Page 76 of Worth the Vow

“Alright, then tell me what you wanted to be.”

“Easy. A mom.”

“That’s not exactly a job — wait. Let me rephrase that,” he says with a laugh. “If you could get trained to do a job, whether that be on-the-job training, at a technical college, or a full four-year university, what did you dream of doing?”

“It’s basically the same thing. I always saw myself working with kids in some capacity.”

“Why haven’t you had any jobs with kids yet?” he asks.

“Most jobs want employees with childcare experience, or some kind of degree, or even a state license. I’m lucky I graduated from high school with how crazy life was with my mom’s treatments. I was only able to take a couple of general classes at the community college. I thought about looking into some loans or scholarships after my mom passed, but at that point, I was in full survival mode.”

Leaning back against Dominic, his heart beating steadily, I wait to hear his response. When he clears his throat, I stiffen, expecting the worst. What I don’t expect, however, is what he says. “If you had unlimited funds right now, what would you do?”

I turn to study him. “Is that your way of telling me I can have access to your bank accounts or something? Because I have to tell you, Dominic, that is such a male thing to say —”

Dominic barks back a laugh as he covers my mouth with his forefinger. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don’t have unlimited funds. Raising three kids is expensive. I was just asking you to dream.”

“Oh,” I whisper sheepishly. Settling against him again, I think for a moment. “I think I’d love to open a preschool like the one Victoria works at. I got to help out there a few times, and it’s just extraordinary. I’d want it to be one that was more nature-based, with hands-on learning, instead of curriculum based. I want children to use their entire body to learn.”

“It sounds like you’ve put a little more thought into your dream than you let on, Katharine,” Dominic comments.

I shrug, suddenly embarrassed at how much I’ve revealed. Yeah, I’ve thought about it. Anyone can dream big. And while I’m almost always a glass-half-full kind of woman, I’m still a realist. I can’t open a preschool without money, experience, and probably a degree.

“I can feel you shutting down on me,” Dominic says quietly as he leans down to press a soft kiss on my shoulder.

“I just know it isn’t possible. My dream. I don’t have the experience, the money, or the degrees to get licensed.”

“What would be the first step toward that dream? If you wanted to go for it, what would you do?” Dominic asks nonchalantly.

“I guess get a job at a daycare or preschool to get some experience. Or maybe enroll in college? I’m honestly not sure. God, can you imagine me rolling into a college education class with kids ten years younger than me? How embarrassing,” I comment awkwardly.

“I think it happens more than you realize. Look at Alex. He knows his time is up with the National Guard soon, and he has to decide what he wants to do. Tons of military folks retire and finally get a chance to go to college,” Dominic tells me. “As for your question about work or school, why not both?”

“What?” I ask incredulously.

“Why can’t you get a job in a preschool and start taking classes at the same time?” he asks.

“How on Earth would that work? I can’t be in two places at once.”

“Did you know I have my MBA?” he asks suddenly, and I feel a sense of whiplash as he so quickly changes the topic from me to him.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve mentioned it before.”

“Do you know where my degree is from?”

“No.”

“The University of New Hampshire.” Dominic turns my head so he can see my face. “You can get virtually any degree under the sun, well, virtually. Online college, baby. You can get a job working with kids, and slowly take classes at the same time.”

“Really?” I ask. “But what about you? Your kids?”

Dominic smiles as he cups my cheek. “We’ll work it all out. If that’s what you want, Katharine, we’ll figure it out. I don’t want you to think things are out of your reach just because of circumstances. We can research some options tomorrow.”

“Okay,” I respond.

“You ready to get out?”

“Wait! You didn’t tell me what you wanted to be when you were a kid!”

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