Chapter 10

The door closed. Lemon stared at it. Her heart, which had just been racing, seemed to stop. She had an overwhelming urge to open the door again; to call George back and tell him... Lemon had no idea what she wanted to tell him.

The minutes passed. The light outside the door went out. It was too late, he had gone. Slowly, Lemon let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding. Then she turned around and went into the living room where she sank exhaustedly into a chair.

"What am I doing?" she asked into the empty room.

Slowly, she folded her hands in front of her stomach. "What would you advise me to do, little one?" she murmured quietly. The baby couldn't give her an answer. Lemon sighed. "Why does your father have to be so damn cute?"

Lemon didn't want to be so vulnerable. She didn't want to give her heart to anyone so it couldn't be broken. The last few months that had worked out wonderfully. She had had relationships, just none that were too serious. She had broken up without it breaking her. But at the cost of not being really happy with these men.

On her cheek, Lemon still felt a slight tingle from George's goodnight kiss. There would never be a happy ending. Lemon's guts were already tightening at the idea of losing George. And that was dangerous. She had to stop this.

"But why actually?" Replied a voice in Lemon's head. "What do you have to lose?"

Yes, what did she have to lose. Her independence? The little bit of security she still had? Her heart? In the end, simply far too much.

On the other hand, perhaps the crucial question was not what she had to lose, but what she could gain. And that was definitely happiness, a relationship with a future, maybe even true love.

That was the moment when Lemon realized that she couldn't just give this opportunity away. This was probably her only chance to get something back that she hadn't even known how much she had missed until now.

With a frantic movement, Lemon pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and typed the message. Her fingers trembled as she clicked send.

Can you come to me tomorrow? We need to talk.

The reply came seconds later.

Of course

Lemon took a deep breath. She felt as if a huge weight had suddenly disappeared from her shoulders. Her heartbeat finally calmed down. It had been the right decision.

George tried his best not to get his hopes up when he stood outside Lemon's apartment again the next morning. Unfortunately, that wasn't too easy. Lemon opened the door.

"Hello," he greeted her nervously as he tried to interpret Lemon's expression.

She smiled at him. "Hey," Lemon stepped aside to let him in and closed the door behind him. In the hallway, George turned to face her. Lemon took a deep breath before she slowly began to speak.

"When you told me about your feelings, you said we'd just give it a try. See where it leads. And that I should find out if I could imagine a second try for us. And well, I've found out now."

Georges held his breath.

"I can't just imagine it. I want it." Lemon said quietly but firmly. The air escaped from his lungs.

"I can't tell you what I feel, believe me I'd wish I knew better myself. But I can say that I feel something. For you. And I guess that's enough for now."

"I think so too." George replied. A smile spread across Lemon's face. George wasn't sure if his mind had even fully processed Lemon's words yet, but he unconsciously started to smile too.

Lemon took a step towards him, wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him. The kiss was completely different to the one the night before. Where yesterday had been caution and gentleness, today's kiss was characterized by a burning desire. Lemon pulled him closer to her. At the same time, she staggered backwards a few steps.

George could feel Lemon's heart beating against his chest. It was as if her heart reminded him with every beat how vulnerable it was. How easily he could break it. Until now, Lemon had been the one who had been worried. For whatever reason, she no longer had that worry. Instead, George was worried, worried about her.

Using all his willpower, George released his lips from Lemon's and leaned back to look her in the eye.

"Lemon, are you really sure?" he asked, breathing heavily.

Lemon returned his gaze openly. "I am sure. I want this." When she noticed George's doubtful expression, she continued. "That does not mean I'm not scared. I'm terrified. That it won't work. That you'll hurt me, or I'll hurt you. But it would hurt even more to just let it go." She continued to look at him piercingly, waiting for his reaction. George nodded slowly. "Fine."

Without adding anything else, Lemon pulled him to her again. When her lips touched his, the rest of her concerns vanished into thin air.

Lemon was sitting on the sofa in her apartment. It had been a few weeks since she and George got back together. And Lemon enjoyed every day she spent with George.

Even more so because she knew that things wouldn't stay this easy for much longer. She was four months pregnant. When she stood in front of the wardrobe in the morning, she had to choose clothes that wouldn't make the slight curvature of her stomach too obvious. And the longer she had thought about it over the last few days, the less bad the idea of telling the news seemed. Yes, she was pregnant and back together with George. But above all, she was happy about it. And anyone might as well know that.

The porch door was yanked open. George stomped into the room. Lemon frowned. He looked angry at something or someone. He slammed the door behind him, much more forcefully than was necessary.

"Um, hello?" Lemon greeted him questioningly. "Did something happen?"

George snorted. "Your friend happened." He said curtly, confusing Lemon even more. Before she got a chance to follow up, George was already bursting out.

"Annabeth threw me out! Out of my boat. Sorry..." he raised his hands in a defensive gesture, "I mean out of her boat, of course. I only live in it!"

