Chapter Nine
Lauren got up first and pulled on a robe before she walked into the kitchen. She made coffee and looked outside as she always did, amazed by the view. Every morning, Lauren thanked God for bringing her here, even if it was under unfortunate circumstances. She prayed for her father in Heaven. Lauren wanted to believe that she was meant to be happy even when there had been challenges in the past.
Lauren glanced at the coffee that was brewing and looked in the fridge for something to make for breakfast. There were eggs, bacon and bread for toast and she got started, smiling. It wasn’t anything fancy, but Cole appreciated everything that she did for him and showed it every chance that he got.
She thought about the night before and stopped flipping the bacon for a second. Cole wanted to marry her down the line, and she didn’t know if she should be scared or not. She was so young, and he was her first love, but she felt like he was the one. It could work with them, so she pushed aside her worries and smiled.
“Mornin’, baby.” She glanced up to see Cole smiling at her with a pair of workout shorts slung low on his hips. “Whatcha got going on over there?”
“I thought that I’d make you breakfast,” Lauren responded as her phone rang on the counter. Cole walked over to unplug it from the charger and glanced at it with a smile.
“Jane?” she asked.
He nodded and she grabbed it with a grin. It wasn’t a long conversation, but Jane thanked her for everything that she did for her to make her wedding great. She told Lauren that they were catching their flight and that she’d see Lauren in a week and a half.
Lauren sniffled as she hung up and Cole looked up from the stove. “I can’t believe that she’s married now,” Lauren said.
They finished the food together and sat at the small bistro table by the window, looking over the land as they ate. Cole suggested going into town for the day and just walking around a bit, and she agreed with a yawn.
They left a couple of hours later, dressed in jeans and t-shirts. Cole led her to the truck and opened her door before he started the engine and headed to the main road.
They wandered around the stores and laughed together as Cole would look at this and Lauren would look at something else. He led her into a jewelry store. She stared at him and panicked a little, but laughed when he told her that he just wanted an idea of what she liked. She had fun trying on rings and they joked over the serious feelings in the air.
They moved down the street, to a couple of stores that stood side by side in a row. Lauren couldn’t stop thinking about the ring as she wandered into a pet store. She noticed a little gray kitten that was crying and trying to climb out of his enclosure.
“Oh, look at him, Cole!” Lauren exclaimed. She cradled the furry baby in her hands and lifted him to her face. “Hi, tiny guy,” Lauren cooed. Cole watched her with a smile on his face. The kitten made her miss her cat from Georgia. It had died just before her father. “He reminds me of my Stormy back…back in Georgia.”
“How about we take him home? You’re home during the day and might need a writing buddy,” Cole said. She stared at him.
“Really?” she asked and he nodded. “Oh, thank you. Thank you!”
They paid the adoption fee for the kitten and Cole bought some of the things that they’d need for him. When they were done, Lauren carried the kitten to the car carefully. “There’s a carrier for that, Lauren,” Cole teased her as she kissed the little gray nose.
“My baby needs to be held. He’s scared,” she told him and held it even closer to her body.
“I think I’m a little jealous of that cat,” Cole murmured. He unlocked the truck and put the stuff inside. He then ushered Lauren and the cat inside and drove them home, all the while taking glances at the two. They pulled into the driveway and got out, setting the cat down so they could set up the litter box and some of the toys.
Lauren sat on the floor and stared at the kitten. She was trying to come up with a name. “Not Stormy…how about Blue?”
“He’s gray, baby.” Cole looked down at them and smiled.
“Yeah, he is, but his eyes are so blue. Baby blue,” Lauren decided. She smiled up at Cole. “Thank you, Cole. I love you.”
“I love you,” he replied and he shook his head.
They stayed in to play with the kitten until they got hungry. Lauren laughed as she scrounged together chicken, potatoes and some frozen vegetables. There wasn’t much left in the fridge and she shook her head. “I think that I forgot to shop with all of the wedding stuff going on.”
“We’ll take care of that. There’s enough left for tonight,” Cole assured her and he stepped over to help her. He grilled the chicken for them outside, and she cooked the other food inside, giving the kitten a little bowl of food as they ate.
They went over to Jane and Adam’s cottage to make sure that everything was fine over there and cleaned up a bit before going back to the truck.
They went to bed early and made love while Baby Blue slept on the couch. They were just finishing up when he decided to join them. Lauren giggled and snuggled up against Cole. The cat curled up above her head. “Is this what it is like to be a parent?” Lauren asked softly as she waited for his answer.
“Maybe something like having a cat.” Cole pulled her closer and kissed her. “How many kids do you want?”
“I don’t know. I never thought about it, but I think more than one. I was an only child, and there were times that I wanted a sibling. But I still feel so young,” Lauren replied as she looked at him. “How about you?”
“At least two,” Cole replied. Lauren nodded. She understood why he’d want that. He’d introduced her to his parents and his brother Thomas a couple of weeks after meeting her, and she loved them. “I like the idea of them having someone to play with.”
“Didn’t you fight with Luke?” Lauren asked. He laughed and the kitten shifted in his sleep.
“At least half the time. It drove Mama crazy, but we bonded through those times. It works out in the end,” Cole said and he closed his eyes.
“I’d imagine so,” Lauren said back. She watched him fall asleep. She stroked the kitten softly and thanked God for her life.
Lauren stayed awake for a little longer and thought about how nicely everything had worked out. This was where she was meant to be. This was home.