Greg was a great dad to his three daughters, that’s what attracted me most to him. I met him and Kailey, Ellie, and Annie when I replied to an ad on social media for a nanny. I graduated from college mid-year, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to put some money away while I was job hunting. I talked to Greg first on the phone and there was something about his voice, that put me at ease. He explained that he occasionally travelled for work and would need someone to stay with his girls. He gave me a few days to think about it before we set up a meeting. In the call he didn’t mention the girls’ mother, and I didn’t ask.
I met Greg in person on Valentine’s Day. The large brick townhouse sat on a corner with a black wrought-iron fence around it. The townhouse wasn’t overly large, but it was grand in the sense that it was old and stood proudly on the corner since the day it had been built. I turned the handle on the gate and walked up the front steps as it started to snow again. We were due for a big storm, but the worst of it wasn’t due to hit until much later in the day. This snow was just the beginning. I knocked on the large black set of doors and turned around to watch the snow fall. I turned around at the noise of the door opening and finally saw Greg face to face. He was older than I had imagined on the phone, but he wore it well. I would have guessed he was in his forties. It was his eyes that caught my attention first, they were icy blue, but it was more than the color. If the eyes are the window to the soul, Greg’s eyes said he was sad, hurting, and in need of something I did not know. He wore a beard, cut short, and it complemented his chocolate brown wavy hair. Standing about a foot and a half taller than me, he had a slim but muscular build, that I got the hint of by the way his clothes fit.
“Hi, you must be Lucy,” he said as he held his hand out to shake mine.
“I am, you’re Greg,” I asked, taking his and into mine.
His handshake was firm, but I noticed the warmth of his hand and his skin on mine. He moved out of the doorway and gestured for me to enter. I walked in pulling my hand away from his and felt a flutter from deep in my stomach. I couldn’t take the job, I knew it then, I was supremely attracted to Greg. He came around me and let me into the front sitting room. The house was tastefully decorated, not like a bachelor would have done it or he had hired a decorator. Whoever had done the room knew what they were doing, it was gorgeous with the two white couches that sat opposite each other, and a fireplace with a small fire going. I instinctively walked over to it and put my hands out to warm them.
“It’s cold out there isn’t it? Can I take your coat,” Greg asked as he followed me into the room.
“It is, we’re supposed to get a snowstorm this evening. You’d think it would be too cold to snow. Yes, please,” I replied as I took off my coat and handed it to him.
He took my coat and walked out of the room as I looked at the pictures on the mantel. His three daughters with their bright red hair, freckles and smiles were in almost every picture. I finally spotted a picture of the woman who had to be their mother, her dark auburn hair with it’s soft wave, fell softly around her shoulders as her blue eyes radiated happiness. I wondered why she wasn’t here to interview me. I looked in the mirror, that sat above the fireplace, and my reflection showed my cheeks bright pink from the cold. The natural pink hue complemented my dark brown hair and green eyes. I couldn’t see much more of my face, as I was too short, and the mantle was tall. I heard Greg walk back into the room and I turned around at his entrance to the room.
“Would you like something to drink, perhaps something warm, coffee, cocoa, tea?”
“No thank you. This lovely fire has done the trick,” I replied as I walked over and sat on one of the couches.
Greg walked in and sat opposite. I folded my hands in my lap and waited for him to begin. I had so many questions, but so far I had liked what I had saw.
“So you’ve graduated early then?”
“Yes, I took an extra course each semester.”
“What did you study?”
“Journalism.”
Greg nodded, “Good major, so what is your ultimate occupation and why nannying right now?”
I let out a nervous laugh, I always did that when I was nervous and I hated it, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t sure if it was sitting opposite to a man as handsome as Greg or actually wanting the position, but my own nerves surprised me.
“I want to take some time to figure out what I want to really do in journalism. This position would give me some time to figure out where I want to be.”
“That makes sense. So it is just me and the girls. We’ve had a lot of change in the past year and a half and so I want whoever I hire to be around for a while. Does that sound like something you could do?”
“How long is a while?”
“Maybe the next year or so. I have to be honest, with you just starting a career this seems unfair to ask.”
“I can’t commit to a year, but a solid few months. I understand if that won’t work for you and the girls. Can I ask.”
He put his hand up before I could finish my question and took a deep breath.
“I’m a widower. My wife passed away almost a year and a half ago. She slipped and fell onto the El tracks, hit her head, and never woke up.”
