Chapter 3 #2
Jason was a freaking saint through the whole thing.
He never left my side until he absolutely had to go to work, because, you know…
brain surgeon. People needed him, so I had to let him go.
But I took three days out of work, waiting until I was certain I could get through the day without hysterics before I went back to my job in the Miami-Dade General Hospital’s public relations department.
But I was sad for a long time afterward and shocked to find out I was pregnant again so soon. Now, I’m anxious—and nauseated—all the time. What my mother said about being nauseated only with me gives me comfort. Maybe feeling like shit is actually a good sign.
When I arrive at our place in Brickell, I take the elevator to the seventh floor and am about to put my key in the door when it opens to reveal my husband dressed in running clothes.
“Oh, hey,” he says, surprised to see me. “You’re home.” He takes a closer look. “What’s wrong?”
“Couldn’t handle the smell of the pig roasting.”
“Aw, poor baby.” He puts an arm around me and guides me into our gorgeous condo, which is even more so decorated for the holidays. I absolutely love our view of Biscayne Bay and never get tired of watching the activity on the water.
We sit together on the sofa, Jason with his arms around me and my head on his chest.
“What can I get you?”
“This is helping.”
“I got plenty of that anytime you need it.”
After being widowed so young, I’d gotten used to soldiering through life’s challenges on my own. Doing it with Jason is so much better. “Did you hear from your mom? Is her flight all set for the morning?”
“It is. She’ll be here by noon. She and my brother are going to my grandmother’s tonight. Speaking of my grandmother, I had a nice chat with Mimi on the way home. She says to say hi to you.”
“Glad you got to talk to her.” I stifle a yawn. My eyes are so heavy, you’d think I didn’t sleep for ten hours last night.
“Let’s put you down for a nap so you’ll feel up to going later. It’s not Christmas for you without Nochebuena, so we gotta get you there.”
I take the hand he offers me and let him help me up. “Not sure I can do it. The pig took me over the top, and that’s never happened before.”
“You’ve never been pregnant for Nochebuena before.”
“True. What if I don’t feel up to going back? People will know something’s up. I told my mom—”
His brows rise so high they nearly touch his hairline. He certainly knows by now the way news travels in my family—at the speed of light times a million. “You did? I thought you didn’t want to tell anyone yet.”
“She was worried, and I didn’t want her to be.”
“Will she keep a lid on it?”
“I think so. She understands better than anyone why we’d want to sit on it for a while.”
“I keep thinking about them going through what we did nine times.”
“I know,” I say with a sigh as I settle on the bed.
Jason lies down next to me and pulls a throw blanket over me.
“You were going for a run.”
“I’d much rather snuggle with you.”
“Not that I’d ever say no to that, but if you don’t run before tonight’s epic feed, you’ll be miserable.”
“I keep forgetting how this feed is even more epic than Sunday brunch.”
“This feed makes Sunday brunch look minor league, and it lasts for hours.”
“I remember from last year. I couldn’t move for days after.”
“Exactly. Go run so you won’t hate yourself later.”
“First I need a kiss to hold me over.” He tips my chin up to receive a soft, sweet kiss. “Will you be okay?”
“I will. I promise. I just want to sleep.”
“Should I wake you to go back to Abuela’s?”
“By four thirty at the latest.”
“Will do. Sleep tight. I love my gorgeous baby mama.”
“She loves you, too, and promises to forgive you for doing this to her in ten to fifteen years.”
His laughter makes me smile even as my eyes close. I can’t keep them open for another second. That’s the last thing I recall before he’s kissing me awake hours later. The first thing I notice is how good he smells.
“Wake up, my sleeping beauty.”
“Don’t wanna.”
“You can’t miss Nochebuena.”
I give myself another second before I force my eyes open to view the face of my adorable husband.
This is our second Christmas together, and I continue to be amazed by how fast the time goes by.
After I was widowed when my police officer husband was killed on the job, time seemed to come to a complete stop.
Now it seems like the days fly by so fast I can barely keep up.
“What’re you thinking about?” He kisses the spot between my brows. “You’re doing that thing you do when something’s on your mind.”
“Just thinking about Tony and you and life and how amazing and painful it all is.”
“You must miss him even more at this time of year.”
“I do. He loved Nochebuena and was the one who went with Abuela to get the pig every year. That was their special outing together.”
“That’s so sweet.”
“Thank you for helping me keep him close.”
“He’s part of you, and I love every part of you.”
I raise my hand to his freshly shaven face and draw him into a kiss. “Let’s get going so we don’t miss any of the fun.”
“Ready when you are.”