by LK Collins
But Cara doesn’t respond. I lean down and kiss behind her ear, then say, “Kitten, you need to wake up.”
She moans and blinks a few times. “See? She’s awake,” I say and slide out of bed.
“Cara. I’m Alice. How are you feeling?”
“I guess okay, considering,” she says in a hoarse voice.
“Good. Let me page Dr. Lee. He needs to examine you.”
Before the nurse leaves, she checks Cara’s vitals, writing everything down on her chart. I can’t keep my eyes off of her as she lies so quietly in bed. Her nipples are hard, making my mouth water. Fuck, I shouldn’t be looking at her like this. Not now, she’s too fragile, but I can’t stop staring at them straining against the thin fabric of the hospital gown. I force myself to move my eyes from her breasts to her eyes. A grin is spread wide across her face, making me realize, she caught me and I’m the happiest man alive for it. She gets me and that’s one of the things I love about her.
Patience is not something that comes easily to me, but I waited for Cara months ago and it was the best decision of my life. As much as my body is screaming for her now, needing to claim her and make love to her slowly, I’ll wait however long is needed until she is healthy and strong enough to partake in our sweetest indulgence. I mouth the words I love you to her, and she returns them.
Dr. Lee conducts a thorough examination on Cara and all is well. The nurse removes all of her tubes and sends us on a walk. The short distance makes her tired and I know there is a long road ahead. Dr. Lee says she should be able to go home in a few days and I’ve never been happier.
Amber and Marla stop by briefly and then leave to get Cara’s place ready for her homecoming. As much as I want to take her home to my loft, that will have to wait. For now she can stay in Alexa’s old room if she needs to avoid the stairs.
Lex and Vince are with her now while I am at my place grabbing my stuff and visiting with little Puss. I haven’t seen this little girl in so long, and I’ve missed her. “You know we are going to have to move and get a bigger place,” I say. She meows and I laugh at myself for talking to a cat.
Neither my place nor Cara’s is big enough for a baby. I wonder what her thoughts are going to be. We’ll have to discuss it at a later time. All I know is that I’ll be happy wherever the two of them are.
Leaving my place, I drive back to the hospital and enter the familiar halls I’ve unfortunately grown to know. Walking back into the room, Cara is fast asleep and Alexa’s reading a magazine. I smile and before I sit I have to kiss Cara and as our lips touch, she smiles and looks at me. “Sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
She nods her head, “Good, I think.”
“You better be feeling good, you’ve slept the entire time I’ve been here,” Alexa says.
We all laugh and Cara shrugs her shoulders. “Well, I do need to run, you two. I have to get back to the office and help Vince. He has a big case that he’s prepping for. It goes to trial tomorrow, so I’m sure he’s a wreck.”
“Thanks for staying,” I say to her.
“It was no problem. I enjoyed some time with Cara, and I guess she didn’t sleep the entire time I was here.”
She hugs us both and walks out of the room. Tilting my head to the side I look at Cara and soak in her beauty. “What did you do while you were out?”
“I ran home and checked on Puss. She thinks we should move.”
She laughs out loud and I love to hear it. “Really? What else did Puss say?”
“That’s it. But she said it needs to happen before the baby is born.”
“Abel, are you serious right now?”
“I’m dead serious, baby. Think about it. Neither of our places is big enough for a baby and unless you are leaving me, I’m in this for the long haul.”
“Is that why you gave me this bracelet?” she asks, lifting her wrist and showing me her infinity bracelet.
“I didn’t even get to give it to you. Take it off and let me do this right,” I say.
She removes it and hands me the heavy gold symbol of our love. Grabbing her hand, I sit in bed next to her and swallow hard. “Cara, I’m giving you this bracelet as a symbol of my love. I bought it for you on the day I planned to tell you that I love you. I can’t take back the past, or what has happened, but I can change the future. I want you to know from the bottom of my heart how much I love you. Thinking about our future and knowing we have a full life ahead of us makes me the most content I’ve ever been. For the first time in years, I’m satisfied. I’m no longer the shell of a man I once was. I see value within myself and that is all because of you.”
“Oh, baby,” she says crying and leans up wrapping her arms around my neck. Holding her body, I breathe her in and thank God for this miracle. Once we separate, she watches me as I go to clasp the gold symbol back around her tiny wrist, but not before I ask, “Did you see the engraving?”
Looking at me confused, I point to the inside of the bracelet where I had the special message placed. She squints and reads the tiny writing out loud, “To my kitten, I love you more than life.” She shakes her head back and forth in disbelief. “I can’t believe you did that, it’s perfect. Thank you so much, Abel.”
Leaning down, I kiss her and lose myself in her soft lips. She tastes like paradise and I’ve never known a feeling like the one I have now. In her hold, being complete and content, I know I’m the luckiest man alive.
Chapter 25
Tesla
Cara came home this morning and is in really good spirits. She just woke from a nap and is nestled on the couch with me, cuddled in my lap. She’s talking with her mom and Amber. I’m trying my best to listen in, but my mind keeps drifting. My phone vibrates on the coffee table and I reach for it. It’s Vincent. Can you sneak away today?