“I am so sorry for your loss. I understand why stability would be so important right now.”
“Thank you. I’ve hired a few nannies through agencies, but it has not been a great experience. I just need someone who will look after my girls, keep them safe and be a friend to them. It’s sound simple enough but I’ve had a string of bad luck finding the right person.”
“You said they were, 9, 7 and 5, is that right?”
“Yes. They’re in school and so on weekdays they’d be there, so it would really be getting them ready in the mornings and taking them to school and then evenings. I’ve tried to cut back on my travel for work, but it I still occasionally have to go. I’ve been leaving them with my sister, but she lives out in the burbs, and has kids of her own, it just gets tricky.”
“I understand.”
“They’ve been through a lot, my girls, and I have to get this right for them. I can’t be everywhere, here for them, and working the hours I need to.”
“What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a private equity attorney. Does the position still interest you, even if you can’t commit to the long term?”
“It does. I might work well. I’d be willing to give it a try.”
“Really? There’s a room for you, so you wouldn’t have to pay rent somewhere if you didn’t want to, and that is included in your compensation. You’d pretty much have run of the house. You said you had experience working with children?”
“Yes, I come from a large family, and babysat all through my teen years.”
“Your family, are they here in the city?”
“No, they’re all back east. I went to Northwestern and fell in love with Chicago. I’d like to stay here and make a career here if I can.”
“It’s a good news city. Would you be willing to meet their girls?”
“Of course. They have to feel comfortable with me.”
“I’m relieved to hear you say that.” He said as he looked down at his watch. “They’ll be home in a few hours. Would you like to see the house in the meantime?”
“Sure. I just wanted to clarify, or ask, would it be okay for me to only stay when you are out of town? I have a place of my own not far from here.”
“It’s not what I had in mind but it can work.”
He stood up and I followed his lead as he took me through the town house. There were four large bedrooms upstairs. Each of the girls had their own and were the sweetest rooms I had ever saw. One thing was clear, that Greg loved his daughters deeply, his face lit each time he spoke of them. We wound our way through the house, down the back stairs and into the large kitchen at the back of the townhouse. I was surprised to see that the original cabinets, tiles and stove sat, like a time capsule. It was charming.
“My wife wouldn’t let me touch this room when we moved in, she loved the vintage look of the kitchen,” he said as if he had read my mind.
“It’s charming.”
“That’s exactly what she said, I’ll be honest, I don’t get it.”
We rounded a corner and passed through his office, with its dark wood panels and book cases on either side of the room. The next room was the master, with its en-suite bathroom. We wound back out to the foyer.
“So that’s the house. I have a cleaning lady that comes twice a week, so I wouldn’t expect you to do that. What do you think? Still want to meet the girls?”
“Yes.”
“You could have the free room upstairs when you stayed, if that would be okay?”
“Yes, it will work. When would you like me to meet them?”
“Are you busy this evening?”
“I don’t have plans tonight.”
“On Valentine’s Day?”
I laughed nervously again. “Not this year.”
That night I came back and met his daughters who were adorable and charming. I also knew I was going to have to be careful to keep my attraction in check. Greg’s looks had disarmed me when we met and set me on edge. Seeing him with his daughters, so kind and gentle, about made me melt. I stayed for dinner, as we ate spaghetti from Inga’s down the street. Greg went and picked it up giving the girls and I a few minutes alone to get to know each other. I was smitten, with their freckles and red hair. Each one had a spark of life in them that was so precious, I adored them instantly. We laughed through dinner as the girls grilled me, on every aspect of my life. I found it adorable, and Greg seemed pleased. After dinner the girls went up to their rooms to play, and finish homework, leaving Greg and I alone in the dining room.
“What do you think? Still interested in the position?”
“Absolutely, they’re wonderful.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. I haven’t seen them that excited in a really long time. They genuinely like you.”
“I like them.”
We agreed that I’d start the following Tuesday, which gave me three days before I started. The first week I spent getting the girls to and from school. I helped them each evening with their homework and made them dinner. Greg usually arrived home between 7:30 and 8 pm each night. I admired how when he came in the door, his girls were his immediate and only focus, he was a great dad. As I put my coat on to leave, he told me that he’d have to go to Seoul, Korea for in the next week and would be gone for about four to five days for work. I felt ready to take the girls full-time. Honestly caring for them did not feel like a job, I was having a blast. I also loved that I got to see Greg each day. I was crushing hard on him, and tried to keep my feelings hidden, but a tension was growing between us it seemed. I hoped it wasn’t in my head, but I reassured myself that it couldn’t be. I had caught him looking at me in the way one looks at someone their interested in.
