AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The biggest thing was to make sure she keeps eating and gaining weight.”
“And that’ll be your job. I’ll try to make sure I take care of everything else so you can focus on that.”
It had been such a disappointment when they’d finally started feeding Kathleen, and she wouldn’t take anything but a bottle. She’d been bottle-fed for so long that she hadn’t wanted anything else. Kim was still pumping, but she figured it was probably just a matter of time until she couldn’t do everything, and she quit. After all, it would take twice as long to feed her if she had to pump and then turn around and give the bottle to Kathleen.
The nurses had told her not to worry about it, that she was doing everything she could for her baby, and if there were a couple of things that didn’t work out, it certainly wasn’t her fault. She knew that, but still, it had been a bitter disappointment.
Regardless, she knew Davis was right. She would just focus on doing her very best, following the instructions to the letter, and keep them safe and healthy.
“Look at that,” Kim exclaimed, pointing down toward the beach where a group of five people rode horseback right along the edge where the waves met the shore. It was beautiful against the blue of the lake and sky, and there were smiles on all of their faces as they rode toward them.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Davis said, looking up and smiling. “This is a really satisfying business. You wouldn’t believe the smiles on people’s faces. And, it’s a lot of fun to watch. You can see it really well from the back porch of the cottage.”
He paused, then he said, “It’s probably an even better view from up in the loft above the stable, although the window isn’t as big.”
“About that,” Kim started. She...did not know how to approach the subject. Davis had been so helpful and solicitous toward her the entire time Kathleen had been in the hospital. But he hadn’t said anything more about possibly getting married, or even about having a relationship. She didn’t know what to term what they had right now. Friends for sure, but she didn’t know whether he considered her more. Maybe he changed his mind. He’d seen her at her very worst, while he had appeared strong and capable the entire time. Tired at times, perhaps, but not like she had been - in pain, anxious, and overwhelmed.
“Let’s get inside. I have some things I want to talk to you about.” Davis’s words were low, and to her ear they gave no hint as to what he was actually thinking.
Could he want to discuss how they would split up their time with Kathleen?
Surely not. He hadn’t breathed the word about that the entire time she’d been in the hospital, but of course, he’d been going out of his way to keep her calm and to have her not worry about anything.
She appreciated everything he’d done so much, but maybe he figured now that they were home it was time to have a serious discussion about their roles.
She took a breath. She wasn’t going to borrow trouble. Of course she wanted to be more, wanted to do more, wanted to have more with him. How could she not after the way he’d been for the last eight weeks?
But, she’d been on the receiving end of most everything, and she hadn’t been able to give back much.
Maybe he was going to talk to her about that. That he was tired of having a one-sided relationship, and was going to hand everything over to her and leave.
Again, she knew she was borrowing trouble. Why did she always go to the worst case scenario? Had he ever acted like he didn’t like her? On the contrary, he’d been so tenderly loving and caring, had hinted about more, although he’d never come out and said it.
It could go that way too.
She pushed her car door open, and grabbed the baby bag and another bag that had all of their hospital paraphernalia in it while Davis unhooked Kathleen who had slept the whole way home and pulled her car seat out.
“It wasn’t quite the homecoming that you had planned, I’m sure, but we’re home. And I think that’s what matters.” He grinned at her, and despite the fear that churned in her chest, she smiled back.
“Kim?” he asked, as though he could read on her face that all was not well.
“I guess when people say they want to talk to me, I just always assume that I’m in trouble. Or that it’s something bad.”
He laughed a little. “And here I thought I was the one who was nervous and scared. And you were just as cool as a cucumber over there.”
“I might be a cucumber, but I’m not feeling very cool.”
He laughed again. “I just want more. I don’t want to push you, and I don’t want to make you make decisions that you’re not ready for, but these last eight weeks with you and Kathleen have made it easy for me to know that I want a family, and I want it with you. Not just because Kathleen is the most adorable baby in the entire world,” he said, as she fell into step beside him and they walked up the walk, all of her fear melting away.
“I told myself that I didn’t need to worry about you leaving us, but that was what I was afraid of.”
“I guess I can blame that on Todd. But, you don’t have to worry about me leaving. Even if you don’t want me, I don’t want to leave. I’m staying as long as you let me.”
“Thank you. I might need that reassurance a few more times before I actually believe it. Actually, a lot more times maybe.”
“I’m staying. I’m staying. And I want to stay with you.” He puffed out a laugh, as they stopped in front of the locked front door. He pulled the key out of his pocket, holding the car seat. “I don’t want to keep Kathleen outside, but, I hadn’t intended to say this now, but...will you marry me?”
She couldn’t help the gasp that she choked on and then coughed and sputtered as her eyes watered. “Okay. Sure.”
