Page 29 of Their Stolen Kisses
Chapter 13
Cameron
One Saturday, when Diana came for a visit, we didn’t really have a plan for what to do in mind. Sometimes, we liked to just sit down and enjoy each other’s company or play with Noah.
Today, however, my little boy didn’t seem as interested in the new dinosaur Diana had brought him. Instead, his attention was captured by my coat, which hung draped over the back of a chair. “Daddy, what’s this?” Noah tugged a long black velvet box out of the pocket.
I looked first to Diana then back to Noah grinning from ear-to-ear and found my face began to flush. “Th-that’s… well…” I glanced into Diana’s eyes. “A present for your favorite nanny, if she wants to open it.”
Diana took the box, and I released it almost reluctantly. Unwittingly, Noah had spoiled a surprise I had planned for a week, one I had intended to spring it the next day on Diana’s 23rd birthday.
As Noah danced happily around and watched intently as Diana began to work at the lid of the box, I shook my head inwardly and banished any thought of disappointment. Noah hadn’t spoiled my surprise at all. If anything, he had set the stage for me to give the box to Diana.
Now I just had to hope that she liked it… and she said ‘yes.’
“Wow, Cameron - it’s beautiful!” The elegant and tasteful diamond necklace sparkled in its velvet cushion. “But - but -”
She still didn’t like me to spend money on her, even when we were together and all I wanted to do was shower her with things that would make her happy. But that wasn’t really the purpose of this gift. This one was to make me happy. “It’s for your birthday. You can’t argue against me giving you something for your birthday. And it’s for something else.” I unclasped the necklace, brushed Diana’s hair out of the way, and tucked it around her neck.
“What’s that?” She turned slightly, watching the necklace glitter in the mirror over the fireplace. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
“Will you move in with me, Diana?” I forged ahead when her startled eyes found mine. “You spend so much time here already, and I… It always hurts when you leave, even though I know you’re going to come back. I want you to live with me so this is your home too, and I’ll know I have you to come home too. And I’d like Noah to have a mother in his life. So… please move in with us?”
That was my pitch, complete with all my reasons, hopes, and dreams. All I could do now was wait to see what she would say.
I didn’t have to wait long. “Of course!” Diana threw herself into my arms in an enthusiastic hug. The diamond necklace rested cooly against my chest. Noah nearly knocked us both over when he slammed into our knees, not entirely sure what was going on but aware that the two people he loved most were embracing.
Then Diana stepped back and ran her hand through her silky hair. By her expression, I knew something was bothering her, even though she was still smiling. “I… well, I guess… Well, Cameron what about work? You said you wanted me to be here when you get home.”
“Yes, yes I did.”
“It’s just… what about my job as Chloe’s secretary? I do enjoy working at Pinnacle… But… but…”
I smiled to myself, now that I had gotten to know Diana and learned that she was not only confident, but also very independent. I took her hand in mind. “Look, Diana… I’ve already thought about this. Let’s just play it by ear. For now, if you want to continue working… I welcome that idea.” I locked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just know, you can quit anytime. Go visit your mom, your nieces and nephews, and your college friends as long as you come home to Noah and me in the evening.”
Diana let go of my hand and walked over to the mirror. Watching me standing behind her and Noah playing on the floor, she fingered her neckless admiringly. Then she turned around flashing a demure smile. “I like your idea, Cameron. Now, I know why you’re a CEO.”
I dared not remark at that. Instead, I let out a silent sigh of relief and scooped Noah up off the floor. “Maybe we should get some ice cream to celebrate. It’s sunny out today. Do you want to walk? There’s a place where I take Noah-”
“-Just around the corner, I know.” Diana grinned. “I took him there once when you were in Seattle. Let’s go!”
Hand in hand, we walked to the ice cream shop as three. Despite the chill outside, the little shop bustled with activity, creating a pleasant and fun environment for our celebration.
At the register, we all ordered chocolate. When asked, “Bowl or cone?” everyone went with cone, and we sat at a table near the tall windows so we could watch the activity outside and feel like part of it - even if it was too cold to walk outside and eat.
After wiping Noah’s chocolate covered face, we forayed out into the Chicago winter, full of ice cream and content with laughter.
Six feet stamped traces of the ice and snow off of shoes once we returned to the brownstone, then I looked at Diana. “Maybe we could cook some dinner and watch a movie after?” I suggested. It was about 4 PM now, so by the time we finished cooking and eating, then watched a two-hour movie, Noah would be good and tired out for bedtime so he could be wakeful and rested for preschool tomorrow.
“Perfect. What do you have to make?”
Together, each of us keeping a watchful eye on Noah, we searched through my stores of food. We found chicken, frozen mixed veggies, and a box of pre-made pie crusts in the freezer, so of course, we had to go with a classic: chicken pot pie.
“I'll chop onions and melt butter. Can you boil and shred the chicken?” Diana asked, her eyes skimming the recipe we chose.
“Perfect. And I’ll set the veggies out to thaw.” We made such a great team in the kitchen, hardly getting in each other’s way and just laughing about it when we did. Even Noah helped by carefully measuring teaspoons and tablespoons of spices and partially mixing some of the ingredients.
The pie was a great success, and the movie might have been an even greater one. The animated film Diana and I chose suited the mood perfectly, setting us both laughing even though I doubted we were at all the intended audience or age range. Noah loved it too, and he loved sitting between us on the couch.
