Shane #2
Best intentions or not, I kept it from her. But it was always going to come out.
“We are now. That’s what matters.” I move in to kiss her again because I can tell she’s not mad and even holds me close by fisting my shirt. She is quiet, though. And that’s unsettling. The last thing I want to do is upset her. That’s what got me here, though.
“It’s hard to be upset when it all worked out better than I could have dreamed. We have two beautiful babies, and we’re married.” When she looks up at me, she asks, “Do you have any other secrets? Now would be a great time to share.”
“I bought the house.”
“You bought what house?” She’s not generally shocked anymore when I make big purchases. We consult each other anyway, but I know this one is different.
Pulling the key from my pocket, I hold it in my palm. “You deserved that house you lost.”
Her head jerks back, surprise taking over. “Shane . . .”
“I took a chance.”
Tears well in her eyes. Taking the key from me, she looks back up just as a tear falls. “Why would you do that? It’s too small for our family.”
“It felt like the right thing to do. You worked hard to have something of your own. Now you do. Paid in full.” She rests her forehead against me, staring at the key in her hand.
“Make it an art studio where you can paint. You’re so talented.
” I stroke her back several times, then hold her.
“Fill the yard with gardens and those overflowing flower beds. Take a nap when you need a break from the house. Rent it out to make money on it. You can do whatever you want with it because it’s yours. ”
“Is it mine when we didn’t sign a prenup? I mean,” she says, wrapping her arms around my middle and smiling up at me. “What’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine.”
“What’s mine is yours, but that house is in your name alone.”
She rattles the keys in her hand again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I kiss her head.
Looking up at me again, she says, “We always call the marriage debacle a mess, but I don’t see it that way anymore. I see it as destiny course correcting.”
“I like that.” When I lift her chin, those soulful eyes I fell in love with so long ago still make my heart beat hard in my chest, steadier and stronger than any drums ever could.
She says, “I think I’m ready.”
“Yeah? What are you ready for?”
“To start this beautiful life. Let’s go home.”
Looking around the party, we’d be stuck for two hours saying goodbye if we made rounds. When I glance down at my wife by my side, I can tell she realizes the same. She asks, “Want to sneak out?”
I laugh, loving how much I’ve rubbed off on her. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Sometimes life has other plans for us. Come on. I scoped out our escape path earlier in the day.” Pulling me by the hand, she leads me to the steps that flow to the sand.
“So this was the plan all along?”
Shrugging, she laughs. “Tomato.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
We make it out without anyone noticing, and even into the Ferrari the valet pulled around. Hopping in, I’m tempted to squeal the tires in a fast getaway, but that would draw too much attention, so I drive the speed limit instead.
We make it a few lights down, cruising toward the highway entrance. Sitting at a stoplight, I rest my hand on her leg. “I love you.” I feel so fucking happy. I didn’t know life could be this good until Catalina Farin, now Faris, showed me by loving me.
“I love you, too.” There’s a pause, causing me to look over at her. “You know what I’ve been thinking about lately?”
The light turns green, so I start driving again. I bring her hand to my mouth and kiss it, then hold it to my chest. “What have you been thinking about lately?”
“What are the chances of having twins again?”
Slamming on my brakes in the middle of a busy street was not my best reaction.
“I’m going to need you to hold that thought.
” I pull into the nearest shopping center, grateful we weren’t hit.
Parked between a grocery store and under the glowing sign of an In-N-Out Burger, I turn to her. “Are you pregnant?”
She takes my hand and pulls it to her stomach. “The babies are craving french fries.”
The words hit quick, sinking into my thoughts. Pregnant. Twins. We haven’t even had a honeymoon. Dropping my head forward, I scrub the inner corners of my eyes as they begin to water, too happy to give a shit about a fancy vacation.
I swallow down the emotions threatening to stick in my throat, then look at her, my stunning wife, the mother of my children, waiting so patiently for my reaction.
I rest my palm on her stomach and rub gently.
Leaning over the console, I kiss her, her lips the sweetest thing I ever tasted. Loving her is my greatest pleasure.
I nod, too overcome to say anything. I kiss her again and then along her jaw because I find comfort in our connection. Bending down, I kiss her stomach twice for the twins.
When I finally sit back, our fingers are woven together, our hold on each other solid. Looking at this incredible woman beside me, I say, “We should get the babies those french fries then.”
Eliciting her smile is everything, the heavy sigh she releases as if she’d been holding her breath also gives me relief. She nods, her shoulders relaxing, and then asks, “And maybe a strawberry shake?”
I chuckle, shifting the car into drive. “We’re definitely getting a strawberry shake.”
Pulling her hand to my chest again, I smile like a fool pulling into the drive-through lane. When I glance over at her, she’s smiling the same. Partners in crime. Forever. Eternity. Always.
What a wild ride we’ve been on. “And to think, we started with a glitch.”
She laughs, but then it settles into a sweet smile. “No, babe. We started with a kiss.”