Edible Delectables (25 page)

“You’d be a great primary care doctor,” Kara said, still running her hands through his hair.  “But you’ve got time to decide that.  Stay in Seattle, finish your fellowship, then you can decide.  I’ll be with you for as long as you want me,” she finished quietly.

“Forever.  I’ll want you forever.”

“Then I’ll be here forever,” she stated simply. 

He kissed her deeply, and just as she began to ready for round two, he said the two words she never expected. “Marry me?”

Kara’s eyes felt like they were going to pop from her head as she gaped at him. 

“What?”  She shook her head and blinked rapidly, trying to clear her mind.  She had to be hallucinating.  She pressed her hands to his chest and tried to sit up but he held her firmly to him. 

“I asked you to marry me, Kara.”  His hand slipped to her neck and cradled her face as their eyes locked.

“You’re serious,” she stated - it wasn’t a question.

Jason laughed, “Yes, I am.”

“You want to get married?  To me?” she asked, pointing at herself.

“Very much so,” he nodded.

“We haven’t even been together a year,” she stated, hearing how unsure she was in her own voice. 

“Kara, I’ve had feelings for you for over eleven years.  I regret not having made a move in high school; I regret all the years I could have known you,” he paused then added, “I could have loved you.  I don’t want any more regrets.”

“What if I say yes, and then you regret asking?” she wondered sadly.

“That’s not possible,” he said adamantly, shaking his head.  “It was love at first sight, and getting to know you has only made me love you more.”  He kissed her and gave her a knee weakening, dimpled smile.  “I love you and I’ll never regret that.”

Kara was speechless for a moment, considering his words carefully, then rolled him over and settled herself on top of him, “Then, yes, I’ll marry you,” she said softly.

“Thank you.”  They didn’t need any more words; they would show each other anything left to be said.  They made love until the neither of them could move anymore and they both passed out into blissful oblivion.

~*~

Morning came quickly and Kara immediately felt guilty for spending such an amazing night with Jason while her father was in the hospital.

Jason, sensing her mood, told her once again he loved her and that Paul loved her, and wanted her to be happy.  She smiled at Jason, knowing his words were true, but still felt hurried to get ready to visit her father.   Jason pulled her to him and kissed her softly, and she was thankful, knowing she would never again go so long without his taste on her lips.

His phone rang, interrupting their moment, and he pulled it out of his pocket to answer.

“Hey, Jaime,” he smiled and winked at Kara before turning away from her.  Kara listened as Jason gave his sister the update on her dad, while she finished getting ready to head to the hospital. 

When they arrived at the hospital Paul was asleep, having just dozed off after visiting with Eva and Eric that morning, though before his eyes closed he made sure to instruct Eva to make sure his little girl ate breakfast.  Kara’s eyes narrowed at her sleeping father as she grumbled something about him being overprotective, before giving in and following everyone to the hospital cafeteria.

“So everything worked out?” Evalyn asked Kara, as they finished selecting their items and made their way to the cashier. 

“Yes.”  Kara glanced quickly at Jason, as he walked up behind them, still with the enormous grin he’d had on his face since arriving at the hospital.

Kara fidgeted slightly as Eva eyed the two of them, while she waited for Kara to finish paying for her food, then led the way to a table in a less crowded area of the cafeteria.  Eva took her seat and looked from Kara to Jason, then put her fork down and reached for her drink as she stared at them, “Spill.  What’s going on?”

Jason lifted the hand that he was holding at the table and kissed Kara’s knuckles, asking her a silent question.  She gave a slight nod of her head in assent. 

He turned back to their friends. “We’re getting married,” he announced. 

And that’s when the mouthful of tea in Eva’s mouth sprayed across the table straight into his face.  He flinched back in shock as Eric pounded on Evalyn’s back, trying to help stop her coughing fit. Kara jumped up, startled, and gathered napkins to try and wipe Jason down.

“Damn baby, say it don’t spray it!” Eric laughed loudly, while alternating between patting Evalyn’s back, and raising her arms above her head like a two year old. 

Evalyn yanked her arms from Eric’s hold.  “
Married?
” she coughed out. “I expected a reconciliation, I was even prepared to hear you say you were moving to Seattle, or maybe that Jason was moving back!” 

