Page 112 of Enough
Gwen smiles. “Who’s the one that’s scared now?” she asks with her arms folded.
“Answer the question,” he commands forcibly. “Are yousureyouloveme?”
Gwen’s posture shifts, and she touches the side of his cheek. He leans slightly into her touch but remains guarded. She whispers, “It’s true. I know it. Deep down, I’ve known it since our first date. And yes, it was a date.”
He smiles his big ole Cooper smile and swiftly pulls her into him, kissing her. I hear cheers and applause from behind me, and I turn to see a fairly large crowd of officers and nurses have gathered to listen. I laugh and wipe the tears from my eyes.
Cooper and Gwen turn to face the crowd and he announces loudly, “She loves me! The girl I love, loves me back. What do you say to that?”
The crowd erupts into cheers and I close the curtain to give Cooper and Gwen the privacy they deserve.
AT THE END of my shift, I return home to breakfast and coffee. The kids are dressed and laughing at the kitchen table when I open the door.
“Hi mom!” Marlow shouts with a mouth full of food, waving to me.
As I wander into the kitchen, my eyes happen upon a sight to behold. Nick Rowen, flipping pancakes and smiling in my kitchen with two calm, happy children. I feel like I’m dreaming.
“Good morning,” he says as he brings me a cup of coffee and kisses my cheek.
“Good morning” I say as I take a sip. I notice he’s in jeans and not his usual suit.
As I walk around the table to plant kisses on the heads of the kids, I ask, “Don’t you need to get ready for work?”
He shakes his head. “I took the day off.”
“Can we take the day off too?” Kale begs.
“Heck no! You’re going to school!” I shout playfully but in all seriousness.
“Aww… Nick, will you be here when we get home?” Kale asks.
I watch Marlow nod her head to Kale and gaze at Nick expectantly.
“I might be,” he says with a wink.
“Awesome!” Marlow shouts.
“Go brush your teeth. The bus is going to be here in a few minutes.” I set my coffee down on the table.
They rush up the stairs, arguing about who gets to brush first, and Nick ambles over to me. He pushes a loose piece of hair out of my face and smiles.
“You survived?” I ask.
“I survived.” He smiles. “They’re great kids. I think I may be in love.”
“Already? Youdofall fast.” I giggle as I place my hand on his waist.
“With their mother,” he continues.
“You think? You don’t know?” I question.
He kisses my nose, then my cheek, and my ear, before he whispers into it, “I told you. I’ve always known.”
He smells clean and fresh, and I realize I probably stink of hospital. “I need a shower,” I tell him.
“That sounds appealing.”
My insides clench. As soon as I get the kids on the bus, he’s mine for the taking.
