“I don’t see that smile on your face often enough.”
Startled, I turn around to find Sawyer standing in the hallway that leads to bedrooms in the back of the condo. Wearing dark slacks and a dark button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, Sawyer is stylish but casual. He looks like he just stepped out of a men’s fashion catalog and has a roguish grin on his face that makes my heart skip a beat.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I stopped by to check on your dad, actually,” he replies. “And to make sure Nurse Cooper has everything she needs.”
Ever since I moved in, Sawyer has made it a point to stop by to check on my dad at least once a day. And over my objections, he also hired an in-home nursing staff to provide around the clock care and treatment for my dad while we prepare to set him up in Rose Hills. But I have to admit; it’s helped. My dad has had more good days than bad lately.
I’m not naïve enough to think he’s going to get better – I know that’s not the way Alzheimer’s works. He’s going to continue fading until he’s gone. But with proper medical attention and daily treatments, it’s helping slow the ravages of the disease. It’s giving me more time with my dad, and for that, I am going to be eternally grateful to Sawyer.
“How’s he doing today?” I ask.
He smiles but gives me an ‘iffy’ hand gesture. “It’s not his best day, but it’s not his worst, either.”
I step forward and wrap my arms around Sawyer, squeezing him tight. He strokes my hair and places a gentle kiss on the top of my head.
“He’s asleep right now,” he says softly. “Nurse Cooper is with him.”
I give him a gentle kiss and nuzzle myself against his neck, savoring the feeling of having his arms enveloping me, feeling completely engulfed by him. I feel so warm and so safe. As we stand there, I hear the front door close and footsteps echoing on the tile.
Curious, I turn to see Nadia step into the main room. She smiles warmly at me and then shoots a frosty glare at Sawyer – she hasn’t quite forgiven him the way I have. She still holds him in some degree of contempt – or rather, she’s very cautious, given that she fully expects him to break my heart. I know that he would never, but still, I’m glad that she has my back.
“Hey Cuz,” she greets me.
“Hey Nadia,” I smile. “What are you doing here? Did I ask you to come sit with Dad?”
She shakes her head. “No, not today.”
“Sawyer,” she acknowledges him, her voice as frosty as her gaze.
“Nice to see you again, Nadia,” he replies. “Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it.”
I look from Sawyer to Nadia and back again. “What’s going on here?”
Sawyer gives me a smile. “You and I are going away for the weekend.”
“We can’t –”
Nadia smiles. “Yes, you can. That’s why I’m here,” she grins at me. “So, go have fun. Enjoy yourself.”
Saying I’m surprised feels like an understatement. But I also feel excited. This is the first time anybody has ever planned a long weekend away for me. It only adds to the fairy tale that’s been my life these last few months.
“Are you sure, Nadia?” I ask. “I mean –”
“Of course. Go and have fun,” she says, then turns to Sawyer. “Bring her back in one piece, or I’ll kill you.” She means it, too.
“I would expect no less,” he replies with a smile.
* * *
“This is amazing. I’ve never been anywhere as beautiful as this,” I marvel. “You really pulled out all the stops.”
I’m standing before a floor to ceiling window that overlooks a valley. The view is absolutely breathtaking – I’ve never seen so much green before in my life. The valley seems to stretch on forever. There’s nothing but green trees all the way to the horizon.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” he says. “I’ve always loved it up here.”
I see his reflection in the window as he steps up behind me. Sawyer wraps his arms around me from behind and pulls me to him. He nuzzles my neck and plants a soft kiss on my skin. I turn around and clasp my hands behind his neck, pressing my mouth to his.
Slowly, I pull back and look into his eyes. “Thank you, Sawyer,” I whisper. “This is incredible.”
“I’m glad you approve,” he purrs. “I just thought we needed some time away. Time to ourselves.”
“I think you’re right.”
As amazing as things have been between us – we continue to grow closer by the day – there is still a slight disconnect. It’s unspoken, but it’s there, and I know it has to do with the baby. I know Sawyer still has some misgivings about the entire parenthood thing – but I also know he’s doing his best to work through them on his own. Outwardly, he seems okay with it most days. He even seems happy about starting a family with me.
But the fact that he won’t talk about it with me, won’t make plans for the baby’s arrival with me, and still seems skittish whenever the subject comes up tells me he hasn’t quite managed to completely come to terms with it. Which is a problem. And it’s a problem that’s only going to grow and fester the longer it goes on unaddressed.
But that’s for another day. It’s something we can deal with at a later point. This weekend
