Chapter 3 #2
“Hey, so I know we’ve got the chili in the crockpot, but how about we go get steaks for dinner? I’m seriously craving one.”
She shrugged. “Sounds amazing. We can save the chili for lunch tomorrow.”
Success! “Let me finish a few things real quick.”
I finished wrapping the cord around the hilt and dyed same, then I went to the mud sink and cleaned up, washing off anything still stuck to my hands.
“Should I change shirts before we go?”
“Probably a good idea.” She wrinkled her nose, looking me over. “You’re covered in sawdust.”
I kinda was. Shrugging, I followed her out of the shop, locking the door behind me.
I popped into the house long enough to toss my shirt into the hamper and pull on a new one before snagging my wedding ring.
I didn’t wear it in the shop with all those tools; I’d seen men lose a finger doing that.
Kris was already settled into her Volvo by the time I came back out.
I’d slid into the passenger seat and buckled in when Kris said, “Zhen, I’ve noticed before, but you’re really good with kids. Do you want kids?”
Kris liked to hit me with questions out of the blue. Just to keep me on my toes. Pretty sure it was in her contract as a wife. “Uh, where did this question come from, lao po?”
Kris backed out of the driveway, checking for oncoming traffic as she answered, “I checked the chat history and noticed it’s a lot of kids reaching out, asking questions. You’re really patient when answering them, same as when we encounter kids on the job.”
“Ah.”
I thought about how to answer, grateful for the later hour and dark interior of the car.
There was bound to be a colorful range of expressions crossing my face.
I’d always fancied the idea of being a dad, but as I’d grown older, I’d thought the dream wasn’t really viable.
Not when dating had been such a nightmare.
Kris blowing in like a storm had given the possibility back, but we’d been so busy figuring ourselves out, I hadn’t really thought much beyond our immediate future.
But now, as things settled between us, and the damn bond wasn’t trying to hijack my life in all the wrong ways, the question became something to ponder once more. I didn’t think the timing right for kids, but her words rekindled old hope. If Kris was willing, of course.
To further complicate the situation, I also felt fairly certain I was falling in love with my wife.
I didn’t think I could voice it yet—we’d only been together four months—but I couldn’t imagine life without her.
It was why I didn’t really mind the bond these days.
I’d choose to spend every waking minute with her at my side anyway. And if she was considering having kids…
I started imagining what that future might look like.
If we had a bunch of mini-mes, the house wouldn’t survive, much less the neighborhood.
I’d been hard on furniture growing up, let’s just say.
Although I maintained the broken window wasn’t really my fault.
It would have been fine if that damn ghost hadn’t provoked an all-out fight.
But a bunch of mini bookworms with a kind heart and adorable smile? Now, that I could get behind.
Some part of me said thinking of children was rushing matters, somehow.
Despite the fact we were bound together for life—possibly after death, not entirely sure—and living together.
But our whole dating segment had been a speedrun, so maybe that was why things felt so out of joint.
I instinctively believed children were an option for us.
That our relationship would only grow from here, that my heart would continue to fall for this woman, and hopefully, her heart would come to me.
I didn’t think Kris was actively considering pregnancy or anything, she seemed more pensive.
The streetlights sporadically illuminating her expression hinted she was thinking of possibilities further out.
I answered carefully, but a note of wistfulness twined through my words.
“Well, yes, I’d like kids. But honey, I gotta tell you, we should not be talking kids until we’ve got ourselves straightened out. ”
She nodded in agreement, eyes remaining on the road. “Oh, I absolutely agree, I only wanted to know if kids were on the table.”
“They are for me. You?”
“Sure, within reason. No more than, hmm…four?”
Four was within reason, huh? “I should warn you, twins run heavily in my family.”
She paused at the stop sign and glanced my way. “I figured, since you are a twin. Speaking of, when am I ever meeting your brother not over a screen?”
“If we’re lucky, Yu might be able to come down for one of the holidays. I heard rumors he was going to try, ’cause I know he wants to meet you in person too.”
“I look forward to it.”
She seemed pleased, a soft smile curling up the corners of her mouth.
I was happy she wanted to meet my twin, but something in me had softened when she’d broached the idea of kids.
Kris planned for the future, thinking ahead, which meant she saw a real future with me.
I didn’t think it was solely the bond making her think we’d stay together.
At least, I fervently hoped that wasn’t the case.
I took her free hand and kissed the back of her fingers.
She flashed me a warm, adoring look, which made me feel like a goddamn king. Something about her expression hit me right in the feels, and it was equally empowering as it was soothing.
“I’ve made you happy,” she murmured, eyes sliding back to the road. “Was it because I asked about kids? I didn’t know they meant so much to you.”
“I’ve always dreamed of kids but didn’t see how it would even be possible when dating was a dead zone. But what makes me happiest is you’ve thought that far ahead. You’ve considered a future where you raise a family with me. You’ve no idea how much I love that.”
“I have.” She slowed for another stop sign but then leaned in to kiss my cheek. “You fulfill my fantasies on a regular basis, after all.”
