My eyes snapped open. Sunlight streamed through the window.
The dream hovered in my mind, thinking of that home with Grace. A weight I hadn’t realized I carried had been lifted and I could finally breathe. Deep breaths of lavender shampoo, cinnamon apples, and sunshine.
Now that I’d taken those full breaths, I wasn’t sure I could live without them.
Her pillow was cold. Couldn’t the woman ever sleep in?
In the kitchen I walked up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her waist, gathered her hair over her shoulder, and brought my lips to her neck. I needed to feel her close.
I didn’t want to let go. I never wanted to let her go.
“I just had the most amazing dream,” I murmured into her hair.
“Mmm?” she hummed. Her hand wrapped around the back of my neck, but she didn’t tilt her head to meet my eyes.
“I was in San Francisco, living in a yellow townhouse with wisteria over the porch,” I pressed a soft kiss on her neck. “You lived there with me.”
Her hand in my hair froze as her back stiffened. She took a ragged breath. “Sounds like an interesting dream.”
“What if it wasn’t a dream?” I asked. It hadn’t felt like a dream.
It felt like a premonition.
She pivoted slowly eyes wide. “What are you saying?”
“Come to California.”
She seemed to stop breathing. “But … when?”
“Whenever you want, for as long as you want.” I leaned down to kiss her, a lingering kiss. A kiss that might not have to end. “I vote forever.”
She brought her fingertips to her lips, and her eyes softened.
“We can stay in my current apartment or you can find us a new place to live, choose the neighborhood you like best.”
When her lip quirked, I pressed further.
“Maybe you want to stay downtown, close to everything. Or maybe we move out of the city to a house with a yard.”
People would want to visit Grace. We’d need a guest room.
We’d need a nursery.
My heart swelled at the rightness of it all, seeing the future unfolding. Everything I’ve worked towards, everything I need.
“But … what would I do?” her brows furrowed.
“San Francisco has hospitals, Grace. Yoga studios too, tons of hippies.”
“This is …” she tucked her head into my chest. I wanted to keep her safe with me, protect her from the world. “This is a lot.”
“I know, darling, but …”
I don’t want to go without you.
I don’t like who I am without you.
I love you.
The truth resonated in my chest, down to my bones.
“You'll never have to worry about being recognized by somebody from your past. We can come here for the holidays with my family. Our family.”
Her shoulders started to shake in what must be tears of joy.
“I’ll cover the expenses so you can do what you love,” I said. Maybe we could adopt, no way would an agency turn me down. I could still see Grace holding that little girl, could still feel her arms around my neck.
“We’ll close on a place quickly,” I dreamed out loud, still imagining that townhouse as my hands rubbed her back. “The merger bonus will cover the down payment. I want to be near the office, so maybe Pac Heights. Or a short commute like Sausalito, I can take the Ferry and you can visit me for lunch. On the weekends —”
“Stop,” she said, running a head through her hair. “I haven’t said yes.”
Was she being dramatic? Maybe she wanted me to make a big deal out of the request, like a proposal. Oh damn, I had to plan one of those soon, didn’t I? I wasn’t letting her get away.
“Do you need me to officially ask?” I grinned cockily. “Grace, please move to San Francisco.”
Hesitation flickered across her face. My hands slid to her biceps to hold her more firmly. Didn’t she see how perfect this solution was? This was what I needed, what we deserved. “Please, Grace. I need you there.”
“You need me to pick out your house,” she repeated. “You need me …”
