Kisses and Near Misses

Chapter 23

Jacq finished packing away the very last of her and the kids' things. They only had duffel bags out so they could change clothing for Monday and get clean for it. She was tired and exhausted from not going to sleep the night before.

She'd spent hours crying (curious when she hadn't cried during the worst times in her life) before just getting up to pack and clean.

Now she was going to sit on the couch and wait for Cole to drop off the kids. She had no idea what she was going to say to him. She hoped he'd just hand her the children and leave but she knew in her heart of hearts that she wished he'd propose again and she'd accept.

She sighed heavily. She'd said no for a reason but it seemed so stupid when she was alone. Then she realized what she was thinking and panicked. She was not going to be like her momma and depend on a man to survive.

She sat back. She was just going 'round and 'round in her head. She shook her cranium and took out her phone to go through her videos in her photos app. She had a lot from Tik Tok but so many more from this past year and doing things with Cole and the kids.

Her heart softened as she watched the video from Carlos' first birthday. She started tearing up when she saw the four of them looking so happy.

A knock sounded at the door so she shot up to put her phone away and answer.

It was Cole and he didn't have the kids with him.

"What's going on? Where are the kids?"

"With Mom. We need to talk."

"Cole, I don't-" She turned from him.

He caught her arm and turned her by her cheek. "We need to talk."

She melted.

He came in and shut the door. He sat them on the couch. "You've got a lot done."

"Yeah."

He clenched her hand in his. "I'd understand if you wanted to get an abortion."

She gasped. "You want me to have an abortion?"

"No. But I'd understand if you wanted one."

She tried to climb out of her feelings. Their kids were depending on them to be mature. "Why?"

"I'm ruining your life-"

"You haven't ruined my life, Cole." She turned to him seriously. "You haven't ruined anyone's life."

"So even though you're going to stay here now and be a waitress for the rest of your life-?"

"Whoa, whoa, no." She wasn't trying to hear that. "I'm not staying in Tennessee. I'm not becoming a waitress. At least not here. And not for the rest of my life."

"How? Why not?"

He looked so concerned yet hopeful that her heart soared. "There's restaurants and bars all over the world. I do not need to waitress here. But I'm way too clumsy to wait tables. You know I have dreams, Cole. I have plans. I'm sticking to them."

"But how? You wanted to go to Alaska on a scholarship."

"I did and I do. I am."

His brows knitted.

She got up and went to the mail to retrieve four letters. She came back to hand them to him.

He opened the first one. "This is from the University of Alaska. It's your first choice."

"I know. Read it."

He scanned the contents. "You got in!"

She smiled. "I did."