Page 72 of Imperfections Realized
She stops pretending to eat the rest of her food and holds her head up.“Thank you for being there for me last night.For not saying anything.”
“Where else would I be but with you?”I take her hand and hold it to my lips.
“You could have said I told you so.”She strokes her thumb across the top of her belly.“Is it wrong to want my family to be a part of my baby’s life?To want my mother to open her arms and embrace me when I tell her I’m having a baby.I was there when Kate told her she was pregnant.She was upset with me, but when she heard, she forgot everything.She was happy to know she was going to be a grandmother.Why couldn’t she do that for me?”
“Cat—”
“It’s okay, Nick, you don’t have to say anything, I was venting.”She pulls her hand away from me resting them both on the table.“You wanted to discuss something with me?”
“We can talk about it later.There is something I think you need more.”
“What would that be?”
“We should go away for a weekend getaway.A mini-vacation.”
“We can’t.Ican’t, I have work.”
I get up and lift her out the chair, my hands on her hips.“You can take a day or two off from work.I’m sure there’s an eager substitute waiting to fill in for you.”
She sucks her lower lip, her head to the side.“I don’t know?”
“You don’t want to go to a sunny desert island sipping virgin piña coladas—”
“I don’t like piña coladas, I like strawberry daiquiris.”
“Strawberry daiquiri, then.Frolicking in the sun and water, sun shining, skin glistening with coconut suntan lotion.Doesn’t that sound good?”I rub the tip of my nose against hers.She rubs her nose back against mine with a dreamy sigh.
“That does sound nice.”
“Where do you want to go?We can go anywhere in the world.It doesn’t have to be a tropical island, it could be a villa in the south of France.I’m fluent in the language of love.”
“I know all about that.But I like your tropical island idea.You sold me.”
“What island would my lady love like to go to?”
She grins, moving her hands to my shoulders.“Lady Love?”
“You’re my lady and I love you, girrrl.”
She laughs harder, and I put my forehead to hers and kiss her.I love to see her laugh.She brushes my hair back and looks into my eyes.
“I want to go to a place where I feel like I’m staring into your eyes, where the sky and ocean meet and become one with white sandy beaches.Can we go there?”
“Yeah, we can go there.”I love this woman, and I’ll do what it takes to protect her from anyone, including her family.
