I said, “I’m okay, I think I may have needed that after the shitty day I had.”
“Mommy, Nick said a bad word. He has to give me a dollar for the potty mouth jar.”
“Trinity, we are guests in Nick’s home. That rule only applies to our house.”
“Oh man, are you serious, mommy? I always charge grandma.”
“Nick, I’m sorry. This was unexpected, and I should have called first,” Karen said.
When my senses finally returned, I got up and stopped Karen before she reached the door. I guess the girls knew what I was going to do, because they didn’t follow their mom.
I said, “Hey, girls, the cookie jar is filled with a brand-new batch of chocolate chip cookies just baked this morning. Glasses are on the counter, and the milk is on the bottom shelf. Gigi, you think you could take your sister inside for a snack while I speak to your mom?”
“Okay, I will. Thanks Nick.”
“Only two each. You haven’t had dinner yet,” Karen called out to the girls, but they were already gone.
I said, “Now, before another word is spoken, please give me a kiss.”
“That, I can do,” she said, putting the bags down as she walked over and wrapped her arms around my neck, bringing me down to her mouth. “I should have done that when I arrived, but the girls got to you first. Hello, how are you?”
“Better now that you are here, and I love seeing the girls.”
“Well, a lot happened today. I closed on the building.”
“What? I didn’t think that was happening until Friday.”
“Dana phoned me this morning just as I was getting the girls to school. With the inspections completed and approved, my paperwork filled out, and the loan secured, all I had to do was sign on the dotted line. The sellers asked if they could move up the date since everything had already been completed. I took the quickest shower of my life, went to the bank to get my closing money, and met them at Dana’s office. You are now looking at an independent business owner of her own salon!”
I lifted her up in my arms and spun Karen around in my arms as I said, “I am so happy for you, baby! You did it! I couldn’t be more proud of you.”
I held her in my arms, and she didn’t let go. When I kissed her again, I saw a tear in her eye.
I asked, “What’s the matter, baby?”
“Absolutely nothing. And that’s the best part.”
“I’m not following.”
“Nick, for the first time in a long while, everything is right. I am so happy right now, and the old twinges of doubt that used to keep me up at night are long gone. I have the business I always wanted, and the man that I have always loved who calls me baby, hugs me hard, and spins me around in his arms. I love you, Nick.”
Go ahead, asshole, tell her how you feel before you risk losing the best thing that has ever walked into your life.
I told her, “Karen, I love you too! I don’t know why I didn’t tell you sooner, but I do, and I have never been happier.”
We kissed again, and then I saw Gigi and Trinity looking on. I looked up to Karen, and she gave me the biggest smile. I knew they heard us and may have been a little nervous on what to do next. Trinity looked for approval from her big sister before coming toward me. This little girl wanted to charge me; I could sense her eagerness to just run. Gigi smiled at Trinity, and it was ready, set, and go. I made it easy for her and knelt on my knees with my arms wide open for Trinity to come in for a hug. I kept my balance this time, and then she did something I truly did not expect.
She said, “I love you, Nick.”
My dad always used to tell me that he loved my mother so much, that his cup had runneth over with love. At that moment with Trinity still in my arms, that was how I felt.
I responded, “I love you too, sweetheart.”
Gigi was still shuffling her feet, not sure what to do. She looked at her mom, and then Karen walked over to her daughter. I stayed where I was with Trinity now bouncing on my knee. The hardwood was killing my knee, but it was worth enduring it for Trinity and that big happy smile. The girls were only a few years apart, but Gigi lived up to her big sister role and took it very seriously. She was pretty tough for being only eight years old. I always made it clear to Karen in the past that I was here if she ever needed to vent, but Karen being Karen, she always smiled and politely declined. She was a private person and never wore her heart where the world could see it. For Karen to do that, it would be full-on disclosure, where it would leave her exposed. My girl was not like that, but I think she was coming around.
“Talk to me, Gigi. What are you feeling right now?” Karen asked her daughter.
“You really love him, mommy?”
Karen looked over her shoulder and answered, “Yes, baby, I do.”
“Don’t you love daddy anymore?” Gigi asked.
Man! I want to beat the hell out of Alex Mancini, more than I have ever wanted to hit anyone before. He is such a piece of shit for hurting these girls and not treating them like the treasures they are.
“I’m sorry I was so mean,” Gigi said. “I just wanted daddy to come back to us. I thought that if I was mean to Nick, he would leave, and then daddy would come home.”
“Oh, sweetie, come here,” Karen said to her.
I watched Karen stand, pick up Gigi, and carry her over to the couch. I finally got up and moved over with Trinity to the oversized chair.
Karen said, “Gigi, your dad loves you and Trinity; he just had a hard time loving me. No matter what happens, the love we feel for you girls will always be strong, and you never have to doubt it. But there’s room in your heart to let people in, sweetie. Mommy has learned that lesson herself, and I would have never told Nick that I love him if I didn’t mean it. He’s one of the good guys, baby.”
“I love you, mommy.”
“I love you too, sweetie, so much.”
“Can I hug Nick now?”
