Page 54 of Mia Amata

“Supper,” I said.

“Well, it smells great,” he said, smiling.

I looked at him. “Are you hungry?”

“Famished,” he said. “I worked up an appetite today.”

I went into the kitchen. Jacob sat up on a stool at the counter. I felt him staring at me, turning I said, “What?”

He smiled, “You’re beautiful.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not.”

“Mia Amata,” he said, “you are beautiful. I wish I could teach everyone that hurt you, that made you think you were unworthy of being happy, a lesson.”

I didn’t say anything. My self-worth was almost nil. The fact that Jacob recognized how low it was actually hurt. I started to set the table. He came over to help. I carried the ribs and corn out to the grill; they only needed a couple of minutes there. While they cooked, I finished the mashed potatoes and gravy, sitting those on the table. I went out, pulled the corn and ribs off, and we sat down to eat.

“This smells fantastic,” he exclaimed as he picked up his fork. He took a bit, groaning. “And she cooks too, a woman of many talents.”

“Thank you,” I said smiling. I asked him about his day. He told me about saving a little fawn whose mother had been hit by a car. He took it to a local woman who would raise it on a bottle until it could be released into the wild. We talked about my first day at my new job. I told him all I could, he understood that I couldn’t share what the reports were about. I then told him that Randy knew we had been spending time together.

He raised his eyebrows. “How did that happen?” he asked.

“She comes over every morning for coffee. She has a way of worming information out of me.” He was quiet. “Is that bad that she knows?” I asked, getting up to clear the remains of our supper off the table.

He laughed as he got up and started helping me. “She is very resourceful. She is great though. I don’t mind at all. She will probably tell Josh, but neither of them will tell my parents until we are ready to tell them ourselves. Besides, it is nice to know she will be here for my girlfriend too. I’m glad you are friends.”

When he said girlfriend, I dropped the silverware I was carrying into the kitchen on the floor. He picked them up for me, putting them in the dishwasher. “Girlfriend?” I asked, “Is that what I am?” He came up behind me at the sink, putting his arms around my waist. “I hope so. There is nothing I want more right now than to call you, my girlfriend.” I turned around in his arms and faced him. “We are supposed to take it slow,” I said.

He looked at me, “Are you going to be dating other men?”

“No,” I said.

“So you are going to date me exclusively?” he asked.

I could see where he was going, but I wasn’t sure I was comfortable putting a title on our relationship. “Yes, Jacob, but…” He didn’t let me finish.

“Well, I am not going to be dating anyone but you. We will take things slow, but the terms girlfriend and boyfriend do not mean we are engaged. It just means, at least to me, that we will not be dating other people. Will you be my girlfriend?” I hesitated; he sensed it. “Mia Amata?” He was looking at me worriedly.

“Jacob,” I said. “Have you seriously given this relationship thought? I know we have talked about it; I know you say you love me, but have you really thought about it?”

“Yes, I have,” he replied.

“What will your parents think when you introduce your pregnant girlfriend to them? They are going to dislike me, think I’m a slut or something.” I walked to the window overlooking the deck. He walked over to me. He turned me around to face him, I ducked my head to hide my tears. He pulled me in his arms.

“Oh, Mia. You are not a slut.”

I laughed ruefully. “I’m pregnant with another man’s baby.”

“How many relationships have you had before me?” he asked.

“One.”

He laughed. “That’s hardly a slut. Listen, Mia Amata, my parents will love you. They will see you as the person you are, not for your past. They will not judge you.” He wiped away my tears with his thumb. “What about your friends and other people? They are going to think you knocked me up?”

“So what? Who cares what they think? Besides,” he said, raising my chin, so I was looking at him, “I’m OK with them thinking that.”

“You are?” I was surprised.

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