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“After examining her and conducting more tests, we can confidently say that both she and the baby are in good health.”
A soft sigh of relief escaped my lips as I leaned back and reflexively placed a hand on my wife's stomach.
“I'll leave you two alone, now,” the doctor said and disappeared.
This child meant a great deal to me, more than I thought I knew. Just the thought that its life was in danger upset me.
Ashley, oh, my beautiful wife. I had begun to care for her more than I cared to admit.
“I swear to you,” I began, “I'll never let this happen again, never. I know I've said before that I'd always take care of you and our baby, but I failed—”
“—You didn't fail,” she cut me off, but I continued.
“—In my world, this is a failure. But I can promise you now that I will always protect you. Both of you, with my life. Because I love you and I can't bear the thought that—”
“—Wait,” she interrupted me again.
“Back up a bit,” she said and asked, “Did you just say you love me?” Her eyes beamed with anticipation that she had heard correctly.
Shit!
“Did I?” I feigned ignorance.
“Yes.” She laughed so beautifully. I recognized that look, it was the same one she'd had the day I'd followed her to the restaurant where she'd spoken to Joshua. Her smile was genuine. “Yes, Nik. You said that.”
“No…” I hesitated, “I think I said… I care …” The words drawled lazily in a defensive manner, but it only sounded hilarious to my wife.
She teased with a giggle. “You gentle giant. I know what I heard.”
“You heard wrong,” I denied, somehow enjoying this small and unnecessary argument.
“Come on, now. Would it kill you to admit it?” She smiled and exhaled sharply.
We stared into each other's eyes for a moment, and I finally said, “Yes, okay? Yes, I said it. Happy?”
“Glad,” she replied and laughed. “See, that wasn't so hard, wasn't it?”
“I love you, Ashley Wolkov.”
I watched as her laughter gradually faded into something more solemn.
“And that's why it hurt me that I wasn't there when you needed me,” I said to her.
“No, Nik…you were right in the nick of time.” She smiled, “Did you see what I did there?” Her eyebrows wiggled at me.
I chuckled, “Yeah …it was kinda hard to miss.”
“And here I was, thinking you had a poor sense of humor,” she replied.
“Are you kidding me? My sense of humor is rich, wealthy,” I said, and she gave me a blank look as if I was on the wrong track. Obviously, it wasn't going well. My joke sucked. “Oh, I see what you mean.” I confessed and she laughed again.
I loved that I was making her laugh so authentically.
“I swear to God, it sounded a lot better in my head,” I added.
“Poor sense of humor,” she mocked.
We chuckled, looking at each other.
