Only One Kiss (Only One 1)

“I don’t know if I can give you that,” he says what I already knew.

“I know,” I say, “which makes this that much harder because I just know how amazing you would be at all that.” I walk to him now. “I hope you find it.” I try to say the words without crumpling to the floor. “I hope you find whatever it is that will make you see what I see.” I get on my tippy toes, and I kiss his cheek. “Goodbye, Ralph,” I whisper the words, then turn and walk out of the room. I walk into the bathroom and close the door behind me and sink to the floor. I put my hand in front of my mouth to stop the sob from echoing out. The sound of the front door slamming making it final. I wanted closure, and now I got it. I peel myself off the floor and wash my face, but I know the tears are not going to go away.

Walking out of the bathroom, I look around the room, and my eyes go to the bag that I packed not too long ago. All of Ari’s things, I packed it, not even able to see through the tears. “Fuck.” I bend to pick it up, and the door opens again and slams, and I stand here looking toward the hallway when he comes back into the room. His face is streaked with tears, his hair looks like he just pulled it. “Ralph?” He stands there in front of me with a wild look on his face.

“What if I gave you all that?” he says. “What if I said I want to give you all that?” My heart speeds up in my chest, and I don’t have time to say anything else because he walks toward me. “ What if I said that I want to unpack my boxes. I want to take your boxes and then take mine, and I want us to unpack the boxes together.” His hands on my face again, and this time, I put my hands on his hips. “I want to buy you a house,” he says softly. “Build you a fence and make babies with you.”

“Ralph,” I say with trembling lips.

“I left here thinking, she’s right, I can’t give her that,” he says. “Then the thought of you doing that without me made it unbearable to breathe. The thought that my life would be without you, it just . . .” he says, smiling. “It’s unimaginable.” He comes closer. “So stay with me, Candace. Stay with me and help me make a home for Ari.”

In all my life, I could never expect to be given a man who I would love so unconditionally, and with that he would come with a beautiful baby girl, that I would give my life for. “Okay,” I say the word in a whisper. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

“What?” he says almost as if he didn’t hear me.

“I’ll stay.” I say the two words that make my heart soar. His lips finally touch mine, and we fall into each other. He holds me up as his tongue finds mine. I wrap my arms around him, and then he picks me up, and my legs wrap around his waist.

“I’ve missed you,” he finally says when he pulls back from my lips. “I’ve missed you so much.” I’m about to answer him when he continues. “Ari, she’s missed you, too.”

“She must have gotten so big,” I say as he wipes the tears streaming down my face. “Where is she?”

“She’s home,” he says, “with Bernadette.”

“Can we go get her?” I ask him. “I mean, I love this with you, but . . .” I look down. “I’ve missed her so much, and I just don’t want her to think I forgot about her.”

“I used to call you and make her hear your voice,” he says, killing me. “She would smile.”

I’m about to kiss him when there is a knock on the door, and I look at him. “Those must be the packers,” I say, getting off him and going to the door. “Hi,” I say to the four people who are standing there. “Um, I’m so sorry, but I am going to have to reschedule.”

The woman smiles at me. “No worries, just give us a call when you are ready.” She turns, and the four women walk away. I close the door and then walk back into the living room and see him sitting there.

“Can we go?” I ask, and he smiles and gets up.

“I sold my house,” he says. “Last week.”

“What?” I ask, shocked.

“I hate my house, and after spending time here in your house, I want this. Not what I had.”

“Where are you going to go?” I ask him, and he shrugs.

“I have to decide in seven days,” he says. “I have to be out of the house next week.”