12. Caia
12
CAIA
My body is overwhelmed with the best of feelings— it’s like tasting a slice of heaven, being surrounded in a chapel with friends, family, players, and their significant others.
And, of course, my one and only special man.
Harper adjusts the train of my gown while I decide how to hold my flowers. Up? In the crook of my arm? Down and dangling?
Oh the choices…
“You look gorgeous,” she remarks. She’s being genuine, because she’s not one to hand out fake compliments. I catch her awestruck, dewy eyes through the mirror.
I’m kinda there myself, sis.
“I feel gorgeous.”
For the first time all day, I could leave the dressing room without a single nerve looming over me.
My sister dabs at her eyes. “I’m jealous that you get to be with your guy and I’m still waiting on my Standard Residence Permit so I can live in Germany.”
I pout sympathetically. “Maybe it’s on its way?”
In this instance, I’m the one doing a little lie— for good reason. Bastian, her German boyfriend, is proposing to her at the next game. I helped set it up for the Jumbotron and I can’t wait to see her face.
Harper sighs. “Can’t come quick enough.”
We head to the chapel and Dad advances to my side.
“You know that I know, right?”
I freeze. “How? I just found out ten minutes ago! The pee is barely dry on the stick, Dad,” I splutter back, shocked by what he’s just said.
Not even Alexie knows!
My dad pauses, confusion written across his face. “No, honey, I was talking about what happened with you and Alexie, your proposal to him? He came clean yesterday. And as much as I want to shake my head at you, I can tell that you two are like your mother and me, annoying each other constantly in the best way, and so in love after all these years.” He kisses my cheek as the wedding march begins. “But on the other thing… congratulations, baby girl! You’re going to make a beautiful mother.” He kisses my cheek.
Alexie and I’ve been a little lax with the birth control lately. I had a sinus infection and we knew we had to use backup with the antibiotics, but… there was this one time.
And that second time.
And… that third time.
Now we’ll be having a baby in about seven’ish months. I didn’t even think about it, until this morning when I was throwing up and Harper joked that “maybe you’re pregnant,” and I froze in the bathroom, thinking about my last period— too long ago to be anything else. I played it off as nerves, but after a quick swing by the pharmacy wearing a wedding dress and getting a pregnancy test, only to have the sixteen-year-old checkout person say, “Whoa… now that’s moving fast”
And now, there are definitely nerves happening.
My heart soars as the ivory double doors swing open. Out strides my man to the altar, looking like Prince Charming in his form-fitting light gray suit, perfectly accentuating every tight muscle he has.
My dad nudges my shoulder playfully. “It’s time for a power play, Caia. Two on one.”
I kiss his cheek and take off on a dead run down the aisle, jumping into Alexie’s arms. The crowd emits a chorus of amused laughs. There’s no need to wait… and there’s no circumstance where I wouldn’t want to be right here in his arms to tell him this news.
“I’m pregnant,” I whisper into his ear.
His pulse fires up. “I’m going to be a papa!” he yells.
The crowd goes wild and the officiant just smiles. “By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your lovely bride.”
I’ve been practicing my Russian just for this occasion. “ Ya tebya lyublyu ,” I whisper.
Alexie chuckles into my shoulder. “I love you more.”
And a kiss for the win.