In the car, I said, “When my mom and dad find out they're gonna explode.”
“They'll be the best grandparents ever,” Dale said.
“You'll tell your parents, of course. They'll want to know.”
“Yeah, but don't count on them being in the kids’ lives too much.”
“You said kids, plural.”
“Did I? I suppose it could be twins. But probably it was just a slip.”
“You're thinking far into the future. So am I. But before we have another, let's see how this one goes first.”
“Good thinking.” He bowed his head. “I want to give our child everything I feel was missing from my own childhood. There will be no coldness in our household. I'm not perfect, Aspen, but I promise to be the best daddy I can be. I'll do everything. Cook, clean change diapers. Maybe that doesn't sound traditionally alpha of me, but I don't care. I won't be an absent alpha father. I'm in on this one hundred percent.”
“I already knew all that about you.” I took one hand off the steering wheel and clasped his. “But that was the most wonderful speech ever. I do love to hear you talk. Your words. You say the nicest, most incredible things to me.”
“I love you so much.”
“Me, too. But it's more than that with you. You're a giver. You're special. Don't ever forget that.”
22
Dale
Aspen turned around in his new suit. “Like it?”
His stomach protruded, round and precious. I thought he’d hate the changes his body was going through, being the impeccable dresser he was. But he loved the bump and the bigger clothes. His taste never waned. He bought beautiful suits that fit well and showed off the glowing ecstasy of his pregnancy.
“I love it,” I replied.
“I love it, too.”
The suit was streamlined to show off his youthful body and cover the bump but not hide it. He wanted the world to know he was happily having this baby.
We bought three new shirts in white, pale pink and pale blue.
We bought shiny new shoes a size bigger for his swollen feet and topped our shopping trip off with two new ties.
Aspen faced me as I loaded my arms with our bags. “Now your turn.”
“What? I don’t need new clothes.”
“I can't be the only one getting presents.”
“Of course you can. You're the one whose shape is changing. Beautifully, I might add.”
He glanced around the mall. “Damn. I'm not quite done spending money.”
Even pregnant, he still had lots of energy.
“Do we need anything more for the nursery?”
We’d transformed the home office into the baby's room. Our two desks got moved downstairs side by side to the alcove just off the kitchen. I didn't resent it one minute. Most of the time I brought work home I worked on my laptop while sitting on the couch.
Aspen rolled his eyes at my question. “We've already ordered a zillion things online. I'm not sure that room can fit one more teddy bear.”
“You’re the one who said you want to spend more money.”
