ALWAYS FAITHFUL (20 page)

C
laire looked at her watch. A few minutes before eight. As she sat there she was grateful for the few minutes alone to gather her thoughts. It seemed she had been on autopilot the whole time and rarely had a minute to herself. Grace had gone home with Jordan and Mike’s mom. They were glad for a small diversion, too. Everyone was on their best behavior, but it was trying at times. Never knowing what to say to anyone or how to respond when they offered their condolences made it hard to hold even a small conversation. Claire fidgeted as she looked back down at her watch.
He had said eight hadn’t he,
she thought. She heard the door handle jiggle as it was turned and stood up to greet Father O’Reilly. But it wasn’t Father O’Reilly that came through the door.

“Hi, I guess you weren’t expecting me, were you?” Nic said softly, her eyes searching Claire’s for answers.

“No, not unless the big thing you needed to tell me is that you’re joining the priesthood,” Claire said as she stepped closer to Nic.

“Naw, I don’t think they would take me. Besides, I’m not Catholic, at least not anymore.” Smiling, Nic grabbed one of Claire’s hands and was surprised when she didn’t pull it back. Moving towards the chairs, she sat Claire in one and took the other that faced her.

“How have you been?” Nic couldn’t take her eyes off Claire’s lips as she caressed the hand she still held.

“Okay. Better now.”

“I understand you needed to talk to me.”

Before Claire could say anything else Nic was standing over her, her face being held in Nic’s hands. Leaning down, Nic slowly kissed Claire as she pulled her to her feet.

“I am so sorry, Claire. Please forgive me,” Nic whispered between kisses.

“What, wait.” Claire stopped Nic and gently pushed her back. “What do you have to be sorry for? I’m the one that screwed up and didn’t tell you how I felt. I’m the one that should be apologizing to you. Oh Nic…” Claire buried her head on Nic’s shoulder as Nic wrapped her arms around her. “I tried to call you and you didn’t pick up. I didn’t know you called, I swear, or I would have called you right back. I would never have waited so long to call you back but…”

“Shhh.” Nic put her finger over Claire’s mouth.

“It’s okay. I think I understand what happened. However, can you forgive me? My pride wouldn’t let me call you. I thought you didn’t want to be with me after I told you I was falling in love with you. When you didn’t call me back I just figured you didn’t want me.”

“Oh God Nick, are you kidding? I love you.” Kissing Nic again Claire pulled back and, holding Nic’s face in her hands, said it again. “I love you. I think I have from the minute I saw you. Is that bad? I mean with only just losing Mike and falling in love with you. Do you think badly of me?”

“I am guilty of the same, my love. We don’t get to choose when love finds us. Maybe we should just be happy that it did.”

I
t took a month to leave San Diego. It had taken longer than she had hoped for Claire to clear quarters in San Diego, but that had given her the time necessary to expedite her own depature from the military and move to the Reserve Corps. Three months later, Nic couldn’t be happier. They were together in Monterey and Nic was getting ready to start a new job with the Naval Post Graduate School. Once they had decided to take their relationship to the next level and Nic left the military, it became easier.

“Nickie, Nickie,” Grace said as she ran to the back of the moving truck.

Jumping down, Nic picked up Grace and swung her around. “Hi honey. What’s up?”

“Mommy said I have to ask you if I can have this now.” Graced opened her hands showing Nic a roll of candy.

“She did, did she?”

“Yep. She said you’re the boss,” Grace said giggling as Nic tickled her.

“Okay, but you can only have one. You’ll spoil your lunch if you eat more,” Nic said as she set Grace on the ground. Nic looked up to see Claire watching her from the fence.

“I’m the boss huh?” Nic said as she closed the distance between her and Claire, wrapping her arms around her.

“Well, she has to get used to having two mommies now, doesn’t she?” Claire questioned as she kissed Nic lightly on the neck.

“If you keep that up I’m gonna put Grace down for a nap and show you who the boss really is,” Nic whispered.

“Excuse me. Where do you want this dresser,” a burley man asked as he wheeled a dresser down the trailer’s loading ramp.

“Guess I better get back to work,” Nic said, a little embarrassed at being caught kissing Claire.

“Yeah, I guess you better. Come on Grace. Let’s go make lunch.” Claire reached up and gave Nic a peck on the cheek. “See you in a few minutes.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

Nic smiled as she watched her new family go into the house. She knew tomorrow was filled with a promise she never thought she would have.