by Rayman Black
I leaped off the couch, almost knocking him over as I kissed him again and again. “I can’t believe you would do this for me,” I said as he caught me, his hands splayed around my ribs. “This might be the sweetest, most thoughtful thing anyone has ever given me. Thank you, Chris. Thank you so much.”
“Well,” he said, sliding his hands under my shirt. “If you wanted to thank me -”
I laughed as we tumbled to the floor, lifting my lips to his and sharing my body with pure joy.
Afterwards, we lay in a tangled heap on the floor, his arm pillowing my head. I thought of the last three months, of the whirlwind way we found love and happiness together. I guessed it made a certain kind of sense that a family of ours would begin in the same way. My heart felt full when I thought of how Chris had arranged for me the trip of my dreams, that he didn’t even seem upset that I needed to go alone. And just like that, peace and joy and a quiet excitement filled me, washing away the nerves, the fears, and the doubts. It would work out. I knew it would.
I slipped from Chris’ arms and went to the bathroom, pulling the tissue wrapped test from its hiding place. I walked back into the living room. Chris was sitting up, looking at me curiously.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
I nodded. Everything was wonderful. “I have something for you, too,” I said, handing him the test. He unwrapped the tissues and went very still. When he looked up at me, the raw hope and joy in his eyes stopped my breath in my lungs.
“You’re going to be a daddy,” I managed, smiling as my eyes filled yet again with tears. This time, Chris’ did, too, mirroring my own.
“We’re going to be a family,” Chris said, and he pulled me into his arms. He leaned back and laid a gentle hand on my belly. I covered it with my own and smiled.
We already were.