Chapter 32
CHAPTER 32
C lara
“Oh, I love these!”
I grabbed a pair of LED curtains from a rack and held them up. My eyes lit up with joy as I pressed the tester button. Each of the lights sparkled a bright green and I turned to Laura to show her my discovery.
“It's green!”
She laughed. “I'm surprised you didn't find the purple ones first.”
“Hey, a girl has to have options, right?”
“What's this for again?”
I placed the LED curtains into a cart. “One of my clients is throwing a party for his son. He wants everything to be an Irish theme.”
“Because they're Irish?”
“No, because they're English.”
Laura stared at me blankly as I broke into laughter. She took hold of the cart and shrugged playfully as she wandered down another aisle. Most of the items down the aisle were green and I happily plucked through them, humming as I walked alongside the cart.
“You're happy today,” she observed. “Did Levon stay the night again?”
“He stayed over Saturday night.”
“And last night?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, I needed sleep last night.”
“That sounds like it's going very well.”
“Actually, it has been going well. I'm surprised that things fell right into place. I was worried we wouldn't be able to meet in the middle.”
“Do you want to tell me more?”
I giggled as I placed a plastic green hat on my head. “I mean, I could.”
“But?”
“ But it's more fun if you don't know.”
She huffed. “Oh, come on! You know I love hearing about all the juicy details of your love life.”
“Except for the dirty ones.”
“Yeah, no. Keep those to yourself. But tell me everything else!”
I set the hat down and clasped my hands together. “We just had such a good time. He came to fix my sink for me and things kind of got heated. We spent the night in my bed.”
“Okay, that's what I didn't want to hear.”
“Hey, I'm getting to the good part.”
“Which is?”
I smiled at her. “I think I'm going to ask him to move in with me.”
She stopped short in the center of the aisle, staring at me. “Clara.”
I planted my hands on my hips. “Laura.”
“Do you really think that's a good idea?”
“Yeah, why not?”
She reached for a feather boa and waved the ends of it. “Well, you know, it just sounds like things are moving rather quickly.”
“It's not that quick.”
“I mean, you just started seeing him again at Jen's wedding.”
I took a deep breath. “Let me remind you that we did date for a few years.”
“And then you broke up.”
“But we were together for a hot minute. We know each other very well. We were great friends before we dated. It's like I already know him. He's not some stranger off a dating website.”
“No, but this could be dicey.”
“Why would it be dicey?”
She shrugged. “You were younger when you were dating. Both of you have changed a lot since then. I just worry about what that dynamic might do.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I promise everything is good.”
“And you know that how?”
“Because we've both changed.”
She laughed. “Clara, that doesn't even make sense.”
I took the feather boa from her and placed it back on the shelf. I took over the cart and wandered aimlessly, leaning against the bars while glancing at the party items around us. I was getting antsy.
I sighed. “Yes, it does. We've both changed for the better. We communicate better and we get along better. I think it could be good for us. I've always felt like I was supposed to be with Levon.”
“I'm just making sure you aren't trying to fantasize your way through this.”
“No, I've given it a lot of thought.”
“Between Saturday and right now?”
I giggled. “Yes, that's plenty of time.”
“I don't know, Clara. It just feels fast to me.”
“Well, you're not dating Levon.”
She laughed. “Alright, that's fair. I guess the worst case scenario is that you two break up and he has to move out in a weekend!”
I playfully whacked her arm. “Laura! Positivity, please!”
She broke out into a giggle fit and I shook my head, leaving her in the center of the aisle. I picked up my pace to look at the items at the end of the shelf. I lifted a few shamrocks from the hangers and held them up to her.
“What do you think?”
Her laughter faded and she nodded, raising her hands to her cheeks. “Those are cute!”
“Aren't they?”
“I think that kid is going to have the coolest party ever.”
I nodded. “I wish we had things like this when we were kids.”
“Well, now you can give these things to your kids.”
I smiled warmly. “I still haven't asked Levon about that.”
“Maybe do the move-in first and wait a little while on the kids part.”
“I still want to talk about it. It's good to be on the same page with that sort of stuff.”
“You'd make the cutest babies.”
I giggled. “Right? And Levon would be such a wonderful father. He's already so caring and sweet and patient.”
“Definitely a good sign.”
“Thanks for your positivity, Laura.”
She smiled warmly. “Anything for my sister.”
She wrapped her arm around my waist and I pushed the cart, wandering around to the next aisle. My heart was racing. I simply couldn't wait to ask Levon to move in. I knew it was fast, but I knew it was right. We were right.
And I just wanted us to be right where we belonged.
