Page 24 of Worth the Vow

“I still don’t get why you wanted to do this,” Kate says.

I hesitate, wondering how much she knows about Arianna’s childhood. “Has my sister told you about her health as a kid?”

“Which sister? Arianna?”

“Yes.”

“Not really, no. I know she had some health problems, but she’s never gone into detail explaining them to me, and I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to bring up a depressing subject with her.”

I sigh. “Arianna had a relatively rare condition called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome when she was around five, and it destroyed her kidneys. She was on dialysis for quite some time, then had a kidney transplant when she was about seven or eight. It wreaked havoc on her immune system, and she spent so much time in the hospital. More than once, my parents thought she was going to die. She had to have a second kidney transplant a handful of years ago.”

“Oh, wow,” Kate whispers. Her head lands on my shoulder as her hand covers mine. “I had no idea. I’m so sorry, Dominic. That must have been incredibly hard for you to witness.”

“It was. I have a lot of memories ingrained in my mind from those years, and I swore I’d do anything in my power to ensure any woman close to me wouldn’t suffer if I had the means to change her circumstances. I know it’s not the same thing as what she went through, but I can’t let you suffer, Katharine. I just can’t.”

Kate is silent for a moment before squeezing my hand. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll marry you.”

I chuckle as I turn and kiss the top of her head. “Guess it’s a good thing we’re here, then.”

“But,” she says, and I sigh in defeat. “I think we should set some ground rules.”

“That’s fair.”

She turns to me, studying me before speaking. “No sex. And no kissing. Well, after this next one.”

“Alright.” She’s right about it blurring the lines. While I might enjoy a dalliance with her, I can’t fault her for trying to keep things objective.

“And I don’t want any of your money.”

I raise a brow at her, waiting for an explanation, but it never comes. “Do you mean I literally cannot give you any money? I’m going to need examples. What if I pick up dinner for everyone? Should I leave you out of the equation? Or what if you take the kids to the science museum? Can I pay for your ticket?”

“I … guess those things are okay,” she says hesitantly, her hands twisted together tightly in her lap as she chews on her lower lip.

“Am I still allowed to pay you for nannying?”

“Okay, I meant any more of your money,” she says with an exaggerated eye roll.

“Hey, I’m just making sure I understand the rules, Ms. Reynolds.”

“Last rule is the most important one.”

“Hit me.”

She takes a deep inhale, then blurts out, “When this is over, when you decide you’re sick of me, you don’t keep the kids from me.”

I stare at her in amazement. I honestly thought it would be something else. Maybe to do with the house, or helping her find another job. To hear her verbalize that she’s worried about leaving the kids cracks open my heart a little.

“You’re worried about my children?” I finally stutter.

Kate nods. “I love them, Dominic. And I refuse to leave them like their mom did. At least not without a goodbye.”

“You’d leave?” I ask quietly.

“Only if I thought it would be best. But I hope not. I hope when this ends, we can remain cordial and respectful toward one another.”

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