“You can always move back to Charleston and be close to me.”
I laugh a little before I tell her the truth about something. “I can never move back to Charleston. All the old hurts and mistakes I made are there. I can never be settled there.”
“But you will visit.”
“Yes,” I say, even though I wish I never had to.
My parents, his parents, some of our best friends are lifers in Charleston. I may not be able to call it home, but it will always be home to my family and his.
Winter-like weather continues to batter the city through early December. It isn’t until the following Friday I get to see Andy again. There is a holiday party at his office tonight and one at the hospital tomorrow. I’ve packed a bag as I plan to spend the whole weekend with him. The Uber rides are costly but cheaper and less of a hassle than maintaining a car. However, I have started to look at cars on the off chance I decide to move in with Andy.
I’m dressed to impress in a subdued, sexy number that won’t shock the doctors Andy works with, but won’t age me unnecessarily either. I spent a fair amount of time with Mandy searching for the right dress.
When I get to Andy’s door, his expression says it all.
“Jesus, Cate, I’m surprised the cabbie didn’t kidnap you. That dress is—”
“Good?”
He nods and I lean in to kiss him. His arm snakes around my back as he draws me up against his hardening cock.
“Happy to see me?” I ask with a smirk, as I pull back slightly.
“I’m always happy to see you.”
He glances at the phone in his hand. “We could be fashionably late.”
“Or,” I say raising an eyebrow, “We can be on time.”
“Cate.” I can hear the protest in his voice.
“I don’t want the doctors you work with to think I’m the one causing you to be late. First impressions, remember.”
“Once they see you,” he says, stepping back and eyeing me up and down, “they will forgive me for being late. In fact, I’ll probably get bonus points for showing up at all.”
I can’t help but laugh. “How about I give you some attention on the ride over?”
His brows shoot up and I give him a wide grin. He takes my bags and drops them on the table. “After you, my lady.”
I giggle as he pats my butt on the way out. I love how carefree our relationship has gotten. And true to my word, I give him the promised happy ending on the ride to his office.
My palms begin to sweat as we take the elevator up. He’s explained to me that with the new laws surrounding medical care for all, their office had to cut spending. The small holiday party is being held in house to save money. Less money spent on frivolous things means more money in the hands of the doctors themselves. Still, they wanted to have the party, and the doctor Andy has been covering is coming with her new baby.
“Cate, you have no reason to be nervous,” Andy says with an arm around my back.
“Easy for you to say. What if they don’t like me?”
Andy stares at me. “I work with them. It’s not like they are my family.”
And isn’t that the crux of the problem?
“And what will your family say when I show up with you at Christmas?”
“It will be fine, Cate.”
The doors open and too soon I’m ushered into a glass front office. There are a few people milling about. We don’t have any more time to talk about the week to come.
The doctors are friendly as Andy introduces me, but it’s the baby who steals the show. The infant is carefully passed around after hands are disinfected with liquid sanitizer. When it’s my turn, I feel the tears begin to form in the back of my eyes. I want this. I want a baby and a family. And I want it with Andy. The possibility of this could be derailed depending on how our week goes. I know Andy wants to think that it will be okay. But I’ve broken Andy’s heart once.
“Cate,” Andy says. He glances to the woman in front of me waiting to take the small bundle from my arms.
I hand the baby off and I immediately feel like something’s missing. The tiny baby who smells like powder makes me want too much in a short few minutes. I sip at the glass of wine Andy hands me and try not to think so hard about a future I want and may not get.
Later as the party wraps up, one of the older doctors with only a small thatch of white hair that clings to the crown of his head, speaks.
“Well Cate, what’s the verdict?”
I glanced up confused by the question that’s directed at me.
“Verdict?”
“We’re all hoping Drew will stay with us. And the way he speaks of you, I think his decision largely depends on you.”
I turn my head to the side and glare at Drew. He gives me a sheepish smile.
“Actually, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Cate about your offer yet.”
“Oh,” the man says. “Sorry, we are all just so pleased with Drew’s accomplishments so far. He will make a great addition to the team. And of course, a second office in DC will expand our client base.”