“Jesus Christ,” he mumbled, pulling me back into his side. “Maybe we should come back another day.”
“No!” I shot up straight. “I’m sorry.” I glanced at Quarry, strategically avoiding the doctor, who was impatiently glaring at me. “I guess… It’s just… I don’t think I’ve ever realized how much I want this for you. And, now, I’m scared that it won’t work.” I smiled tightly.
His face warmed in understanding.
“Mrs. Page,” the doctor said, interrupting our conversation. “Can I please reiterate what I told you during our phone call last night?”
It was my turn to glare at him. That call was supposed to be our little secret.
“You did not call him last night!” Quarry howled with laughter.
“I was nervous!”
The doctor didn’t wait for us to quiet before continuing. “The failure rate is less than one percent. Mr. Page is an excellent candidate, so I don’t anticipate any problems today whatsoever.”
“Well…what if—”
Quarry cut me off. “So what. So what if it fails? So what if I can never hear again? Is that a bad thing?” he asked me.
“No. Of, course not. It’s just—”
“You hate the silence. After all these years, I know that better than anyone. But I’m not scared. I’m not nervous. I’m not upset. I’m not anything. I want to hear my kids. And you. And my brothers. And their kids. I want to watch a movie. And listen to music. But, if I don’t get that, so fucking what?”
March slapped his arm to scold his father for cussing, but Quarry ignored it.
Taking my hand, he leaned even closer and implored, “Nothing changes, Liv. Whether I hear it or not, our lives are still going to happen. We’re still going to be happy. We’re still going to be together. You’re still going to pop out my daughter in a few days. March is still going to grow up—God help us all. We’re still a family, Rocky. We go home together and keep living, no matter what the outcome is. It’s what we do. Together. Always together.”
Even I couldn’t argue with that logic.
I did hate the silence. I even still slept with music on, but with Quarry sound asleep at my side each night, the volume was significantly lower—and, truth be told, sometimes it was virtually inaudible.
But I was no longer living in fear.
We had both vowed the day we’d gotten married that fear and insecurity were no longer a part of our lives. Our love was dense—filled with the solitude of our past but empowered because we’d made it through together. Nothing could take that from us.
We had each other.
Every. Single. Day.
Forever.
So, staring into his hazel gaze, I dried the tears from under my eyes and squared my shoulders. “Let’s do this.”
A smile spread across his face. “We’re ready, Doctor.”
Moments later, Quarry’s eyes lit.
Moments after that, they filled with tears.
“Hey, Daddy.” March smiled, popping the dimple that matched his father’s.
“Oh, God,” Quarry choked, covering his mouth with a hand. Turning to me, he admitted, “I think you were right. This was a bad idea. I’m never gonna be able to ground him again if he calls me Daddy like that. We’re screwed.” He then smiled, scooped March into his lap, and tickled him.
I let out a loud laugh, and Quarry immediately froze.
His gaze snapped to mine, and his lips twisted in pain.
“Quarry?” I asked, concerned.
He lifted a finger, asking for a second, and then shifted March back to his chair.
Cautiously, I rubbed his back, waiting for him to collect himself.
“I just…” he started in a gravelly voice before clearing his throat to finish. “I didn’t realize how much I missed your laugh.” He gripped the back of my neck and pulled my face against his chest.
His strong heart beat a staccato rhythm in my ear, melting the anxiety away.
Purring, I curled in closer. “I love you.”
He squeezed me tight. “I love you too, Rocky,”
March interrupted our quiet embrace by announcing, “I’m telling Uncle Flint that Daddy cried.”
“Don’t you dare!” Quarry laughed.
In that moment, my smile was unrivaled.
That was one thing that would never change.
Every. Single. Day.
Forever.
Fighting Solitude
On The Ropes Series
THE END