“Do you want me to go with you when you talk to him?”
Kara gave the offer quick consideration. Shaking her head, she replied, “Thanks for the offer, honey, but I think this is something I need to deal with on my own. I think the first order of business is to confirm whether he’s my biological father. But whether he is or isn’t, he’s a link to my mom, so either way I’d like to get to know him.”
“You know I’ll support you no matter what you decide, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” Kara smiled. Checking her phone for the time, she cursed. “If we’re going to make it, we best get going.”
“Lead the way, sweetheart.”
They called for the dogs, and while she locked up the house, Cooper pulled his car out of the garage and loaded the dogs up in the vehicle. Kara took a moment to soak up the sheer pleasure the small act of domesticity brought her.
Cooper walked over to where she stood at the front door, cupped her cheeks in his hands, and laid a sweet, tender kiss on her lips. “You ready to leave, sweetheart?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Leading her over to his car, he opened the door for her. He made sure she was safely belted in before leaning in for another quick kiss. He closed her door, and she watched as he strolled around to the driver’s side.
Undoing her seatbelt when they’d pulled up outside the clinic, he laid a warm hand on her thigh. She looked over at him and felt her heart squeeze with love. Before she could say anything, he spoke. “I love you, K. Have a good day. Call me if you need me.”
“I love you too, Coop. You know where to find me if you need a safe space later, yeah?”
“I know it.”
“Drive safe, I’ll see you later.”
He waited for her to hop out and waited to for her to enter the clinic. She blew him a kiss once inside and watched him drive away, a smile on her lips. Contentment spread through her. Cooper had said she was his salvation, but in that moment, Kara realized that he’d been her salvation too. After the most difficult year of her life, Kara felt all the broken pieces of her soul settle into place.
It felt like she’d been waiting a lifetime to exhale. And now, finally, she could.
* * *
