“I’m an adult, so this really isn’t your business, but we haven’t slept together yet.”
“That’s good, I suppose. Will you start making the salad?”
“Of course,” he muttered, grabbing the bag of lettuce from the counter and tossing it into a large bowl. They worked silently for a few minutes, her breading defrosted chicken breasts while he cut up carrots, colored peppers, and tomatoes for the salad.
“I know you’re an adult, but you’re also my child. Noel’s mentioned to me a few times she doesn’t want to get married or have kids. You’ve talked about a big family since you were seven. You can see my confusion and…concern.”
“I know how Noel feels and yes, I do want a marriage and kids. I am not giving up on that. But…” his voice trailed off as he smiled, thinking about Noel’s smell, the feel of her skin under his fingertips. It was hardly something he felt comfortable talking to his mother about but he understood she was looking out for him and Noel and he wanted to reassure her. “Every time I’m with her, it’s like the world shines a little brighter. Being together feels right and it took some convincing for her to take that leap with me. We have plenty of time to figure out what having a future together means for both of us.”
His mom set the tray of breaded chicken breasts off to the side and washed her hands.
“Also, Noel loves kids. I’ve seen it. She took a job in Labor and Delivery. I know a lot of things changed for her after her parents, but it all stems from fear.”
His mother didn’t respond right away and these long pauses made him nervous, especially because he never expected his mother to have any qualms about him and Noel.
“Baby,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You are an optimist and I love that about you, but relationships don’t work that way. Yes, Noel loves children, but that doesn’t mean she’ll change her mind about wanting her own. If the two of you start out with different future goals, you’re going to wake up one day and realize that as much as you care for her, you can’t force her to want the same things you do and vice versa. I just don’t want you two to start something that may not evolve and then you’re both left broken hearted and resenting each other.”
Nick covered her hand with his and squeezed. “People change, Mom. Dreams evolve. I can tell you with a hundred percent confidence, I never had such strong feelings for any woman the way I do with Noel.”
His mother kissed his cheek, patting his arm as she went back to cooking. “That’s all a mother can ask for her son. A good woman and mutual love and respect for each other.”
“We have that, without a doubt.”
“You sound like you know what you’re doing, so I’ll just mind my business.” Suddenly, she turned around and shook her spoon at him. “But just to be clear, you are giving me grandbabies. Lots of them.”
Nick laughed, knowing his mother would respect her children’s decisions on whether or not they wanted to reproduce. As far as he knew, both Holly and Merry wanted kids in the distant future. He did too, so his mother’s concerns gave him a lot to think about.
If he and Noel worked, if they were head over heels in love, could he forget about kids and marriage if she truly didn’t want those things? Would being with the right person mean sacrificing things he’d always expected to have one day in order to hold onto the person he needed?
Nick shook his head, berating himself for jumping three steps ahead. Heavy subjects could wait, at least until after their first date.
His mother was right, he was an optimist. And he wasn’t ready to give up on what Noel and he could have before they even got started.
Chapter 23
NOEL
On Monday morning, Noel went straight from work to Drew and Gabby’s place, her back seat covered in grocery sacks full of favors. Nick came by the hospital around midnight and asked for her keys. She’d followed him outside and helped him unload the bags from the back of his truck, still overwhelmed that even after she’d left for work, his family stuck around and finished them for her.
Her family.
The Winterses were her family, even if Nick and she didn’t work out. Noel kept telling herself that, because the thought of losing five people, possibly seven if Anthony and Pike couldn’t forgive her for breaking Nick’s heart, was a crippling thought. And that would be how it ended; she already knew. If things went south between her and Nick, it would be her fault.
She hoped if it did come to pass, it was something forgivable.