'Tis The Season

I laugh as he rolls his eyes. The three and five-year olds are cute as a button but full of endless amounts of energy.

“Laura says hi, by the way. She practically kicked me out the second I mentioned your name.”

“I feel honored.”

“Don’t. She has some Tupperware party. I think I was cramping her style.”

I shake my head. “Is Mikey joining us?”

“If he can get out of work. They have some new campaign launching, and he’s been burning the midnight oil in the office.”

“Yeah, I remember him mentioning that.” I nod.

“What’s new with you?” Dan asked.

I take a long draw from my bottle of pale ale. “I met somebody.”

Dan leans toward me on his stool. “This is new.”

“Yeah. Faye is amazing, man. She’s an E.R. nurse at St. Ann’s Hospital.”

“How did you meet?”

“That’s the crazy story. Faye’s dog ran away on Christmas Eve. I found him and called the number she left on the poster. She came over, and then a street sweeper took out her car.”

“What in the Rom-Com?” Dan snickers.

“I know. It was a rocky start, literally. She felt bad for crashing my Christmas, and I was trying not to swallow my tongue and drool all over her.”

“She’s pretty, eh?”

“Beautiful, but even more than that, she has a wicked sense of humor.” I smile. “And she’s so damn sweet I could get cavities.”

“She must be something to have you waxing poetic. I mean, you sound like you’re half in love with her.”

I smile sheepishly and nod. “I very well may be. It sounds crazy to say out loud after a couple of months.” We spent the majority of our free time together, and sometimes nights we work. I’ve stood beside her for every late-night craving, foot massage, and new baby development she’s allowed me to be there for. Despite our closeness, she still holds a wariness only time will rid her of.

Dan flashes me a concerned look. “I’m sensing a major but coming.”

“Two, actually.” I sigh. “She’s got an intense, psycho, rich ex-fiancée who can’t accept their break up. And ...” I hesitate, “she’s eight months pregnant.”

Daniel chokes on his beer. I pat his back. “You all right?”

“Not after you swing that on me. You’re going to have to back up and give me some serious context,” Dan croaks.

I explain the situation, and Dan rubs his chin thoughtfully. “You’re in a tough spot. I can tell from the way you talk about her this is already more than physical.”

“Yes, and I know it’s the same for her. She’s just afraid to admit it.”

“Considering her nightmare ex, I can’t blame her,” Dan says.

“I know.” I rub the back of my neck. “She thinks I’m going to leave her when the baby gets here. It’s the last thing I want. I feel like Flora is mine.”

He whistles. “That’s a dangerous thought if the mama bear doesn’t feel the same way, bro.”

“I know.” My chest tightens. “But I can’t help it, not when I’m there watching her grow, seeing Flora develop and caring for her when she allows it.”

“You need to have a serious talk with her, James.”