Page 85 of The I Do Over

ChapterFourteen

“A perfect relationship is not perfect; it’s just that both people never gave up.”

Unknown

“Is there anymore guacamole?”

“Um…I think you finished it.”

“Hmm…what about the queso?”

“You finished that too.”

Frowning, Maddie looked at all the containers. “I know I didnotfinish the stuffed jalapenos. Where are they at?”

With a lopsided grin, Knox popped the last one in his mouth.

“Hey! Come on, that wasn’t fair!”

“Sweetheart, you ate most of them. I only had two! And that includes the one in my mouth!” He was laughing and it was hard to be mad at him right now. She was feeling good for the first time in a week and was relieved that she was going to be able to keep down an entire meal.

Hopefully.

“I can’t help it,” she said with a pout as she checked all the containers to see if there was anything left besides the chips and salsa. “If that shot works, this will be the first real meal I’ve eaten all week.” Glancing over at the refrigerator, her eyes lit up. “You remembered to put the ice cream away, right?”

“It’s in there. Don’t worry,” he assured her, then eyed her suspiciously. “You can’t possibly want some of that now, Mads. Not after the grande burrito, the soft tacos, the chimichanga, rice, beans, chips, salsa, guac, and stuffed jalapenos. You just can’t.”

Maybe he had a point. Perhaps it would be smart to wait at least a little while to make sure the shot truly did work.

“Fine,” she said primly, wiping her mouth with the napkin. “I’ll wait.”

They sat in companionable silence for several minutes before Knox was the one to break it. “I think it’s safe to say that we have more things to discuss.”

She nodded.

“We agreed to wait until we were done with dinner, but if you plan to keep eating as a way to avoid this conversation…”

“I’m not. I’m not. I’m really not,” she said and then sighed. “It’s just…” Pausing, she hated what she was thinking and what she had to say. “The timing sucks, Knox!”

That was clearly not what he was expecting her to say because his eyes went wide.

“I mean…I’m excited,” she said quickly. “I am. But things are a bit fragile for us right now and I’m afraid this gave us a bigger nudge than we’re ready for.”

Knox leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “Madalyn Christopher, I married you once because I loved you and wanted a family with you and I’d marry you again tonight for those same reasons. Finding out you’re pregnant is like an answer to a damn prayer for me. But if you need more time to process this, then…that’s what we’ll do.”

“Wait. What do you mean?” Panic hit her hard and she was afraid he was going to walk out the door.

He gave her a patient but sad smile. “Earlier, I told you that I love you. Always. And I just said it again now. That’s never changed and it’s never going to change. I know the timing isn’t ideal, but if we’ve learned anything in this life, isn’t it that things go wrong when we try to plan? Maybe we should give spontaneity a try? I don’t know. But also, I learned not to expect you to be on the same page as me. So if you need some time to come to grips with this, I’m not going to rush you.”

“What would you be rushing me for?”

With an eye roll and some deep, masculine laughter, Knox leaned forward. “I want to marry you, Madalyn. I’ve waited a lifetime for you and I’ll keep waiting, but one day, you are going to be my wife for more than a weekend.” He let out a long breath. “I know this last week has been rough and you may not feel the same as I do right now, but I’m going to stay hopeful that one day you’ll say yes to being my wife.”

Tears stung her eyes. Was this man for real?

Forcing herself not to cry, she shifted slightly in her own chair. “I don’t recall being asked,” she said with a shrug. “Hard to say yes when there wasn’t a question.”

“You make me crazy, you know that, right?” he said with a hint of amusement.

---