Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 480(@200wpm)___ 384(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Candace’s smile faded as they looked at each other.
I tensed. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
“We’ve been better,” she answered.
“Her treatment wasn’t as effective as they’d hoped,” Chandler explained. “So, we have to try something different.”
“We thought I’d be done and able to celebrate tonight. But the doctor called this morning after my latest scan this week and…not so lucky.”
I felt sick as Dorian looked over at me, seemingly at a loss for words. Remembering she didn’t like when people said “I’m sorry,” I scrambled to find something comforting to say. “I’ll continue to think positive thoughts, Candace.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“We’ll never give up.” Chandler kissed his wife on the cheek and offered a strained smile. “Anyway, tonight is much needed after a not-so-great week.”
Dorian forced a smile as well. “We’ve got dinner on the way.”
I nodded. “Dorian and I have been learning to cook, but we’ve spared you as our guinea pigs tonight. We ordered from that new Moroccan restaurant, and it should be delivered soon.”
Chandler raised his eyebrows. “Dorian has been cooking?”
Dorian shrugged. “Getting there. Almost burned the house down the first time I tried. But you know, practice makes perfect.”
Candace gasped. “Are you serious?”
“I had to jump out of the shower when the fire alarm went off.” I laughed.
“It was just an excuse to get her to come out naked,” he joked. “I’m slick like that.”
It made me happy to see Candace laughing and escaping a bit from the bad news she’d received earlier today. You can have a dozen problems until you have a health problem, I’d heard someone say. Then you only have one problem.
After a minute, Dorian and Chandler took their drinks into the living room while Candace and I stayed behind, chatting around the kitchen island. The food soon arrived, and we were just waiting for the guys to rejoin us after their chat.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you’re so nice,” she said to me. “Dorian has never been known for picking women. But you’re a gem.”
“I’ve met a few of his dates, so I know what you mean.” I took a sip of my wine.
She ran a finger along her glass. “I feel like he always chose a certain closed-off type because he was afraid of getting too close to someone. He stuck with people he couldn’t necessarily fall in love with. But I’m glad he seems happy now, especially after everything that happened with his dad. I was worried about him after Remington passed. I’m thrilled you guys found each other.”
“Everything does seem perfect, doesn’t it?” I looked away for a moment. “Despite that, I still have my fears.”
She cocked her head. “Fears about what?”
“Monogamy is not normally his thing. I worry he’ll wake up one day and remember that. Everything is new and fresh now, you know? It’s always bliss during the honeymoon stage. But what happens when it’s over?”
“Well, if there’s one thing I know,” she said, “it’s that you can’t live in fear. It will steal the joy from this amazing thing you and he are experiencing. So, try not to overthink it.”
I nodded. Gosh, if she could live day to day with her situation, I sure as hell could learn to manage my fears surrounding Dorian.
Candace looked over her shoulder, lowered her voice, and continued, “But even as I stand here giving that advice, I still struggle with fear. Like for example, want to know what scares me even more than death?” She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head. “Never mind.”
“It’s okay,” I said softly. “Tell me what’s on your mind, Candace.”
She nodded and let out a long breath. “Whenever I look at my husband, I wonder if someone else will get to love him someday…if someone else will have his babies.” She shut her eyes. “That one kills me. It scares me and makes me profoundly sad. It’s not that I wouldn’t want him to be happy if I weren’t around. Of course, I’d want that. But I want a life with him so badly. To grow old with him.” Her eyes watered. “I love him so much.”
I opened my arms and pulled her into an embrace. Sniffling, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. “I know I’m not supposed to cry, but I felt your love for him in my soul just now. I will pray so hard that you get everything you want and deserve.”
“Thank you.” She wiped a tear, too, and then shook off her mood, bravely feigning a smile. “Where the hell are those two anyway? I’m starving.”
“I’ll go fetch them,” I said, still feeling like I could cry.
When I approached Dorian and Chandler in the living room, they were mid conversation. Rather than interrupt, I stepped back behind a wall for a moment.
“Anyway, you’ve listened to me ramble on enough…” Chandler said.