"You got the flowers?"
"And the card. I'm thinking there were two and one got lost."
"Nah, it was all a ruse."
"What?"
"I wanted to talk to you, but you asked me not to call you. Knew you'd call me right away if I sent that card."
My heart hammers so fast, I need to sit down. "You're being sneaky again."
"Always for a good cause."
"I don't know what to say."
"That's good because I have a lot of talking to do. Just listen. I'm sorry for my knee-jerk reaction. I didn't mean it. I am thrilled about the baby and I love you and-"
"Wait." As much as I want him to love me, I need to get something out of the way. "Don't say it if you don't mean it. I-we can work everything out with the baby so you're part of its life. But don't say you love me just because of the baby. Don't get my hopes up if you don't mean it."
Well, too late anyway, because I can feel hope swelling in my chest already, desperately wishing he means it.
"I do mean it, Clara. I love you. That evening I was planning a big dinner, asking you to officially move in, make a love declaration."
"You were?" I whisper.
"Yeah. I was waiting for you to have the interviews behind you, thought it was the right moment. But there is no right moment, just right now. This is our moment. I love you, and the baby."
"You love Beanie," I whisper, my heart all but bursting out of my chest.
"Huh?"
"That's what I'm calling the baby until we know the sex." I touch my belly in round circles.
"Terrible, even for a nickname."
We both laugh, but then our chuckles fade into a long and heavy silence.
"Blake, I need time to process this," I say eventually.
"I thought as much. Look out for a delivery tomorrow too."
"Why?"
"I can do better than flowers, but thought I'd start small."
My smile reappears. "Blake."
"I want to see you, Clara. There is nothing I want more. But I won't come until you ask me to. Now go and kick ass."
***
I do just that, starting my training day with renewed energy, and my heart significantly less heavy. The next day, Blake sends me a box of crystallized ginger with a note that says Ginger is supposed to help with morning sickness.
///
Wow, I'd read about it, but what with the fabulous training taking up every waking hour, I didn't even have time to run to the pharmacy for any cures. And speaking of time, I'm dangerously close to running late, which is why I head straight out of the hotel, munching on the ginger. Ah, these are going to make my life so much better.
On my way, I thumb off a message to Blake.
Clara: How did you know about my morning sickness?
He answers a few minutes later, just as I enter the building.
Blake: I have my methods. Any time you want me to fly over there and take care of you, let me know. Any time.
Grinning, I slip my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, joining my group.
***
"All right, everyone! Let's order in lunch, and maybe it's time for a round of introductions, get to know each other better," the trainer suggests. I think the competitive vibes are becoming unnerving even for him.
The introductions reveal I'm the only one to have passed the three-zero mark here in the room. Everyone else ranges from college graduates to midtwenties, but I don't mind. It might have taken me a long while to get here, but I'm not going anywhere except forward. Still, some of the looks the recent graduates gave me when we introduced ourselves this morning were downright comical. I forgot that when you're twenty-two, thirty seems ancient.
All this I owe to Blake, for pushing me, for believing in me. If it weren't for him, I'd still be getting ready. I'd still be waiting for the right moment. Blake put it right. There is no right moment. Just right now.
The first thing I do once training is over for the day is call him.
"Hey!"
"Hey back. Wait a second," he says softly. I recognize the voice of Blue Moon's location manager in his background. A sound of a door follows and then silence. "I can talk now."
"I realized I forgot to say two very important things when we spoke."
"I'm listening."
"Sorry for not telling you about Beanie right after coming home from the doctor." I only have half a block to walk to the hotel when I stop and head for the small park on the adjacent street instead. I don't want to go back into the stuffy hotel bedroom just yet. "I got all wound up because I remembered that conversation when I first visited the apartment when you said how you weren't even thinking about starting your own family, and-"
"And I wasn't. I was happy being everyone's favorite uncle. But falling in love with the right woman changed that."
Swoon level dangerously high!
I sit on a bench in the almost empty park, the wood backrest a little too hard under my skin. It's a fine end of August evening. Blake continues, as if he didn't just make my insides melt.
"But your search for someone ‘safe' and ‘non-argumentative' didn't pan out, huh?"
I wave my hand dismissively, even though he can't see me. "Oh, about that. I was dead wrong. Apparently I want a man who doesn't back down from an argument when he thinks I'm standing in my own way. You make pushy sexy as all get-out. And if it weren't for that, I wouldn't be here, so thank you. That was my second point."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And Blake? You do make me feel safe with your reckless, furniture-breaking-sex style of approaching life."
"Is that your long-winded way of asking me to fly out to Boston?"
I grin. "Nope. Not at all."
***
When Blake said he could do better than flowers but was starting small, I assumed he was talking about cutesy stuff like more flowers and ginger cures. Boy, was I wrong. He pulls out the big guns the next morning when the receptionist hands me a small rectangular package. Inside, I find a key to his apartment, and no note. But I don't need more words.
I just need him.
The day after, I receive yet another package, just as small. Inside it, I find another package, and my heart skips a beat. It's a jewelry box with the Bennett Enterprises logo on it. My palms instantly become sweaty, and excitement bubbles in my throat. I swear even Beanie gives a tiny leap behind my navel. On second thought, maybe it was just my stomach.
"Beanie," I whisper, hand on belly, "I don't know if you realize the momentousness of this, but your dad is proposing to your mom. Just thought I'd spell it out for you." And for myself. I stare at the lovely box, admiring the delicate and classic velvet, the craftsmanship of the logo, working up the courage to open it.
It takes me so long to gather my wits that it's almost time to head out to training when I finally take off the lid.
///
There is nothing inside. It's absolutely empty.
Confused and apprehensive, I call the culprit.
"Blake Bennett, you do not play with the emotions of a pregnant woman this way. What is the meaning of this?"
"Hey, not my fault. Not the best idea to send jewelry through delivery services, because it could get stolen. I'm going to have to bring the ring in person."
I break into a fit of laughter. Genius. Pure genius.
"You're taking sneaky to a whole new level, Blake."
"What was that? Reception's not good. Sounded like you were asking me to fly out to Boston."
"On the next plane, please."
CHAPTER THIRTY
Clara
Six hours-length of the flight from San Francisco to Boston.
Twenty minutes-driving time from the airport to the hotel.
By my calculations, Blake arrived at the hotel about five hours ago, which is how long I've been glancing at the clock on my computer every ten minutes or so. Only two hours to go. I'm as jittery as can be, completing every task, taking the instructor's feedback in stride, applying it dutifully. Twice I stop myself from blurting out some excuse to leave early.
When the day is over, I practically fly out the door. Run down that one block. There's a commotion in front of the elevators, so I take the stairs. My room is on the second floor. The climb doesn't do anything to wear out my energy. On the contrary; by the time I enter my room, I worked myself into a frenzy.
"Blake," I whisper, taking it all in, vases upon vases of flowers spread around the small room. Candles in between, casting a warm and romantic glow. And the man. Oh, the man.
He meets me halfway, hooking an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him, kissing me hard. Oh God, how I missed him. His scent, the feeling of being held in his strong arms, being pressed against his granite chest. I can't get enough of his warm, determined mouth.