You don’t need to change your plans on my account. It was a busy weekend, so I’ll be in bed early.”
“If you’re sure you’ll be okay on your own.” She still seems ambivalent.
“I’ll have Prince Francis to keep me company.”
He comes trotting into the kitchen and plunks his butt by his food dish.
“Okay. He’s definitely good company.” Mom bends to give him a pet, then unties her apron and hangs it on the hook. “Hattie’s new place looks great. I’m so glad she had you to help her.”
“It is. And she’s excited about this new job and living in the city. And it’s nice that her apartment isn’t too far from Miles.”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with him lately. It seems like it’s getting pretty serious.” I can tell she’s fishing.
I decide to bite the bullet and tell her the truth. “He asked me to move in with him.”
She props her hip against the counter and smiles knowingly. “I wondered when that was coming.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“That boy is a smitten kitten. That was clear from the first time he came to pick you up. And you click. It reminds me of the way your dad and I were when we first met. You have the spark. Moving in together is the next logical step.”
“Mmm. It is, but it’s a big step.”
“What worries you about it?”
“I’ve never lived anywhere but here, and with anyone but you and Hattie, and Dad . . . until he passed. I’ve never lived on my own. It’s a big shift to go from living with family to living with a partner.”