* * *
After leaving the store, I returned to my office with my party goodies. I set them out on a desk near the other wall away from my main desk to look them over. I touched each one, making sure that the green colors matched. I played with the chocolate coins, the spinning toys, and the noise-makers that would be part of the treat bags, organizing them into piles.
“I need to start setting those up.”
My phone beeped. I reached idly into my pocket to pull it out, keeping my eyes on the prizes in front of me. I was excited to put the pieces together. As much as I loved shopping for events, I also loved setting them up. Decorating was my thing—and I was good at it.
I held up my phone and smiled.
“Levon called.”
I clicked on his name and held the phone to my ear, listening to the line trill endlessly. When he didn't answer, I sighed and pulled the phone away from my ear, noticing there was a voicemail. I clicked on the message.
When I returned the phone to my ear, I heard his voice float through the speaker.
“Hey, darling. Call me! I have some exciting news.”
The voicemail ended and I held the phone at eye level.
“He'll call back soon.”
I tucked my phone back into my pocket and pulled a chair up to the desk. The sound of the fan spinning above mingled with the ticking of the clock, creating a background noise that gave me a rhythm to work. I grabbed an empty plastic party bag and started stuffing treats inside. Once it was closed with a green tie, I went to the next back and filled that one up. I did this repeatedly until twenty-five favor bags sat piled in a box next to the desk.
I glanced out the window for a moment with a grin.
He'll be so happy when I ask , I thought giddily. And Laura is right. Moving should come before the babies. But I'm excited to ask about that, too. I want a family—and maybe his mind has changed about all that.
I turned back to the desk, noticing the piled decorations spilling over the side. I chuckled to myself as I fixed them. I turned around to look for my clipboard and spotted it on my main desk. I walked over and lifted it from my desk, studying the sheet on top.
“That one is done.”
I tore the sheet away and crumpled it up, tossing it in the trash bin next to the desk. The sheet beneath had the information I needed. I carried the clipboard over to the other desk and set it down on top of the pile of decorations.
I placed my hands on my hips and sighed.
“I wish the location would get back to me so I can go set this up.”
My phone chimed. I happily lifted it from my pocket and answered the call, immediately pressing it to my ear.
“You have good timing,” I told Levon. “I was about to start losing my mind.”
“Over what?”
“These Irish decorations.”
He laughed. “No luck o' the Irish for you, eh, darling?”
“I guess today is not that day!”
“Well, I hope it hasn't been too challenging.”
I smiled. “You know me: I like a good challenge.”
“That's my girl.”
“Oh, I like it when you call me that.”
“Yeah?”
I hummed and then giggled. “Yeah, it makes me feel good.”
“Is my girl feeling good today?”
“More than good. I'm working better than usual.”
He chuckled. “Well, I hope we can keep you feeling good tomorrow. I have some pretty excellent news to share with you.”
“So, tell me!”
“Not right now! I'd like to take you out to dinner tomorrow night and share it then.”
I pouted dramatically. “Oh, come on.”
“Are you pouting, Katie?”
I giggled. “Maybe a little bit.”
“I bet it's cute.”
“It's something.”
“I'm willing to bet you'll look even cuter tomorrow.”
“Levon, stop! I'm at work and you're making my face turn red.”
He laughed. “Is anyone even in there right now?”
“Well, no.”
“Okay, then, it's fine.”
I rolled my eyes. “You're silly. So, where do you want to go?”
“How about the steakhouse on the corner of Fifth?”
“Oh, I love their bread. It's a date!”
“Great! I'll pick you up at 6 and we can have dinner. I really can't wait to tell you the good news. It's going to be amazing.”
I smiled wide. “I think it'll be more than amazing. I have something I want to share with you, too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Oh, yeah .”
He hummed curiously. “I guess I can't entice you to tell me now, huh?”
“Not if you won't tell me yours.”
“Damn!”
I laughed. “Looks like we'll have to just wait until tomorrow.”
“I guess so, my love. I can't wait to see you. I had such a good time this weekend.”
“It was lovely. I really liked having you over.”
“Were my hands sufficient?”
I bit my lower lip and twirled a lock of hair around my finger, glancing at the window. I lowered my voice and turned away from the window. “Oh, they were more than sufficient.”
“I'm glad you think so.”
“I don't even know where you learned that trick. You didn't do that back in the day.”
“Well, I have changed a little, Clara.”
I giggled. “I guess we both have.”
“Alright, darling. I have to get going, but I'll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay, babe. I can't wait!”
“Me, too!”
The line disconnected and I squeaked while tucking my phone back into my pocket. I caught my reflection in the mirror above my desk. I was smiling enough to crack my face. And I didn't really care.
I was too happy to care.