Page 101 of Their Greatest Strength

“I’ll see you soon,” she murmurs.

I nod, chasing her mouth. “I have a gift for you in the car.”

“You better not say it’s your dick.”

“No, it’s something almost as great, though.”

Her laugh is a soft, breathless sound. “Alright. I’ll be back.”

“Have fun.”

When she escapes my arms, there’s almost a skip in her step. Rays of sunshine glimmer in the air around her, and shit, it’s a sight to see her so at peace. So happy.

Having even the smallest part in that makes me feel more accomplished than anything I’ve ever done.

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The white coatdraped over my arm is far more than what it appears to be. It’s a gift, a confirmation that I’m still able to access my passion despite ignoring it these past few years. I always knew I had it in me to do great things with my love for cooking. It was never a way for me to kill time or just a means to eat every day.

It’s something I’ve truly loved since I was a little girl. When I dropped out of school, I gave up on my dreams to be a professional chef. There are always ways to climb to the top of any ladder without a degree, but the means to do so were never available to me.

Not until Jamie.

And he doesn’t even fully understand the value of what he’s offered me. While I’m not going to be working at a five-star restaurant alongside decorated chefs, it’s the opportunity that I’ve been needing to climb that first rung of the ladder to the top.

My husband did that for me. Not because he wanted something in return but to make me happy. To give me something that nobody else has before.

A genuine chance.

I don’t know what to do with that right now.

“Do you think we could pick Nate up from school on our way home? We’ve still got an hour, but we could entertain ourselves until then,” Jamie says, checking his watch.

Our hands are swinging between us as we walk through the back lot to where he has the SUV parked. There aren’t many other cars left, but since we stayed late to help clean up lunch, that doesn’t shock me. Everyone was already gone when we finished up.

“I’m sure he’d love that. Public buses don’t have much on expensive SUVs.”

He brings our hands to his mouth, kissing my knuckles before pressing them to his chest. “The parking lot is empty enough for some quick lessons if you’re up for learning.”

“To drive?”

“The sooner you know how, the sooner I can get you a car. Then neither of you will have to take the bus anymore.”

“You’d really do that right now?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’ve just been at practice. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

He envelops the back of my hand so it’s sandwiched in both of his. “I can sleep later.”

Emotion swells and rocks inside of me, filling me to the point of spilling. Jamie’s not making anything easy on me, and we still have a month and a half of our marriage to get through.

“Fine. You can give me a few lessons, Pretty Boy.”

“That’s the spirit, gorgeous.”

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