Page 123 of Run to Me
Calla peers into my face. “Delilah and Gee. They were both here when I took the test on girl’s night in.”
“Girl’s night in? That was a week ago. You’ve known—”
“I’ve known about a week,” my wife bobs her head, “and I’ve been dying to tell you. I thought you’d notice when I got this.”
Calla holds her slim wrist aloft, allowing the buttery sunlight cascading through our French doors to hit her charm bracelet; the same one I bought for her all those years ago the night of the charity gala, when we weren’t even really dating.
Now, her bracelet is rather full, important milestones dotted along her wrist; our engagement, our wedding, our first Christmas as a married couple, anniversaries, the birth of our son…
And, there, beside the horseshoe charm I bought her last birthday, a symbol of good luck, hangs a small set of baby shoes.
“You’ve been wearing that for a week?”
Calla nods, giggling. “I went out and bought it the very next day, when I went to return those shoes of August’s that didn’t fit. I don’t know how you missed it.”
Me neither. Every night before we fall asleep, I kiss Calla’s bracelet, her rings and then her lips.
“Another baby,” I wonder out loud, excitement bubbling in the pit of my stomach. “I can’t wait.”
My wife places her small hand atop of mine, which still rests on her stomach. “Me too.”
I tip my head to the source of the loud clattering in our living room. “How do you think he’s going to react to being a big brother?”
“After he gets over the shock of having to share everything?”
I huff out a laugh at that. Our son may be many things – kind, clever, sporty – but he hasn’t quite grasped sharing yet.
“Other than that, I think he’s going to be amazing. Just like his daddy.”
I lay my lips upon Calla’s, pouring my love and devotion for her into our kiss. “Thank you.”
She shakes her head, wordlessly. I don’t have to tell her what I’m thanking her for; she already knows. For believing in me, for loving me, for standing by me and giving me a family of my own.
“I love you,” she replies with a soft smile.
I kiss her again, because I can, tucking a lock of her golden blonde hair behind her ear. I wonder if it’s a girl, if our daughter will have blonde locks just like her mother.
“I love you too, sunshine.”
THE END.
