She explained how he hired her firm to redecorate his house, the weeks they spent in each other’s company, and her closeness not only to him, but his daughter, as well. “We’ve been spending time together whenever we can, and I know he wants more. He said he wants me to meet his family here inAtlanta.”
“And what doyouwant?”
“I’m excited but nervous.” Anika gnawed the inside of her cheek, hesitant to voice her true desires. “I want more, too, and I want to meet his family.” Just the mention of taking that next step made her heart flutteruneasily.
Ronnie shrugged. “So meet his family.” Tilting her head, her eyes turned sympathetic. “There’s a but in there somewhere, and I don’t know why. You obviously like himalot.”
“A lot.” Anika wasn’t ready to voice that she’d fallen in love with him again. She’d thought long and hard about it the other day while soaking in the tub. She could barely control her emotions and the way her body reacted to him just by being in hispresence.
“Maybe you should just have fun and not stress about where the relationship isgoing.”
“It’s not possible to just have fun with him, and I know he wants more than a hookup this time. I doubted his intentions before, but he’s made themclear.”
“So you’re into him and he’s into you. There’s chemistry and you’re reunited. What’s theproblem?”
“You know what the problem is. He’s our age and has a daughter who wants a little brother. She’s a precious little girl with a big smile, who likes to hold hands and cuddle and ask way too many questions.” She laughed shakily and stared at her hands. “He wants more kids. Two more, he said.” Anika bitherlip.
Ronnie flung an arm around Anika’s neck, and Anika rested her head on her shoulder. One thing she couldn’t complain about was lack of support. Her mother, brothers, and Ronnie had all been supportive and never treated her differently because of her medical situation. She was harder on herself thananyoneelse.
“You have to tell him,” Ronnie said softly. “If you don’t, you could end up in the same situation you did with Emerson. You don’t want that,doyou?”
“No,” Anika saidquietly.
At one point in time she had convinced herself that she no longer cared if she could be a mother or not. Children were messy and loud. Their little hands were often dirty or sticky from some mystery substance. But the sentiment hadn’t lasted. All it took was spending a few hours with one of her brother’s children, and the baby lust came back full blast, reminding her that she was a lone wolf. An oddity insociety.
Why couldn’t she be like her boss, Laura, and accept her situation? Because Laura had chosen to be childfree, but the choice had been taken away fromAnika.
“When do you see him again?” Ronnieasked.
“Next Sunday, when we go to his cousin’shouse.”
“Can you see himbeforethen?”
“Probably.”
“Find a way to get him alone, away from his daughter and any other distractions. Have a heart to heart andtellhim.”
Anika swallowed, fear and worry pressing at the back of her throat. “You’re right. I need totellhim.”
But even as she said the words, she wasn’t sure shecould.