Jason looked between Eva and Eric, clearly unsure whether he should confirm the news he just announced. Kara couldn’t blame him, who knew what might happen next.  Making a decision, Jason sat back slightly, probably to remove himself from Eva’s projection path, and nodded.  Kara looked down at her plate, then glanced at Jason, and back to Eva.  Jason may have been oblivious to the possible reactions they would get, but Kara was prepared for them.

“It’s fast,” she nodded, agreeing to the unspoken words, “but we’re sure.”  She looked  Evalyn in the eyes, silently begging her best friend to understand and accept their decision.

“Fast is an understatement,” Evalyn sputtered.

Jason and Kara looked longingly at each other. “For everyone else maybe, but not for us. This has been hiding in the corner of our minds for years,” Jason tried to explain to their stunned friends.  Eric was the first to recover.

“Hot damn!  Then get up and get us some champagne!”  Eric yelled, as Evalyn’s eyes bugged from her head at his enthusiasm.  “Congratulations!” he continued, rounding the table to pull Kara into a bear hug.  Kara laughed as he swayed her back and forth for a minute, then she hugged him back just as tightly. 

Eric released her and sat back down, pulling Eva to his side, “This is soul mate stuff, baby, you can’t mess with that.”  Evalyn gaped at him in return; then she turned back to Jason and Kara, her mouth opening and closing but emitting no sound.

“Kara…” she finally managed to get out.

“Eva, I know, okay?  But Jason knows me; he knows me better than anybody else, except maybe you.  It’s like I’ve known him for years, and in some ways I have.  I want you to be happy for me, for us.  Can you?”

“Oh, Kara, I
am
happy for you!  I’m just surprised.  I mean I won’t lie and say it never crossed my mind you guys would end up married, I just thought you’d go to Seattle and spend more time together first.”  Evalyn took Kara’s hand and squeezed it.

“Well,” Kara began, looking at Jason and then back between Eva and Eric, “I am going to Seattle.  I’ll be there with Jason until he finishes the fellowship.”

Both Evalyn and Eric were quiet, and the table settled into a somewhat uncomfortable silence.  Finally, Eva spoke up. “So when are you going to announce the news to everyone else?”

Kara and Jason shared a look once again, “I’ll probably call my parents later today,” he gave Kara a questioning look, as if to ask if that was okay.  She nodded her head yes, then he continued, “And I’d like to get Kara a ring as soon as possible.  Once Paul’s back home, of course.”

“What?  No, Jason, that’s not necessary, I don’t need a ring,” she protested, but Jason gave her a look that said there would be no arguing this.

“You’re getting a ring, Kara.  I want every guy out there to know you’re mine.”

She chuckled and bumped his shoulder with her own, “You’re ridiculous.”

“And completely serious.  I’d go today, but I know that’s not possible.”  Kara rolled her eyes.

“That’s not very romantic, Jason,” Eric pointed out. “Don’t you want to surprise her?”

“No, it’s better this way,” Kara jumped in, “this way I can make sure he doesn’t spend a fortune on it.”

“Kara, you’re getting a nice ring,” Jason interjected with a scoff.  “Maybe you’re right,” he said, turning to Eric, “I should just buy it and surprise her.”  Eric nodded his head as Kara smacked Jason’s arm.

“Don’t you dare!  I’m going with you, and we’ll pick out something reasonable, no three months salary crap.  I’m not even sure I want a diamond. You know they torture people in Africa for those.” 

Jason just sighed and shook his head as he got up to get another cup of coffee.  Pausing, he placed his hand on her shoulder, “Whatever you want, Kara, but don’t worry about the cost.  Please.” 

They let the subject drop as the group finished eating and made their way back to Paul’s room.  Kara had decided to hold off telling him their news for a couple of days, wanting her father to get stronger first.  Kara knew he would be happy for her.  He might not show it at first, but he’d be happy.

Paul was still sleeping when they entered his room, so Kara turned the television on, with the volume low, and everyone took a seat.  She sat closest to her father’s bed, resuming her position from the night before, holding his hand.  He woke up intermittently throughout the day, each time more coherent, and the doctor came by later that afternoon to tell them Paul’s prognosis was excellent.  They expected him to be released in a few days and would even be removing his chest tube in the morning. 

