“How’s that?”
“When I first met you, my feelings were like puppy love, or a crush. Then the more I worked for you, the more I realized that you were my soul mate. But I thought you’d never see me the same way, and I resigned myself to being your friend and coworker. After we made love on the night of the Christmas party, I was ruined—I finally knew for sure how great things could be between us, but I thought I’d never get to be with you again. But none of my feelings went away. When we started dating, those feelings matured. I realized you truly were my other half, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And I knew that here.”
He touched his chest above his heart.
The joy Kristi experienced at that second was like a balloon that would never pop. He loved her completely.
“I’m glad you believed in me. Even when I didn’t know myself.”
“Last night when I left you, I went straight to my sister’s. Maria told me that all people are going to argue, but if you love someone, you work through it. You don’t quit. And you forgive each other.”
Wow. His sister had said that? “I didn’t think Maria was my biggest fan.”
“Maybe not at first, but she made me see the light. If you give her another chance, the two of you might become good friends.”
Kristi surveyed the crowd, finding the table where Maria and Paul sat. Jane was on her mom’s lap, silver spoon in hand. Maria saw Kristi and tentatively smiled. Kristi smiled back, and then turned to Mitch. “You’ve been right about everything else, so you’re probably right about this, too.”
“Don’t give me that much credit. I’ve also been wrong about a great deal. I’m not perfect.”
“You’re close.” She placed her hand on his cheek and he turned his head so he could kiss her palm. “Please don’t ever leave me again. Not even for a night. I couldn’t even sleep in the bed—it was too lonely without you.”
He kissed her fingers. “Never. That air mattress was nasty, but I didn’t want us to fight. I love you.”
The words that had been so difficult were now easy to say. “I love you, too.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.” Mitch removed her hand from his cheek as the photographer hired by Emma said he needed them for a minute. They were separated, and Kristi found herself next to her mom and dad.
“Happy?” her dad asked, sounding slightly worried.
Kristi didn’t have to lie. “Very much so,” she reassured him.
“That was a brave thing you did in church,”
Emma said.
“Thank you. I love him. I didn’t want anyone to doubt it.” Kristi paused and a wide grin split her face.
“I’m in love. I’m happy. He loves me. We’re a family.
It took a while, but I got it all, didn’t I? I told you to be patient and that I’d find my own way.”
“Wait until you have a girl and you’ll understand how a mother worries,” Emma defended, but she was smiling.
Her dad puffed out his chest. “I believe I played an instrumental role in your good fortune. Admit it, my archaic ways found you a good husband.”
“Larry, what did you do?”
Larry looked sheepish when he heard his wife’s question. Up until now, Emma had been unaware of Larry’s manipulations.
“Oops.” He shot Kristi an I’m-in-trouble look and took Emma’s arm. “It’s a long story.”
“We’ve been married a long time,” she reminded him.
“Good, then you’ll forgive me, especially since what I did turned out so well. Although, really, I think Mitch is the one who’s been in control the whole time.”
“Yes, Mitch made sure I’ll get my job back,” Kristi said.
Emma’s eyebrow arched. “You took away her job?”
“Not exactly,” Larry replied, leading his wife out of earshot, probably so that Kristi couldn’t dig him in any deeper.
Mitch returned and slid his arms around Kristi’s waist from behind. She let her body sink against his. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“My dad let it slip that he meddled and found me a husband. He’s off to try to get himself out of the doghouse.”
Mitch laughed. “Good luck to that.”
Kristi watched the conversation begin. Her mom didn’t appear to be too pleased. “She’ll give him grief, but then she’ll forgive him. She always does.”
“As long as you always forgive me. Have I told you I loved you lately?”
“Not in the past few minutes.”
His hands rubbed her stomach, and Kristi wondered how many children they’d eventually have. They’d have plenty of opportunity to practice. She had an appointment with Dr. Krasnoff next week, and hoped to get the green light for lovemaking. Until then, she had plenty of other ideas for what she was going to do with Mitch later tonight.
Sue Ellen interrupted the moment and brought her grandson over. “Let’s take a picture of the three of you. I’m starting Jack’s photo album.”
She passed the baby over and lifted the camera. Kristi and Mitch held Jack between them and Mitch wrapped his arm around her.
Sue Ellen pressed the button and then showed Kristi the digital display. The photo had frozen them forever; however, instead of facing the camera, both Mitch and Kristi had turned their heads. They were smiling at each other, the love between them obvious. And Jack, curled in his mother’s and father’s arms, appeared to be looking up at both of them. “Oh. That’s perfect,” Sue Ellen said, admiring the shot.
The picture had shown the truth. “It is perfect,” Kristi agreed.
And she knew it always would be….
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4847-6
BABY IN THE BOARDROOM
Copyright © 2010 by Michele Dunaway.
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Baby in the Boardroom Page 16