I came over the following Sunday to get the rundown for what I needed to know while Greg was out of the country. He had dropped the girls off at his sister’s for their cousin’s birthday party leaving us alone in the house. I walked into the front door and announced my entrance, as my greeting echoed through the empty house. Greg’s office door was shut, and I pressed my ear up against the door before I knocked. I could hear him on the phone so I put my coat over the chair that sat opposite so he would see that I was there when his call was over. I walked through the house, that felt empty without the girls there and into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. I was frozen solid from being outside. I filled the kettle and put it on, then grabbed a mug, and a tea bag. I ignited the gas burner as Greg walked in.
“Hi, I thought I heard you in here. Sorry my call went long. Thanks for coming by today.”
“Do you want a cup of tea? I boiled enough water for two. I hope you don’t mind, that I helped myself, I was so cold.”
“Not at all, as of tomorrow, this will practically be your house. Do you feel ready?”
“Yes. I’m excited. I adore your daughters. Are you ready for your flight and all of that?”
“I am. I hate leaving them.”
“In general?” I asked, as I realized he might have meant he was nervous to leave them with me.
“Yes of course, I have full confidence in you, Taylor. I wouldn’t leave if I didn’t. I must confess, the girls adore you.”
I smiled as the kettle began to whistle ever so softly.
“I’m sorry did you say if you wanted a cup of tea?” I asked as I walked over to remove the kettle.
“Sure.”
I reached up into the cupboard and grabbed a teacup out. The cup slipped from my hand and fell hitting the counter, cracking and then shattering as it hit the floor.
“Oh no,” I said as I tried to catch it. I watched as it shattered, sending glass shooting out in all directions from the impact point. “Oh Greg, I’m so sorry.”
I bent down to pick up the shards of broken glass as Greg came over to help.
“No worries, it was only a tea cup. I’ve broken quite a few of these in the exact same way. I think it’s the glaze on them that makes them so slippery.”
He bent down to help me pick up the glass and I looked him in the eye. His deep blue eyes, I felt like I could get lost in them. I tried to look away, as he kept my gaze. I looked away sharply as I cut my finger on a piece of the broken cup.
“Ouch!”
I pulled my finger away, and blood started to drip. The cut was small but deep.
“Here, let me see.”
Before I could protest, he pulled my hand gently towards him, and pulled a kitchen towel off of the counter at the same time. I leaned in to examine my finger in his hands as he did the same. He gently pulled a small shard of glass out of the cut and wrapped the towel around my hand. He looked up at me and I wanted to kiss him, his soft pink lips. I imagined what it would be like to kiss him, and without warning he leant in and kissed me. Like the ignition on the gas burner on the stove, his kiss sparked a flame deep inside my belly. It was soft, and gentle. I could smell his cologne and the natural sent of his body, as he slid his free hand along my cheek. Abruptly he pulled away.
“Shit, Taylor. I’m so sorry. I…” he trailed off.
“It’s okay,” I said softly.
Normally from anyone else I would take the admission of guilt as a lie, but I could read it on his face. He knew he had crossed a line. He let go of my hand and stood up.
“It’s not, I’m sorry. I should not have done that.”
I stood up and met his gaze, leaving the broken teacup on the floor for the moment.
“I’m not offended.”
“I just don’t want you to think I am this sort of guy, I’m not.”
“It’s okay, I don’t think you are.”
“Let me get you your tea and a band aid. Please sit, I’ll clean this up.”
I put my hand on his arm, I could tell that he felt awful.
“Greg it’s okay.”
“I haven’t kissed anyone since my wife. I haven’t even been interested in anyone since Maggie. I don’t know if it has been seeing you with my girls or what. I promise you I will keep my hands to myself, that will never happen again. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable in any way.”
“You didn’t. Please don’t be so hard on yourself.”
The way he looked back at me, I moved away and took a seat at the kitchen table. His eyes said he needed the space, there was so much hurt and pain there. He poured the hot water into my teacup and let it brew as he began to pick up the glass from his teacup. I pulled the kitchen towel away from my finger and saw that it had already stopped bleeding. I watched him as he walked out of the kitchen, and I wondered where he had gone. He came back into the room with a first aid kit and stopped to grab my tea. He set it down on the table, and the kit too as he sat down next to me. I reached over for the kit and grabbed a band-aid. As I tried to pull the wrapper open my cut began to bleed again.
