by Eva Luxe
“I hope you disinfect it,” I said.
“I make him do it,” she said, winking.
“You’re terrible.”
“And we’ve been together for seven months, thank you very much. He wanted us to take a weekend together, so I cleared our schedule and told him we should go to Brookings.”
“He doesn’t know you’re here right now, does he?” I asked.
“I told him I was getting a bikini wax for our date tonight. I just didn’t tell him what time the waxing was.”
“And you wonder why you’re not married,” I said.
“Oh, he’ll be fine. He knows I wear the pants. Anyway, what’s going on with you? I’m pissed you didn’t visit when you were at Kent’s.”
“I didn’t really have time. Zach and I made the best of the alone time, and the one evening I would’ve visited you, he took me out for a date night type thing.”
“Well, at least he’s treating you well,” she said. “I still can’t believe you married into that dysfunctional family.”
“It’s really getting a lot better. I know Zach was hesitant about patching things up with Kent, but things really seem to have turned out well.”
“And the artwork? The sales? How are those?”
“Not wonderful,” I said.
“Uh oh. What happened?”
“I’m not really sure, to be honest. They sold like hot cakes there for a while, and then everything just stopped.”
“Did the market trend change?” Kami asked.
“The what?” I asked.
“Seriously? You’re selling your artwork and don’t keep up with the market trend changes?”
“What are you those?” I asked.
“Sweetheart, starving artists create what they want. Successful artists create what people want.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Art, like food, is devoured and enjoyed in viral little chunks. Like last year, there was a wave of unicorn-based foods, then a wave of emoji-based foods, then a wave of nutritious, vegan-friendly foods.”
“What does that have to do with art?” I asked.
“Art has those same trends. Things and concepts that go viral that people want to devour. Your particular brand of art was trendy for a while, and then it stopped being trendy. It’s why you stopped selling. Why aren’t you doing any of this research?”
“I figured if I just painted and enjoyed what I was doing, people would buy them,” I said.
“You’re an idiot. Okay, this is what we’re doing while Blithe is sleeping. We’re gonna look up artistic trends of last year and see where your artwork fit in. Then, we’re gonna figure out where the trend is going so you can hop back on that wagon and get to selling some shit!”
“Kent offered to buy us a house!” I blurted it out so quickly I wasn’t even sure Kami understood me.
“Come again?” she asked.
“When we were at Kent’s house, he offered to buy us a home.”
“So, when’s the move-in date?”
“What?”
“When the hell are you guys moving so Matt and I can come help? Because I know you aren’t stupid enough to turn down a house.”
The look I gave her caused her to groan, and she sank back into the couch.
“Are you serious? Paige, it’s a fucking house. I know that would help you guys out financially. This place is probably robbing you blind because of its location alone, and I know you want a family.”
“So, you think we should take the house?” I asked.
“Are you seriously asking me that question? Of course, you should take the house. A mortgage is the single greatest income sucker of any family’s life. Someone’s offering to alleviate that for you. What’s the issue?”
“Zach doesn’t like charity. He thinks his father might use it to try and manipulate us.”
“And he lets this guy babysit his daughter?” she asked.
“I know, right? Ugh, Kami. What the fuck is happening to my life?”
“You married a man. That was your first mistake. Now you’re stuck coaxing him through hard decisions and putting up with his emotional bullshit. It’s okay. I’ve got your back. What we need to do right now is convince him of the idiot he’s being so you guys can take the house.”
“And again, you wondered why you were single,” I said.
“Matt loves me, and that’s all that matters. He wouldn’t change me for anything.”
“You must have great dick-sucking abilities,” I said.
“And don’t you ever forget it. Look, Zach wants a family, right?”
“We already have one,” I said.
“I mean, he wants to have a kid with you, yeah?”
“We’ve briefly discussed it.”
“Paige.”
“Yes. At least, I think so.”
“Okay, so where is that second child going in this home?” she asked.
“That was one of the points I brought up to Zach when he told me about what his father offered.”
“And?”
“It’s what prompted him to think about it instead of turning it down immediately,” I said.
“Well, that’s a very small step in the right direction, I guess,” she said.
“I need to talk with him about that, honestly.”
“You think?”
“I hear that sarcasm, and it’s not appreciated,” I said.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve known you for a long time. Having your own child is something I’ve heard you mention on several occasions. And it blows my mind that you married someone without discussing that first.”
“We talked about it! We just decided to leave the decision for a later date. We have the adoption of Blithe to get through, and she’ll be my child, so, we’re just putting off the baby conversation until later.”
She rolled her eyes. “Paige, you’re an idiot.”
“I know! Zach makes me feel like an idiot. A bumbling, humming, buzzing, erotic idiot.”
“Well, at least you’re getting good dick.”
“Holy hell, preach,” I said, grinning.