I snorted. Her fantasies weren’t even hard to fill. And most of them revolved around books. I tried to appropriately compensate her for the many trials of living with me. Seemed like I was doing a good job, which was also nice to hear.
We drove in silence for a while, holding hands, enjoying the peace. As much as I loved high action, I cherished these quiet moments with her, where I could bask in her company without fear of the moment being broken.
“Oh!” She took a right turn and then shot me a baffled look. “You won’t believe what happened at work today! Have you heard ghosts can get divorced?”
“Uhh…come again?”
“So even you didn’t know?”
“No, this is news to me.”
“Boss said she’s heard of it, like, twice in her whole career. Let me catch you up.”
I listened as she told the story, and my eyebrows were in danger of getting lost in my hairline by the time she finished. “Wowzer. Uh, hopefully the dead groom isn’t pissed his brother is stealing his wife? Honestly, I don’t see how this is going to go down well.”
“Me either. But I’m absolutely going to enjoy the show.” Kris mused aloud, “Makes me want to create a separate page of ghost marriages, where people can share their wild stories. It would be fascinating reading.”
“I mean, it would, but it also means a second page you have to run.”
“Still might be worth it.”
My wife may be a workaholic. Then again, considering my own demanding career, who was I to cast stones?
She tapped the steering wheel and added, “Change of subject—I talked to Jasha earlier today. He said your last seal on the sword is still holding.”
“Good to know, but I’m still swinging by with Dad on Wednesday. Mostly because we want to keep the energy stable until Jo Jo gets here.”
“He mentioned that on the phone earlier. And that’s fair. I know Jasha really appreciates your caution.”
“What? He doesn’t want a magical weapon rampaging in his store? Le gasp! What a surprise.”
“And the crowd goes mild.”
“Joke didn’t land, huh?” I grinned because I could tell she was trying not to smile and encourage me.
Too bad for her, I needed no encouragement.
I was my target audience and could go for days.
Weeks. People’s groans only fueled me. “Anyway, Jo Jo wants a recent reading on the sword, too. He’s not sure what tools to bring. ”
“Also fair. How’d you two meet again?”
“Jo Jo’s of the Ramshaw family. They’re as famous as the Barres in their own corner of the world.
Let me tell you, the hunters who choose to deal with everything in Florida?
Special breed. Or batshit crazy, take your pick.
His parents lean more toward the crazy side.
But we met because our parents were networking to handle a problem.
At five years old, I was excited to meet someone my age also learning the business.
Even back then Yu didn’t like all the lessons and spooky things, always crying about how he wanted to go play.
I wanted a real friend to learn with, and Jo Jo was that for me.
We hit it off the first day and have been best buds ever since. ”
“Mom warned me you two are peas in a pod.”
“Oh, are we ever. But I promise as adults we’ve learned how to break things we’re supposed to break and not everything else.”
My wife sat on this information for a beat, shifting lanes. When she spoke, her tone suggested she was going to regret asking but curiosity compelled the words from her mouth. “Zhen. What did you break that you should not have?”
“A truck?”
“Are we talking crashed it or…?”
“Well, long and legendary Epic of Gilgamesh story made tragically short—you ever see the movie Sahara?”
“With Matthew McConaughey? I mean, it was a fun movie, but what does that have to do with you destroying a truck?”
“So, we were in a really tight spot fighting off EFTs, backup was at least an hour away, and Jo Jo and I didn’t think we’d survive an hour, so we pulled a Panama?
Only instead of lighting up the gas tank of the boat, we blew up the gas tank on the truck.
” I paused, reflecting on that explosive night.
Lots of pretty flames and loud kabooms. “In our defense, it worked. Brand new truck, though. Dad’s still salty, so don’t bring it up in front of him. ”
Kris’s jaw slacked, and it was a good thing she was driving or I’d be in for a hell of a judgey look. Which would be deserved, not that I’d say so aloud.
“I’d be salty too! You know what, I’m rethinking four kids. If even one child is like you, I won’t be able to handle more.”
I laughed, not at all insulted, because that’s very fair. I couldn’t handle me some days.
Kris made a stressed noise in the back of her throat. “Back to Jo Jo— Wait, how old were you two when you blew up the truck?”
“Sixteen.”
She muttered something that sounded like “God preserve me,” then huffed a breath. “Very glad I’m meeting adult Jo Jo. I want to be prepared when he arrives. He’s not allergic to any foods or anything, right?”
“Naw, man’s got a cast iron stomach.”
“Good to know. I wasn’t sure what to make while he’s here.”
“Jo Jo’s also a morning person, so leave breakfast to me.”
Kris snorted a laugh. “Sounds good.”
I loved how she wanted to be a good hostess to my friend. Some partners might get put out about having rambunctious guests, but Kris rolled with it. Granted, his visit was in part so he could help her best friend.
Well, the rest of this week promised to be interesting, if nothing else. We had a ghost divorce, a cursed sword, and a friend coming to visit. Life would be busy.
Come to think of it, had I warned Jo Jo the huodou lived in the house?
I should probably verify before he walked inside and got the shock of his life. On second thought, naaaaw. That shit would be funny as hell, and I fully planned to record it. For posterity, you understand.