“I have a question for you.”
I lift a brow, thankful for the change of subject. He pulls the sheet over me, and I lie my head on the pillow.
“Is your mom the reason you’re struggling to stay?” he asks.
I take a deep breath. “She was diagnosed when I graduated college. Long story short, I stayed home to help her. It was … a big adjustment for all of us. Then I never left, but I knew it was a lot for my dad. So I was happy to help.”
“How have they managed without you all this time?” he asks.
“When I talked to her, they said they’re fine.”
“Why does it sound like you don’t believe it?” he asks.
I shrug and skim my thumb over his hand. “She doesn’t want to be a burden to anyone, and I get that, but MS steals from you, and it’s painful and frustrating. I know she gets angry, but I also know unless I can see it plainly on her face, she might not tell me.”
Cooper nods thoughtfully.
“So you feel like you should go back to Colorado to help them?”
“I do, and I feel like I’m being split in five different directions.”
Cooper sighs. “Well, you’re still here for a while.”
“I am.”
He hums. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Now I’m really nervous,” I mutter.
He takes my hand, and I keep my attention on how they’re linked together.
“You mentioned that you didn’t know if being a mom was in the cards for you. Would you … uh, could you see yourself being one?” he asks.
This was not the change of subject I was hoping for.
My chest splits, the open gaping hole that’s been filled with other things still remains. Small things, tiny wins, ease the ache for a short time until it comes back, over and over again, until you feel so ragged, so beat up that it’s hard to keep hoping.
“Yes, it’s something I’ve always wanted. I’ve done many other things in my life, but I think it might all pale in comparison.”
Cooper nods. “Naomi might not be my daughter by blood, in a manner of speaking. But that’s true, everything in life has paled in comparison to her.”
The storm finally passes. It’s quiet, and a part of me feels like I’m an entirely different person. Everything has altered; I’ve changed and my feelings have deepened for him, this town, and my life here.
“I don’t want to leave you,” he rasps taking my face between his palms, kissing me so passionately I want to cry. He rests his forehead on mine.
“I don’t want you to either, but you need to get back to Naomi.”
He reluctantly agrees and works on putting his damp clothes on.
I follow him to the door. Before he grabs his hat, he pulls me into his chest, dipping his nose into my neck. “I’ll call you later and we’ll go get your car tomorrow, okay?” he says against my shoulder.
“Okay.”
He groans and kisses me one more time. “I’m going to miss you,” he murmurs.
I giggle against his lips. “We’ll be apart for a handful of hours.”
Cooper smiles and kisses each hand. “I guess I’m a stage-five clinger then.”
