by Emma Nichols
“You don’t want to go to the lab first?” Her voice sounded so hopeful.
“No. I want a stomach full of happiness.” I shook my head adamantly.
She sighed. “I don’t think a breakfast, no matter how delicious, is going to change your DNA results.”
“Me neither. Just roll with it.” Then I hugged her close and waited for her to fall asleep. Within ten minutes, her breathing had slowed, but I couldn’t even shut my eyes again. Today was too important. Everything that mattered hinged on a few drops of blood. I’d be Molly’s father and I’d reclaim her; or I wouldn’t, and we’d fight for her. I’d been a fighter all my life, and with so much on the line, I wasn’t about to stop now, not when everything I’d ever dreamed possible was so close to coming to fruition.
Once I was sure Avery was sound asleep, I rolled out of bed and took my shower. There were things that had to be done while she was sleeping. I had plans to make and dreams to fulfill. After a quick shower, I moved to my office and set to work. The Internet was never closed, which meant neither was Diamonds Direct. I did a mental calculation. If I did this right…I could sneak off to my workout later this week and pick up her ring at the same time. I had no idea the size of her finger, but if it didn’t fit, we’d simply get it resized. Mostly, my biggest fear was that she’d decline my proposal. After all, we hadn’t even truly dated yet. I rubbed my temples. There was a distinct possibility I was doing this all wrong. I closed the laptop and sat at my desk with my head in my hands. Soon, two arms wrapped around me and my whole body sighed in relief.
“You left me,” Avery murmured.
“I let you sleep,” I corrected. “I never left the condo. I’d never leave you, babe.” I turned to look at her. “You, on the other hand, were quick to drop me in a heartbeat when I needed a moment.”
“Well, we had issues.” She sighed. “Not anymore.”
“Good. Because your absence spoke volumes. I never want you to doubt my feelings for you.” I pulled her onto my lap.
“Now that you realized you have them, you mean.” Avery smirked.
I nodded. “Exactly. I stopped fighting them and I’m trying to quit making stupid mistakes, but I hope if I mess up, I have you there to call me out, help me fix it.”
Leaning in, Avery murmured, “Be careful what you wish for. You’ll never be rid of me.”
“I like the sound of that,” I admitted as I pressed my lips to hers. When I finally pulled back, I whispered, “Go get ready. I’m hungry. And then we’ll hit the lab.” I stood up with her in my arms. “No matter what, we’re in this, right?”
Avery tilted her head. “Yes. No matter what.”
Once she was showered and dressed, we drove to the restaurant in silence. The reality of our day had hit us hard. After the blood draw, I had a busy day planned for us. We needed to go furniture shopping. Tomorrow we’d start packing. And with any luck, we’d close on the house Friday so we could start moving in over the weekend.
“You’ve barely spoken two words to me,” Avery murmured sadly.
I nodded. “I’m just trying to think of things to do. I’m so tired of feeling sad.”
“Me too.” She nodded. “I understand. We both lost her.”
“I know. Let’s get out of here and with any luck, this blood test will help us get her back.” I reached out and held her hand. “Ready?”
She squeezed my hand. “Let’s do this.”
On the ride to the lab, Avery shifted in her seat. “What if we find a pool and hardscape company?” she asked hesitantly.
“That’s a great idea.” I was ready to latch onto anything that would add purpose to our life at the moment. “Why were you so nervous to suggest it?”
“I don’t want you to think I’m trying to bankrupt you.” She sighed. “I mean…new house, new furniture, and now a pool?” She shook her head. “I have no idea how much you’re worth, but these numbers are making my stomach hurt.”
I chuckled. “We’re good. I promise. I’ve always been really good with money and lived well under my means. This isn’t even a dent, I assure you. And real estate is a great investment.”
“Then maybe you should keep the condo, if you can afford to. Maybe you should rent it out instead.” She shrugged. “Just an idea.”
I tilted my head. “I’ll definitely consider it.”
