Chapter 26
Nora
I knew Cole was coming, but I still froze when he knocked.
Harper had told him to arrive at six. It was exactly six.
I looked through the peephole and saw him standing there with flowers in one hand and a folder in the other.
“Nora,” he said through the door. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
I took a steady breath and opened it.
Cole looked tired. He’d shaved, but the dark circles under his eyes were still there. I wanted to ask if he’d been sleeping. I kept it to myself. He held out the flowers without coming closer.
“These are for you.”
I accepted them. “Thank you.”
“I wasn’t sure if flowers were too much.”
“Maybe a little. But they’re fine.”
“I won’t stay if you’ve changed your mind.”
“I haven’t. I said one conversation.”
“I remember. Can I come in?”
I moved aside and let him in. Cole glanced around my nearly empty apartment, placed the folder on the coffee table, and stayed on the other side of the room. I didn’t have to step back.
“I said I’d be better off without another Adams,” Cole said. “You did nothing to deserve that. I chose those words because I knew they’d hurt.”
“They did.”
“The second I heard those terms, all I could think about was Gregory and that old contract. Then I took it out on you.”
“You knew exactly where to hit.”
“Yeah. And I did it anyway.”
“I trusted you, Cole. You told me I was nothing like him. Then the first time you felt cornered, you made me pay for what my father did.”
“I know.”
“Scared or not, you still said it.”
“I did.”
“Andrew confirmed you knew nothing about the trust. I had him send you the papers giving you first choice to run the inn and reimbursing you for the money you spent on repairs.”
“I got everything.”
“You deserved the inn either way. Giving you the choice back was the least I could do. It was your dream before any of us knew about the trust.”
He opened the folder and set the papers on the table.
“Your father offered me a million dollars to stay away from you. I said no. David Mercer signed a statement, and my attorney is sending everything to the licensing board and the press.”
“A million?”
“Started at half. Turned him down then too.”
“You’re finally clearing your name?”
“Yeah. It’s my name. I should’ve tried again a long time ago.”
“Why now?”
“Because he’s lied about me for seven years. I’m ending it.”
Cole looked at me. “I love you, and I know that doesn’t fix what I did. This wasn’t about dragging you home. I came to say it to your face.”
“I still love you too.”
He looked up, but he didn’t move.
“I’m not over what happened,” I said.
“I don’t expect you to be.”
“If you ever use my father against me again, I’m done. I’m not going to keep proving I’m not him.”
“I know. You won’t have to.”
“And don’t decide I’m too young for you again. That’s my call too.”
“I won’t.”
“I want to try again,” I said. “Slowly.”
“However you want.”
“There’s something else you need to know.”
“I’m pregnant.”
His eyes widened. “Pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Jesus.”
He held my gaze for a second, then looked down at my stomach. His hands stayed at his sides.
“Can I touch you?”
I nodded.
He came closer and rested his hand against my stomach. “How are you feeling?”
“Sick most mornings. Tired.”
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“My first appointment is Tuesday.”
“Can I come?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want the baby?”
“I do.”
A smile broke across his face. I smiled before I could stop myself. I was relieved he was happy too. “Okay. I want to be there. For all of it.”
“I want that too.”
“Slow still means slow,” I said.
“I know.”
“But we’re doing this together.”
He nodded. “Together.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“You don’t have to decide anything else tonight. I can drive down for the appointments.”
“I want to go back. Just not tonight. I need another week.”
“Okay. Take the week.”
He opened his arms and waited.
I stepped into them. Cole held me against his chest, and this time, I held him back.
* * *
Tuesday morning, Cole was waiting outside the clinic when I pulled in. He’d driven four hours and still beat me there.
“You made it.”
“Of course I did.”
“You beat me here.”
“That was the point.”
Inside, he sat beside me and kept his hands to himself until I reached for him.
When the heartbeat filled the room, he squeezed my hand. I’d known I was pregnant for days, but hearing the heartbeat made it feel real in a way the test hadn’t. His eyes got wet, but he didn’t look away from the screen.
Afterward, he walked me to my car.
“You’re driving back now?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Four hours for one appointment?”
“For our kid? Worth it.”
“You cried.”
“Not a word.”
“Too late.”
“Nora.”
“Call me when you get home.”
“I will.” He paused. “Can I kiss you?”
I nodded, and he kissed my forehead.
I watched him leave, then got into my car. I still wanted my week, and I still meant slow. But I wanted to go home too.