“What thing?” she asks, swiping a nearly dry tear from her cheek.
“Operation Prove Bordeaux Wrong.”
She chuckles again, smiling up at me.
I take a breath and then I lay it all out there. I’ve been holding back, afraid I’d scare her off. But now? I know she needs to hear this. Or at least I think she does.
I stare straight into her eyes and say, “I want a family, Angie.”
She nods.
I reach out and tip her face up. And then I say, “I want this family.”
I don’t even soften the blow by saying someday down the road. I just let the truth hang there between us. I do want this family. I want her and her boys. I want to be the father and husband they need. And I am ready to show her any way I can that I’m serious.
She smiles. “Can you be patient with me? This hit me hard.”
“I’m patient. Well. I can be, when motivated.” I smile down at her. “But the operation starts tomorrow.”
She laughs, lightly shaking her head.
I lean in and kiss her cheek. She wraps her arms around me and holds on.
“Thank you,” she says.
“Nothing to thank me for. You have every right to be sure a man who wants you wants everything that comes with loving you. I’m that man. And I’m going to prove it to you.”
“I believe you just might,” she says softly.
I run my hand down her hair, holding her close.
She eventually pulls back. “I have to get home. The boys and Mom will be waiting for me so we can eat.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell her.
“Okay,” she says.
And then she climbs into her van and I watch her as she drives away.
The next morning, when Laura and Angie show up to the Dippity Do, I’m standing on the sidewalk with Angie’s favorite coffee in a to-go cup from Bean There Done That.
“None for me?” Laura asks.
“I’m not trying to prove I’m the man you need to spend your future with,” I say.
“Well, I don’t know about that,” Laura says. “You see, friends have a lot of sway in these things.”
“Laura!” Angie says, taking a sip of her coffee and humming.
“What? I’m not wrong.”
“Well then, you’d better let me know what you like for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Angie asks.
“I’m bringing you coffee in the morning. And one day, I’ll be making it for you while you stay in bed and I get up with the boys. But let’s just take it one coffee at a time.”
“Wheweee,” Laura says. “That’s one heck of a line, EJ.”
