An amused smile graced her face. “We’re not seventeen anymore. You don’t have to be nervous.”
He groaned. “I had this all planned out for tonight, but when I heard how upset you were, I didn’t want to wait.”
“It’s okay, Lucas. I love you. Whether we live in this house or a shack, whether we have more kids or not, or whether you finally stop rambling and ask me to marry you.”
A rumble of laughter spilled out of him. He was blessed to have Serena in his life, who could make him laugh even at the most serious of times. He pulled the ring from his pocket and knelt on one knee. “I love you, Serena. We’ve had our ups and a whole of down, but they’ve brought us to exactly where we’re meant to be. We’ve lost a lot of years, but I want to spend the rest of our lives making up that time and adding new memories. Will you marry me?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, a perfect fit. Years from now, they would tell the story of how they added another first under their pecan tree.
Epilogue
One year later.
Serena sat in the crowded doctor’s office. There were no extra seats, so Cecily stood on one side of her, and Lucas was on the other. It was almost fifteen years to the day when she’d been in this spot once before, though she was further along this time.
“Mrs. Fontenot,” a nurse called. It was time for the exam portion of her appointment. Lucas came with her, but Cecily waited in the front.
She laid her arm out flat for her vitals to be taken, happy to see no sign of increased blood pressure.
The nurse recorded the information into the computer. “Do you have any concerns you’d like to address with the doctor?”
Not having any and eager to have the exam over and move on to the ultrasound, she shook her head. “If I think of any, I’ll be sure to ask.”
Lucas stayed by her side the entire length of the exam. He wasn’t going to miss a moment of this pregnancy, and even if he bordered on hovering, she wouldn’t let it annoy her. This was important to him, and after their previous mistakes, she wouldn’t deny him a second of involvement.
Pleased with her progress, the doctor sent her back to the waiting room for her ultrasound.
“It’s going to be a girl,” Cecily declared. “I just know it.’
Lucas shook his head. “A boy.”
“Mom, what do you think?”
Serena rubbed a hand on her stomach. “One of each.”
Lucas’s eyes bulged. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
She laughed at his reaction. “There’s only one baby, but I’m with Cecily. I say girl.”
Minutes later, she was called to the ultrasound room, and Cecily came with them. Serena laid on the bed and lifted her shirt, allowing the tech to move the doppler around. It took several minutes of different views and measurement recordings before the technician asked if they wanted to know the baby’s gender.
“Yes,” they said in unison.
“Well Mr. and Mrs. Fontenot, it looks like you’ll be picking out a boy’s name.”
Lucas pumped a fist in the air. “I knew it.”
A look of awe covered Cecily’s face. “I love him already.”
“Me too. I bet he’ll be a miniature you.” Serena said, looking at Lucas, and perfectly at peace with the news. She truly didn’t care what gender their baby was as long as he was healthy.
Leaning over, Lucas kissed her hair. “I would have been just as happy with another little girl.”
“I know.” She winked and smiled. “Maybe next time.”