Why would I do that? I just got them back.
Come on. I need your help with something for Cara. She has her mom and sister there to keep her company.
Do I really need to come with you?
Yes, you do and if you don’t, I’ll send Lex over there and make her kick your ass out for the day. Come on, it’s for Cara.
Fine.
Cool, I’ll pick you up in thirty.
I wait for a break in conversation before I tell her. Taking my hand I run my fingers over the tender skin of her arm. Goosebumps form on the surface, and she looks at me.
“Sorry.”
She shakes her head, “It’s okay.”
I lean down once Marla and Amber are off in their own conversation. “Vince just texted me. He needs me to help him today.”
She smiles and says, “Okay, baby.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you haven’t left my side in weeks. Go spend some time with your brother. It’ll be good for you.”
I kiss her perfect lips. “Thank you. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I slide out from underneath her. “Ladies, I’m going to run and help my brother for a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
Marla stands and hugs me, “Take your time.”
“Thanks,” I respond and high five Amber. She’s so goofy. She has such a free spirit like Cara.
I look in the mirror and decide against changing. Whatever he has planned, he can take me in my basketball shorts and a t-shirt. I grab a hat, put on a pair of tennis shoes, then I hear him honk out front. Damn, that was fast.
I go into the living room and grab my cell phone, placing a kiss on Cara’s forehead and tummy. “Love you,” I say and head for the door.
Vincent is parked out front in his Bugatti with the top down. As I get in, he’s wearing grey dress slacks, and a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Okay, maybe I’m way underdressed for what he has in mind.
“How ya holding up, big papa?” he jokes, speeding off.
“I’m good. How’s my douche of a brother?”
“I’m great.”
“So what do you need my help with today?”
“I take it Lex didn’t call you and spill the beans?”
“Dude, your lingo fucking sucks, who even says ‘spill the beans?’”
“Fuck you. Who says ‘lingo?’”
“Shut up! No, Lex didn’t call me, should I call her?”
“No. Just relax, man, you’re so edgy today. I told you I needed your help with this for Cara. Enjoy a few minutes away. She’s fine. Lex is gonna swing by anyways with lunch in a bit. Plus we won’t be too long.”
“Sorry. I just hate leaving her. It puts me on edge. Last time I left her…well, you remember what happened.”
“I know, but she’s safe. You know you can’t keep her in a bubble all the time. You both are going to go back to work next week.”
“I know,” I respond. Then I think about her going back to work, on her feet for twelve hours a day, dealing with sick patients, and putting herself and the baby at risk.
“How is she?” he asks.
“She’s great. She’s so resilient; I really admire her strength. I hope the baby gets that from her.”
“It’s still weird to hear you talk about a baby.”
“I know it is.”
We’re both quiet for the rest of the drive. I stare out at all of the sights and the people who are enjoying this summer day. It’s not long before Vincent says, “We’re here,” turning into the lot of a Tesla dealership.
“No way. You’re not buying her a car.”
“The hell I’m not.”
“There’s no way she’s going to accept it.”
“Oh yes she will. I promised her a car if Lex said yes when I proposed. You know I’m a man of my word. Plus you have to admit these cars are sick. She’s gonna love it.”
“Dude, I can’t let you do this.”
“Yes, you can and you will. I wouldn’t have brought you if I thought you were going to be such a pain in the ass. I’m making good on my debt. Plus, my nephew or niece needs the safest car available.”
I shake my head and get out of the car, following my brother over to a row of sleek four-door sedans. A salesman greets us dressed in a navy suit with black wavy hair. Man, I really am underdressed today.
“Gentleman, I’m Raj. What brings you in today?”
“Nice to meet you, Raj. I’m Vincent, this is my brother, Abel.” We both shake Raj’s hand. “We need to buy a car for my sister-in-law,” Vincent says. Hearing him use the term so casually catches me off guard.
“Perfect, will she be coming in as well to pick it out and do the paperwork?”
“No, it’s a gift and I’ll be paying cash. I was hoping I could put it in her and my brother’s name?”
“Yes, sir, that’s not a problem. Do you know which model?”
“I was thinking the four-door S. After researching, that seems to be the most practical and has the best safety features.”
“The S is a great vehicle. Follow me this way; I’ll show you what we have in stock. If there’s something that we don’t have we can always custom order it for you.”
I walk behind them looking at the rows and rows of cars. Cara really does need a new car. I’m sure it will still be a few weeks before she sees any insurance money for hers. Plus, that’ll just be enough for another used car. This will be brand new, top of the line, with the best safety features for her and the baby.
“What color do you think she’ll like?” Vincent asks me.
“Oh, man. I honestly don’t think she’ll care. She’s going to be so excited, it could be shit brown and she would love it.”
Raj laughs. “Women seem to lean towards the white and silver colors. I have a white one right here. Surprisingly this one has black interior; most have white on white. It’s a Tesla thing.”
“Dude, it’s gorgeous,” I say.
“Can we test drive this one?” Vincent asks Raj.
“Sure, I’ll just need a driver’s license and I can grab the key.” Raj takes Vincent’s ID, and runs inside.
