8. Wake Up Alone #4
I pulled out a bar stool at my kitchen counter and Lola sat down, setting her purse on the counter.
“What is it Mark?”
“I bought you flowers today.”
I took the bouquet on the counter and handed them to Lola. Her eyes lit up and she took the bouquet, pressing it to her lips. She inhaled slowly, closing her eyes and taking in the scent of peonies that by now had filled up the entire room.
“They smell lovely.”
“Don’t they?”
Lola wrinkled her nose, “But not roses?”
“You love peonies.”
“I know I love peonies, but you always get roses.”
I looked down, “These are for you Lola because… Well shit, I guess I’m trying to say that I love you.”
Lola’s eyes widened.
“Mark… Are you sure?”
“What kind of a response is that?”
“You don’t feel pressured or anything to say that?”
“Lola, come on…”
“Sorry. I just… I worry.”
I moved in close to her and kissed her on the forehead, “You don’t have to worry. Because I mean it. Pregnant or not, I love you Lola Hopkins.”
Lola looked at me, her sensual grey eyes locking with mine.
“I love you too,” She whispered.
“Are you sure?” I asked her.
Lola grinned, “Yes I’m sure Mark. I love you. I really do.”
“Good,” I continued, “Because then I have one more question for you.”
“And what might that be?”
“Hold on,” I mumbled, fumbling in my pocket for the notes I’d written while sitting on that bench.
I pulled out the piece of paper, trying to ignore the confused look on Lola’s face as I caught my bearings.
“Lola. When we met, we were both in a terrible place. You were the sexy chick from finance with a killer smile, gorgeous skin and grey eyes that could melt a man’s heart.
I was the doctor with baggage — and a lot of it.
When we first got together our no fuss relationship seemed like the perfect thing.
We could be together without really having to be together.
But fate had other plans for both of us.
And when two souls are meant to come together, all the technicalities in the world won’t be able to keep them apart.
We’ve been through a lot — and in the end we just kept getting pushed closer together no matter how hard we fought against it. ”
I paused, observing Lola in rapt attention.
“We tried to pretend that we could be casual with each other but the truth of the matter is, that was never possible. When I found out you were pregnant, I freaked out. Love hasn’t exactly gone so well for me in the past and I know you could say the same.
I wanted to ignore it, but the truth is, your pregnancy was a sign.
It was a wake up call. This was my chance to realize how badly I cared for you.
This was my chance to do right by you. This was our chance to heal and to heal together.
Lola, I’m telling you this because I want you to know how badly I love you.
I want you to know from the bottom of my heart that I want to be there for you.
I want you to know that I will be with you and follow you to the ends of the earth if you so wish.
That being said, I have a big question.”
Lola looked confused.
“Lola,” I sighed, “Will you please marry me. Will you be Mrs. Lola Hopkins Jagger?”
Without waiting for her response, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring that I’d bought her. Lola gasped. I opened the box and reached for her hand. She held it out, her delicate palm shaking as I slipped the ring onto her finger.
With a hand clasped over her mouth, Lola looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Mark!”
“Please Lola… Answer me.”
Lola started crying, almost like she couldn’t believe it.
“Yes! Yes Mark,” She blubbered through her tears.
I hugged her. I squeezed her body close to mine as she cried tears of joy. Lola wrapped her arms around me and whispered into my ears, “Thank you…”
I held her there with a feeling of pride swelling in my chest. We’d been through so much together. We’d fought. We’d loved. We’d survived. And here we were at the end of one journey and standing at the crest of another. Lola was carrying my child and I was ready to carry both of them.
“Your kids,” Lola asked once she pulled away, “Do they know?”
I grinned at her, “Know? They approve. A lot.”
“So this is really happening Mark?”
“Hell yes it’s happening.”
I kissed her. Lola closed her eyes and kissed me back with the ferocious passion characteristic of her kisses. I pulled away from her and then kissed her forehead, then her nose, taking the time to express the tender romance I truly felt for her. She was mine. And soon, she’d be mine forever.
Lola was already the mother of my child and I couldn’t wait to make her my wife.
The mother of all my children. The woman I spent the rest of my life with.
She belonged here. And she was the only woman who belonged in my life.
She was the only one who understood me; she was the only woman I could trust. And I was alright with that.
For once, I didn’t crave the temptation of multiple hotties. I just wanted Lola. Beautiful, curvy, brown-skinned Lola.