“So, here’s what I’m hearing. You need to say yes to the house, and you need to talk to Zach about whether or not he wants kids. Because if he wants more kids, then that’s the leverage you need to sway him to take the house.”
I shook my head. “I’m not leveraging him into anything, Kami. That’s what he’s scared his father will do.”
“I know, I know. But you see how these go hand in hand? If he wants more kids, taking this house alleviates a great deal of stress that will land on your shoulders because of it.”
I nodded. “I want to support him, you know, with how he feels and the struggle he’s going through. I guess this is where my logical mind can’t put myself in his shoes. To me, this isn’t a matter of his formerly abusive father-turned-perfect-grandfather offering us a house. To me, it’s the quickest means to an end to this bullshit problem in our life.”
“It’s hard to remember that,” she said. “That his father was abusive, with how you guys talk about him.”
“I know. I really do think he’s changed for the better and permanently. But this is a serious decision about a roof that goes over our heads. I think for Zach, if his father hasn’t changed, then it’ll threaten our home and that worries him.”
“You know what it sounds like to me?” Kami said.
“What?”
“It sounds like you understand Zach more than you think.” Someone knocked on the door. “That also sounds like pizza. You ready to eat?”
“What kind of question is that?” I asked.
“A stupid one,” she said.
“You’re an idiot,” I said, grinning
“But I’m your idiot. For life. No matter what, Paige.”
“Thanks, Kami. I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me, too. Now, let’s devour some pizza. I’m starving.”
Chapter 11- Zach
I came home after tal
king with Caden and found Kami running around with Blithe. Paige was cleaning up in the kitchen as I rounded the corner, and I wrapped my arms tightly around her. Burying my face into her neck, I covered her in kisses as my hands cupped her stomach.
“Welcome home,” Paige said. “I was wondering when you’d be back.”
“Sorry, things with Caden ran long.”
“Did you have a nice dinner?” she asked.
I raised my head and looked at her, and she threw me a playful smirk.
“I can smell the beer on your breath. Is that a new one? It smells like pumpkin.”
“It’s a bit strong. I told him to tweak it.”
“You did, huh? That kind of perk come with the four percent of his business you own?” She grinned.
“When did Kami get into town?” I asked.
“According to her, last night. Did you know she’s still with Matt?”
“Why is everyone shocked about that?” Kami asked from the living room.
“Because you’re a man-eater, Kami,” I said.
“What’s that?” Blithe asked.
The three of us laughed before Blithe shrugged her shoulders and took off again.
“I didn’t pay for it, so don’t worry,” I said.
Paige’s body shrank a little bit before she ran her wet hand through my hair. “I wasn’t worried about that. You needed to go have some time with him. These past few months have been tough.”
“Paige, could I go stay with Kami?” Blithe asked.
“Sorry,” Kami said. “I told her she’d have to ask you before I said anything.”
“Is that something you’re okay with?” I asked. “Does Matt know?”
“He’ll be fine,” Kami said.
“No. I want you calling Matt to make sure this is okay before I say anything,” Paige said.
“You guys need to relax. I told Matt I was here. He’s okay with everything. He’s really good with kids. Babysits his nephews all the time. He’d love to have Blithe around. They’d probably stay up watching Disney movies together.”
“He sounds like a toddler,” I said.
“But he’s my toddler.”
“Can I go, Paige? Please?” Blithe asked.
“If it’s okay with your father, it’s okay with me,” Paige said.
I watched my daughter’s eager eyes turn toward me. They were wide and begging, and I took a moment to simply look at her. She looked more like her mother every single day, and that reality punched me in the gut.
The taller she got, the longer her legs became, reminiscent of the lanky limbs her mother had. She had the same nervous ticks as her mother, too. Like the way she shuffled on her feet and played with her hair when she was thinking hard about something.
“Have fun,” I said, grinning.
“Yes!” Blithe said. “Come on, Kami! We gotta pack!”
“Pack?” Paige said. “You’re just going for a night.”
“But I need stuff!” Blithe said.
Kami smiled. “Yeah, Paige. The girl needs stuff.”
I transferred Blithe’s booster seat to Kami’s car before we saw them off. I knew Kami would take good care of Blithe, which left Paige and me with the evening to ourselves. I snaked my arms around Paige’s waist and pulled her into me, feeling the way she melded into my side. I loved feeling her do that. I reminded me that she still trusted me.
Her hand would caress up my stomach and land right over my heart, and her fingers would thump to the rhythm of my heartbeat. It was little things like that that made me fall in love with her all over again, and reminded me just how lucky I was to have a strong woman like her at my side.
“Could we talk?” Paige asked.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Yeah, yeah. Everything’s fine. I just want to talk with you about something we’ve never really talked about before.”
I could see a look of fear in her eyes as she turned toward me. “Paige, what’s going on?”
“Just, come inside. Let’s grab a water and sit down.”
