Page 45 of Come Back to Me

“Maybe…” he is eyeing me cautiously.

“Well, I’m not sure I am quite ready at this moment, but I can’t think of a better way to share a future.”

“I imagine having a dozen or more… just kidding. I want to have two, one for each of us; a girl who looks exactly like you and maybe a boy who gets some of my charm.” He smirks.

“I can’t believe you never told me this before. I’m loving this. It sounds like a perfect plan.” Cole makes me squeal when he jumps over on top of me to straddle me. I can see relief in his face and I hope that this is the life he is talking about, the one he is hoping for. All I want is right here, to be that for him, his love forever.

Later in the day, Richard and Mom stop by while Cole is working in his office. We sit and talk about the events of that night and Richard lets me know that the trial will be scheduled sometime next week. I’m happy that Carter is locked away and can’t get out. The first time he slipped out of sight, he had been incarcerated at a minimum security hospital, the kind where the patients can take strolls around the grounds. He slipped out during one of those strolls. Now he’s locked behind heavy doors and guards, exactly where he deserves to be.

I sit for a moment, gnawing on my lip, wondering about something Cole and I spoke about. Who was Carter’s cousin? Did they ever find out who the guy is and why would he help Carter kidnap me?

“Hey mom, do you have my old albums? Remember, I used to make all those scrapbooks?” I realize I interrupted her conversation with Richard.Whoops. I look at her expectantly, hoping she forgives my rudeness. “I had everything put into storage when you moved for college, so I might… Whatever was in your apartment when you moved in with Cole was added to that storage.

I’m sure I can arrange for them to be sent here.”

“Thank you, I just want to find some pictures of me and Alex, that’s all.” I smile, hoping it ends her question brigade.

After a few hours, they leave and Cole is still holed up in his office. working. He has been very considerate of me and working from home, but unless I want him to go under, I realize he needs to get back to the office. I grab the remote off the table and start watching some romantic comedy when my phone buzzes. Looking down, I see it’s Alex.

“Hey, you!

“Hey, how’s the cripple?”

“I’m not crippled, just bruised. I’m really fine.”

“Cool, whatcha doing? Pretty Woman is on Channel 53.”

“Already on it….”

We spend the next hour and a half laughing and critiquing the movie over the phone. Sitting in silence at the end, I hear Alex sniffling and can’t help laughing. “Are you seriously crying over the hooker and her prince? Oh my God, I’m dying!” I laugh so hard, my face hurts.

“Umm, yes! You skank, I am crying over the hooker’s happy ending. It gives me hope for my future. I will have you know that I plan on finding a wonderful prince now that I’m single again.”

“No! Alex, I ‘m sorry. What happened with Chris?”

“He said I am emotionally unavailable. Can you imagine? That jerk.”Nail, meet head.

“You are… I mean, what a jerk!”

“I am not unavailable! I love big and without limits, you just have to be someone I really care for.”Lord! Help this girl to find her match in life.

“It’s okay. Look, Chris wasn’t the right guy! I think you need someone more on your level.”

“So what you are saying is I should ‘aim down’?”

“No, you fool. The only thing dumb about you is thinking you’re dumb. You need to aim higher. Way, way higher. You know, Cole has this guy at the office…”

“Absolutely not! I will not be some experiment in matchmaking for you!”Maybe not willingly, but that doesn’t stop me from setting you up for a hot surprise.

I change topics. “Speaking of experiments, Cole says he wants to start making babies.” I close my eyes, bracing myself for her response.

“No fucking way!!! That’s huge! You’re gonna be a mama? Mia, you’ve had a pretty tough year. Are you ready for all that?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I mean, I know that I would love to have his babies and I want to raise a family and grow old with him, but I feel like we haven’t had enough time as a couple. I want time for just the two of us to build a life together before we expand it into 24/7 responsibility, you know? Pretty much our entire marriage so far has been murder plots and stalkers!”

“Seriously! Not to worry, now that Carter’s in mental nut jail and you’re going to live, I would say you have plenty of time.”

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, pal!”

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