Too soon, I was pulling into the lot. “Well, here we go,” I mumbled as I stared at the building. “You ready for this?”
Avery swallowed hard. “Of course.” Then to prove her point, she opened the door and slid out of the vehicle. “You coming?” she asked as she forced a smile.
I had to love her tenacity, her indomitable spirit. I needed her like air right now. “Yeah.” I tried to grin, but I’m certain it looked more like a grimace.
We strode to the door. I held it open for her and walked up to the window. I could see people in lab coats wandering around, but no one was coming to check me in. Finally, after a good ten minutes of me standing there feeling like an ass, a tech stomped over and made the experience complete. “You check in over there,” she announced while pointing over my shoulder at two kiosks hidden behind the door.
“Right.” I nodded and moved to use the machine. After less than a minute, I finally managed to complete the process and join Avery. “This is insane.”
“Let’s play a game,” she suggested.
“Like what?” I asked in a low voice.
Leaning over the arm of the chair, she whispered, “Let’s make up stories for people in here. The more outrageous the better.” She shrugged. “Or we could read a two-year-old People. Your choice.”
I grinned. “You first.”
Avery scanned the room. “Okay. Got one.” She glanced at me and winked. “You’re not the only one here for a paternity test.”
“Really? Who?” I studied the various scattered about the seats in the room. “Him?” I jerked my head toward a guy who sat on the other side of the room and couldn’t stop shifting nervously.
“No,” she murmured. “He’s drug testing and he knows he’s going to fail.” She nodded knowingly at me. “That one.”
I followed her gaze. “I’m pretty sure that’s a woman,” I mumbled.
“She is now.” Avery snickered. “But seven years ago, this beautifully manicured, well-coifed, and perfectly contoured woman…was a man.”
With a grin, I listened as she crafted a tale designed to distract and entertain me until the lab tech called me back. Even then, I only reluctantly left her. I walked through the door to the lab and sat in the seat while rolling my sleeves to expose my veins.
“We’re doing cheek swabs,” the female lab tech explained as she prepared the stickers and pulled the kit. “We’re going to follow chain of custody so these are admissible in court. Four swabs. You ready?”
I nodded even as I clasped my hands together in my lap. “Sure.”
“Okay, so open wide.”
The process was quick and painless. When she’d finished with the swabs, she answered my question before I could even ask it. “Three to five business days. You’ll get a letter.”
All the breath was sucked out of me. “So, I could know by the end of the week.”
“You could, but I’m thinking beginning of next, or Saturday.”
I stood and took a deep breath. “Thank you.” Then I walked back through the door and held my hands out to Avery. “We’ll know in three to five business days or so.”
Her response was similar to mine. She sucked in a breath. “Okay, let’s try to stay busy until then.”
16
Avery
* * *
Though I expected the week to drag while we waited, instead it flew by. I think in the back of my mind, I was always getting everything ready for Molly. As much as we could, Paxton and I spent our time working together toward our new shared dream, but more often than not, we seemed to be busy working a divide and conquer strategy. On Friday, Paxton closed on the house. He re
quested that I be there because even though I wasn’t part of the money portion of the transaction, he insisted my name be on the title. I kept waiting for it to feel like my life was spinning out of control, but to my surprise, I felt like everything was finally catching up to where it was supposed to be.
We enjoyed dinner at home alone that night. “You ready to move in the morning?” Paxton asked.
I nodded. “I think we did it. I think it’s completely organized.”
“Movers will be here at eight in the morning. We’re leaving the furniture for showings,” he began.
“You’re sure you don’t want to rent the place out?” I asked.
Paxton groaned. “I don’t. Even with a leasing company, I don’t want to deal with it.”
“Okay, I just don’t want you to have regrets down the road.” I shrugged as I poured more wine into our glasses.
He reached out and grabbed my free hand. “Oh, I have regrets. We lost so much time. I wasted months we could’ve been together.”
I sighed. “None of that matters. We’re good now. And we have way more life ahead of us than behind us.”
