Page 129 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“And it’s not going to,” she said. “You know it. But it will just give it a bigger boost. That isn’t a bad thing.”

“I suppose not.”

“How is Taylor doing?”

He heard the door open to the hospital, and the noise level increase, telling him she wasn’t that far away from the ward now. She’d probably take the stairs rather than lose him in the elevator.

“They were a little late. She didn’t want to get up. Said she had heartburn last night from eating almost half a gallon of peanut butter fudge ice cream.”

“Yum. One of my favorites when I’m feeling sorry for myself.”

“How long ago did you have some?”

“Long before a sexy doctor entered my life,” she said cheerfully. “Hi. Yeah, I’ll catch up with you later.” He didn’t say anything knowing that she was talking to people she passed. “Sorry. You know, the news is traveling fast about us and then someone just heard me make that comment and wanted to chat.”

“You’re loving it, aren’t you?”

“It is fun. More fun when I’ve got someone I love who is a good person and so many know. Do you know how long it’s been since that has happened?”

“Never?” he asked. Hoping.

“Ding, ding, ding. You win the prize.”

He laughed again. “I can tell you’re getting close now. You’re in the stairs because you’re echoing.”

“I am. I just wanted to check in with you. If I get a minute later, I’ll text; otherwise, we’ll touch base tonight.”

“Bye,” he said, hanging up.

It was on the tip of his tongue to say he loved her before he did.

But she never said it and he didn’t want to be the one who always felt like it was a reflex rather than an emotion.

He wanted the words to mean more when they were said, not expected as a greeting or end of a call.

The way it was before with Zoe.

Did he love her?

Hell yeah.

Did he know she loved him?

Absolutely.

But it wasn’t the same as what he had with Gabriela, and oddly enough, he was coming to easily accept that more than anything else.

37

A YOU PROBLEM

“It looks as if Tatum is developing right on track,” Gabriela said two weeks later to the parents in front of her.

Their smiles told her how proud they were that their four-month-old seemed all but perfect.

“When can we give her solid food?”

She looked back at her notes. “She is drinking the max formula that I would recommend. Does she still seem hungry?”