Page 91 of Coming Home

She shifted up, placing her hands on his face. “I am so sorry. I was being selfish and stupid. I was?—”

“You were scared.” He filled in the words for her. “I’m scared too, baby. I’ve never felt like this about anyone.”

“Neither have I.”

The words hid in her heart. Scared to come out to the light. She wanted to be brave and say what she’d never said to anyone else. Three tiny words that were the Kilimanjaro of feelings. As with many of the tentative steps she’d taken into the world of being brave today, she wasn’t ready to scale that mountain of truth.

Not yet.

Even with Noah’s proclamation that if he had to choose, he’d choose her, it was a risk her brain wouldn’t allow her heart to take.

The photograph on the desk played in her vision. Noah and she alongside Elle and Clayton. What that picture represented was at risk. All their relationships.

What if that pictureisthe future? Am I willing to give that up?Was there hope for a world where that picture was of two couples, not just four friends?

Her words rushed out. “Noah, Fall Fest is next weekend. Will you take me, hold my hand, buy me an apple dumpling, and kiss me as we wander around?”

Theywere worth the risk. Even if her voice shook as she asked, she knew the truth with every fiber of her being. As sure as she knew the sun would rise tomorrow. So much more was at risk if she allowed fear, guilt, and grief to continue its relentlesshold on her. Maybe there wasn’t a guarantee of a happily ever after, but if she didn’t try, an unhappily ever after was certain.

“Yes.” He pulled her to his lips, consuming her in hungry kisses. After their kisses subsided, he caressed her cheek. “So, are we going to tell them or just surprise them at Fall Fest?” The corners of his lips flexed into a lopsided grin.

“Sunday dinner. I know you and your parents are coming to Mom and Dad’s this Sunday. Clayton and Elle will be there. We can tell them then.”

“Are you sure?”

She was. Even as uncertainty nipped at her. “Yes.”

He threaded his hand in hers, bringing it to his lips in a tender kiss. “We’ll do it Sunday…together.”

Together.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

“I like good strong words that mean something…”~Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“Dr. Nat!” Sally squealed, bounding toward Nat, her cherub cheeks flushed with pink.

Nat bent down to accept the little girl’s hug. “Sally, so nice to see you.”

The four-year-old wasn’t Nat’s patient for today. Her grandmother was, but Sally must have come along for the appointment. Mrs. Greene, Sally’s grandmother, would be Nat’s second-to-last patient of the day before heading to Mom and Dad’s to pitch them on her idea of expanding their clinic to offer mental health services and her application for the Clark Foundation Grant to support it. She vibrated with nervous and excited energy.

After this hurdle, the next one she’d jump would be done hand-in-hand with Noah as they told their families they were a couple. Of course, the queasy sensation in her stomach wasn’t about telling their parents. She already knew her dad was on board, and she was almost certain her mom and Noah’s parentswould be thrilled. But Clayton remained an unknown. For a woman of science, that was the scariest concept.

At least Elle would be there on Sunday. There was a strong probability she’d prove an ally. Elle may be marrying Clayton, but the girl code ran deep in her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Nat released Sally and stepped back. “It was so sweet of you to come with your grandma to her doctor’s visit.”

“She’s a good girl.” Mrs. Greene patted Sally’s head.

“You have your fun doctor shoes on today.” Sally pointed down to Nat’s ruby-red ballet flats.

“Thank you for noticing.” She preened just enough to make RuPaul proud. “Look at your cute shoes.” Nat motioned to Sally’s pair of gold butterfly-encrusted flats.

She beamed. “Grandma got them for me. They’re my doctor shoes.”

“Yep. My Sally wants to be a doctor just like you, Dr. Owens. She’s gone on and on about you. She wants to help people and wear cute shoes when she grows up. Just like you.” Mrs. Green’s dark brown eyes sparkled as she looked between her granddaughter and Nat.

Pride lifted Nat’s lips into a giant grin, and her heart squeezed with affection. Unwrapping her stethoscope from her neck, she held it up. “Maybe we should start your doctor training now. You have the cute shoes, after all. Do you want to learn how to use this? We can listen to your grandma’s heart.”

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