“Third aisle on the left.” He laughed out loud from the counter.
I followed his direction and found the jar of yellow peppers right where he said they’d be. I picked it up, followed by a jar of pickles nearby, knowing we were running low and Gabriella would be requesting them soon enough. I walked to the counter and set both jars on the surface with a dull thud.
“My wife liked the spice too,” said the clerk, clearly coming to his own assumptions.
Curiosity got the better of me. “What did you end up having?”
“A girl.” He smiled.
My heart swelled for a moment, thinking about the idea of having a daughter. I would be happy with either a boy or a girl, but the thought of a daughter was overwhelming to me for some reason. It was like I could picture what she looked like already, and knew I would be totally wrapped around her finger.
“Do you know yet?” asked the clerk, a warm smile on his face.
“Not yet.” I shook my head.
“Exciting times, my friend.” He handed me a small paper bag with my groceries inside.
“I’ll see you soon.” I left a twenty-dollar bill in the tip jar and headed out the door and into the cool evening air. Fall was definitely here. Even in the darkness, the streetlamps illuminated the brown and red leaves that covered the trees. I enjoyed the short walk back to my apartment, soaking in the new season.
“That was fast,” said Gabriella, sitting up eagerly on the couch like a kid on Christmas morning. She was adorable.
“I try.” I gave her an easy smile, heading to the kitchen for a plate and a napkin. I plated the pepperoncini in the shape of a heart and brought it over to her.
She laughed when she saw it. “Who knew you were such a cheeseball?” she said with a shake of her head. She took a bite of the yellow pepper and closed her eyes as she chewed in quiet satisfaction.
“Mmmm,” she said. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
“Of course,” I said, sitting beside her. She tucked herself under the crook of my arm and popped another pepper into her mouth.
“You want one?” she asked, holding one up. I opened my mouth and she placed the spicy pepper in it. I had to admit, it was pretty good.
“Good, right?”
I nodded.
She smiled before her face turned more serious. “Thank you,” she said. “Not just for the pepperoncini or the Oreos last night or the pepperonis the night before. Thank you for taking care of me. For inviting me to stay with you.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” I shook my head. “Iwantto be here. Iwantto take care of you and the baby. I’m committed to this. To you. To the baby. Whatever you need, I want to do for you. Whatever it takes.”
She bit her lip, her throat bobbing as she looked at me intently.
“I love you, Chandler,” she whispered, her hands clutching the plate of the half-eaten heart of peppers.
Her words took me by surprise, filling me with a content ease that warmed through me. They were the words I had wanted to hear, ever since I had told her I was in love with her. But then everything got so complicated, I wasn’t sure if I would ever hear them. I wasn’t sure if she felt the same. But here she was, opening up. I would have taken care of her either way. I would have stepped up to be the father I strived to be with or without her reciprocated feelings, but it was so much sweeter this way.
“Really?” I whispered in disbelief.
“Mhmm.” She beamed up at me.
I grabbed the plate from her hands and set it on the coffee table before turning to her and taking her hands in mine. Her eyes watched me eagerly.
“You know I love you, too,” I said, gently squeezing her hands. “I want to do this right, okay? I want to give us a real shot.”
“I do too,” she said, her eyes glassy.
“Our baby deserves a happy family,” I said, my eyes drifting down to her stomach.
“Yes. Yes, they do.” She nodded, a tear trailing down her cheek. I leaned in and pressed my lips against it before it fell.
