The morning sun tries to sneak in under the heavy curtains, but it’s still dark in our bedroom. I reach out, not finding my husband in bed with me, and for a moment my heart drops. I shake it off because there’s no way he’s not here after last night. Even as I get out of bed and feel all the yummy aches in my muscles, I know that his words were true.
After I grab my robe, I pull back the drapes, letting the light flood the space. With light landing on every inch of the room, I realize I hate this place. I think I got lost in trying to be the wife I thought my husband wanted and agreeing to that image even at the cost of what I wanted. His dream wasn't only to make it but to fit into a world that shunned him and to prove himself.
As I walk downstairs I can hear his voice coming from the kitchen. When I walk in, I see he’s got his phone pressed to his ear, and I wait there, drinking him in. It doesn’t take long, and he must have heard me because when he turns around to face me, there’s a smile pulling at his lips.
“Hold on,” he says into the phone as he comes over and gives me a quick kiss. “The twins have gotten themselves in a tangle.” He smiles against my mouth before he kisses me again.
I didn’t realize I was tense across my shoulders until they relax. I assumed it was a work call, and I get mad at myself for not trusting him.
“Why the look?” he asks before he puts the phone back to his ear.
I glance down, but he doesn't let me get away with it. He lifts my chin to look at him, and I explain. “I thought it was a phone call for work, and I’m upset I didn’t trust you. But that reaction lies with me, and I know in time it will stop.”
“I love you.”
God, he really is perfect. I hope I wasn't too hard on him by leaving, but the thing is, it’s not just us anymore. He gives my ass a squeeze and then a quick smack.
“Grab the door. Security said Lindsey is on her way in.”
I make it to the front door at the same time as Lindsey and she comes straight in, already halfway through a sentence.
“I can’t do this. That Mary is a nightmare.”
I snort because I’ve never seen her panicked before. “I like Mary.” I defend the older woman that runs Darian’s office. She can be a shark and stole more of my husband's time than I liked, but she’s good at her job. I respected her for at least making an effort to use his time wisely and keep the place running as efficiently as possible.
“She woke me up at four a.m. with questions. Questions that don’t even make sense.”
“Come to the kitchen.” I grab her arm and pull her along with me.
“He’s going to kick me out. He said no more work.”
I laugh, knowing what that meant, but this is different. “If this is something you really want to do then he is going to help you. Both of us will.” She engulfs me in a giant hug, and I sigh, feeling happy.
Lindsey’s been there for all of us over the years. There’s no way we’re going to leave her hanging.
We enter the kitchen as Darian puts his phone on the kitchen counter. “What did they do?” Lindsey asks, knowing the look on his face.
“Made a couple of princes fall in love with them. They are demanding their hands in marriage.”
I snort a laugh, but no one joins me. “Oh.” I put my hand over my mouth to try and hide it.
“Of course they did.” Lindsey rolls her eyes.
I watch as Darian makes me a cup of coffee the way I like it. I take it from him and pretend to take a sip. Luckily, Lindsey’s mind is wrapped up in a million other things, and she doesn’t notice I’m skipping the caffeine.
I’ve got a little secret that I’m waiting for the perfect time to reveal, but I’m not sure when that perfect time will be.
“Seriously?” I ask, wanting more of this story. Darian shakes his head.
“Men fall right on their faces for those two,” Lindsey scoffs while motioning that she doesn't have a coffee herself. “They wanted some excitement, and they're about to get it.”
“What I was thinking…” Darian agrees. “Besides. I have plans to take my wife on a honeymoon today.”
Butterflies explode inside of me at the possibility. “Really? Today? Just like that?” Hope bubbles up in my heart.
“Just like that.”
I run around the kitchen island and jump into his arms. This was the kind of thing I dreamed about when he made it big. That the money he would make would give us freedom, not chain him to a desk. I know that even in this moment he wouldn’t take the credit for his success. He always says without us girls he never could have done it.
“I’d love nothing more.” I kiss him quickly as he squeezes me close.
We should really do our traveling sooner rather than later with my little secret hanging between us.
“Bacon and bagels?” he asks, knowing it’s my favorite.
“Yes, please, and juice too.”
Lindsey gives me the side eyes as she glances at my abandoned coffee. Darian makes me a fresh glass of orange juice and hands her a mug.
“Eggs for you?” he asks Lindsey.