She took my hand and pulled me back into our home. I sat on the edge of the couch, my leg bouncing with nerves as a water bottle came flying at my head. I caught it just in time.
Paige smiled at me, and I felt my body relax. She was genuinely smiling, which meant whatever this was couldn’t be too terrible, but with the way our year had panned out, I wasn’t willing to bet on anything right now.
“What’s on your mind?” I asked.
I watched her twist the top of her water bottle before she took a big pull.
“Paige, you’re worrying me. What is this about?”
“Do you want to have a baby?”
Her question stopped me in my tracks. “What?”
“I’m not asking because I’m pregnant, but I need to know. Do you want to have a child with me?”
“I mean, sure. Yeah. Why?”
She shook her head firmly. “No, I don’t want a ‘sure’ or an ‘if you want one.’ I want to know what you truly want.”
“Paige, where is this coming from?”
“Just do this on my terms. Just this once, Zach. Be honest with me. Answer the question.”
“Do you want a child?” I asked.
“I don’t want my answer influencing yours,” she said.
“So that means yes.”
Her face fell to stone as she turned her body to face the television.
“Paige, I do want a child with you,” I said.
“You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not. I’ve been putting off bringing up the topic this year because of the hole we’ve found ourselves in. We’re just barely making it.”
“Well, Kami and I did a lot of research this afternoon as to why my art business tanked. I think I have an idea on how I can boost sales again and get us some more money coming in.”
“That’s wonderful, Paige. What did you find?”
“That’s not the important part because that’s not where I’m going with this.”
I watched my beautiful wife sigh heavily before the pieces slowly started falling into place.
“The house,” I said.
“Look, this place is definitely too small.”
“I agree,” I said.
“If you want to have more children— which I want with you, by the way— then this won’t be our forever home. We don’t have room for another child here.”
“I agree,” I said.
“And whether we take your father up on his offer or not, we have to get out of the situation we’re in. Which means we need sell it and find something smaller so we have more money to live off of. We can’t be house rich and cash poor.”
“If that’s what we need to do tonight, then so be it,” I said.
“See, this is what I didn’t want to do tonight.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“This,” she said as she pointed between the two of us. “Where I do all the talking and you do all the agreeing. I hate that.”
“Why? You’re bringing valid points to the table. Points I agree with.”
She sighed. “But you don’t agree with me all the time. You have opinions and I want to hear them.”
I took her hand. “I want to have a child with you, Paige.”
Her eyes dropped to our hands, and she grinned.
“And you’re right,” I said. “This townhouse won’t hold another child, which means we’ll have to start thinking about what to do and what move we have to make.”
“Have you given your father an answer on the house?” she asked.
Her voice was so small, like Blithe asking me for a popsicle when I’ve told her no twice already. I knew what was happening. Paige’s logical mind was kicking in. She saw the quickest way to remedy this situation, and she was wondering if we should take it.
I had to admit, it sounded nice, just being gifted a house. It would solve all of our problems in a heartbeat, especially if Paige was telling me the
truth about her art business, but I still hadn’t settled my mind on an answer.
“I haven’t yet, no,” I said.
She nodded as she leaned back into the cushions of the couch.
“Paige, look at me.”
Her defeated eyes turned toward me, and I felt a part of my soul break.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you, too.”
“And I know you’re right. We need a bigger space. And I know you want to take my father up on his offer. I know that’s what you’re getting at. It might not be what you’re getting at now, but I know you see that solution, and you want to reach for it. I just haven’t reconciled everything yet. Just give me a little more time.”
“Okay,” she said. “I trust you.”
“And you have no idea how happy that makes me.”
“Huh?” she asked.
“Paige, this year has wiped us clean. It’s taken everything out of us. We’ve given up every luxury and every date night. Every excess park adventure with Blithe to save gas. We’ve rubbed two quarters together to try and make a dollar, and for some reason, you’re still fucking here. Most women would’ve left by now. Tried to make their home elsewhere. But you’re still here, struggling alongside me and clinging to me tighter than you’ve ever clung. I have no idea how to communicate to you how happy that makes me.”
I watched as my wife got up off the couch and walked over toward me. Her knees planted onto either side of my body as she settled into my lap. I ran my hands up her sides, feeling her luscious curves as she caved into me. Her entire body sank into mine, and I threaded my arms around her to try and cloak her and keep her safe from the harshness of the world that had descended upon us.
“I’m not leaving you,” Paige said. “Ever.”
I held her tightly as her lips pressed a kiss into my neck.
“I didn’t realize you wanted to work on that child now,” I said, grinning.
I felt her grin into my skin as she peppered kisses all the way up to my lips. “Well, I have run out of my birth control.”
“Oh, really?” I asked.
“And it would cost money for me to go get it refilled,” she said.
“I suppose it would.”
“And it’ll take my body a few months to regulate before I start ovulating again.”