Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
DAISY
“Duke is really getting the hang of these sessions. He’s a quick learner.” Laurie nodded like she was pleased with herself as we sat inside Brewed Awakening.
“Good. I’ve been working with him at home a lot.” I smiled down at my dog.
We had started his training a few weeks ago, and he was already so helpful. I’d had Kaia partake in some fake situations and he’d alerted me immediately.
Since then, we moved on to more public training and getting both of us comfortable in social situations.
“Tell him he’s doing good and reward him. Just like humans, dogs need reassurance, especially when working.”
I smiled and bent down to pat him softly on the head twice and gave him a treat. We decided from the beginning that would be my way of showing him he was doing a good job without confusing a regular love pat.
He took the treat and settled back under the table. I looked toward Laurie and sipped my tea. It had been a long day of training and I was exhausted.
“So, how are the wife and kids, Laurie? Last time we talked, Gwen was starting kindergarten.”
She beamed over the rim of her cup and nodded.
“They are wonderful. I’ve been taking her every morning, and Jess has been picking her up since our schedules are a little different.
We all cried on her first day, but she’s made some friends and loves to tell us every day what happened at school.
The twins still have a few years to go, thank goodness.
I don’t think I’m ready for all my babies to leave the nest just yet. ”
“Oh, I bet. I’m scared for that time someday. I can’t imagine how hard it is going to be, being with your baby every day for years, and then all of a sudden they’re gone for most of the day.” I shook my head.
While I wanted children someday, I could wait just a little bit longer. I was content in my life right now, and I didn’t think Kaia would take too kindly to me telling her I wanted to have kids with her.
As true as it might be, that was something we had never talked about.
Neither of us were in situations where kids could be a possibility, and she was still dealing with her dad’s death.
I didn’t want to bring up a serious conversation like that right now.
I was enjoying my time with her, and I wanted to be selfish for a little longer.
If she wanted children, she was going to be the perfect mother to them.
“Speaking of little ones, how are things going with Kaia? Do you think you’ll be settling down someday? Where is she today, anyway? She usually attends all the sessions, right?”
I nodded, thinking about how excited I was to get back home to her.
“She’s working late today. One of the cashiers had a medical emergency, so she offered to fill in.
Things are going really well. It’s still surreal to think about it, to be honest. And that is a conversation for later. I don’t want to scare her off.”
She laughed. “I don’t think that’s possible. I’ve only met her a handful of times, but seeing you two together? She’s not going anywhere.”
I planted a forced smile. That wasn’t true, but I didn’t want to bring down the mood with the truth. I wanted to enjoy the time I had with Kaia, no matter how short it was destined to be. “Thanks, Laurie. What do you say we get out of here? We both need to get home to our girls.”
“I think that’s a great idea. It’s bath night, and I don’t want to miss it. I’ll call you to schedule our next training, okay? Take care and tell Kaia I said hello.”
“I will.”
We said goodbye, and I started my journey home. The car ride was filled with thoughts about the future swimming around in my head. Duke lay comfortably in the back, snoozing without a care in the world, but all I could think about was Kaia.
After talking with Laurie about her little family, I couldn’t help but try to picture my own.
I loved growing up with a sibling, so I knew I wanted more than one kid, at least, but I thought six might be too many.
Unless Kaia wanted six. Then we would have ourselves a tribe.
I’d give her anything she wanted, if she wanted me.
I smiled when I thought about Kaia coming home after work to me and our kids. We’d eat dinner together and talk about our days. We’d pack lunches together, see them off to school, and reminisce about when they were waddling around in diapers, trying to eat Cheerios off the floor.
But my smile fell at the realization that while it was the life I wanted, it might not be what Kaia wanted. She might not want kids at all, or if she did, she didn’t want them with me.
I couldn’t blame her, though. She deserved the absolute best things in life, and having children with a disabled person like me was not one of those things. She’d realize it soon enough, and I’d be heartbroken, but I’d understand.
My spiraling thoughts stopped when I got home and was greeted by Kaia and the delicious smell of Thai food.
“Hi, baby, I missed you. How was training?” She brought me in for a hug and one of her body-melting kisses before I had a chance to answer.
