“You don’t want it?” I choke out the words. What should be the happiest day of my life seems ready to turn into the most miserable moment.
Todd squeezes my hand. “Are you kidding?”
We have to stop and now everyone lines up to kiss cheeks and offer best wishes. I have no time to talk to Todd. I stand there, miserable and hoping against hope that this isn’t going to end with me becoming a single mother before I’m even a wife.
Finally the guests move to the reception area and Todd and I are alone. He grabs my hands and turns me to face him. I’ve thought about having a child with you, but I didn’t want to…I know your job matters to you. I didn’t want to push you, but you’d be an amazing mother. And Kaelyn’s always wanted a sibling. This is…the best news. It’s perfect. It’s a perfect day.” He grins.I am almost ready to fall over with relief. Standing on tiptoe I kiss him. “I’m so glad you want this.”
He tilts his head back and laughs. “Oh, jeez…you were spelling baby?”
I give a sheepish laugh. “I wanted to tell you before we got married. I wanted to give you a choice.”
“Your husband is an idiot.” He taps the tip of my nose with one finger. “So are you. “I already made my choice when I proposed.”
I wrap my arms around him. He places his hand on my abdomen. Cameras flash but I won't need photos to remember this moment.
Epilogue
Six Years Later
“Kate, what is that?” Kaelyn points to a sculpture near the university. We’re at Drexton so Kaelyn can take a look and decide if it’s where she wants to study. She still hasn’t made up her mind if she wants to be a doctor or a fashion designer. I keep telling her those two majors are too far apart for her to try for both. She keeps telling me she still has time to make up her mind. I worry we’re going to end up with her in college for ten years and someone how makes designer lab coats.
Squinting at the sculpture, I know time is passing too fast for me. I’d better get new glasses. “It’s either a lion eating a monkey or a lumberjack wearing a tutu.” I tip my head and try to figure it out. “That one wasn’t here when I was at Drexton.”
Kaelyn wrinkles her nose. “It’s so weird to think both you and Dad went here.”
“Don’t let that pressure you,” Todd says coming up to us with Lynsey in tow after parking car down the street. For a little girl Lynsey loves anything with wheels. She is a ball of energy with Todd’s blue eyes and my straight hair. She already has a smudge of something on her face. I never knew a little girl could be so dirty all the time. I take her hand and hunt for a tissue to wipe her face.
Todd lets me deal with Lynsey and puts his hand on Kaelyn’s shoulder. “I want you to be happy with whatever college you choose. Remember you’re going to be stuck there for four years.”
She laughs. “Thanks a lot, Dad.” She is growing up into a beautiful woman. She still dances and has a dancer’s figure, all legs and arms. Kaelyn picks up Lynsey who squeals with delight. At five, Lynsey is a handful, but I suppose that's a family trait. “In twelve years, you’ll be looking at colleges too,” Kaelyn tells Lynsey.
“Oh, my God, don’t make time go by so fast.” Todd groans.
Time keeps me running. I work again with Todd at the pharmacy, but not the same one. We live and work in Pittsburgh now. It’s wonderful to live so close to Sam and Ahanna. It was hard to give up Todd’s house but we found a great place in Pittsburgh near good schools and close to the pharmacy Todd and I bought. Lynsey and Harley play together, but Harley is getting big enough now to think Lynsey is a bother. Todd and I often work shifts together and we are doing well enough to hire two new technicians to work the store. Cindy married, moved to California and came back to Drexton with a little boy, leaving her husband behind. We plan to visit Cindy later today and I plan to ask her to keep an eye on Kaelyn, if Kaelyn decides to attend Drexton.
I almost wish Kaelyn would think about going to college closer to Pittsburgh, but even more I want her to follow her own path. I am just glad we still have Lynsey at home.
As we stroll down the street my memories are bittersweet. The heartache of yesterday seems distant, almost as if it happened to a different person. I am thankful now for how things worked out. I can’t imagine a better life.
We turn a corner and I see a familiar storefront and sign. I point to the Ambrosia Café and nudge Todd with my elbow. “Look it’s still here.”
“Yesss, coffee!” Kaelyn whoops. She sets Lynsey on her feet and runs into the café. I pick up Lynsey and we follow Kaelyn inside. Amazingly, it looks exactly the same, except the computers are thinner and new posters and paintings hang on the walls. Kaelyn is already at the counter and getting a cappuccino.
Todd walks up to the barista. “Hey, could I get a large dark-roast coffee with two creams and two sugars.” He glances back at me and smiles. “And a large, half-caf with a squirt of hazelnut?” Lynsey runs over to Todd and tugs on his pants leg. He glances at her and turns to the barista. “Oh, and a chocolate milk, too.”
Lynsey bounces at the counter waiting for her milk. I beam at Todd as he walks back over to me. He circles his arm around my waist and kisses my cheek. That spark between us is still there and my insides warm. That’s one thing that hasn’t changed over the years. I snuggle closer and he asks, “What are you smiling about?”
“I’m just thinking about how much is the same—and how much is so very different. I used to be this lost girl who was desperate for affection. Now I have the most amazing family and more love than I ever expected I would find.”
“I feel the same. Except, you know, insert ‘lost boy’ instead of girl.”
I laugh. He kisses me again. He tastes better than half-caffeinated coffee with a squirt of hazelnut.
Coffee, Love, and Other Stimulants Page 15