I lay in the stretcher as the paramedics fussed over him, wrapping up his hands and flushing his eyes with water.
“Kristen, I meant everything I said before. I love you. If you want to have the baby, I’ll be right there with you. It’s up to you Kristen, but I love you. I’ll be here for you, no matter what you decide.”
“Is that what you want Vincent?”
He nodded. His eyes were glistening, I’m not sure if it was from the water the paramedics were rinsing his eyes with or from tears.
“When we were back there and Marty told you about the baby, for a moment, I thought you didn’t want the baby,” I said.
“I’ve wanted a child for a while now, Kristen. When you told me, I was so happy. . . but I thought I was about to lose it all. I love you Kristen. If you’re ready, I want to start a family with you. Do you want that?”
I struggled to find the words.“I—I love you too Vincent, and I think I do want a family, but I don’t know yet. Things have just been so crazy, we should take some time and think about it in case either of us changes our minds.”
He gave me his hand, wrapped in medical bandages and I latched onto it. “I won’t change my mind Kristen, but you’re right. We’ll talk about it later. All I care about right now is that you’re okay.”
I pursed my lips. He was going to make me cry again. “I’m glad you’re okay too, Vincent. I thought I was going to lose you.”
Vincent let out a deep breath and chuckled. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
His expression turned serious again. “I’m sorry about all of this Kristen. This was all my fault. Earlier today, when we were interrupted in the office, it was Kurt and Bernie. They had come to tell me that they lost track of Marty. I should have realized that he was more dangerous than he seemed.”
“No Vincent, you didn’t know. How could you have known that Marty would react that way? I didn’t even know. I thought he had changed and got the help he needed and was recovering. I was wrong about him too.”
Vincent growled, “Guys like that don’t learn their lesson until you bury them under six feet of concrete.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted you to do that Vincent. That wouldn’t have been right. Marty is sick.”
He let out a long sigh, “It doesn’t matter anymore. Now you’re safe and you won’t ever have to be afraid of him ever again.”
“If you hadn’t met me, if I hadn’t dragged you into my problems, none of this would’ve happened. Your hands . . .”
“Don’t you dare say that Kristen. If I hadn’t met you, my life wouldn’t have been whole. I don’t regret a single moment I’ve spent with you. I’d gladly trade my thumbs, my hands or any parts of my body for you Kristen. You’re everything to me.”
“Did you really mean it when you said you wanted to start a family?”
“I know we haven’t been dating for that long Kristen, and I don’t know what the future holds, but I know how I feel about you.”
“What about your company?”
“They don’t need me there all the time. I’ll take more time off to be with you. You’re more important to me.”
“What if . . . what if it doesn’t work out?”
“We can’t live life based on ‘what ifs’ Kristen. We’ll make it work.”
Vincent looked around the ambulance and then raised an eyebrow at me, it looked almost comical on his swollen face. “So . . . ‘waddles’ was your phone password huh?”
I half-laughed half-sobbed in relief and held on more tightly to his hand. No matter what happened next, we would work through our issues together.