“Here, let me help.” He said as he reached for the band-aid in my hand.
I held out my hand for him to put it on, his touch on my skin, was wonderful, and I looked up at him again. I saw him start to move in towards me again, but he stopped. I leaned in instead and kissed him gently. He welcomed my kiss as his tongue met mine. I pulled away first, just enough to talk.
“It wasn’t all you. I know that this is not a good idea, but I wanted to kiss you anyway.”
He looked at me and slid his hand along my cheek again, bringing my lips back to his. We kissed until my lips tingled, we were both out of breath. For as eager as we both were, there was a gentleness to his touch. He pulled me towards him, and I felt as if I would spontaneously combust. He pulled his lips away but still held me in his arms.
“I wasn’t lying earlier; I haven’t done this since Maggie. Are you sure this is what you want?”
I searched his face, unsure if he was looking for me to be the stronger one. Before I could answer he spoke up.
“We can’t do this, it isn’t right. I’m sorry Taylor. I want to but, it just isn’t right.”
He gently released me from his embrace as I reached up and stroked the side of his cheek before I sat back in my seat. Before I could say anything else, he had put on a professional face, and began to give me the rundown on caring for the girls while he was away. I found it difficult to concentrate, not that where was anything that he said that was unexpected.
“Lastly,” he said, “I don’t know if you’ve been following the news about this virus going around. I prefer you keep the girls out of large crowds.”
“Of course, it’s pretty scary. Do you think it will come here, and will you have any issues traveling to Asia?”
“I shouldn’t, it is a quick trip so hopefully I’ll be home before anything kicks off. I think it will come here but we have some time yet, and it won’t be widespread, but I don’t know.”
The next morning, I arrived before the sun rose. The girls were still asleep in bed. Greg met me in the foyer.
“Good morning, coffee is on if you want a cup.” He said as I took off my coat and set my bag down.
“Yes please.”
“Please help yourself, I am going to go grab the cash I have for you while I’m away.”
I walked into the kitchen as he walked into his office. I tried to shrug off the awkwardness that hung in the air. Although I agreed with and respected his decision to not sleep with me yesterday, the desire was still there. I poured myself a cup of coffee and I could not help but think of yesterday afternoon, being in his arms. I heard a knock at the front door and hurried to open it so the noise wouldn’t wake the girls. The driver for Greg’s car had arrived. I told the driver he’d be right out and shut the door. I walked into Greg’s office, knocking first.
“Your car is here.”
He stood behind his desk. I could see there was concern on his face.
“Don’t worry, I will take good care of the girls, we’ll have a blast.”
“I have no doubt you’ll take great care of them. I forgot to mention that I’d like to call them each evening.”
“Of course. What time?”
“Will 6 pm work?”
“Yes. I think we are going to stick pretty close to home. Did you see the paper this morning? The virus seems to be spreading in New York now.”
“I saw, I am wondering if this is a good idea to travel right now. I’ll be in and out,” he reassured himself.
He walked up to me, and I couldn’t help myself, I leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“Safe travels,” I said gently as I leant back down.
“I couldn’t sleep last night. I kept thinking about yesterday afternoon.”
“Me too.”
He placed his hand on my cheek and I turned and kissed the inside of his palm, holding his hand against my face. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my lips and then leaned his forehead on mine.
“Please take good care of my girls, they’re my whole world.”
“I will, go, before you miss your flight.”
He pulled away, his hand still in mine and squeezed it as he walked out of the front door.
Three days after he left all travel from Asia ceased. Greg frantically tried to get back home to The States. It scared me to see him so afraid. I made sure to keep the news off, to not scare the girls. Greg and I talked each night privately, and texted back and forth. The more we talked, the more I knew I really liked him. When the lockdown started in Chicago, Greg told me I could take the girls to his sisters if I wanted. I declined, wanting to keep them home. We made the best of a terrifying situation, and I did my best to keep them entertained. The girls yearned for their father, and I wanted Greg to be home too. School for the girls canceled and it seemed as if life ground to a halt. That night when the girls went to bed, I called Greg to give him the daily update. I facetimed him from the living room. The screen came on and I noticed he looked distressed.
