December 13th #2
“All right, we have to get going. Love you guys.”
“Whew!” Ainsley says after I hang up. “That was a lot. What do you say we just send a text to everyone else in the family, so we don’t have to go through that again?”
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, sealing the deal with a kiss.
She types up something quick, shows it to me, then sends it out. And since she didn’t mention how far along she is, we just get a lot of congratulatory texts in return.
Which is nice.
“Ready to figure out which house we want to build?” I ask her.
“How many sets of plans are there?” she wonders.
“I think maybe three?”
She grins. “Let’s go figure out what our home is going to look like then.”
“Are you excited about it? About building? You know, we don’t have to decide right away if you’re not in love with the plans. I want you to love it. For us to love it.”
“I do, too, but I have a feeling we’ll find something perfect.”
Shiny new year.
Ainsley
After looking over the plans, I turn to Damon.
“This is such a big investment. A big decision. And I don’t want to choose wrong.
I feel like I’m drowning in a to-do list. Pick a plan, drive back to school, study for finals, take my finals, pack up my stuff, move to KC, start a new job, and plan everything for our baby’s arrival.
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed right now.
Would you be okay if I took the plans with me and went over them once I’m done with school? Then maybe we can talk about them?”
He pulls me into a hug. “Of course. I don’t want you to be stressed.”
“I’m not stressed, Damon. I’m so happy. I just need to get through finals so I can focus. And you need to do the same—get back to school, study, finish up your classes, and prep for the bowl game.”
“That’s true. And I’m glad you’re happy about all of it. I feel like we’ve made some big decisions this weekend, that there are a lot of changes coming to our lives, but we’re doing it together.”
“Yeah, we are. Speaking of that, I was thinking I’d have you stop by to see where I’m going to live, but since your mom and Van lived there, I assume you’ve already seen the guesthouse.”
“I have,” he says, giving me a kiss and a dreamy smile. “And it will be perfect until our house is done.”
“It all feels a bit like a dream,” I tell him. “I’m so happy I got to tell you yesterday. It’s such a weight lifted off me.”
“So, breakfast, and then we go our separate ways?” he says, a little frown forming.
“I know, it sucks, but it will be Christmas before we know it.”
“And then my game on New Year’s Eve. Do you think you will be able to go? Isn’t there some rule about pregnant women flying?”
“How do you know that?” I laugh and then go, “Jennifer?”
“Yeah, she had to cancel a few events when she was pregnant. Toward the end.”
He holds up a finger, letting me know to wait a sec, as he grabs his phone and types into it.
A few moments later, he says, “It says here that most women can do shorter flights up until thirty-six weeks. If you’re thirty weeks now, that means we should be okay. The game is only three weeks away. And if we have to, we’ll bring your doctor to the game.”
“I remember there was a football player’s wife a few years ago who was quite pregnant, so she brought her doctor to the championship game.
I wondered at the time why she didn’t just stay home, but I get it now.
I really want to be at your game. Plus, it’s New Year’s Eve. We can’t be apart for that.”
“No, we can’t be. We have a shiny new year waiting for us. One that will hopefully be filled with so much joy that we’ll hardly be able to stand it.”
“One that starts with a victory,” I tell him seriously.
“That’s the goal,” he says with a grin.
Just stressed.
Damon
I drive back to Lincoln, going straight to the practice facility to work out and study. The second I step through the door to the condos, my sister is pulling me into a hug.
“How are you?” she asks.
“Great. I worked out, studied with one of my tutors, and feel ready for my finals tomorrow.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m talking about the fact that you’re having a baby.”
“Oh,” I say, breaking out into a wide grin. “I’m thrilled about that.” I’ve still got my duffel slung over my shoulder and barely stepped inside. “Why don’t you let me put my stuff away, and then we can talk about it? Is Chase home? I didn’t see him at the facility. And have you had dinner yet?”
“He worked out this morning and has been studying. We both have been. I thought we’d order in tonight.”
“That sounds great. Be right back.”
I unpack, change clothes, and start a load of laundry, then go into the common area and find Chase sitting at the bar, notes spread out in front of him.
“How’s studying going?” I ask him.
He lets out a groan. “I have one test tomorrow and an essay due. Essay’s done, but I still don’t feel ready for my chemistry final.”
“You have an A in the class,” Dani says from the couch behind us. “Even if you fail, you’ll still pass.”
Chase shakes his head, looking annoyed. “Yeah, I know.”
“So, what do you boys want to eat?” Dani asks us.
“Mexican,” I say at the same time Chase says, “Indian.”
Then he glares at me. Like he’s mad.
I give him a shrug. “Not like we can’t each order whatever we’re in the mood for.”
“Exactly,” Dani agrees. “Because I’m feeling like I need a burger and fries. But I think I’d like some queso and chips to go with it. And maybe some chicken pakora.”
“You hungry?” I tease.
“Starving,” she says. “The toast I had for breakfast is long gone. Luckily, my paper is done, and I feel prepared for my finals. So, sort of in the mood to celebrate.”
“Me too,” I say.
“And what exactly are you going to celebrate?” Chase says with a sneer.
“Um, that we’re almost done with classes for the semester. That we’re going to the playoffs. That I’m having a baby with the love of my life.”
“Yeah, about that,” Chase says.
“No,” Dani says. “We’re ordering before we get into that.”
“Fine,” Chase says.
“You’re in a great mood,” I mutter to him.
“Never mind him,” Dani says. “He’s just stressed. I was, too, earlier today. And I probably stressed him out with my stressing.”
“That’s a lot of stress,” I say with a laugh.
We place our orders, and then Chase says, “It’s not the only reason for me being stressed.”
“Why? What’s going on?” I ask.
“I can’t believe you even just said that,” Chase replies.
“Are you talking about the baby stuff?”
“Duh.”
“I know it was a shock, and you guys were not really happy about it, but by the time we finished the call, you seemed excited for us.”
“I just don’t get it,” Chase says. “She betrayed you.”
“And I asked her to marry me,” I reply.
“What did she say to that?” Dani chimes in.
“That we didn’t need to rush.”
“I will admit, we talked to Jennifer,” Dani says. “Is it really true that you aren’t going to live together? That she’s going to be working in Kansas City and you’ll be here? It was one thing when it was just the two of you, but with a baby? Like, how is that even supposed to work?”
“It just will.”
When I see Chase roll his eyes, I add, “Look, it’s been an emotional few days, but you both know that Ainsley and I love each other very much. We’re going to make it work. You’re just going to have to trust me on that. I’d like to have dinner, look back over my notes, and get a good night’s sleep.”
“Okay,” my sister says, but I notice Chase shakes his head, like he doesn’t agree.