by Emma Quinn
I pulled the car into the front parking lot of the Soup Kitchen and got out quickly, circling around front to come to Dianna’s aid. I pulled the car door open for her and offered my hand for support. Her belly was getting much too large for her to comfortably get out of vehicles by herself, so I needed to give her an extra pull or tug every now and then. Dianna always took it in strides.
“Thank you, love.” She giggled as she pecked my cheek.
“Not a problem at all.”
“Do you think I can take a picture of you under the Soup Kitchen’s sign?”
I crinkled my nose. “Do I have to?”
“Pretty please? I want to run a piece about how the CEO of Monteverde, arguably the largest company in all of California, is spending his time helping the little people.”
The tips of my ears burned. “That’s really flattering, but you know I don’t like fluff pieces like that.”
Dianna made a show of pouting her lips. “Please, Nathan? Just for me, then?”
I sighed. How could I ever deny her anything? Matty sometimes told me I was wrapped around Dianna’s finger. I’d then reply and ask him what Rachel thought about that little opinion. As sure as rain, he’d clam up in an instant.
I got in position beneath the awning of the Soup Kitchen, its big neon sign casting a soft pink glow on everything beneath it –including me. Dianna was already hunched over, camera in hand, trying to find the best angle to take a couple of snaps. It fascinated me how she was able to go about her day like usual despite being so heavily pregnant.
“Smile!” she cheered.
I did as she asked, mainly because I didn’t want to upset her, and also because I she was just going to keep asking me until she finally got the shot she wanted.
When she was done, she lowered the camera. Like always, she accessed the camera’s memory card to review the photos she’d just taken.
And then she froze. I could tell that she’d accidentally gone back too far because there was an image on her camera she wasn’t expecting. When she wasn’t looking, I’d taken a picture of myself holding up a whiteboard. Written on the front in giant black marker was a question.
Dianna Snow, will you marry me?
When she looked up, Dianna found me on one knee, little ring box propped open in my hands. The diamond engagement ring was massive, featuring a twenty-four carat centerpiece, and then lined with smaller ten carat diamonds around the circumference of the silver band.
Dianna’s mouth dropped open. “What–”
I took a deep breath before I started. “Dianna, I love you. I never want to be without you. I want to wake up every morning to see your sleeping face. I want to hold you in my arms and never let you go. I want to be by your side as we raise our child together. And if you’ll have me, I’d also like to remain by your side as your loving husband. Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
She laughed. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
My heart swelled with happiness, drowning my brain in elation. I rose to slip the ring on her finger and pulled her in for a deep kiss, savoring the warmth of her lips and the sweet taste of her tongue. When we pulled apart, Dianna’s face was bright red with embarrassment and awe.
“How did– When did you–”
Matty, Rachel, Patty, and Pops all stuck their head out of the Soup Kitchen’s front door.
“Did she say yes?” asked Matty.
I nodded. “She did.”
Everybody clapped and cheered and laughed, coming over to congratulate us. Matty looked especially proud at the picture of me on screen.
“I took that,” he explained. “He’s probably the worst model I’ve ever had to work with. That took us twenty tries, you know.”
Rachel chuckled and patted Matty on the upper arm. “Now, now. I think it was romantic.”
Patty and Pops come over to trap me in a bear hug. It takes the two of them to encircle me because they’re both tiny women. They hugged me with a surprising amount of strength, though. I should have expected as much from the woman who runs a soup kitchen in this part of town.
“Congratulations, boy,” Patty pinched my cheek. “You’re really growing up.”
I smiled at them both, wrapping my arm around Dianna’s waist. “Thank you,” I replied.
“Have you come up with a name yet?” Pops asked.
Dianna and I looked at each other, then simultaneously said, “Not yet.”
Matty raised his hand and then placed the same hand over his chest. “I would like to make a suggestion.”
“Please don’t,” Rachel said sarcastically.
“In my personal opinion, Matty’s a great name.”
“What if it’s a girl?” Dianna asked.
“Matty can be short for Matilda.”
We all laughed, the sound of joy lifting up into the air. I watched as my family and friends bickered about how Matty’s suggestion was the worst in the world and how they all agreed not to listen to him for the rest of the evening, much to his chagrin. I listened quietly, brain on autopilot. I was still coming down from the high of having Dianna agree to marry me.
Before, it had all been about money and business and cold deals for my own sake. Because of her I had everything. I had the love of my life, my future child, a family I could call my own.
And I didn’t want it any other way.
Epilogue
Dianna
W
e named him Peter.
It was a good, strong name. Just like his father.
I took a million and one pictures of my baby boy. Sleeping, eating, crying, laughing, sleeping some more. I took pictures of Peter and Nathan together every chance I got. My favorite ones were of the two of them, passed out on the couch together. Peter would be lying on Nathan’s chest, drooling onto his shirt like someone had forgotten to turn off the water sprinklers. My other favorite pictures were of Nathan’s first attempt to change Peter’s diaper all by himself. It was a mess.
