“It’s very exciting.” I leaned in and whispered, “We’re having twins.”
Kris’s smile expanded. “If they’re boys we’re going to name them Clifton and Breaker, because we love the water.”
I sputtered out a laugh. “He’s joking. We will not be naming our kids after aquatics.”
Melodie placed her hand on my nonexistent belly. “So this is an extra special Christmas, newly married and starting a family. Your parents must be so proud.”
I swallowed down the pang of grief that threatened to wash over me. I’d never considered what a wedding or having kidswould look like without parents there to share it with me. Perhaps sensing my anxiety, Kris brought my hand to his lips, giving it a quick peck. “From the moment I met Belen, I knew.”
The corners of my eyes narrowed. “Knew what?”
“That my life would never be the same.” He nudged me with his shoulder, and all I could do was stare at him in awe. Kindness was underrated. When looking for a mate people often mentioned looks, sense of humor, or financial stability. But kindness was the thing that moved me the most. You wouldn’t be able to tell from my last boyfriend, who was rude to waitstaff and acted like he was entitled to everything. However, the older I got, I realized that a kind heart made up for a multitude of sins.
With the break over, we returned to our workstation.
“Liar, liar pants on fire,” I whispered.
“What? You could have stopped me at any time.”
He was right, but I’d never been mistaken as part of a married couple before. And I enjoyed the idea of people thinking that I had landed the burly gentlemen hunched next to me in focused concentration as he attempted to draw the perfect bow.
“Do you want to get married one day?” I asked. I knew this was technically still the first date, but since he’d toyed with the idea, I was curious.
“Yep marriage, kids, a dog named Celine Dion. I want it all. What about you?”
“I’m not opposed to marriage. I just don’t think it’s a requirement for a healthy, loving relationship.”
“So you can take it or leave it.”
“When you say it like that, you make it sound like a side of bread at The Cheesecake Factory.”
“You always take bread when it’s from The Cheesecake Factory.”
“I just think people put too much stock in marriage like it’s the endgame and it’s not.”
“So what’s the endgame?”
“Our purpose in life has nothing to do with finding a soulmate. It’s about making yourself a better person every day, and being kind to others, and stuff like this and your list, learning new things and sharing new experiences.”
Kris’s gaze meandered over my features.
“What is that too hippie dippie for you?”
“It is definitely giving live, laugh, love vibes but I dig it.”
My parents never married which caused some issues when she passed, but they were the gold standard when it came to love. If you can’t love me the way my folks loved each other, then I don’t want it.
In the car on the way home, I was serenaded by a one-man Christmas choir. Kris took great delight in singing Alvin and the Chipmunks, “The Chipmunk Song.” Midway through, he nudged me in my side until I joined in, turning up the volume as we zoomed down the 494.
On the tail end of our off-key rendition, that would get us booed off the Apollo stage, Kris asked, “What are your plans for Christmas?”
“Nothing special. You probably noticed I still haven’t decorated yet.”
“Yeah I was wondering why Ms. Event Planner hasn’t decked the halls in her own apartment?”
“The time just kind of got away from me. I feel horrible and Celeste is threatening to spend the day with our neighbor.”
“Do you have a tree yet?”