Tears fell, not just from Karen and the girls, but from me as well. Trinity ran over to her mom, and then once again, I held open my arms. Without hesitation, Gigi walked over and hugged me back.
Gigi said, “I love you, Nick. Thank you for loving us back.”
After my hug with Gigi, Karen and Trinity joined in, and it was one huge love fest of hugs.
Trinity then interrupted us and said, “I’m hungry.”
“Me too!” I said. “Let’s eat.”
All throughout dinner, we had animated conversations, with the girls asking me questions about my job and wanting to come down to the station house and see the fire trucks. It was a perfect evening. Well, almost.
I wanted some alone time with Karen. As happy as she appeared, she was a skittish one, and I needed to hold her. She phoned Veronica to pick up the girls. Veronica would stay the night, and if Karen decided to stay over with me, she would handle getting them off to school. That took some convincing on my part, but I needed tonight with her.
We finished cleaning the kitchen, and then we shared some cheesecake and wine that Karen brought over. I started a fire and piled the pillows by the fireplace.
“This is awesome. What bakery did you get this from?” I asked as I forked the last bite from my plate.
“Karen’s kitchen.”
“You made this?”
Punching me in my arm, she said, “Don’t act so surprised, I do know how to cook and bake too.”
“Clearly, you have a hidden talent. This was probably the best I have ever tasted.” I moved the plates aside and refilled our wine glasses. “What’s up baby? You are too quiet over there.”
“Don’t be mad, okay?” she said.
“Talk to me. We need to be able to do that, babe, and I promise you that I will always listen. Can you come closer? I want to hold you.”
She crawled over and snuggled against my chest.
She took a breath, and then began, “I’ve been watching you with the girls, and not just tonight. I watch your every move with them, Nick, and they are so happ
y to be around you. It just reminds me how much they need a dad in their lives. You make it look effortless, and it makes me want you more. I can’t stop myself from thinking that it’s exactly what the girls are thinking too. I know Gigi does; it was clearly written all over her face tonight. She finally let her protective guard down and accepted you into her heart. Trinity is only six years old. I’m not sure if she can separate the two, but you can see how much she loves you.”
I wanted to say something, but Karen placed her finger over my mouth.
She continued, “Please, Nick, allow me to say this. I know I put you on the spot tonight with throwing out the ‘I love you’s,’ especially when I said that I would wait for it. It was there, Nick. It’s always been you. Damn! I’m stupid. I have to go.”
Quicker than a cat, Karen was up and out of my arms and running for the door.
“Hey, stop this now,” I called out.
My curt tone did the trick, and she stopped at the door.
I said, “Please turn around and look at me, please? Karen, do you honestly believe that after everything we have been through, I can so easily throw out those words to you as if they don’t mean something to me, and to us? I didn’t say those words to gain points with winning the girls’ affection, or yours for that matter. It is not something I have done in years, and it just feels better this time around. I’m not a kid anymore chasing something that was never reachable in the first place. I want this, Karen, and whatever comes next, I want that too and only with you.”
I clasped her hand in mine and walked us back over to the fireplace. It was my favorite feature in my home. I remodeled the entire mantle and laid each brick with my own two hands. I loved it, and now I could share it with Karen.
I told her, “Baby, you are something I didn’t see coming, and I like it that way. A complete breath of fresh air. Too many things in life are predictable. You, Karen Lombardi, are the unexpected, and that’s just one of the many things I love about you. The girls are an extension of you. I would have never pursued you if I didn’t want them too! I’ve been alone for a long time, and so have you. Let’s not be alone anymore and really be together. I mean it, Karen. I want you in my life. I want those little girls to be mine and for them to call me daddy. I just need to know if you want that too. Because if you do, then we agree to move forward and merge our lives.”
She buried her face into my chest as I held her.
With tears falling from her beautiful eyes, she said, “What do we merge into?”
I kissed the top of her head, and then held her face in my hands so I could look into her deep brown eyes when I answered her question, proving how serious I was.
I told her, “We become a family, baby. That’s what we merge into.”
“A family?” she asked, as I wiped away her tears and kissed her gently.
“Yes, Karen, we merge into a family, one that we can make in any way that makes us happy. Our family.”
“Nick, is that what you really want? I mean it, Nick, and you have to be one hundred percent sure.”
I didn’t answer the way she wanted. Instead, I got up and held out my hand. She took it once again but wasn’t sure what I would do next until I began walking upstairs. She had no choice but to follow me. There was no way I was letting go of her hand.
“Nick, are you sure?”
“Baby, I never have been surer of anything in my life, but only if you are. You can always say no and I can just hold you, but I need to be near you tonight.”
Karen looked beautiful standing in my bedroom. With slow ease, she unbuttoned her blouse and slowly slid it down her arms. She then unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down over her gorgeous ass and down her legs. Standing in only her bra and panties with the moonlight glow behind her, I licked my lips in anticipation that soon this beautiful body would be under mine. She allowed me time to take her in, all of her. Every toned curve. She was perfect, and she was mine.
“It’s been a while, Nick. I’m not sure really what to do here,” she said.
“That’s okay. I’ll take care of you, and we will go slowly.”
I lifted my shirt from the bottom and tossed it over my head. Karen unfastened my belt and shoved my jeans and boxers down my legs.