“Hello,” I said.
“How was today?”
“Good, we played nail salon, and built forts in the living room. The girls are in good spirits. How are you doing?”
“I’m going out of my mind here. I want to be there with you guys. I’m not allowed to leave my room and it feels like I will never get home.”
“You will. In the meantime, I am keeping the girls safe. We are shut-ins too.”
“Thank you for that, you don’t know what it means to see them so happy while all of this is going on.”
“You look stressed.”
“I am. This is so hard.”
“It is, but we’ll get through it.”
“Taylor, I don’t just miss the girls, I miss you too. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable.”
“I miss you too. It doesn’t.”
“I can’t stop thinking about that afternoon in the kitchen.”
“Me neither.”
“Does this make you uncomfortable? Please tell me if I’m out of line here?”
“You’re not.”
“I know I keep asking about the girls, but how are you doing, are you okay?”
I smiled; his concern touched my heart.
“I’m alright. I’m scared like everyone else but doing my best to not show it to the girls. My family is upset that I didn’t come home but I explained the situation to them, and the understood the importance of me being here for you and the girls.”
“Thank you, I know how difficult this situation must be for you too.”
Each night Greg called, and we chatted just us. We got to know each other over facetime. I learned about where he went to school, and how his career had started. He also talked a little about losing Maggie, and how they had met. It was clear that he was still very much in love with her, not that I minded, she was the mother of his three beautiful daughters. Greg also got to know me too, about my goals, and dreams, and ambitions. I told him about my family and growing up. As the days turned into weeks the girls missed him terribly and I had to admit, as silly as it was, I did too. Finally, Greg was told that he would be able to fly home in four days. We debated wither or not to tell the girls, we didn’t want them to be disappointed if it didn’t work out for some reason. The night he booked his ticket he called me. We sat in talked as usual, as the migraine I had all day, roared furiously. I tried to push the pain aside as he showed me his ticket. He was so excited to be home, to hug all of us. He could tell I was in pain and he offered to have his sister come look after the girls if I needed the help. I declined, hoping I would feel better in the morning.
The next morning, I woke feeling awful, and I knew that this was more than a headache. I was scared. I took my temperature and it was high. I didn’t know if I had caught the virus somehow, even though we had isolated ourselves. Scared, I called my mother, who offered to fly to Chicago. I declined, if I had the virus the last thing, I wanted was to pass it to her. The girls woke and saw how sick I was. I could tell that Kailey, the oldest was scared. I reassured her and told her we’d just have a movie day and take it easy. All three girls tried their best to help take care of me and I could not believe how sweet they were. Greg and Maggie had raised wonderful children. That night I fell asleep on the couch, too sick and sore to move to my bed. Off in the distance I heard my phone ring, but I didn’t have the strength to go search for it. I knew it had to be Greg, but I’d have to miss tonight’s call.
I struggled through the next day, sicker than I had ever been. I seriously considered calling my mother or Greg’s sister to look after the girls. They were amazing and so self-reliant, but I feared what would happen if I didn’t make it past this illness. There was nowhere for me to get tested and I couldn’t leave the girls alone to go do it. If I had the flu and not the virus, I didn’t want to expose all of us either. That night Greg called, and I barely had the energy to speak to him. I read the alarm on his face when I answered the facetime call. We talked briefly before I fell asleep, forgetting to hang up the call. I woke the next afternoon still feeling rotten. Panicked I managed to get myself off of the couch and check on the girls. Kailey had made them all cereal and the three of them were playing in her room. I laid down in my bed and tried to listen for them. I fell back asleep, too weak and winded from the climb up the stairs. That night I didn’t hear my phone ring from Greg’s call. I rolled over around 3 am and saw a soggy bowl of cereal that one of the girls had left for me. By sheer will power I managed to get out of bed and went and checked on them. They were tucked into Greg’s bed down in his room. I made my way back to the couch to try to stay on the same floor as them, so I could hear them better. I felt like I had abandoned my post, to look after them. It was unfair that this was all falling on Kailey’s shoulders, but the way she soldiered on, it was clear she had been in the role before, looking after her younger sisters.
When I woke again, daylight streamed through the front windows, as I laid on the couch I had sat and been interviewed on. I felt something wet across my forehead and turned to look. Greg stood above me, wetting my brow with a cool washcloth. I tried to sit up.
“Shhh, just stay still, help is on the way.” He said trying to soothe me.