“I’m not hungry,” she says dryly, reminding me why she’s here in the first place.
“She needs to eat, so yes, eggs,” I tell Darian, and he nods and starts to make breakfast. “You also need to help your sister before she gives herself an ulcer.”
“Mary didn't call you?” He pulls the eggs out of the refrigerator.
“She did, but she was asking me five million things I didn't understand.”
“I doubt that,” I huff and shake my head. “You’re one of the smartest and most capable people I know. If someone breaks something down for you I know you’ll understand it. Just slow down and take a breath.” She actually sits down in one of the high-top chairs and does as I suggest. “My grandpa always told me that you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, even if you’re in charge. You just have to be capable enough to know who is the smartest. Then you hire them.”
“She’s right. You’re not there to make new technology, you're there to run the place. You’re essentially management, and if anyone can do that, it’s you.”
“Yep,” I say in agreement.
“And I’ll be there to help. I’m only a call away,” he reassures her.
After that, Lindsey begins to relax, and we spend the morning talking and eating breakfast together. It’s nice that we’re all together again and there’s no rush. It’s almost like old times only we’re in a kitchen I don’t think any of us dreamed of.
“Not to put more on anyone’s plate, but I found this.” I click on the property I’ve been eyeing since it came on the market. Our real estate agent Jenna sent it to me knowing it was exactly what I’ve had in mind for a long time.
“What is this?” Lindsey asks.
“I can handle it all,” I rush to say, knowing she has enough to do at the moment.
“We can handle it,” Darian corrects as he pulls the laptop in front of him and me onto his lap. I turn my head and give him a kiss, and Lindsey clears her throat before it can get out of hand.
“It’s a piece of land outside the city. I know this might sound crazy, but I thought we could all build here. You can even build a giant fence to go around the whole thing so it could be our own subdivision.”
“You hated designing this place,” Lindsey reminds me.
“You did?” Darian’s hold on me tightens.
“I made this place how I thought it was supposed to be done and to live up to this life. I mean, I want to keep it for when we’re in the city, but this place…” I click on the picture of the land. “It would be for all of us.”
“I love it,” Darian says against my neck. “I think it’s exactly what we all need.”
“Me too,” Lindsey agrees. “And with that, I’ve got to go meet Mary.” She hugs us goodbye before she heads out, looking way more confident than she did when she walked in. I know she’s got this.
“We have time before we need to catch a flight.” Darian pulls the string of my robe, making it fall open. “And there’s something else you need to tell me. I can sense it.” His hands rub up and down my hips.
“I do. I think it’s why last night got to me so much.”
I don’t know why I’m so nervous about telling him. We both want kids, and we always said one day. In fact, we’d said forever ago it didn't matter if we made it big or not, we’d start trying on my twenty-fifth birthday. I’d stopped taking the pill then, but I hadn't brought it back up to Darian. Maybe I should have, but I'm sure he forgot about it. It was so many years ago when we were lying in bed talking about our future together.
“You’re pregnant,” he guesses, making me gasp.
“How did you know?!”
“I might have been a busy man, but I know your body. Plus we already talked about it, and you threw out your pills months ago.” I burst into tears. “You don’t want to have a baby?” I can hear the panic in his voice.
“I do! I’m sorry, I’m just so happy and so many things I’ve wanted for so long are finally happening.”
“Oh love.” He cups my face. “Don’t say you’re sorry.”
“Last night when I said I forgave you, I meant it.”
“I know, but I need something else from you.” He kisses a few of the tears away. “You’re the heart of the family. There is a sweetness you give us all, and that’s who you are. That’s why everyone that meets you falls in love with you, and it’s part of why we’re so protective of you. We don’t want anyone to take advantage of that.”
“That’s really sweet,” I sniffle.
“You’ve got to start telling me when you want something. I don’t care if you think it’s going to bother someone else. I’ll handle that. How you and our baby feel, that’s number one to me.”
I’ve always known Darian would be a wonderful father and husband. Whatever he puts his mind to, he can do. I think we somehow got a little lost along the way to this point, but both of us tried to give the other what we thought they needed.
“I can do that,” I agree. We’re both going to make changes.
“I love you so damn much.” He pushes the robe all the way off me, letting it fall to the floor.
“I love you too. For richer or poorer. I’ll always be yours.”