“I’m naked,” I told her.
“Yes, you are.”
“You are wearing too many clothes. They need to go,” I said.
I stepped closer to Karen with my hard length pressing against her. One hand was at the nape of her neck keeping her in place, while the other unhooked her bra. Her back was smooth, and her skin felt like satin. I stroked up and down her spine until I felt the goosebumps. Hooking my fingers around the band of her panties, I slid them down as Karen lifted her leg to make it easy for me.
I told her, “Step back into the moonlight, and let me look at you. You are beautiful, Karen Lombardi, and I am going to love on you all night long.”
“Promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”
Not another word needed to be spoken between us. I made sweet love to her all through the night. When I woke the next morning, she was right here in my arms and suggested we take a shower.
“I think I like showering with you, especially in this one made for two,” she said.
“I’ll make sure to pass your comments along to the contractor.”
“Is he hot like you?”
“Oh baby, he’s so hot, he puts fires out for a living.”
“Aww, Nick, that’s the cheesiest line ever.”
“Yeah, I’m out of practice. Teach me how to flirt with you.”
“I can do that. When can we begin?”
I responded, “How about I start at the nape of your neck and make my way down to here?”
I slowly ran my finger down between her breasts, stopping just above her entrance that was dripping with arousal. Man, she felt amazing with her lathered up body rubbing against mine.
“Nick,” she whispered as I kissed her neck and made my way down her body until my knees hit the floor of the shower.
“Lift your leg, baby,” I suggested.
Without hesitation, Karen placed her leg over my shoulder as I teased her clit with my mouth and then plunged deep inside with my tongue, relishing the taste of her.
“I’m close, baby, so close,” she cried out. Gripping my hair, she shouted and cursed loud enough to blow my roof off.
“Oh my god, that was amazing,” she said.
“So happy I can start your day off with a bang,” I told her.
She swatted me away, and we finished showering and got dressed. As we made our way downstairs, I asked Karen what she wanted for breakfast, only to be shocked to see my mother by the stove getting ready to cook. Karen turned red in embarrassment.
I said, “Morning, mom. I wasn’t expecting to see you this morning.”
“Clearly. Morning Karen! Morning Nick! So, who wants eggs?”
“Breaking news! From insults to new allegations, how will each candidate fair up in their next and final debate? With just under twenty-seven days until America decides, we are live from New York with John Robindale reporting. Next, we bring you a story of hope, as a high school cancer patient is defying the odds by playing in her school’s championship basketball game. Her story will touch your heart and inspire you never to give up on your dreams. Her slogan of fighting cancer is catching national attention. Stay where you are, as this is ABC News Primetime Los Angeles with Carter Newbanks.”
“Good evening, and thank you for joining us tonight. We begin our news coverage with political correspondent, John Robindale, in New York. John…”
“Good evening, Carter…”
As we watched behind the scenes as Carter began his broadcast, Sally smiled over at me and said, “Please tell me your man has a flaw somewhere.”
“Sorry, Sally, but he’s kind of perfect and all mine, so back off, my friend.”
“Okay, okay, but if you don’t marry him soon, I swear I may not be responsible for m
y actions. Oh, and we are having a bachelorette party, right?”
“Not sure yet, let me speak with Carter about it before you start hiring strippers. Now, please get back to work. He’s back on in five.”
“Got it, boss!” she said.
I smiled at Sally and blew Carter a kiss as he began his news coverage again. All was good on the newsroom floor. Stan was lurking about, and I tried my best to avoid him at all costs. I stayed in reach while another show wrapped, and then the final segment of tonight’s newscast flashed on my screen.
Oh fuck, a promo for the upcoming firefighter ironman competition! Carter is going to lose his freaking mind. Thank you very much, Stan. I guess he showed me.
I scanned over to where Carter was perusing his notes, and I couldn’t help but see his expression change as he continued to read on. He was the utmost professional, and I knew he would carry himself with nothing but class.
“Finally tonight, our great city is preparing for the onslaught of firefighters from all over the country, as they compete for the ultimate firefighter ironman competition. It is an annual event that began one year after 9/11. It is a time-honored tradition that pays tribute to the hard-working men and women who proudly serve their cities and their communities. This year, Los Angeles will serve as the host city for this event. Join ABC News and our anchors as reporting will begin live on October 14th at nine am. This concludes tonight’s broadcast. I’m Carter Newbanks, and I thank you for joining us. Have a great night wherever you are, and we will see you here tomorrow. Good night.”
“And that’s a wrap people. Great show, Carter,” Denny called out from our control room.
Unhooking his mic, Carter left the desk and walked toward his office. I followed close behind him, and then he changed direction and walked toward Stan’s office. Carter knocked on Stan’s door, and then closed it with a slam, not a big one, but enough to get his point across.
Oh shit, he was pissed. What do I do? Do I knock? Or do I just walk in and break up what could end up being really bad? You know what? I’m going home. I put in nearly fifteen hours here today, and I am more than ready for a glass of wine while I soak my tired ass in the tub. If Carter wants to go at Stan and behave like the jealous fiancé he is right now, it’s on him.
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