“I want to help.”Clasping her elbow, Noa begrudgingly accepts my assistance off the exam table.
“It’s a wise idea to let him help, Noa.Pregnancy can be brutal on a lot of women.”The doctor’s advice makes Noa sigh as she gives in.
“Fine, fine, he can help.”
Noticing her fight a smile lets me know that Noa is starting to see me as more than just the father.
After scheduling the next appointment, we take a casual walk outside.It’s an unexpectedly warm day for the time of year, especially since a snowstorm is predicted in the next few days.
“I can tell you’re thinking about something,” she says as we approach her car.
I crack my neck side to side, preparing for battle.“I am, but you’re probably going to protest.”She raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow at that.“I want you and the kids to move in with me.”Her jaw drops.Not what she expected.
“At most, I thought you were going to demand buying me a new bed,” she mutters, her words both incredulous and optimistic.
“I didn’t see the point when my ultimate end goal is to have all four of you under my roof.”That earns me a huffed breath.“Whatever argument you try to come up with, I’ll counteroffer until you agree.”
She seems to think about it before responding.“I have eight months left on our lease.”
“Leave that to me to worry about.”I’ll pay the entire thing off if necessary.
“I want to pay our way.”Her arms cross defensively.
“If you tell me more about their father and what’s happened with him.”Being left in the dark is challenging, knowing he’s a presence in their lives.
She mutters something I don’t catch, then says, “He’s behind bars.”Her jaw clenches, and from the shifty way she avoids my gaze, I realize there’s more to what she’s not telling me.“He’s not normally in our lives.What happened was a freak occurrence.”
“You have some sort of protective order against him?”She nods.“How long does he get for breaking it?”
“I don’t know.A few months, maybe?”I can tell she’s uncomfortable, so I drop the rest of the questions for now.
“Do you have to go back to work?”I ask, disliking the idea of her not resting, but I’ll have to pick my battles wisely with my beautiful, stubborn, deeply independent woman.
“Yes, but I’m solely in the office today, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”
Growling my frustration, her face softens.
“I’d prefer you come home and spend the day relaxing and doing some online shopping to decorate the kids’ bedrooms.”She looks at me, shocked again.
“Why are you doing this, Carmine?You’ve done the whole children thing already.Why would you want to do it again?”
“Because I want you and our baby.They’re great kids, and it's easy to love them.Even if Joey doesn’t like me.”
“He doesn’t trust men.”Her sad expression is evidence of what they’ve been through because of this man.
“We have plenty of time for him to learn that he can count on me.It’ll be on his timeline.”I can’t chance their disapproval.Noa will always do what’s best for them, and living without her is not possible.Not any longer than I already have.“Can I drop you off at work?”
“What about my car?”
“If you give me the keys, I’ll have Dylan come get it and bring it home.”
“I have to pick up the kids after I get off.”
“We’ll do it together.”She needs to understand she can rely on me.Assume that I’ll do whatever she or the kids need without thought.“If you give me your house keys, I can go over there and start packing things up.Get movers scheduled so all you have to do is direct traffic.”
Chewing on the inside of her mouth, she winces and holds her side.“I’m okay….Yeah, I guess that’ll be fine.”
Unlocking her car door, she grabs a larger bag from the backseat, locks it again, and hands me the keys, explaining which are for the lobby door and which are for the apartment.Once she’s tucked into my SUV, I text Dylan to gather some men to help me pack up her place and then hire a moving company.When he’s told to meet me at her building to get her car keys, he huffs about it, but he’ll do it.
