“Yep. All the time.” Cedar said as he slipped on his jacket. “You get used to it. C’mon Peanut, let’s go out!”
“Want me to get dinner started?” I offered, wanting to help in some way. We’d spent most the day doing Christmas crafts, and it still amazed me how hands on of a dad he was.
“Unnecessary. I’ve got beef stew in the crock pot.”
“How are you so perfect?”
“Took some time, but I got there.” Cedar grinned. “The kids should be distracted until dinner. I’m going to plow the driveway quickly. You good?”
I nodded, though something inside me tugged at my belly and made me pause.
I hadn’t finished my work deadline. I hadn’t talked to anybody in my family for weeks.
What was I going to do when it was time to face reality? As much as I wanted, I couldn’t hide forever.
Later that night, after the kids were in bed, I told Cedar my concerns.
“I want you to live here. With me. But I understand there are probably some details that need to be ironed out. If you don’t want to work anymore, you don’t have to.”
I looked at him, searching his eyes, sympathy reflected in them.
“Maybe you can work your job from here?” Cedar asked, his voice hopeful.
I chuckled, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling his face down to mine. I kissed his soft lips. “I love you. So much.”
“It’s a good idea, isn’t it?” Cedar covered my hands with his and kissed them.
“It is. I’m just not sure my boss will want me to work from home so far out of the city.”
“You never know until you ask, right? And if she says no, you don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
I made a face. “That’s the second time you said that. I love our life together, don’t get me wrong. But I enjoy working.”
“I understand. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy.”
“Thank you.”
After working all night and finishing my piece, I called my boss after emailing it to her, letting her know I sent it over. “Would it be an option to turn my job into a work from home position?”
“I don’t see why not. Why, what’s going on? Do you love Appleridge?”
“I more than love it. I fell in love.”
“Aw, Aurora! I want the details. We’ll meet up soon for lunch, yes?”
“Yes, I’d love to.”
I hung up the phone feeling shocked and surprised that it went so well. My life was really changing, and I welcomed it with open arms.
There wasn’t anything waiting for me in the city at home, nothing besides my job, when here there was everything waiting for me- Cedar, his two beautiful children, and the life we couldbuild together. I’d be silly to turn it all away. But more than that, I’d be heartbroken.
“And just like that, my life is beginning here.” I said to Cedar as I walked into the living room and handed him a fresh mug of coffee.
“It is?” He turned to face me from where he stood in front of the Christmas tree.
“Yes. My boss said she could arrange something. I’m your new permeant house guest. If you’ll have me, of course.”
Cedar took both our coffee mugs and placed them down on the coffee table. The kids went to their grandparents’ last night, leaving us with the whole place to ourselves. There was a lot of misbehaving, but only the best kind.
