It may have been just seconds, but Carla was surprised at the amount of information that her brain processed. He was in a gray pinstriped business suit, minus the coat. The sleeves of the white linen shirt were rolled up his elbow. His tie hung loosely around his neck, the top button of his shirt undone.
His hair was windswept like he ran his fingers through it several times. His eyes looked tired and bloodshot like he hardly had any sleep at all. A six o’clock shadow creased his chin and Carla had to stifle the urge to reach out and stroke it.
The eyes that stared at her came alive and then just as suddenly the light was gone. She saw his jaw twitch in surprise and then become stiff once more.
“Carla?” Falcon greeted in disbelief.
“Hello, Falcon. May I come in?” she asked.
“Of course,” he replied hurriedly ushering her inside. “You took me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
They sat across each other like two formal strangers meeting for the first time. Carla knew the ball was in her court and needed to get the conversation going. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, but the words fled her mouth before she could begin talking.
Relief over seeing him again swept like waves from an incoming tide. Although she didn’t mean to, tears gather in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks just the same.
“Carla,” Falcon said gruffly, “please don’t cry.” He stood and sat down besides her, putting an around her shoulders trying to comfort her.
His nearness was like an intoxicating drug. Carla buried her head on his neck and sobbed.
“Is it the baby? Did something happen?” Panic was clear in his voice.”
“No, the baby is fine,” Carla sniffled.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Margaret called and told me about your conversation. She told me about the thing you said, how you were willing to offer your heart in exchange for the baby’s life. It blew me away.”
“Carla, if I can do more than that, I would. I just want you to be happy.”
“But why,” Carla asked looking up at him.
“Do you really need to ask? Because I love you.” Falcon replied
Carla felt a great weight lift off her shoulder. She was drowning for a long time and suddenly a warm swirl lifted her body and brought her back to the surface. She felt like she had come free from the shackles that held her back for so long.
“You do?” She asked still unbelieving.
“Of course, I do. I was hurt when I first learned that you wanted to keep the baby a secret from me. But I realized I must have hurt you too when I forgot about that night in my apartment. I didn’t really forget. It was just so frenzied, so unromantic, and I didn’t feel right about it,” Falcon revealed.
“Being in Paris with you was more my idea of wooing and courting you. But I didn’t want to come on too strong for fear that you may runaway. So, when you finally came to me that night, I knew it was how things should be.”
“It killed me thinking you and Lindsay were back with each other. I thought I have lost you forever. I held on to my pride because it was the only thing that was keeping me sane. When you offered to raise the baby with me, I thought it was only because, for you, it was the right thing to do.” Carla confessed.
Falcon exhaled. He reached for her chin and tilted her face. “Carla, with or without the baby, I love you. But there was always something that kept holding you back. I couldn’t understand. I had this feeling that you weren’t in love with me enough to want to be with me for always. That was the reason I asked you to stay at the house and finish the job. It was the hardest the decision for me to leave you there. But I hoped you would find what it was you were searching for.”
“Margaret explained it to me so clearly. She said I had this idea in my head that I was imperfect and that I kept on searching for the perfect me that would fit the perfect you.” Carla said.
“Oh Carla. I don’t need a perfect you. I just need you.” Falcon replied.
Carla kept quiet. She never felt happier or freer in her entire life.
She felt Falcon relax and loosen as she leaned against him.
“So, you’re okay with being here with me tonight?” Falcon asked as he stroked her hair and caressed her ear.
“There’s no place I’d rather be, “Carla replied with a soft sigh.
The feel of his touch made her quiver. He was so close she could feel every rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. He smoothed the front of her shirt and caressed her belly. She had begun to show, although not big enough for anyone to notice.
“I still can’t believe you’re having my baby,” he confessed.
