Page 59 of The Plus-One Deal

Claire brightened up at that, and we hurried out to the car. We settled Davey in his car seat and handed him Snooty. He loved a long drive, the calm and the movement, and we relaxed too as the driver got going. It had been chaos at first, learning tobe parents, but now we had checklists. We had routines. Diaper bag. Teething ring. Extra blanket. Crazed hunt for Snooty. Out to the car. We’d talked a time or two about hiring help, but the idea never caught on. It felt right just the three of us, me and Claire there for Davey. We couldn’t bear the thought of missing a moment. Of not being there for even one of his firsts.

We pulled up at the venue and my first thought wasuh-oh. The doors were flung open and I could see flashing lights. I could hear music too, a loud, driving beat. I plucked Davey from his car seat and held him close to my chest.

“I can take him out of there if he gets scared. Take him for a walk maybe, down to the park.”

Claire glanced at him, worried, then pulled out his earmuffs. “To protect his ears.”

I fitted them on him. Davey giggled at the feel. He was staring already at the flashing lights, stretching his arms toward them, eager to see. Everything was still new to him, every sight, every sound, and it was always a crapshoot how he’d react. The first train horn he’d heard, he’d screamed and he’d screamed. His first dog, he’d taken for a giant Snooty. He’d reached out and yelled for it till it ran away. And now, his first fashion show, Davey was ready. He squirmed in my arms as we headed inside.

“He takes after you,” I said. “Loves bright lights and colors.”

“Or he loves loud music. Think he’ll be a rock star?”

I pictured Davey at eighteen in long hair and leather, young girls screaming as he banged on his drums. Davey on tour. Changing his name to… D-man? I lifted his earmuff to whisper in his ear.

“Don’t be a rock star. It’s not as fun as it sounds.”

Davey thumped his hands on my arm like a drummer. From the day of his birth, he’d takennoas a challenge. An invitation to do it anyway. I’d have to be careful when he got older, careful how I warned him off hazards like… drums.

Verity glided up to us, radiant in her own gown, and seized Claire’s hands. “Oh, you look stunning!”

“Thanks. You as well.”

“I thought we’d do the catwalk to finish the show. Walk out, just the two of us, and show off our gowns.”

Claire glanced down at herself. “Oh, I don’t know…”

“Come on. You’ll be perfect.” Verity pulled her away. “Tell her, Conrad.”

“You’ll be gorgeous,” I said.

They fluttered away in a bright cloud of fabric, and the show got started. Davey was transfixed. I wasn’t sure how much he could see at his age, but he gazed at the show like a cat at a fish tank, cooing at the models in their layered summer silks. Every look that came out, his eyes just got rounder, and he wriggled in my arms, trying to get closer. Then Claire came out, and both our jaws dropped. She was glorious, perfect, in her fitted gown, her skirts sweeping around her in a colorful blur. Her hair caught the light, rich, vibrant copper, and I couldn’t wait to hold her and feel it flow through my fingers. Couldn’t wait to tell her how gorgeous she’d been. How gorgeous she always was, and always would be.

“There’s your mommy,” I said.

Davey reached for her. Claire bent and reached down, and I handed him up, and applause swelled as she held him and spunhim. I could’ve burst in that moment, from pure joy and pride: this was my family. This was my life. Everything a man could want, and I was the lucky one.

“I love you,” I whispered, and of course Claire didn’t hear me. Of course she couldn’t, over the roar of the crowd. But she caught my eye anyway and kissed Davey’s sweet head, and mouthed the same back to me,I love you.

I love you.

The End