“Are you really here,” I croaked.
“I am.”
“The girls?”
“They’re upstairs.”
“No, I don’t want you to get this.”
“Too late, I’m exposed.”
I heard sirens approaching and wondered if they were coming for me. In my fever induced haze I was afraid he had called the police because I had not cared for his girls over the past few days. Too weak, I couldn’t move. I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it.
“It’s okay, you’ll be okay.”
I closed my eyes.
When I opened them again, I was in a hospital room with an iv in my arm. I didn’t remember the ambulance ride or going through the emergency room. The doctor came in a while later to let me know that I had caught the virus but that I was doing very well. His comment surprised me, as I felt as close to death as I ever had, I could only imagine what a bad case of this would have been like. A nurse came in with a small blue gift bag.
“This was left by a very handsome, very concerned friend of yours. He can’t come up and visit but he asked me to give it to you.”
I reached out for it and she handed it to me. Inside there was a blue stuffed bunny and handmade cards from the girls. I smiled as I read them.
“Are those from your girls,” she asked.
I smiled and nodded, even though they were exactly mine. Going through all of this I felt like they were now. I looked into the bottom of the bag and saw an envelope with my name on it. I pulled it out and opened it, it was a letter from Greg. The letter said:
Dear Taylor,
I have no words to convey my level of gratitude to you for keeping my girls safe. When I got home and saw you on the couch, I have only been that afraid one other time in my life, the night Maggie died. I didn’t get a chance to tell her how much I loved her one last time. I don’t want to miss my chance again. I pray that you get better soon because all I want to do is hold you in my arms. Over these past few weeks, I have fallen for you. I know how crazy that sounds not even being on the same content, but I love you Taylor. Please fight with everything you have in you. The girls and I need you.
Yours,
Greg
I held onto the letter tightly. I felt like it gave me strength, the will of the girls, and the love from Greg to fight off the virus. I was in the hospital for ten days, and each day fresh roses arrived to my room from Greg. My mother had once again offered to fly in to care for me when I got home, but the doctor advised against it. Although I was better, I could still be infectious. The hospital arranged transport back to my apartment, where I would be isolated for the next two weeks. It felt wonderful to be in my own place although the only place I wanted to be was with Greg and the girls. That evening as I sat on my couch, I heard the familiar squeals and giggles of the girls.
“Taylor,” they called up at my window on the third floor.
I got up and walked out to the balcony to see Greg and the girls down on the sidewalk. The girls cheered as I stepped out of my apartment. I could see relief wash over Greg’s face to see me up and about. We had continued to talk each night on the phone while I was in the hospital, and I swear that it was the promise of being able to be with him and the girls that gave me the strength to heal. I waved down at them.
“We wanted to come by to see you,” he shouted up.
We had our distanced visit for a couple minutes before I got winded trying to shout, and seeing that I was getting tired, Greg took the girls home. That night he called and told me that seeing him that closely but not being able to hold me had been cruel. Together we counted the days until my isolation was over. While I was in isolation, he had himself tested for immunity, we wanted to be extra careful, the test came back positive and we were thrilled. He had contracted the virus but had been asymptomatic. The morning that my isolation period was over, I woke thinking about Greg. We had decided that they’d come over for a short visit so the girls could see me, and we’d go from there. Sunlight shone through the open windows of my apartment, as the early June air blew in. I rolled over in bed, grateful that I had made it through the worst, and so far did not have any long lasting effects.
My doorbell rang, and I rolled over in the direction of the door. My stomach did a little flip as I hoped it was Greg. I got out of bed and I pulled my bathrobe around me as I made my way to my front door. I opened it and saw Greg standing on the landing with a massive bouquet of roses.
“I couldn’t wait any longer to see you.”
I smiled as he stepped into my apartment, he set the roses down on the hallway table and pulled me into his arms. My body felt small in his grip and I loved the feeling. I felt safe for the first time since I could remember. I put my arms around him and held him. We stood in my living room with the sunlight around us, happy to be able to hold each other. We stayed like that for a long time, as I listened to his breath, and smelled the scent of him. The moment felt surreal, he was actually here, and I was in his arms. Emotion got the better of me and tears streamed down my face. Noticing my breath hitch, Greg tipped my chin up towards him.
“Honey what’s wrong?”
“I just can’t believe your actually here.”
He lent down and kissed me softly.
“I will always be here.”
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