Page 25 of Perfect Blend
Victor: Sounds delicious. See you then.
Flirty banter, that’s always a good sign. No regrets on his side, at least through text. My thighs do feel a little stiff this morning. I change into running clothes and decide there’s time for a few miles. I think about how I knew I was in love with my ex-husband.
He was kind and caring. Always put me first, initially at least. I loved seeing him happy and for a while we made a great team. But I suppose it had been a while since I felt truly loved.
When Victor kisses me, my stomach has butterflies and he takes my breath away. He genuinely cares about hearing about my day and my work. He doesn’t mind that I run for lengths of time and need to rearrange dates because of work. Not to mention the sex, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced.
I feel worshipped.
And loved.
Lost in my run I end up taking an unexpected route, adding a few miles to my run. Normally no big deal, but now I’m running late to meet Victor. I text him I’ll be a little late then hop in the shower. I try to speed through my routine.
I’m going to tell him how I feel. I’ve found my compromise. If he can welcome the idea of having a family an alternate way, then we can give this a shot. I’ll stay in Kastle Harbor if he wants me to, if Victor is willing to get serious.
We’ve both been burned in the past, his pain older and much deeper, but I’m ready.
I’m diving in and I hope that Victor will take the leap with me.
* * *
Victor
Sally texts me that she’s going to be late because of her run. I don’t know how she’s so active after last night. I’ll have to ask her how many miles she’s up to when she gets here. I look around the bakery. It’s on the busier side today. No doubt thanks to Bethany and Violet carrying sandwich melts made with fresh baguettes and croissants.
I may have to join Sally for runs.
“Hey bro, what are you doing here for lunch? Don’t you usually stick to salads?” Marie takes the seat opposite me.
“Very funny Marie.” I turn to see if Sally is here yet. “I’m meeting Sally for lunch.”
“By the way, you owe me pizza. You never dropped off leftovers.” She steals half my sandwich from my plate and takes a bite.
“They’re in the fridge at the roastery. I drove Sally home and then went right home,” I reply. Not giving any hint of what went on during our date.
“Did you guys get your issues out in the open?” She lowers her voice, “Sally told us at girls’ night once about her infertility. Between that and your struggle to get past your childhood trauma, you two have a decent amount to talk about.”
“No Marie.” I look out the window, “We should’ve though. I decided I don’t mind not having a family the traditional way. I mean what even is traditional nowadays?”
“Well Victor, when a mommy loves a daddy,” she mutters. “You know, the whole one mom, one dad, and two point five kids made the good old-fashioned way. No condom,” she winks at me. I roll my eyes at her candidness.
“I mean, do I want kids to share my bloodline? Yes,” I say a little too loud. I look around, the bakery still crowded and no one looking our way. “But, so what. You can always have kids and carry on the bloodline of the Brunes. Besides, if not, it’s not the end of the world.”
“That’s definitely a change of tune for you,” she takes another bite of my sandwich. “You’ve always wanted kids. You must really love her. I know how much you wanted kids when gramps and grams were around.”
“I do, Marie,” I swallow ready to say the words out loud for the first time, “I really love Sally.”
I close my eyes and listen to the sounds of the bakery. My whole world has changed in minutes but the rest of the world carries on.
I sigh. “Families come in all sizes and forms as you’ve pointed out.”
“True, ours is small and it works,” her eyes are teary. I squeeze her hand.
We both lost our parents, then our grandparents. And when we both found people to spend our lives with, mine left by choice and Marie’s left by death’s cruel decision. I will take whatever form of family Sally wants if it means having her in my life. Adoption, surrogacy, or even no kids. I just want Sally.
“You’re the romantic, you know it always works out, right?” she sniffles at my questions.
“I do believe long conquers all.”