“They’re my biological children. She got pregnant when she left me. And she never told anyone because she was afraid my mother would take them away.”
“Oh my gosh!”
“I know it’s a shock.”
“She never told me.”
“Because she was scared of my mother.”
“And when did she tell you this?”
“She didn’t. I went over to see her and saw the kids. They were the spitting image of me. I had no doubt in my mind that those kids were mine.”
“I remember when she was your fake girlfriend for the press.”
“But it turned into something real.”
“Yeah, I remember how much you loved her when you two started dating for real. It wasn’t for the press anymore. You two were hopelessly in love.”
“She was always the one, I just needed to grow up.”
“Are you ready for all the responsibility of a wife and a family?”
“I’ve never been more ready than at this very moment.”
“Because I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“She’s all I want. I want to spend the rest of my life with her, and nobody else.”
“I’m so happy you’ve finally found love. Oh my gosh! I’m so happy for you.”
“I’ll never forget the first day I laid eyes on her.”
“You’re just lucky I hired her, or your fairytale would’ve never happened.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“A paid day off, preferably on a Friday sounds really good about now.”
He chuckled. “Sure. Take Friday off. But I can do better than that. How about a trip to Hawaii?”
“Seriously?”
“Dead serious.”
“Thank you, Harvey,” she said clutching her heart in excitement. “I would love that!”
“It’s the least I can do for the person who brought the woman of my dreams into my life.”
“I love seeing this responsible, family man side of you. It melts my heart.”
“I guess the right trainer can tame any wild lion.”
They both laughed. She stayed another hour, and then left.
***
He drank coffee from the lounge and ate whatever was in the nearest vending machine. The nurses told him that no flowers were allowed on the floor, that balloons could affect latex allergies, so they were also forbidden. He couldn’t fill her room with roses. He couldn’t surround her with the bright promise of anything money could buy. So he did what she’d want. He left to go see her kids, their kids.