“Are you sure about this, Vince?”
He laughs at me and shakes his head. “Yes. Don’t ask me again, or I’ll buy you one too.”
I lift both my hands up signaling defeat. “Are you sure about the white?” he asks me.
“Yeah. Her room is white, so I know she loves the color.”
Raj hands Vincent the key, who tosses it to me and says, “You’re driving.”
I know better than to argue with him. Quite frankly, if my family is going to be in this car, I need to be comfortable with it as well. The three of us load up and Raj explains the bells and whistles of the interior. There’s a touch screen on the display panel – it’s huge! It’s also an electric car, so no gas is required, which is awesome.
Pulling out onto the road, I notice the vehicle handles exceptionally well. It’s smooth and easy to maneuver. “Raj, what if you need to charge the car while you’re out during the day?” I ask.
“I’m glad you asked that. I was just going to mention that across the city, Tesla has multiple charging stations located at popular attractions. All of them are in their own special parking locations. You pull in, front row, plug in, and enjoy your day. But you shouldn’t need to do that often; your battery will run for three hundred miles on a single charge. And we include an extra battery that can easily be exchanged if needed in less than three minutes.”
Driving back to the dealership, Vincent asks me, “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect. She’s going to love it. Thank you, Vince.”
“It’s my pleasure. We’ll take it, Raj.”
“Awesome, I think your brother’s wife will love it.”
“Yes, yes, she will,” Vincent says, not correcting Raj.
The paperwork is easy, I guess because there isn’t much to be done. Cara just needs to stop by and sign her half. Then Vincent hands over his black AMEX card and we are on our way to Cara’s. I can’t wait to see the smile on her face when she sees her new car. Pulling up, Alexa’s Porsche is in the driveway next to my truck. I guess that’s my cue to park on the street. I do so and climb out just as Vincent greets me.
“Do you want me to get her?” I ask, handing him the key.
“Have her come to us.” He leans in and presses the horn a few times. I see Amber look out the kitchen window and then the front door opens. My mouth turns into a smile at the sight of her. She is stunning, dressed in a white linen dress with a brown leather belt below her boobs. As she walks towards us, I swear she is starting to show a little bit.
“What the hell is this?” she asks me.
“Your new car,” Vincent interjects and tosses her the key.
“Holy shit. No way.”
She looks from my brother to me and wraps her arm around my waist. Shocked would be the best way I could describe the expression on her face. “Why?”
“Well, for starters, your car is totaled. And I told you I would buy you one. I’m just paying off my debt,” he says.
She slaps his arm and he flinches away from her laughing. “That was a joke!” she yells.
“Oh, it was? Well, too late now. Enjoy your new car.”
“I don’t even know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything, baby. I already fought with Vincent about this. Accept his gift and let’s take it for a test drive.”
She lets go of my waist and hugs him. As she reaches her arms around his neck and presses herself against him, she is definitely showing. I can see the small bump pushing through her white dress. This is really going to happen.
Chapter 26
Forever
Waking up next to Cara is such a surreal feeling. I’ve dreamt of this so many times and since she is home, it still doesn’t feel real. This morning I feel like a ball of nerves. I’m hoping to have all of that eased at her appointment today.
I know I’ve been overbearing but my mind keeps drifting back to my past with Abigail, and I’m terrified that something is going to happen
to Cara and the baby. She has been so tired and that scares me. While I lie here and watch her sleep peacefully, I don’t want to wake her, but I have to. She’s a picture of perfection. Her lips are slightly parted, with her hair spread across her pillow. Her cheeks are red and I worry she has a fever. I lean down and kiss her cheek to check, but it’s cool to my lips. A smile spans her face and she stretches. Nudging my head into her neck, I continue to bathe her with kisses to wake her.
She laughs a little and pushes me away. I look at her as she blinks a few times, trying to completely wake up. “That tickles,” she grumbles.
I crease my eyebrows and run my hand over her neck to sooth the skin I just ravished with my mouth. “Better?” I ask.
She nods her head and I lay my head against her chest, listening to her heartbeat and breathing. “What time is it?” she asks.
“It’s almost noon. I didn’t want to wake you, but I don’t want you to rush getting ready for your appointment.”
“Thank you. I can’t wait to see the baby today.”
I take a deep breath thinking about what the day will hold. I know everything will be okay. It has to be. God wouldn’t have given them back to me in turn to take them away. The appointment will go as planned and she will get the green light on her health and the baby’s.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Why don’t you get ready and I’ll make you some breakfast?”
“Thanks, babe, that would be great.”
I kiss her lips and then her belly before I hop off the bed and head out of the room. Just give her some space. I tell myself that, but it’s not as easy. I force myself into the kitchen and pour another cup of coffee. Once I take a sip, I look in the cabinets and then fridge.
I decide on a bagel and some orange juice. Just when I push the toaster down, I notice a note on the counter from Amber. I got Mom out of the house so you guys could enjoy your appointment in peace. Love ya.
Geez, that girl has had my back. I really need to find a way to thank her. As I finish up Cara’s breakfast, she comes out with her hair in a towel, dressed in a short summer dress.