I sigh and keep peering out the window. “I know. I just want more.”
There was a very costly trip upgrade that would have put us in some kind of lodge right next to the bears for a few days. Next time.
Patrick taps me and pulls me from the window.
“Oh, and by the way?” Patrick’s smile is like none I’ve ever seen. “Katrina is pregnant.”
His words are the only ones that could pull me away from the view.
“Patrick, what?” I grab him by his puffy winter coat. “Really?”
“Really.” He grins broadly. “It wasn’t exactly planned. We were thinking five years from now or whatever. We’re maybe kinda young, but so what?” He then walks around the Rover for a moment as I collect my breath. “Jesus, Diana, that white bear is practically pressing his face up against our window!”
I throw my arms around him, overjoyed. “This is truly the best frickin’ day of my life.”
“She’s fourteen weeks in, so it feels okay to finally say it out loud.” Then he pauses to take a breath and glance out at our view.
We snap photos because it really isn’t a moment to forget.
Neither is Patrick’s announcement. The photo I take of him smiling next to a bear’s face is one for the archives.
He’s barely pulled up the image on his phone before I grab it out of his hands.
“Want to see the ultrasound picture?”
“Yes, dummy, I do!”
And there is a picture of a little baby. I’m going to treasure this forever. Probably blow it up and order a giant print from Shutterfly.
He’s going to be the best dad.
Chapter 4
After I wake and slam a cappuccino, I actually try to do something with my hair that’s not just a knotted bun. The humidity here is crazy, and I’m amazed when the hair products I bought actually work and I don’t look deranged. My long red hair is magically in soft curls, and once I put on some makeup and squirm into a white tank and fitted shorts under a matching sheer set with an ultra-flowy top and wide-legged white pants.
When I go out to shoot at restaurants and do interviews, I swear my mix-and-match outfits from JAKI are life savers. because they’re so easy. My clothes are expensive and almost exclusively from this scrumptious brand, but mostly because they’re all soft, and drapey, and mix and match, so I don’t have to think much about dressing. I find most fashion stuff exceedingly boring and would rather not think about it. It’s these high-end outfits or scrubby jeans and hoodies, and I’m okay with either.
Today is different. I’m reluctant to admit, but New Friend Dave is inspiring me.
Patrick FaceTimes me just as I’m finishing my makeup. “Ooh, look at you, getting all sexy for the night.”
“I’m not getting sexy,” I insist. “Just looking in the mirror and tweaking my blush and lip color.”
My friend cannot contain his excitement, and he basically yells, “He’s your Katrina!”
“He’s my what? What are you talking about?”
“You remember that night I first saw Katrina? That party in my room. It was instant.” His grin is so stupidly smug, and I’d smack him through the phone if I could, but he’s all amped up with glee, and a smack wouldn’t stop him. “That’s you and New Friend Dave!”
Jesus.
“No, it is not the same thing. It’s a fun travel thing. He lives a million miles away.”
“He lives a drive and a half from you. It’s nothing.”
“Hey,” I start as I turn and adjust my outfit. Talking with Patrick, I easily become nostalgic. And grateful. I don’t have many people in my life who mean much to me, and he’s hitting my heart tonight. Maybe because I’m feeling vulnerable and weird that I’m heading out with this Dave guy. “Speaking of that party, did I ever tell you that you inviting me to that dorm party sort of saved me?”
“I didn’t save you,” he responds with his quintessential hearty laugh.
