“Not sure. Maybe Mexican food and then an Irish pub.” I shrug. Since Ares made peace with them, I’ve been going more. “The music isn't so bad and I think Shadow will like it. What about ya?” I don't tell her that, from what I've heard of Bachelorette parties, staying in isn't exactly common. But I'm not gonna dig my own grave and spend a night worrying.
“I’m not sure yet…we might order in.” Relief punches me in the shoulder, mocking my constant need to keep her safe.
“Yeah, sure, love…whatever you want.” I try to sound nonchalant, but she catches it and rolls her beautiful eyes. Ah, my pretty little Rose. To say that I enjoy her small act of rebellion against my urge to protect her is an understatement.
“Maybe sushi. And then bake a chocolate cake and eat it in front of a romcom.” A year ago, Rose didn’t know sushi existed. Or baking. Or movies. All those small joys were taken from her,and now she gets to claim every one of them. Watching her do that…kills me in the best way.
“Which one?” I ask, finishing my second cheese sandwich.
“You know which one.”
I grin, “I wanna hear you say it.”
“The one with the student who discovers she’s heir to a kingdom.”
“Nah, not this one.” I shake my head, not buying it.
“Okay. The one where the girl discovers she’s a princess.” The little face she makes each time she watches it makes the world a better place. Wish I could encapsulate her aura and carry it everywhere with me.
“Still don’t get why you love it so much.”
“Because she learns everything all over again. Just like…me.”
“You’re already a princess. You don’t need to learn anything new to be one.” I earn a second eye roll, followed by a light cherry pink blooming on her cheeks.
“Mr. Oxen, are you trying to seduce me?”
“Only if it pleases you, Mrs. Oxen.”
“Not yet.” Her index finger finds her ring. I gulp my drink.
“Since the day I saw you planting flowers, sweetheart. Since that day, you were already my wife,” I state, standing and offering her my hand. “Wanna dance?” She blushes, nods with a shy smile, then rests her small hand in mine, and I kneel just long enough to kiss her knuckles. “When I was a teen, my dad used to dance with my mom in the living room,” I tell her as I rise. “He’d make her laugh and twirl, and Jamie watched them with eyes the size of plates. He’d stand on their feet and beg my mom to dance with him, too. She’d teach him how to do it ‘properly,’ she said. And Dad would just…look at her.”
“How?” she signs softly while I lead us into the living room, my girl barefoot on the Persian rug.
“Like I look at you.”
“Then they must’ve been really in love,” she signs before I hold her tight against me, swaying us gently from side to side.
“Yeah… Yeah, they were.” We didn’t have much, but love was never lacking. And I intend to give the same thing to our kids one day. They’ll never have to hunt for love or wonder if it’s real, because it’ll be right there for them, stocked to infinity and given without condition. And when they see the way I look at Rose, I hope they’ll understand. That their mother is the only person who could ever slip beneath my ribcage, find her way under the bones, slide into my beating heart, and call it home.
Rose
“You’re lucky,” I sign.
“Why?”
“Because I never saw that. My parents never even kissed in front of me. It’s a miracle I even exist.” I let out a sad laugh. “Sometimes I wonder if my mom didn’t miss all of this.” Our palms connect, our fingers spreading at the same time, perfectly in sync, our movements mirroring each other until we lace them together.Intimacy. I didn’t know how much I was missing it a year ago. To sense the weight of another’s presence in the room even without seeing them. To climb the mountain of life knowing someone is waiting at the top, hand out, shoutinghold on, hold on,because you're almost there.
“Tell me something beautiful you saw today,” I sign.
“You.”
“Vox…”
“Kay, alright…. Let me think, sweetheart.” I wait. “Okay, I got one. Saw an old lady crossing the road with a young guy.”
“Why was it beautiful?”
