I begin to walk away. “Whipped cream on top?” I call out over my shoulder as I begin my journey to hell.
“No. By the way, I’m pregnant.” Her monotone statement doesn’t faze me for a second.
My feet freeze instantly, and I blink a few times. Did I hear her right? Turning on my heel, I face Lexi casually sitting on the bench with her arms stretched out along the back, her smirk completely honest.
“What did you say?” I don’t blink.
“I’m pregnant,” she repeats, with her smile warming as she waits for it all to sink in for me.
She caught me off guard, which was probably her intention.
A smile spreads on my mouth, and I stride straight back to her and kneel down, sliding her hands into mine. “We’re pregnant?”
Lexi’s lips quirk out. “That we are, Husband.”
We haven’t been trying with intention or thinking about it non-stop, but we did decide to see where things go when Lexi went off birth control. The baby will have quite an age gap with his or her brother and sister, but it makes it all the more fun.
My lips meet hers for a kiss that is mixed with love and happiness. “This is so much better than getting that puppy that drives me insane,” I whisper against her lips.
“I hope so.” She laughs, and her smile must hurt from how happy she seems.
Pulling away, I narrow my eyes. “Wait, do you really want hot chocolate?”
Lexi pretends to debate. “Nah. But the popcorn was disgusting, the chocolate mint was a bad choice, and along with the need for the bathroom, they were probably the hints I was wondering if you would pick up on.”
I flex my jaw side to side. “Ah, maybe they were.”
“This morning, you were occupied with tonight, so I didn’t tell you. But I don’t know, I didn’t want to hold out until tomorrow’s breakfast at the Dizzy Duck.” Sunday brunch is our family tradition, dog included, as he just chills by the fireplace in the lobby and guests love it.
Blowing out a long breath, I am so ecstatic with this news. Maybe it was never on my mind to have more kids, but with Lexi, it was clear as day that we should have a baby. She’ll be so relaxed and still keep us all in line.
I kiss her again and again, her cheek, jaw, neck, everywhere that would be appropriate for a bench on Main Street.
“I love you so much,” she tells me, the streetlight causing her eyes to glint with a twinkle.
“Me too.” I kiss our intertwined hands.
She peers over my shoulder. “You’re happy?”
I nod. “Of course, what kind of question is that?”
“Good, because Harry isn’t at his friend’s house. They seem to be over there where they are about to light firecrackers on the street, and the old lady walking with her hot drink looks pissed.” Her face looks strained and cautious.
My head draws a line from her eyes to where she’s pointing to see my son is messing around with a friend from math club.
Because our family has a difficult time enjoying a calming day, and that’s kind of the way we like it. Or I keep telling myself that every breakfast when chaos exists and my wife just calmly sits there while reassuring me with a wink, because later she’ll swing by the Dizzy Duck like old times to get sassy with me as she sneaks her hands up my shirt.
I don’t dare say life is perfect, but it’s pretty damn close.
It’s true, and I repeat it to myself right before I puff out my chest, gather a breath, and prepare to face my son.
But I don’t get far.
The sound of a couple arguing causes me to pause.
Lexi squeezes my arm as we both dart our sight to the other corner of Main Street where we see Summer.
She’s been through hell in recent months. Her husband passed, and she’s used working at the Dizzy Duck as a distraction and appears strong. That was until her late husband’s brother, and the Dizzy Duck’s 10% owner, Nash, showed up.
