The kids were in bed after a meal of chicken empanadas, yellow rice and pigeon peas, and for dessert there had been guava pastries.
Calleigh stood watching the man in her life wash the last few dishes he'd dirtied when he'd fixed everyone's dinner. "Eric, you didn't need to do this."
"I know," he said grinning. "But I wanted the kids to see that I could cook."
"And the pastries?"
"Eh, they deserved a treat for being willing to try something new and the panaderia was right there by the gym. Besides I know how much you like them."
Calleigh looked at Eric and thought it was so hard to tell him no when he was so sweet. "Yes, I like them. But my waistline will pay the price."
"You're beautiful and women shouldn't be stick figures. It isn't healthy or attractive. You've always been thin; I like you better this way."
"Are you saying I've put on weight?" she asked slightly scandalized that he would bring it up.
Drying his hands he pulled her to him and said, "You've put on gorgeous and it makes me even hotter than you've always been able to make me. But it's also important that if you have a baby that …"
"Eric!" shocked by the sudden introduction of the topic after what happened last time they had discussed it.
"I said 'if' Calleigh. If. I've really been thinking about some of the things you said and I can't ask you to give up the idea of having your own biological child just because I'm concerned that if something happens to me you'd have to raise the child alone … or at least alone for a while. I can't pretend some other man wouldn't find you as amazing as I do and …"
"Whoa. Eric. This is certainly a one-eighty from where we were."
Eric shook his head. "Not really. The idea of you carrying my child … you have no idea what the idea of it does to me. But the reality is something different. Wait," Eric said when Calleigh started to turn away. "If we do this, intentionally have a child together … Cal I'm worried. About you, what it would mean for us, how Austin and Patty could take it, how they would view me as maybe the interloper trying to put my kid before them … there's a lot at stake. And that doesn't even start to cover all of the financial issues."
"I guess you have been thinking about it," Calleigh said, shock still obvious in her tone.
"I told you I would. And I have. I'll continue thinking about it. First though comes the fact that I'm going to have to find another job. I need it to remain with the city if at all possible so that I don't lose any benefits, including the time that I've put in. And here is something that didn't come up but that could be a real issue … I still have this bullet in my head. It makes it almost impossible to qualify for any kind of life insurance and the only reason I have health insurance is because of my current job. I'm not just going to be able to pick up and change to any old job, whether it is a career change or not."
"I … Eric … I … I hadn't even thought …"
"I know. I understand the wanting Calleigh. I really do. But there's just a lot to consider. I'm trying to do the right thing but in this case it is a matter of wanting but not necessarily being able to fulfill that want so that other things don't fall apart."
Calleigh and Eric walked towards each other at the same time. It wasn't him holding her or her holding him; they held each other.
"Calleigh I literally cannot see any future that doesn't have you in it. But I can't just hop when you tell me to hop and where you tell me to hop. There are issues. And some of those issues make me leery of having kids. At the same time part of me does want to have a child with you and I know … I'm realistic enough to realize that as a woman you've got a time limit you are working with. Just … just let me start with the job situation. Once I get that straightened out I swear I'll work on the rest of it."
Feeling both chagrined and vindicated at the same time for pushing the issue Calleigh said, "And I'll work on my end as well. I have to get the adoption finalized for one."
"Yeah, actually the kids are the most important right now, then the job situation."
"Actually, at this moment," Calleigh said pulling Eric's mouth to hers. "I believe we have more immediate things to … discuss."
In a husky whisper Eric said, "Yeah?"
"Most definitely."
Eric's grin was both shy and sexy and it didn't take any more convincing to get him to follow Calleigh to her bedroom.
# # # # # # # # # #
Horatio sat on his patio dreaming of Marisol. He'd felt so young and alive with her in his life. The only thing that made him feel alive these days is when he was on a case and even that was losing its potency. He knew Marisol would want him to try and find someone else but he felt so guilty when he did and the person he was with inevitably felt it.
Perhaps for Marisol's sake … for her memory … he should try more. Perhaps …
Horatio's phone rang and even though he knew it meant a crime had been committed, it was a relief to stop thinking and start doing something he knew he could do.
# # # # # # # # # #
"Pop, you gotta call her off," Walter begged his father who was sitting there grading papers.
"Son I don't 'gotta' do anything. Your mother is a strong-willed woman and I'm the one that has to live with her. Not you."
"But Pop …"
"Walter, find a girl. Start dating. That will get your mother off of your back."
Walter grumbled, "She never likes any of the girls I date unless she picks them out herself."
"So keep trying. Maybe the next one will work out."
"That's what you said last time and look how that turned out."
Mr. Simmons tried not to but he started chuckling then laughing finally only stopping when he was in danger of knocking over his briefcase. "Well you do have some strange luck with women, I'll give you that." Then he started laughing again.
Walter rolled his eyes and decided he needed to get back to his place. "Thanks Pop. Thanks a lot."
Still chuckling his father said, "You're welcome Son."
Walter just shook his head as he glumped out to his car. Sometimes he didn't even know why he tried. All he knew is that it would be a while before he made the mistake of letting his mother set him up on a blind date again. Of course that's what he said last time … as well as all the times before that.