Okay, he was clearly angry. Very angry, in fact. Nevertheless, Lemon wasn't sure if she had understood the situation correctly.

"You mean Annabeth wants you to move out of the houseboat? She wouldn't do that."

"Well, but she did!" George replied. "She said something about a nursing course she wants to do and that she needs the money."

"Oh," Lemon only managed to say. Now she realized what it was all about. Annabeth had wanted to develop her career for a long time. She had always supported Annabeth in her plans. Lemon hadn't even thought about the possibility that this might also affect George. She had almost forgotten that the houseboat belonged to Annabeth.

"What am I going to do now?" George asked, bringing Lemon out of her thoughts. "I have to find somewhere to live. I'm homeless!" he added in an disbelieving mumble, as if he had only just realized this part of the problem.

Lemon had to stifle a laugh at his exaggeration. George was obviously finding it anything but funny. She suddenly had an idea.

"And what if there's no available property in Bluebell right now? I'd have to move away. Oh heavens!" He seemed to be talking more to himself than to Lemon. "I don't remember hearing of a free apartment here in Bluebell."

"You could live with me." Lemon interrupted George's upset soliloquy. He froze, only now seeming to remember that she was still in the room.

"I... What?"

"You could move in here." Lemon repeated calmly.

"Don't you think that's a bit..." he faltered and searched for the right words. "A little early? We've only been together for a few weeks."

Lemon shook her head slightly. "We've been back together for a few weeks. I don't think the normal standards apply to us."

"Well, that's true." George said, the but clearly sounding. " Still, it's a pretty big step. Living together."

"I know." Lemon agreed, before launching into the explanation that had made her think of it in the first place.

"Only you're forgetting one obvious aspect; I'm pregnant. In five months, I'm going to have a little baby that's going to keep me busy day and night. And I will really appreciate any help you can give me. That means that you can probably spend every spare minute here anyway, so you'll almost be living here. Then you might as well move in right now."

Lemon stopped and looked at George. He listened attentively and looked thoughtful.

"Of course you have to want to. There's nothing wrong with you looking for your own place near here..." She finished her explanation insecurely.

"No, no, I think you're right." George replied hesitantly. "I can stay on the boat for a few more weeks, Annabeth said, and then, yes, why not?" He looked over at Lemon, who was still sitting on the sofa. Then he smiled slightly at her.

Lemon returned the smile with relief. "Good, so we have a few more weeks to get everything set up." For some reason, she suddenly got excited herself at the thought of living with George. Now that it was not just a distant idea, but a plan that would be realized in a short time. George was right; it was a big step.

He had now sat down next to her on the sofa. At times, Lemon was still surprised at how quickly the familiarity between them had returned. It was so normal for George to turn up at her apartment unannounced, to sit down next to her without thinking. So normal and so great at the same time.

"But there's still a problem." George stated. Lemon looked at him in astonishment. "Annabeth and everyone else will think I'm homeless. If I move out of the boat and don't look for a new place to live."

"That's the problem you mean." Lemon muttered. She knew what George was talking about. Because saying he was moving in with her would certainly not be accepted by the townspeople without further explanation. She sighed. Maybe it was a sign that Annabeth was throwing George out of the houseboat. A sign that it was time to reveal the secret.

"We have to tell them anyway." Lemon said with a calmness that surprised even herself.

George watched her closely. As if looking for the worry or displeasure he might have expected. "We don't really have a choice, yes." He agreed, then added hesitantly, " Do you mind?"

"No." Lemon replied firmly. "I want to tell people. I want the whole town to know. I want to discuss the decorations and the wall color in the children's room with Annabeth, I want to ask Wanda where she buys her maternity clothes and which baby carriage they have. I want to stand outside your door without looking over my shoulder to see if anyone notices. I want to be able to have breakfast with you at Rammer Jammer without getting weird looks and confused questions. I want you to hold my hand when we walk through the town..."

She fell silent. She had not intended to say that much. Somewhat ashamed, Lemon quickly lowered her eyes. George placed a hand on her cheek, forcing her to look at him again.

"Lemon." He murmured softly, nothing more. He looked as if he needed to collect himself for a moment as well. "I want that too." He then said. A small smile appeared on Lemon's face. "And that's what we'll do." He gently pulled her closer and kissed her lightly on the top of her head.

Then he moved a little away from her again to ask with a cheeky grin. "I'd suggest we hide in the storeroom of the Rammer Jammer with tablecloths and come out when it's busy. What do you think?"

Lemon shook her head with a laugh. "I don't know..." she replied, playing thoughtfully. "I think I'd leave out the part about the tablecloths. The bit about turning up at the Rammer Jammer sounds like a plan." She added more seriously.

George nodded in agreement. "And I guess sooner rather than later?"

"Tonight?" Lemon proposed directly.

"Okay. Tonight: date at the Rammer Jammer."

Lemon had to smile again. "Don't forget your clothes." She completed.

It was good to see the whole thing with a bit of humor. She already knew that she would be anything but relaxed tonight.