And definitely going to be framed and hung up in the hallway, no mater how many times Nathan protested.
I couldn’t remember the last time I was this happy. Who knew that my life would change so drastically, all because of a single text message from a number I didn’t know. When little Peter was all grown up, I’d tell him the story of how his mother and father met. I’d obviously teach him the importance about not talking to strangers, but that was beside the point.
Life was funny that way.
One second, I was single and miserable, and the next, I’d managed to find the love of my life.
My ultimate point was that love could hit you out of nowhere. Sometimes love was complicated, sometimes love was challenging. But when you found the one, you just knew. I had to trust my gut, understand that sometimes love doesn’t come straight away. Sometimes it has to be drawn out, teased out to achieve its full potential. And Nathan did exactly that. He helped me break down my walls, and in turn, I helped him break down his. Love was balance. Love was give and take. Love was understanding and patience.
I was sitting beside Peter’s crib, looking in on him for no particular reason other than I wanted to see him. I could watch him sleep for hours and never get bored. I didn’t dare close my eyes out of fear that I’d miss a precious moment. My camera was always on standby, ready to snap up the most important events of Peter’s developing years. Sitting there beside him, watching him, I could only wonder about what the future had in store for the little guy.
What wonders would he achieve? Would he grow up to be a businessman just like his father? Would he follow in my footsteps and consider a career in photojournalism? If he decided to take another path, I’d totally understand. As long as he was happy and pursuing his passion, what more could I ask for?
I couldn’t wait for him to learn how to drive. I couldn’t wait to meet his first girlfriend –or boyfriend– when he was old enough to truly feel. I couldn’t wait to see Peter grow up into a fine young man, waiting at the end of the aisle for hi
s own loved one to hold and to love and to cherish.
The sound of a camera shutter snapping jolted me out of my thoughts.
I turned to find Nathan standing int eh doorway of the nursey, a camera in his hands. I giggled softly and smiled.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I wanted to take more pictures of you and the baby together,” he explained simply. “So far, all of them are of me and Peter. I won’t let you disappear behind the lens, sweetheart.”
I waved him over, gesturing to the free stool just beside the crib. Nathan came over and sat down beside me. He reached into the grip to stroke Peter’s head, which was already full of strawberry blonde hair like mine.
Nathan chuckled. “Look at him. Do you think he’s dreaming?”
I hummed contently. “Maybe. It’s possible.”
“What do you think he’s dreaming about?”
“I’m not sure. Something nice, I hope.”
Nathan looked to me and grinned. “Are you hungry? I can get started on supper, if you’d like.”
I leaned in and kissed him on the lips. “Dinner sounds lovely,” I whispered.
“Spaghetti and meatballs? They’re my specialty.”
I nodded and giggled. “You sure know how to spoil a lady.”
Peter stirred in his crib, joking back a sob. His little arms flailed momentarily, but when he saw that his parents were watching over him, he immediately calmed down.
I reached in and rubbed the boy’s tummy. It still amazed me how small and cute and soft babies could be.
“Good evening, Peter,” I said happily. “How was your nap, honey?”
Peter grabbed his foot with one hand while sucking on his other thumb, cooing nonsensical, happy sounds. I picked him up carefully and cradled him close. For someone so small, his grip on my shirt was really strong. Peter settled for resting his head on my shoulder and continuing to suck on his fingers.
Nathan looked at the both of us before quickly bringing the camera back up to snap a picture.
I laughed softly. “That couldn’t have been a flattering angle.”
“Every angle is flattering on you, sweetheart.” Nathan rose and kissed Peter on the back of the head, moving in to kiss me on the tip of my nose.
“You’re one smooth talker, you know that?”
Nathan threw me a cheeky grin. “I try my best. Come on. Let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll get supper ready. Matty and Rachel are going to be here soon.”
“Ah, right. I hope you told them not to bring any birthday presents.”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “Do you seriously think Uncle Matty and Aunt Rachel are going to show up to Peter’s first birthday without the whole Monteverde catalogue?”
“They’re going to spoil him rotten.”
“That’s what fun aunts and uncles do.”
We walked together as a family out of the nursery and down the hall, gathering in the living room where streamers and balloons decorated every surface. Matty and Rachel were effectively coming for the afterparty. We’d held a private celebration for Peter earlier that day when he wasn’t being so fussy. Naturally, I’d captured the whole event in over two-hundred pictures that I’d later go through and pull my favorite ones.
I took a deep breath and appreciated the scene. The memories that we’d created here were so wonderful and warm. I was so grateful Peter could grow up with a loving father and an adoring mother, as well as an aunt and uncle who spoiled him, and two grandmothers who loved him to death and spoiled him even more. There was nothing but love and warmth in this house, this home.
As I looked about the space at all the presents our friends had sent for Peter’s birthday, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Especially so when Nathan slipped on his ‘Kiss the Cook’ apron before getting busy in the kitchen.