“You’re so right.” He blew out a breath. “Now, I’m going to have you stay at the house letting the movers and furniture delivery people know where everything goes. I’ll meet you there as soon as I’m done here. Sound like a plan?”
Nodding, I grinned. This felt so surreal and oddly hollow. Nothing would be right until we had Molly back.
In the morning, I rushed around getting ready, trying to remember all the little last-minute things. “I’m going to toss all the garbage on my way out,” I yelled as I began to gather it from the various rooms. There was still plenty of room in the kitchen garbage so I just dumped the nursery can into it. And the one from the spare bathroom. I decided to text Paxton to gather the one in his bathroom, since he was in there. The last room I hit was the office. As I tipped the tiny can into the bigger one, a few envelopes dropped out. At first, I just gathered them and stuffed them in the top, but one stuck out. The return address was for the lab we’d been to on Monday. I swallowed hard as I picked it up, but I could already feel it was empty. Was it possible the results were already in? Maybe it was just the bill and that’s why Paxton hadn’t mentioned it. Was there any way I could bring this up without looking like a snoop? I sighed, feeling helpless, then pulled the bag of trash and left the condo.
By the time I reached the house several of Paxton’s football buddies were already there, along with DeSean. “Here. Tegyn made cookies for everyone to snack on.” He handed me several huge containers.
“Holy crap. How does she find the time? She has a business, a baby, you, and Keyon.” I shook my head. “She makes me feel slack.”
He chuckled. “She makes me feel slack too. I’m gonna go help the guys move stuff.” There was a sparkle in his eyes. I was about to question it, but he just murmured, “I’m so glad you guys are moving here.”
I started for the door and gasped. “He never gave me a key.”
DeSean smirked. “I met up with him yesterday after the closing and he made sure we had this for today. He said I was closer, since I’m literally around the corner.”
“Makes sense,” I murmured, feeling incredibly relieved as I followed DeSean to the door. He unlocked it and left the key on the island. I set the cookies on the counter. “The first delivery should be here any minute.” Then I took a deep breath and hoped we’d manage to get the house together before bedtime.
Clearly, I’d underestimated the movers, the delivery people, and Paxton’s teammates. The place was pretty much settled by one in the afternoon. All I had to do was unpack all the little things. Molly’s nursery had been completed first, even if I did sniffle a lot while I worked on it.
Paxton walked in and checked on me. “Are you okay?” he asked as he rubbed my back while I put away her clothes.
I shrugged. “I guess. I’m just…sad, you know?”
He nodded. “I do know, but I honestly think a meal will make you feel much better.”
“You might be right. I’ve only eaten a few cookies. Want me to order something?” I reached for my phone, but he shook his head and I tucked it back in my pocket.
“I have a better idea,” he announced. “Let’s gather everyone and go out to eat. I’ve already sent DeSean to collect Tegyn and the kids.”
“I’m a mess. I hope you’re not trying to go anywhere too nice.” I eyed him curiously, since it was unusual for him to do all this without my help.
“You’ll see.” He pulled me into his arms. “And I think you’re beautiful no matter what.”
“How about the night you came out to find me covered in Molly’s spit up?” I smirked.
“Watching you care for her made me want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone before.” Paxton groaned and pulled me against his pelvis. “One of these days, I’m going to show you how much I love you in the most intimate of ways.”
I was caving. Oh, Lord, how I wanted this man. Why were there so many people in this house? Why had I held out for so long? It wasn’t like I didn’t want him too.
Paxton bent low and murmured in my ear, “Until then, let’s go eat with our friends.” He winked and dragged me toward the door, locking up behind us.
“Oh, hey!” I dug in my heels while we were still on the porch. “I don’t have a key.”
“Later! We’re together now. Let’s go and grab food. We have one more delivery to meet.” He tugged my hand and I reluctantly wandered to his vehicle where he pulled open the door for me and waited until I was inside before shutting it.
