Aubrey #3
“Woah, take it easy, Angel. Let’s sit you down.” He lifts me into his arms and carries me out of the kitchen and off to the living room, setting me down on the couch.
He rushes out of the room and comes back with a granola bar and a glass of water. “Here, drink this and then eat the bar slowly.”
I grab the glass from him with trembling hands and drink small sips, then take tiny bites from the granola bar once he’s ripped it open. Once I feel a little better, I lean back against the couch cushions and continue to take deep breaths until my heart rate returns to normal.
“Wait here, I’ll get your pressure machine.” He hurries back out of the room and returns a minute later with my portable machine, securing it around my arm as he crouches down in front of me.
Cupcake jumps onto the couch and rests her head against my thigh, whimpering. “I’m okay, Cupcake. Just a little lightheaded,” I reassure her, stroking her fur once my pressure is taken.
“Eighty-three over fifty-six.” Instantly, my mood drops and my eyes swell with tears as Shane calls out my reading. He quickly notices and cups my face. “Hey, it’s okay, sweetheart. This isn’t your fault. It only dropped lower because you were sick.”
I know it’s not my fault and I can’t help it, that it’s just how my body is responding to the pregnancy. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling like it is, like I might be doing something wrong that’s causing it.
I nod my head as my lip wobbles, and I take a shaky breath.
Shane sighs. “I should have tasted that wine before giving you some… I’m sorry.”
I let out a wet giggle. “That really was horrible.”
He chuckles along with me. “It was, wasn’t it? Clearly, I’m not an expert at wine-picking.” His hands drop to my thighs.
I bring my own up and caress his cheek. “That’s okay, you’re an expert at everything else.”
“I’ll always try my best for you, Aubrey,” he says softly.
“I know.” I smile, until a stench reaches my nose, causing it to wrinkle up. “But Shane, I think the food is burning…”
He drops his head, growling but it quickly turns into a laugh as he looks back up. “How does pizza sound?”
I giggle again. “Pizza sounds lovely.” The pups all bark as if in agreement. Yes, Shane has been handing them little bits of table food every now and then, even though I keep telling him not to. “I think our kids agree as well.”
“Of course, they do. They have good taste.” He ruffles all their heads then stands from the ground. “Let me go turn off the stove and oven, then I have another surprise for you.”
“Is this the little twist you mentioned?”
He grins. “It is.”
He exits the room, returning only five minutes later. “Come, Angel.” He holds out his hand for me to take.
I gladly place mine in his and let him help me up. He takes me to the back patio doors, sliding them open to reveal the most romantic scenery I’ve ever seen. It’s like it was taken straight out from a romance movie.
Rose petals and little lanterns form a path to where a huge four-poster canopy bed, with white drapes at every corner, sits in the back of our yard. I know for a fact this wasn’t here this morning, so I have no idea when Shane had the time to do this.
“I had help while you were with Libby,” he says quietly into my ear, reading my thoughts as the pups all run off with joy toward the new additions to our yard.
“Shane, this is magical.” I gasp when we reach the bed.
There’s a huge white screen a few feet ahead of it and a projector placed before it, ready to play a movie for us. At the foot of the bed, there are trays with every snack I’ve craved during my pregnancy, as well as drinks.
On the floor in front of the bed is a huge doggie bed for the pups to snuggle up together in. As if knowing that’s their spot, they instantly run into it and settle in, playing with the few toys in it for them.
Shane comes behind me, wrapping his arms around my body.
“I know our lives are about to change soon, and we won’t have many nights alone anymore.
We won’t be able to go on dates whenever we feel like it or do as we wish.
And that’s okay, because we’ll have our daughter, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. ” He kisses my neck, then my shoulder.
“I just… I wanted to give you this. A night all about you. I know how hard this pregnancy has been on you, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate you going through all of this for us. How much it all means to me. How much you mean to me.” He kisses my skin again, emotions lacing his voice as I begin to turn in his arms.
“Shane, I love you for this, but it really wasn’t necessary. I already know all these things,” I tell him softly, my hands resting on his chest.
“But it was necessary. You deserve this and so much more, Angel.” He leans in, kissing my forehead as I close my eyes. “There will never come a day where I’ve given you everything you deserve. Because you deserve the world, Aubrey.”
My eyes sting with tears as my heart swells with love. I open my eyes and look up at the man who has changed my life, the man who has stolen my heart, and I pray he never gives it back.