Page 122 of The Professor's Wife

I’d gotten A’s on everything except for my math. I’d even scored fourth quartile on my CASPER test. I had references and a heart-wrenching letter. I’d been vulnerable in that letter, telling the faculty all I’d endured to get to this point. The endless hours studying in the library, the sacrifices I made to make that happen. I really wanted to get into that nursing program.

“I thought I had it all planned,” I continued, broken. “I’m in a Uni town and…I thought it would be amazing to get ahead right here.”

Oliver listened to me attentively. “It’s truly unfortunate, after all your hard work, but think of this: going to that school led you to me, and now we’re married, and we’re happy, aren’t we?”

I nodded, swiping away another tear as I smiled at him. “Of course. I’m so happy. But I’m also sad about it.”

“You shouldn’t be,” he said heartily. “We have so much going for us. I told you I’d take care of you and Rowe, and I’m doing that. What do you even need this program for anyway?”

I looked at him. Oliver was shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray suit pants. His hair was still groomed back, but I could tell he’d run his hand through it many times, as strands stuck out. He’d been doing so much work at the Uni, I forgot that he was under so much stress, and now he was deeply concerned for me.

“I just wanted to feel accomplished,” I tried to explain. “Like, to have a plan and then see it play out, and this…it’s what I’ve worked so hard for. I want to be able to provide for Rowe, too, and…just know that I can stand on my own two feet and bring something to the table.”

Oliver nodded. “I understand, Daisy, but plans change, and we have to adapt to the new way of things. And this…” He picked up the piece of paper and suddenly crumpled it into the palm of his hand.

My heart jumped, and I almost protested. A fresh wave of tears formed. I would have liked to have read it over and over again, just to let it sink in.

Oliver caught my look and shook his head. “Sweetheart, this is poison. What’s done is done. You don’t need this to bring you down. You’ve read it once, and that’s enough.”

I tried to nod, but I still stared at the paper. He flung it across the room, and it fell into the sink. I wanted to race to it, pull it out and keep it, but Oliver was already standing up and taking my hand into his.

“If you had gone, it would have taken you away from being here. Those hours are long at the Uni, and I thought…” His words paused, his smile fading.

“You thought what?” I prodded.

He looked down at our hands. “Well…I’m sad about your rejection letter, but…I’m also hopeful that maybe this gives us an opportunity to take the next step.”

I waited for him to continue, feeling confused. “We’re married.”

He nodded slowly, and his cheeks reddened. I’d never seen him so flustered. “I love being a father to Rowe.” Now he looked at me, and there was emotion in his eyes. “I’m good at it.”

I swallowed another lump. “The best. He adores you.”

“I adore him,” he said, voice laced with emotion. “I would love it if we grew our family.”

My lips parted in surprise. I stared at him for a long time. “You mean…”

He smiled hesitantly. “When you want it. I’m willing to wait. But with this rejection letter…and you being here at our home, what better time than now to try?”

Now tears were streaming down my face again, but they were from happiness. “You mean that?”

He smiled broadly. “I do.”

I leaped into his arms, and he wrapped them around me, holding me to his chest. He chuckled at my excitement. “I take that as a yes?”

I responded by kissing him deeply. “Yes, yes, yes.”

After he held me for some time, he pulled away and kissed my forehead. “Come on,” he pressed. “Rowe’s asleep, and we’regoing to have some time to ourselves to relax and unwind. I’ll pull out your favorite wine, and you’ll put on some cringy romance movie that you love while I try to get you frisky for later. Put that letter behind us.”

I let out a laugh even as I felt hopeless at the thought of not getting into my program. He set up our drinks and threw on a movie, all the while stroking me tenderly, his kisses gentle and full of love. It just made me want to cry some more.

“How did I get you?” I whispered as he handed me my wine glass. He looked breathlessly handsome, and he loved me. He loved me so much, I could tell.

He smiled at me. “My damsel in distress needed saving.”

I nodded as he kissed my lips. “You saved me, Oliver.”

“And I’d do it again and again.”