Tom knocked again. He saw her car. When she opened the door, she had red blotchy skin around her eyes. Her eyes looked as sad as they had the day he first saw her. That look, had disappeared when they were together.

"Tom. Let me get you your key."

He grabbed her hand. "Evie, what's wrong?"

Pulling away, she said, "I can't do this anymore. I love Lily and will continue to see her, but you and me. It isn't working."

"How can you say that? Is it because I took too long to figure this out? I just wanted to be certain this time and I am. I really am," Tom said with sincerity and fear combined.

"This time?"

"Before we moved, there was a woman. I jumped into a relationship, but I wasn't ready. Lily hated her, and I wasn't in love. One of the benefits of moving was getting rid of her. Sorry if that makes me sound awful."

"You've kept me at arm's length and I put up with it because, I thought you weren't ready and then I found out you've already had a lover."

"What did Judy tell you?" Tom asked agitated.

"She assumed things about us and said at least I liked Lily, unlike the last one." Evie felt like she spat her words.

"I'm sorry. I know I hurt you, but I needed to be certain of how I felt about you because you're different. I wasn't deciding what I wanted for right now. I was deciding for always. I know it took me too long, but now I know for certain, I love you. Truly love you forever." He opened his heart to her.

"You love me?" she asked timidly.

"Yes, and I can't lose you. Please tell me. Do you love me too?"

"Yes. I have for a while." She smiled.

Tom gathered her in his arms and kissed her. It differed from the kisses they shared that first night. These were full of passion and love and desire.

Evie never thought she would kiss him again. Over and over her head kept saying, he loves me. He loves me!

When they broke off breathless, Evie said, "I don't think she likes me."

"Who? Judy? She's the one who convinced me that Deanna would want me to be happy. Me and Lily. You make us happy, very happy."

They kissed again. Evie's knees felt weak, so she leaned into him and felt his hard body. Her body was truly alive for the first time in a very long time. She never wanted to let go.

Tom said, "I have one more concern. Can you handle being with me? I can't change my job, it's too important."

"I've thought about it. I know you've been keeping it from me and that's not fair to ask. I need to move on and I can't think of a better place to heal than in your arms. I love you and to lose you would hurt as much as when I..."

Tom silenced her with a kiss. Not just any kiss, but one with tongues and heat. He broke away only to leave a trail of kisses down her neck and breastbone. Finally he looked at her, his green eyes had turned dark with passion.

"I want you, but I understand if you want to wait. I have been thinking of kissing you again, since those first kisses."

Evie couldn't believe that not even an hour ago, she thought they were through and now she was looking for a reason not to lead him to her bed. Unable to think of one, she walked him to her room.

Tom wanted her, and his heart leapt when she took him by the hand. Slowly he began peeling off her clothes to reveal her beauty underneath. He touched and kissed her breasts as she sucked in her breath in response. She helped him shed his own clothes and then he laid her on the bed beside her.

Evie shut her eyes and delighted in his lips, his taste and the feeling traveling through her body. They didn't rush and took time getting to know one another thoroughly. Only at the end when the anticipation and need became too great did they increase the pace. Evie cried when she suddenly felt whole for the first time in a very long time.

Tom held her and kissed her temple. His finger ran lightly over the silver lines that ran in a line below her navel. "I never even considered that you'd have physical scars to remind you of what you lost. I'll get you an appointment with the best Maternal-Fetal Med Specialist. Only if you want."

"You'd want a baby? I don't even know how old you are."

Tom laughed. "I'm not that old. I'm only forty-two and yes, I would want your baby if that's what you want. It needs to be your decision."

Evie straddled him and kissed him. "It's possible, I may not have a decision, because neither of us thought of birth control."

"Then I'll marry you right away, just to make sure." He kissed her again.

"You're crazy." She laughed.

"Crazy about you," he said as he rolled her over.

"I'm supposed to be shopping for Lily's present today."

Tom was busy proving he didn't care about birth control.

"Darling, I think you and I together will be the best gift she's ever had."

Nine months later...

Tom woke her with a kiss. "Congratulations mommy, thirty-six weeks!"

"Three months of bed rest and I'll probably be overdue." She groaned.

"If you reach thirty-eight weeks, I'm making love to you. I don't care about doctor's orders!"

"Tom!"

"I love my wife."

He climbed out of bed ready to start the day. Evie stayed in the warm bed, with Sassy and Dewey cuddling at her feet, like lovers.

"Are you coming to my appointment today?"

"I'll try." His answer came from the bathroom.

Evie got out of bed too as her doctor had finally allowed her to. As soon as she stood, she felt a gush of wet. She called, "Honey, bad news about thirty-eight weeks. You're not going to work today."

"What?" he said, poking his head into the bedroom. He saw her standing in a puddle. "I guess not. I'll go wake Lily and tell her the good news. You should clean up."

By the time, Evie was out of the shower the pains had started. She laughed when she heard Lily singing.

"I'm going to be a sister, I'm going to be a sister!"

Thanks for reading and voting. Tom and Evie appear in Resolutions, the third book of The Point series.

I confess I have a weakness for widowers, especially widower doctors and fathers.

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