All things considered, he’d been extremely lucky, and Kara couldn’t be more grateful.

Chapter Twenty

The following day the doctors were able to remove Paul’s chest tube, and his prognosis was looking good. With his life out of imminent danger and his health returning, Eric and Evalyn discussed heading back to Austin. After talking with Jason, who had looked over Paul’s chart and taken it upon himself to speak with Paul’s doctor, they decided to leave that evening.  Before heading out they assured Kara they would check in on things at the bakery; Jaime, the life-saver that she was, had taken the day off to rearrange the bakery’s schedule and deal with Kara’s clients, some of whom had pressing, orders.

In Houston, Kara met with Paul’s doctor in order to discuss the extended care her father would need once he was released from the hospital.  The doctor felt Paul’s care would be moderate, not intensive, and that there would be no need for him to be admitted into an after care facility; he could recover at home with adequate in-home care.  For the most part he would need general support such as getting up into a standing position when he was seated, and getting back down into a chair again. His ribs and lung, having suffered the most damage, would make it difficult to lift anything for awhile, but his personal care shouldn’t be a problem - and of course moving around and getting adequate exercise was always recommended in any recovery. 

Re-entering her father’s room after her discussion with his doctor, Kara discovered him on the phone.  He looked up at her entry, startled at the interruption, and his cheeks colored slightly.

“Kara’s here, can I call you later?” he asked, keeping his voice low, a small smile playing across his face, piquing Kara’s curiosity at the identity of the caller.. 

“Who was that?” she asked, eyeing Paul’s cell phone suspiciously as he placed it on the bedside table.

“Anna,” Paul answered simply, his blush returning.  Kara smirked at her father.  She could not recall him ever looking so awkward “I was talking to Doctor Stanton,” Kara motioned toward the door to Paul’s hospital room, inadvertently changing the subject, “and he says he doesn’t think we’ll need to hire home health care.  I should be able to handle everything, and he wants you up and around as much as possible.”  Paul grimaced. “Within reason, Dad.”  She patted his hand and giggled.

Paul smiled and grasped her hand, quiet for a moment as he held it, looking deep in thought.  “You know, Kara, you don’t have to stay and take care of me.”  Kara waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t.

“Dad, Doctor Stanton said hhc was unnecessary, but you’ll still need help.  You’ll need somebody to cook and keep house, not to mention helping you get around for at least a week or so...”

“That’s not what I meant, Kara,” Paul interrupted.  “I know I’ll need somebody staying with me, but you don’t have to do it.  You’ve got responsibilities in Austin.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!  Of course I’m going to stay here and help you!”  There was no other option, how could he even consider not having her stay with him?

“Kara, Anna’s offered to stay with me and help me around the house.”  Paul admitted, as he glanced up at his daughter sideways.

“Oh.” 

Kara felt dazed, and her father looked as though if he could have laughed without being in incredible pain, he would have.

“I, uh, didn’t…” Kara trailed off, unsure what she was saying.  Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she tried again, “I didn’t know you guys were, um, that
close
.”

Paul smirked. “We’ve been,” he paused in thought, as though searching for the right word, and finally he settled on, “
dating
.”

Kara once again stared at her father, dumbfounded.  And then his enunciation of ‘dating’ hit her and her face distorted with her horror. 
Oh, God, my dad just alluded to sex.  Run away!  Run away!
  She quickly tried to recover and maintain her composure.

There was an awkward pause and Kara cleared her throat.  “Well, that’s…great Dad.  So, uh, okay, Anna will…”  She rolled her hand in the air toward her dad, “help you out,” she finished nodding her head, as she affirmed her own words.  Paul chuckled, which forced a grimace as he took a shallow breath. Kara leaned forward, concerned, and Paul reached over to pat her hand, letting her know he was alright.

“She’s going to come out today,” Paul stated. “I’d like for you guys to spend some time together.  Anna’s…
important
.”

Kara felt a rush of excitement to see her father so happy talking about a woman.  It had been so long, and she often wondered if he’d ever gotten over her mother.  “I’ll be here,” she declared.

“You okay, Kara?” her father asked, and Kara wondered if he could tell she was keeping something from him..