I had a handsome husband, a beautiful child, a wonderful home full of laughter and smiles. I could honestly say that everything was picture perfect.
THE END
Extract from the book:
I had to let you go
Emma Quinn
1
Sophia
“ I
can't do it. I just can't.”
I was holding the letter in my hand so tight it was shaking like a leaf. Along the back of the envelope in black ink were the words that made my heart beat a hundred miles a minute.
Harvard Law School
I'd applied to go there after getting my bachelors in law two months ago, but I never thought I'd receive a reply. Assuming my application had joined the slush pile with thousands of others.
“Well don't just stare at it, open it,” insisted Mom.
She was standing behind me breathing heavily like a bulldog in heat.
“Mom, will you step back? You sound like Darth Vader breathing down my neck like that.”
“Sorry. I'm just excited. It's giving me a touch of asthma.”
I turned the letter over in my hand, examining every inch of it. But I was too nervous to actually open it and read what it said.
“Please, for the love of God, Sophia if you don't tear it open I will,” said Mom. “I'm going to have an aneurysm.”
“Okay fine,” I replied, taking a deep breath. “Let's see what it says. I doubt I got in anyway. I mean thousands of people apply for Harvard Law every year.”
“But not all of them graduate Summa Cum Laude like you.”
That was true, but they were still the best of the best. The creme de la creme. And that meant little small town girls like me weren't exactly high on their list of possible candidates.
I wasn't a genius, no matter how much my mom told me I was, and I sure as shit wasn't a rich kid who could pay my way in. I was just an average kid from a one parent home. My dad had walked out fifteen years ago, and it had been a struggle ever since.
But Mom and me had worked hard and loved each other harder. I'd got through college by working three jobs and hardly sleeping, choosing to spend my nights working in between bars and studying until I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I wasn't Harvard Law School material, was I? Didn't those kids live off trust funds and take glamorous vacations in their parents' beach houses in the Bahamas?
“Sophia, will you please open the goddamn letter?” she urged, resting a hand on my shoulder. “You'll never know if you got in if you don't read the thing.”
“Yeah just give me a minute... Okay... Okay. Here it goes.”
Slowly, I began to rip at the corners of the envelope to reveal the letter inside.
“I don't know why I'm getting so worked up over this,” I said, pulling the letter out. “It'll probably just tell me I didn't get in anyway. I mean so many people will have applied and... and...”
“And what?”
Suddenly, I'd lost the ability to speak. Among all the words on the page, one stood out in bold capitals.
Accepted.
“Sophia? What does it say?”
I turned to Mom and saw the anticipation in her warm, brown eyes. She looked ready to explode. In that moment, as I stared into her face, I saw how tired she looked. Saw the newly formed lines around her mouth and the dark circles beneath her eyes.
I saw all the sacrifices she'd made for me, all the sleepless nights she'd spent worrying about the bills so she could help me through college. I didn't just see my mom, but an angel. And in about three seconds time she was going to be the proudest angel on Earth.
“Mom.... I got in.”
She paused for a second to process the news, then she exploded into a fit of screaming as she jumped around like a lunatic.
“Oh, my Gooooood! My baby's going to Harvard!”
She pulled me into a bone crushing hug that squeezed the air out my lungs.
“Mom.. Mom let go a minute. I can't breathe.”
“Harvard!” she squealed. “I just can't believe it. Your Aunt Margaret will never believe it. Then we've got your grandma to tell and your cousins and Uncle Billy and- “
“I'm going to Harvard!” I cried, jumping up and down.
The two of us bounced around the hallway like madmen, the two of us flying off the walls as the floorboards creaked between us. From the living room doorway, our old cat, Chubs stared confused at all the noise then dashed away and hid beneath the sofa.
“Aw, Mom! I can't believe I've been accepted!”
“I'm so proud of you. So, so proud of you, Sophia. I know how hard you worked.”
She took my face in her hands and kissed each of my cheeks.
“You've no idea how happy I am,” she said.
Her eyes were glistening with tears.
“My little baby at Harvard. I always knew you were special, you know that?”
“Aw, Mom.”
“It's true. You were such a smart, beautiful baby. I always knew you were different.”
She kissed me again and I fell into her arms. Only now did my heart begin to slow down.
As I rested against her shoulder, I looked out through blurry eyes and only now realized that I'd been crying. I wiped away the joyful tears and tried to take it all in.
Me at Harvard. I just couldn't believe it.
But no matter how happy I was, at the back of my mind was a series of niggling thoughts.
You're going to have to move away.
You'll be leaving your little hometown of Pikeville for the first time.
You'll be leaving Ethan behind.
“You did what?” screamed my best friend, Emily.
“I got into Harvard Law.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
She began bouncing up and down in her seat like an excited toddler and clapping her hands together.
“It's what you've worked for so long,” she beamed. “Honestly, I could cry. I'm so proud of you.”
Throwing herself across the table, she pulled me into a tight hug. My second, breathtaking, rib breaking hug of the day.