Chapter 19 #3
Whoever said it was right: this was turning out to be a very unholy alliance.
I glanced at my watch and sighed before I looked around for someone to talk to.
I was antsy while I waited for Roscoe - if he would even be able to make it - and I was so tired that I wondered how long I’d be able to resist laying my head on the table for a nap.
This wasn’t the first time Roscoe’s profession had gotten in the way of our plans, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. My experience as a labor and delivery nurse had taught me that babies came on their own schedule; they didn’t care about the plans of anyone around them.
If anything, they seemed to choose the most inconvenient times.
I shook my head because that was a selfish thought, and I was better than that.
Babies were a miracle. That was why I’d chosen my field in the first place - to help bring them into the world.
Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be doing that anymore, unless I happened to have my own children, which was something Roscoe and I had talked about at length last night.
We had talked about all sorts of things last night between bouts of lovemaking, two showers, and a hurried snack before we christened his countertop and kitchen island.
But the most important thing we’d discussed was his understanding that I needed to continue to attend meetings regularly, no matter how long I had been in recovery, and that I wanted to stay in my little house alone for at least a year before we took our relationship to the next step.
He laughed when I gave him my timeline and insisted that I was obsessed with measuring things in years.
I explained that I wanted to take that year to get to know the “new and improved” Serana and make sure she was okay alone before I jumped into a partnership.
Roscoe smiled and told me he’d wait until I was ready - even if it took longer than a year - as long as I promised to stay the night a few times a week so he could wake up beside me. It wasn’t hard for me to agree to that.
I looked around the room at the friends I’d made since I moved to Rojo.
I had weathered quite a few storms and come out on the other side.
Much of that success was due to the people supporting me.
I smiled when I saw Lynn and Farrah spinning around the dance floor.
They moved together seamlessly, obviously very much in love.
Just like I was. Roscoe had gone from an unattainable man I swore I didn’t want to my best friend and the partner that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. There was something to be said for the old adage “Patience is a virtue.”
My phone vibrated, and I hurried to get it out in case it was Roscoe.
Even though I was sad it wasn’t him, I was happy to see that it was a message from my dad inviting us to dinner next weekend.
Things were still tense between us, but I had forgiven him long ago for pushing me away.
I would have never learned to stand on my own two feet if my parents had been there to catch me every time I fell - and I’d fallen over and over again until I hit rock bottom.
Now, our relationship was on even ground. They were proud of my sobriety, but understood it was a work in progress. Luckily, Mom and Dad both loved Roscoe, and he seemed to really like them. We even had plans to spend Christmas together, hosting dinner at Roscoe’s house for both of our families.
So far, I had only spoken briefly to one of my brothers and didn’t have plans to talk to the other one or my younger sister.
I wasn’t in a place where I could fall back into the role of caring for them as they fought their own addictions.
My own recovery was the priority. To some, it might seem selfish, but they would have to make the same decisions I had. No one else could do it for them.
“Hello, beautiful.”
I smiled as I shivered at the timbre of Roscoe’s deep voice so close to my ear. I turned and kissed him before I twisted around in my chair and smiled. “Healthy baby?”
“Very healthy.”
“And Mama?”
“Tired, but happier than she’s ever been.”
“That’s always good to hear.”
“I missed Bella’s wedding.”
“It was beautiful, but she’ll understand.”
“As long as you do, I’ll be okay.”
I stood and wrapped my arms around Roscoe’s waist before I tipped my head up for another kiss. “I’ll always understand, Roscoe. I’ve been through a few of those wild days myself.”
“I’m a lucky man.”
“Damn right you are. Are you hungry? I saved you some of the delicious food that Dylan and the other caterer made.”
“I’m hungry for you, but I’m not going to miss this opportunity,” Roscoe said as he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. He spun me and then pulled me close. “Dance with me?”
“Always.”
“I feel like we’ve done this before.”
“You look an awful lot like my last dance partner.”
“What happened to the guy?”
“He became my best friend.”
“And after that?”
“I fell in love with him.”
Roscoe dipped me back for a kiss. As he stood us up and found the rhythm of the song again, he said, “He’s a lucky man to be in love with his best friend.”
“And I’m the luckiest woman in the world because he’s by my side.”
“And I always will be.”