Page 43 of Cooper

“Unfortunately, yes. If I had my way about it, I’d stay her in bed and make love to you all day, but I have to go teach and then I have Mingles tonight. But at least we get to be together tonight at Mingles. I hate it when you’re there without me.”

“I hate it, too.”

I kiss her head. “Okay, you stay in bed, and I’ll go get Bean up and ready for school.”

“I made her a lunch already. And I’m getting up. I’ve got to call the doctor this morning.”

I kiss her head and rise, grabbing my shorts from the chair next to the bed.

“Are you still going to want me when I’m a whale?” She asks contemplatively, watching me pull my shorts up.

“Darlin’, I’ll love you in any shape, form, or mood you’re in. You’re so beautiful, I’ll never be able to resist you.”

She smiles, rising, naked. I look her up and down, shaking my head. “I mean, God, London. You’re an angel. Just…look at you.” I pull her close to me.

“Yeah, but with Bean, I was huge. I mean, so big, I had to go the Sally Ann and buy a man’s jacket, I couldn’t fit into any of mine. Thank God they make maternity clothes, but even then, I could only fit into the giant moomoo dresses.”

“And look how beautiful you both turned out, hm? I think you need to look at the bigger picture, darlin’.”

She leans her head on me. “You’re right. I need to focus.”

…and in the next few hours, she learns how to, for the first time in months.

Chapter 15

London

Idon’t want to upset Bean before school, so we both refrain from telling her about the funeral, figuring that we’ll tell her tonight after supper, before we both have to go to work. And just as I see them off to school, my phone rings, and my heart skips a beat. It’s a blocked call and I hesitate to answer it, but I know that I have to, as much as it scares the hell out of me.

“Hello?” I answer.

“Ms. Perry?” The female voice asks, using my maiden name, which I changed back to after the divorce.

“Yes, this is.” I answer tentatively.

“Ms. Perry, this is Special Agent Monica Winkler, of the F.B.I. Am I catching you at a bad time?” Her voice is all business, but warm.

“No. No, not at all.” I can feel my hands tremble, so much so, that I’m having trouble holding my phone. I’m literally shaking with anticipation, wondering if this is the fated call that I’ve been waiting for, or if this is more bad news; that I have to flee once again.

“Ms. Perry, I’m calling to let you know that we have located the funds that Mister Titan misappropriated, and we’re starting the second part of the investigation.”

“Oh?”

“I’m not at liberty to go into detail on this, ma’am, however I thought I should touch base with you, and give you an update.”

“Oh, okay.” I’m stammering.

“We have notified the parties from which the funds have been misappropriated, and they are aware that they will be receiving their money back, once the investigation is complete.”

“Does this mean that I’m safe? I can start to use my real name again, and I can go home if I want to?”

“Yes, ma’am, you can. You’re free to carry on your life as you wish. The parties involved are well aware that they will be getting their money returned to them in short order, so you are no longer in any danger, ma’am.”

My heart skips a beat. There’s the Christmas miracle I’ve been waiting for.

“Are you serious?” I hiss gleefully. “You mean, I don’t have to use this stupid name anymore, and I can stop walking around, constantly looking over my shoulder?”

“I don’t advise you to tell anyone your story, ma’am, including any media, as there is still an embargo on any information, until the investigation is complete, however, this does mean, to be clear, that you are safe.”

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