Epilogue

Seven weeks later…

Donovan drove into the lot at Ocean View Apartments an angry man. He felt the tension in his neck and shoulders. This was the third weekend in a row Julie had backed out of a date with him and he didn't understand. Things went great the first month of their relationship. Donovan succeeded as KDHB's newest morning anchor. Julie insisted on paying off his debts, claiming she owed him for helping her get back on her feet. Donovan reluctantly took the money. Julie had also kept her promise to tutor Sean, coming over several nights a week. She'd also cooked for them. The only thing Donovan wished was for her to be closer instead of an hour's drive away. For a woman who'd seemed so determined to be with him, Julie now seemed to be avoiding him. Had he done something wrong? Or maybe she was having second thoughts about being that close to him and Sean. Maybe she feared marriage, commitment, or anything that might stand in her way of wherever her work with the Red Dust might take her.

Donovan didn't buy her excuse for not seeing him, "I just don't feel well, Honey." When he'd encouraged her to see Dr. Graham she claimed it wasn't that, and she'd be fine. She just needed space.

He parked his Camry next to her Camaro, trotted up the stairs to her apartment and rang the doorbell. After waiting a minute, he rang it again, wondering if she'd looked through the peephole, seen who it was, and decided not to answer.

"Julie, c'mon!" he called.

Donovan heard the scrape of the deadbolt then the door handle turned. Julie opened the door and stood before him, nightgown on, her braided hair half undone. Though the lights in the living room were dim, Donovan could see Julie hadn't cleaned in a while which was unlike her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She turned away from him, straightened the pillows on the couch and a stack of magazines on the coffee table. "I told you I don't feel well."

"I can see that." He hugged her then tried to steal a kiss, but she turned her head.

"Three weeks, Julie," he said, letting her pull away from him. He studied her. She looked pale. "Have you been to work?"

"Some." She sat on the couch. "Not every day."

"Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only thing you've been avoiding."

Julie put her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. Donovan saw her tears.

"I didn't mean for… it to be like this, Honey," she said softly.

He sat on the couch next to her and took her hand. If she was weak again because of her lung injury, if they'd pursued a physical relationship too soon, he'd take care of her so she could get her strength back.

"You did too much too soon," he said. "You know I'll help you. I'd love for you to come and stay with me and Sean."

She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her lip trembled.

"I'm selfish," he confessed. "Tell me everything's okay between us."

"I don't think I could move in with you right away."

"I'm not trying to rush you. I just want you to get better."

"It has nothing to do with the pneumothorax. It's healed. I'm not weak from that."

"Okay, then what?" He searched her expression. She squinted and turned away. He cupped his hand under her chin, but she refused to look at him. He withdrew his hand.

"I wasn't expecting you when you came to Seattle."

What's that supposed to mean? He wondered. She changed her mind about us?

"Okay?" he asked.

"I wasn't on the pill. I hadn't been for months because of the shooting."

She's pregnant?... Wouldn't that be too soon after her being sick?

She stared at him. "Say something, Honey. Are you disappointed in me?"

"Disappointed?" he asked. "Do you want it, Julie?"

She nodded. "Do you?"

He pulled her close to him. "Are you kidding? A couple months ago, all I could think about was asking you to marry me. You will marry me, won't you?"

She giggled. "Maybe when I'm not puking my guts out half the day."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Have you seen a doctor?"

"It's not necessary until twelve weeks."

"Yeah, but after everything you've been through."

"I'm a doctor. I know about this. I've been through it before."

Only this time you won't lose it… He considered his two bedroom house, and Julie's small apartment. Neither would support a family of three, or four, or five. He wondered if this would be the first of several children they'd have together.

"We'll have to move. Where do you want to live?"

"In Santa Monica."

He considered the extra-long drives to work and making Sean move away from his buddies.

"Maybe we should discuss that later. Can I help you around here?"

She placed her hands on his neck and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Mike."

"I love you too, Doc."