When we first met, I thought you were a cocky bastard. You became the best lover I’d ever had, you made me fall for you, and then, you left me. Over the next four years, that became a pattern. It took me a long time to understand what makes you tick, and how to love you so that you can actually feel my love.
My hands start shaking as I continue reading.
That will never change even though our lives are changing. In a big way. Today, we’re getting married. Can you believe that seven years after our first meeting, we are getting married?
And… we’re going to have a baby.
There’s a whooshing sound in my ears as all the blood rushes to my head. It suffocates me, causing for my vision to go blurry. My hands are shaking so badly that I can’t even hold the paper up anymore. The gift bag slips from my fingers. The faint thumping sound it makes reminds me that there was something else inside of it.
I rip the paper bag as I dig into it for the box I saw inside of it. I am having a hard time opening the long rectangular box, and when I do, I stare in awe.
A pregnancy test stares back at me. It is nestled inside the velvet, screaming at me to pick it up. There is only one word on it that my eyes pull to.Positive, it says. It’s a positive pregnancy test.
There’s pressure in my chest, to the point where I feel like I should sit down. If I fall over and bust my head open, no one willknow until they have to look for me because I didn’t show up at the altar.
Me not being at the altar when Mona walks down the aisle isnotan option.
I pull a chair out, and use my breathing exercises to calm down. Then, I pick up the letter and continue reading.
I know that this wasn’t planned, Mona writes.But it happened, and now we have the opportunity to create an even better life than we had before. A life where we will choose to love our baby, give him or her the best life that we can, teach them how to love unconditionally and how to be smart.
I truly believe in my heart that the best is yet to come for us. My love for you has only gotten stronger over the years. You have given me the life I always dreamed of. I want you to be in this with me, but only because you want to be there. I want you to want this as much as I do, but I will never force it upon you. I will never doubt your love for me, but I will always respect your wishes.
I love you, and I love our baby. I love us.
Mona
I fold the letter and put it back in the envelope. I then slide it into the inside pocket of my tux, resting it right over my heart.
I stand up and walk over to the door, which I open with no hesitation. I step into the narrow hallway, making my way to the small chapel where our wedding ceremony will be held. The closer I get, I can hear people talking and laughing. It’s a joyous event for everyone here. It’s something I never imagined for myself, not while I attended all my friends’ wedding, not ever.
I enter the room from a side door and step over to where I was told to wait for Mona. The pastor smiles at me.
“Are you ready, son?”
My eyes fly to the back of the chapel where I find my father sitting in the very last row. His face looks just as stern as everwhen our eyes connect. But there’s something else there. I watch as he stands up and makes his way toward me. If he’s here to talk me out of marrying Mona…
“Alex.”
He puts his hand out for me to shake. I stare at it like I don’t know basic manners, but then I snap out of it and do as directed.
“I am not here to cause trouble,” he says. “Just to show my appreciation for you inviting me.”
“Mona invited you, not me.”
I have no idea why I felt compelled to clarify that. My father seems to be surprised by the revelation.
“I ran a background check on her.” His tone is straight and to the point. Anger rises inside of me, but I don’t have time to react when he continues. “I looked really hard for something I should hate her for.” He watches me thoughtfully. “I found nothing.”
“It wouldn’t have mattered anyway,” I tell him. “She is it for me. Forever.”
He watches me intently, confusion clear on his face. He’s most likely wondering where he went wrong with me that I don’t hate love like he does. He reaches inside his coat and pulls out two envelopes, handing them to me.
“What’s this?”
I turn them over, only to find a different name written on each one. One readsMiranda, the otherZach.
“Your siblings,” my father informs me. “I thought about it, and I think it’s probably time for you to meet them. I ran a background check on them both. All their information is inside these envelopes.”
