MARKIAN VISITED, and left before Delia came back from work. He was as concerned for me as the next person. My mom had been giving me weird looks all day, and I wanted to break the ice, but was nervous.
"Your dad's looking for flights to come tomorrow," she had her reading glasses on, and was flipping through a fashion magazine.
"Okay. He doesn't have to. I'm totally fine, Mom."
"I do think you should come home with us. You have to move back home anyway, why delay," yes, I told her about the transfer to the Chicago office.
"I don't know. It doesn't feel right."
"That's the hormones talking, honey. You can move in with us. Grandpa's been really concerned about you. But you know he doesn't like travelling."
"Hormones," I huffed out a breath.
"Yes. They make you feel a bunch of strange stuff. Look, Delia is a very nice woman. I like her alot. Butâ"
"So you have noticed."
"Well, I'd be stupid not to notice the way she looks at you," she fixed her glasses, and rested her magazine onto her lap, "but that's not the life for you. You've read the bible, you've been to church. And you've dated men your entire life. I can tell you, for a fact, that you're not a lesbian. And the sooner we get out of here, the better for your well-being."
"Mom," my heart beat was pumping at a hundred knots per second, "I'm happy. That's all I have to say. You might think it's crazy, but this is the first time in my life that I don't feel overwhelmed."
"Alyssaâ"
"I know that you might not understand it. And I'm not asking you to. As you said, she's a great woman. And I want her in my life," I placed my arms around my stomach, "and the baby's life:"
She sighed, "I just want you to be happy. I'm not comfortable with it. But I do know that she really cares about you."
She's actually being understanding.
"And I appreciate your concern. But I need you to go back home. I need some time to sort out what I'm doing with my life, and if Delia wants to be a part of it. We're not dating. But I want toâ"
"I understand. I just worry about you."
"Mom, Maxwell 2.0 can protect me better than anyone can. Have you seen those muscles?" I looked at him. He was standing by the doorframe watching over us.
"GUESS WHAT."
"What, darling?" Delia stared lovingly into my eyes.
"My mom's leaving tomorrow. So we'll have some time alone to figure everything out."
"I've already figured everything out for myself, darling."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. I'd like for you to move in with me. I can't stand the thought about not knowing if you're safe at night."
"Not sure how that's going to work when I have to go to work in a different state," I said.
"I was thinking about that," she sighed and closed her eyes, "I know that you're not happy with your job right now. And I know this might not be something you want to do, but how do you feel about consulting at Wilks Cosmetics?"
"You mean your business?"
"Yeah. I told you that I needâ"
"I actually talked to a client on the phone, and he wants me to be his private lawyer right here in New York."
"Oh," she lowered her head, "that's great. I'm happy for you."
"If I take your offer, will I see you everyday?" I asked.
"Most definitely."
"And will I get awesome time off, and the best benefits the world has to offer?"
"Anything you want. And if it's something you end up not liking, you can always quit, and do something different."
"Sounds like a great offer."
Delia placed a kiss on my forehead, and embraced my stomach with the palm of her hand, "I know that I had doubts beforeâI thought that I'd be unable to treat the kid as my own, but it's like free insemination, right?"
I smacked her arm, "or it's me trying to u-haul our relationship."
"I bet it is. And you're succeeding," Delia grinned.
"Are you ready for thisâI know it's a lot, but I really want to be with you," I admitted.
Delia said, "I want you, Alyssa. And if being with you means having a baby, then I'm ready. We can be a family."
"You're sounding like you're in love," I teased. Hearing her say all of that made my heart do somersaults.
"I am."
"Really?" She cupped my cheek with the palm of her hand, and leaned in, "don't fuck with me. I don't expect you to love me yet."
"I do love you, Alyssa. And it's irritating how much I care for you some days. But I want to share every day with you, and every moment."
"I love you too. It's insane how much I do," I admitted. Delia leaned in, and kissed me so lovingly. I'd never felt love through a kiss before, and it was amazing. You could say that we sealed it with a kiss.
THE END