Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Rick’s hair was already mussed when he met Darla at the door as she returned from Emily’s, indicating that he’d already been in bed when he’d texted her to come home.
“I got lonely without you,” he murmured sleepily as they headed to their bedroom. He laid back down on his side of the bed and was asleep by the time Darla went quickly through her nighttime routine. She climbed carefully into her side of the bed, trying not to disturb him or step on poor Scout’s tail where the puppy slept at her usual spot on the floor by Darla’s bedside table.
Rick must have felt her move the mattress, however, because he grumbled something unintelligible before rolling over and wrapping an arm over Darla. She paused, wondering if he’d fallen back asleep.
“Did you have fun with Emily?” he asked with a stifled yawn. She cuddled closer. He was warm and solid, and even the quick jaunt outside had left her chilled.
“I did,” she confirmed. “I set her up with Doctor Lofton, and tonight was their date. I wanted to hear how it went.”
He chuckled, and she could feel the ghost of his breath against her cheek. Her body began to relax instantly at the familiar intimacy of snuggling up with her husband.
“Are you matchmaking?” he asked.
“I… might be,” she admitted. “But Emily doesn’t seem to mind, judging from her report of the date, and I think if I don’t have something to distract me during the IVF, I’ll end up obsessing about it and driving myself crazy.”
She felt his body grow more alert beside her as he woke up to listen to her more clearly.
“Are you feeling worried about it?” he asked.
“No,” she said truthfully. “Not worried, exactly. More like a mix of hope, anxiety, and anticipation. And I’m not trying to shove away those feelings or anything, but I also don’t want to dwell on them. I can’t control what happens, so adding that worry wouldn’t contribute anything. I just have to wait and eventually we’ll get our baby. I just know it.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “Me too, sweetheart,” he said. “Want to know what I do when I start to feel like I’m worrying too much?”
“Of course.”
He pulled her so her head was tucked into the curve of his neck. “I imagine our future. Think about it. We’ve got a kid, maybe a few of them. I turn that big old oak in the backyard into the coolest treehouse you’ve ever seen.”
“That’s a classic dad project,” she agreed, smiling.
“Obviously, I will ask Braden for his professional expertise, because I’m not letting my kids go into a subpar treehouse,” he continued.
“Plus, Braden and Monica’s baby will probably want to come play up there too, so you know he’ll need to get his own contractor eyes on it.” She found herself falling into the fantasy, picturing the details.
“We’ll all have about a million arguments as to why they can’t ride a quad until they’re older, once they see Uncle Wyatt’s awesome store,” Rick added.
She laughed. “Oh my goodness, I wonder if Marty has considered how often she’s going to have to have that conversation.”
“Meanwhile, I’ll be the one giving lectures on boat safety. You’ll be the cool parent, with the safe hobby.”
“Painting is pretty easy to make kid-friendly,” she agreed. “But messy.”
“We’ll buy a pack of those blue tarps,” he said. “Then they can make all the mess they want, and we’ll just bundle it up when they’re done.”
“Hose them off in the backyard in the summer,” she joked. “I remember my dad doing that when Marty and I were little. We thought it was the funniest thing ever to get clean outside.”
“We can get a sprinkler for them to run through too. Beat the heat the good old-fashioned way.”
She pulled the blanket up even higher over her chin. “I can’t believe you’re talking about summer stuff when it’s so cold out.”
“You started it!” he protested. “But you’re right. When it’s winter and we’re trapped inside, we’ll set up playdates with Grandma Lori when they get cabin fever.”
“Grandma Lori and Grandpa Hudson,” Darla corrected.
“True! Wow, I can’t believe they’re going to get married. I mean, I can believe it, I’m just so happy for them,” Rick clarified.
In the drowsy dark of their bedroom, Darla smiled. “Me too. I know we had our differences in the past, but I love her a lot, and I’m so glad she’s getting another chance at romantic love.”
“Also,” Rick said, “why do I feel like Hudson is going to be a really fun grandpa?”
Darla laughed. “The twinkly blue eyes, I think,” she joked. “He’s like a Santa Claus type.”
“Only in better shape from all the running,” he added.
“When the kids get older, we’ll see if he wants to take a break on trimming his beard around Christmastime,” she said. “We can rent a Santa costume too.”
They both laughed at the image.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Rick murmured, giving her another kiss, this one on the top of her head. Darla was sure she could feel the warmth and love of it sink down through her, from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. “Our family.”
“And no matter what happens,” she said, twining her fingers with his, “I’ll always have you.”
“Always,” he confirmed.
And then, hand-in-hand, Mr. and Mrs. Maroney drifted happily off to sleep.