Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
One year later
“Congratulations, Mr. U.S. Citizen!”
I throw my arms around my husband’s neck, elated and so proud of him for passing his immigration test. This is a very important day for him, and I have a celebration party planned for later this evening.
He smiles that beautiful smile I’ve loved since the first time we met and flirted several years earlier. The one that says so many things all in one expression. Today, though, it shines through with love and joy at finally becoming a citizen.
This past year has provided us with many hurdles and obstacles to manage through.
I did end up taking ownership of Flying Aces, but only after my grandfather sadly passed away from prostate cancer, which he’d been battling for a year before he told me about it.
The only good thing about having a little bit of time left with him was that he met and spent lots of time with Kellan over the summer, who he fell in love with instantly.
Seems like a real problem we Taylor’s have when it comes to Kellan Muller. He’s too easy to love and too hard to resist.
Kellan unwraps my arms from around his neck and shows me his citizenship papers.
“So official!” I cheer, waving it around and then placing it on the table behind me, where I grab an envelope I’d placed there earlier.
Handing it to him, I say, “Open it up. It’s your present.”
He gives me a funny look, but shreds the envelope open the way Kellan does.
Quick and efficiently. Just the way he flew down the slopes when he was a world-champion skier.
Just like he learned the ropes as a coach and now has made a name for himself with junior skiers all over the world vying for spots on his roster to work with him.
And just like he had me falling for him a little over a year ago.
But the amazing thing about Kellan is that when he goes in, he goes all in. With everything he has. That’s why I know this surprise will be something he will be great at.
I watch with tears filling my eyes and a shaky hand covering my mouth as he slides out the photo from the envelope.
It’s grainy, black and white, and a bit hard to decipher. And I’ve doctored up the picture just a bit to include a skier emoji in the top right corner.
He examines it a bit, turning it around and then right side up again, and then it finally dawns on him what he’s looking at. With brilliant blue eyes scanning mine, as if to say, “Is this what I think it is?” I nod affirmatively.
“You’re pregnant?” he croaks and places a gentle hand on my belly. “We’re going to have a baby?”
Tears stream down my cheeks, and I smile a happy, wide smile. “Not just any baby, Kellan. This kid is going to be both a Flying Ace and the king of the slopes someday. Of that I am sure.”
The End