Hopping in his side, Paxton grinned as we began driving. “Can you believe this place is ours?” he asked.
I sighed happily. “No. I really can’t. Nothing seems real yet. Maybe after we spend a few nights here? I don’t know. It’s not home yet.”
“I get it.” He nodded. “Here’s the thing I’ve noticed about being with you, having you in my life.”
“Oh, what’s that?” I asked as I leaned my head back on the headrest and smiled at him.
“You make every place home. Hell, I used to be happy to come back to a hotel suite when we traveled together. You were home to me and I somehow never picked up on it.” He shook his head. “I’d be happy in a cardboard box under the overpass as long as you were with me.”
My eyes teared up a little. “A cardboard box? That’s really romantic,” I joked.
Paxton held my hand the rest of the drive. The longer we drove, the more confused I became.
“Where are we going?” I asked. “We’ve passed roughly eighty-three perfectly good and much closer restaurants. It’s just lunch, right? We’re not driving straight to DC for dinner?”
He chuckled. “Patience, my love. We’re here.”
I glanced through the windshield and saw the sign. “The Melting Pot? You said it wasn’t open for lunch. You said that like…a few weeks ago!”
He kissed my hand. “Wait here.” Then he slipped out of the vehicle and walked around to my side and opened the door. Taking my hand, he helped me out.
“I should be in a little black dress. This place is too nice for this.” I glanced at my long t-shirt and capri leggings. “I feel like you lied to me.”
Paxton laughed. “Come on.” He hooked my hand through his arm and we walked to the door, which was opened for us by Royal.
“Right this way.” He grinned.
We followed him and ended up in the center of the restaurant, which was apparently open for our group alone. “Hey,” I murmured as I scanned the room. Laci and Josie were here, along with all of Paxton’s friends. DeSean and his family had beaten us here.
“Surprise!” Keyon shouted.
We all giggled, but I was still confused as we were seated in the middle of the table. “How did you do this?” I asked, completely awed.
“If baby wants The Melting Pot, she gets The Melting Pot,” Paxton teased. “I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of order
ing. I know what you like.”
I nodded numbly. “You do. You really do.”
We sat and ate one course after another while chattering with our friends, but every time I looked up, Paxton was staring at me with an indiscernible look on his face. “What’s going on?” I asked quietly while we were waiting on dessert.
“You. I’m just enjoying your expressions. I’m basking in your happiness.” He reached across the table and held my hand.
“Well, my joy is very nearly complete,” I murmured, hoping no one could hear us.
He frowned. “Is something missing?”
I swallowed hard. “More like someone.”
“I understand,” he admitted quietly. Paxton pulled his hand back. “Before I forget, I promised you a key.” He passed a black box across the table toward me. It was wrapped with a bright purple bow.
I grinned. “My favorite color.” I carefully untied the bow and found a silver castle in the top of the box and looked at Paxton quizzically.
“Pop it off the top,” he suggested.
I pulled it off the top and realized it was hooked around the box and was actually a key chain, covering the key. With it exposed, I giggled. “So cool. Thank you.”
“Now tug that out and the key should slide right out the front there, already attached to your castle key chain.” Paxton smiled, but I felt like he was practically jumping out of his skin on the other side of the table.
My brow furrowed and I realized our friends had gone silent and were watching us. With one swift pull, the key slipped from the box, and when it did, the box popped open, and since it was LED style, a light shone down on the contents, one massive diamond ring. I gasped.
“Your key comes with a question,” Paxton murmured as he pushed his chair back and wandered around the table to my side. When he reached me, he slid my chair back so he could kneel in front of me. “I know you said no one has ever married in this country by choice without dating, so I was hoping we could start dating during our engagement and never stop.” He bit his lower lip. “You’re incredibly smart, and so grounded in reality that I’m surprised you ever looked twice at a guy like me. You’re so much more than I deserve, but I’m still going to take the chance and ask you something I’ve been dying to ask ever since we found the house.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else.”