Page 31

An hour and a half later, after a quick stop at my house to pick up some clothes and my glasses, I pulled into Andrew’s driveway. It was just after eight thirty, but since it was summer it was still light outside. As I approached the house I saw Goldie jump up onto the table by the front window, watching me curiously. The cat had warmed up to me over the last few months, enough that she let me pet her now and occasionally deigned to sit on my lap if Andrew wasn’t around. Baby steps.

I rang the bell, then knocked on the door, but no one answered. I guess we should have exchanged house keys. Andrew had suggested it once, but I’d felt uncomfortable about it, so he let the subject drop. I sat on the top step and pulled out my phone.

Katy: Where are you?

Andrew: At my mom’s house. Why?

Katy: I’m at your house.

After a short pause a group text came through.

Marianne: Katy, I didn’t know you were coming this weekend! Come over, I’ll feed you.

Katy: Thanks, that’s so sweet, but I already ate.

Marianne: Are Steph and Christopher with you?

Katy: No. I came alone.

Marianne: Come over for dessert then.

Andrew: Mom. I’m sure Katy is tired from the drive.

Marianne: You’ll take it to go then.

Andrew: I’ll be right there.

Ten minutes later Andrew pulled in. I followed him into the garage. As soon as he hopped out of the car he pulled me into a hug.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, sorry to drop by unannounced but… I missed you.”

He leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “I missed you too. Let’s go inside.”

I followed Andrew into the house, and he led me to the kitchen, setting a Tupperware container on the table.

“Mom sent peanut butter chocolate chip cookies,” he said. “What do you want to drink?”

“Nothing caffeinated. I drank a huge coffee on the way here.”

Carmen had sent me with a thermos of extra strong coffee. I was going to be wired all night. And probably needing to use the bathroom.

“Water it is.”

Andrew brought two bottles of water to the table and we both sat down. He slid the cookies towards me, and I took one, taking a couple of bites while I decided what I wanted to say. I’d practiced it a hundred times in my head on the way up here, but all the words had disappeared from my head.

“Are you pregnant?” he finally asked.

I burst out laughing. “God no. I’m forty-five years old.”

“But you’re still able to get pregnant, right?”

After the first few weeks we were together we’d both gotten tested and stopped using condoms, relying on my IUD for birth control. I should have known then that something was different about this man.

“Theoretically, yes. But no, I’m not pregnant.”

He studied me for a few seconds while I worked up the courage to say what I’d come here to tell him.

“It seems like something heavy is on your mind. You look very serious.”

When I just stared at him, his face fell.

“Oh no. Are you here to break up with me?”

I loved that he seemed so devastated at the idea of me dumping him. It made what I had to say next easier. I took a deep breath and gave him a tremulous smile.

“I’m not breaking up with you,” I told him. “I came to tell you that I love you and I’m ready to make a commitment. I want us to figure out a way to be together. Permanently.”