Epilogue
EPILOGUE
Loading the stroller into the back of the minivan, Claire asked, “Did you grab the diaper bag?”
Holding up the bag, David came around the van. “I have it right here.” He placed it in the back of the van.
Claire kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thanks.” She wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her wrist. “I knew you had it. I’m just nervous. I don’t want to be late.”
David squeezed her shoulders. “I know but you don’t need to be. Alexis is going to crush her graduation speech.”
Her chest heaved. “Let’s hope so. Alexis wouldn’t even let me read it. I really don’t know how this is going to go.”
A cry from inside the van interrupted them. Claire closed the back of the van.
David went around to the side, opening the sliding door. “And what’s wrong missy?” He leaned over their eighteen-month-old daughter, twisting around in her car seat. Her face was bright red. Slowly, he stroked the side of her face, and with the other hand he searched for her pacifier. After locating it on the floor of the van, he held it up. “Is this what you wanted?” David popped the pacifier back into the baby’s mouth.
Claire almost lunged for the pacifier. “That was on the floor.” Her eyes widened.
Their daughter stopped crying and happily sucked on the pacifier. David handed her a favorite stuffed animal. She gripped it in the crook of her elbow. He hit the button to close the sliding door.
“It’s fine.” David tugged Claire close, wrapping his arm around her waist. He kissed her lightly on the lips. “She’ll live. You look beautiful by the way.”
Claire laughed, waving a finger at him. “Don’t you change the subject.”
“What?” David kissed her temple. “Can’t a husband tell his wife how gorgeous she looks.”
“I hate how much this is working.” Claire smirked and put a hand on her hip. “But we’ll talk about dirty pacifiers later.”
“Sure thing.” David opened her door, gesturing to her to climb in. “Later. We don’t want to be late to Alexis’s graduation. It’s not every day your sister will be graduating from high school.”
After settling in her seat, Claire wrung her hands together. “I can’t believe this day has finally come. Thank you for your help in raising her. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Yes, you could have. But I appreciate your gratitude.” David shut the door and walked around to his side, climbing in.
So many changes in the last five years, David never realized how much his life would improve for the better. His heart filled with gratitude as he started the van, pulling onto the road. He reached for Claire’s hand, interlocking their fingers. Even after all this time, he still yearned to feel her close.
“I can’t believe Alexis is attending Boston Conservatory at Berklee in the fall.” Claire glanced over at him. He could feel her studying him. “It’s way on the other side of the country.”
David gave her hand a squeeze. “I know it’ll be hard at first, and you’ll miss Alexis. But she worked so hard to get in, I’m happy for her. We’ll visit. I’ve always wanted to go to Boston in the fall to see the leaves change.”
“I know you’re right.” Claire exhaled. “Everything is changing, sometimes I wish everything could stay the same.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” asked David.
For a while, they remained silent. As David turned into the high school parking lot, Claire interrupted the quiet. “I guess it’s good Alexis is going off to college. It’ll give us some more room for…” Her voice faded away.
Putting the van into park, David turned off the ignition and shifted to face Claire. “Give us more room for what?”
“For the baby,” said Claire.
David glanced over his shoulder at his now sleeping daughter. “She already has her own room.” He raised an eyebrow.
Claire shook her head. “Not that baby. For the new one.”
His jaw dropped. “Claire, are you telling me we’re having another baby?”
Gripping his knee, Claire nodded her head. “Yes. I’m pregnant!”
“I— I—” David stammered. Finally, he smiled and kissed Claire on the lips. “I’m so happy. How did I end up being this lucky?”
Claire nudged him with her elbow. “Because you were smart enough to marry me.” She unbuckled her seatbelt. “But don’t tell Alexis. I don’t want anything to ruin her big day.”
“It’s our little secret.” David leaned in and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” replied Claire.