I sank into the kiss, never wanting to leave our little bubble of happiness. When she kissed me like that, I wanted to believe she’d always be there to do that.
I broke us apart and gave her time to greet Duke before he ran to his own dinner. “Hi back. It was good. We stopped at BA for some social training and talked. And I missed you too. Laurie says hi, by the way.”
She nodded and took my hand, leading me to the table. Every night since she’d moved in, we ate dinner together. We never had our phones, and we weren’t allowed to work during dinner or eat on the couch, unless it was a special occasion. It was our time to be together. Like a family.
Shaking that image away, I sat down and my smile softened when she kissed the top of my head. I always felt fuzzy inside when she did that. “I missed you today. How was work?” I asked once she settled into her chair.
As much as I wanted her right next to me, I always appreciated that she sat directly across from me so it was easier to see her signing without craning my neck too much.
“Work was busy today, which is always good, but draining. Drea and Blair were there to help, but you know how helpful they can be together. I only saw them once, and I’d rather not think about the reasons why. I’m just thankful I didn’t hear anything besides giggling.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, those two are ridiculous, but their love is very evident. After everything you’ve told me about Drea, I can’t believe someone got her to settle down. And the fact that it was Blair of all people is crazy!”
“I know. I still find it weird. The way their hate turned into love is beautiful, though. And Drea is obsessed with Blair. If it even drizzles outside, she’s next to her, trying to comfort her.
It’s so sweet to see, though. And you can tell Blair matches her love a thousand times over. I love them.”
I could see all of that. The love they had for each other, and the love Kaia had for her friends. “I know.”
We ate for a little longer before Kaia started messing with her hair. “Are you okay over there? Is your hair bothering you?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, sorry. I think I need to get a haircut before we go out this weekend.”
I frowned, not understanding either of those statements. I thought she looked perfect. “First of all, a haircut? Your hair looks impeccable. And second, we’re going out this weekend? I wasn’t informed of any plans. I don’t have anything in my schedule.”
She tilted her head, furrowing her brows. “You sure about that?”
Well, now I wasn’t so sure. Did we have something planned and I forgot? I jumped out of my chair to retrieve my laptop. When I opened it, I immediately went to the calendar and scurried through the days until I landed on this coming weekend.
As it turned out, there was something scheduled for Saturday. I couldn’t remember scheduling anything, but I clicked on the little blue dot reserved for personal items and read the text:
January 13 at 6:45 p.m.: Date night
I turned back to Kaia, who was looking at me with that megawatt smile. The same one that had caused flutters in my stomach from the moment we met.
“I guess we do have plans. Apparently I have a date?”
She nodded. “We do. Our first official date. So be ready.”
I smiled, eagerly awaiting this date and wondering what she had planned. It would be our first date as a couple and I was a little nervous. The last first date I’d gone on had ended up with a strike against dating. Until Kaia. Thank you, Bethany.
When I’d casually told Kaia we were dating, I was so anxious. I hadn’t gone in totally blind; I’d known she had feelings for me, as I did for her, but just having some fun together and actually dating were very different.
I was scared she’d think it was too serious.
Hell, I was scared I’d think it was too serious.
Like if she agreed, I’d have doubts and back away.
So far, the only backing up I did was to the bedroom.
I’d learned the more time I spent with her, the less time I wanted to spend doing anything else. But how did she feel?
When she’d agreed, a piece of me had melted away. It felt like it was just common sense. That once we admitted our feelings and slept together, that was it—we were now together. Full stop.
And now we were going on our first actual date. “Do I get to know what we’re doing on this date, or what to wear?”
“Sorry, but no. I’m taking you out and it’s a surprise. But wear something to keep warm. We’ll be indoors, but it can get a little cold. Also, something you don’t mind getting dirty.”
I pouted, but my smile gave me away. “Fine. It’s a date. I’ll be there, and you better not be late picking me up.”
She grinned, and I squealed when she walked over and actually picked me up.
Damn, she was strong. I wrapped my legs around her and smiled as she walked me to the kitchen and deposited me on the counter.
I didn’t loosen my grip around her waist, and I tilted her chin up to kiss her, letting it say all the things I couldn’t in that moment. I was going on a date with Kaia.