by Kade, Teagan
Derek has the good grace to look sorry before reaching over to give the little guy a scratch behind the ears.
“Sorry, buddy, I forgot you were sleeping.”
“Now, he’ll want to eat again,” I scold, but I can’t keep the smile from my face.
Derek was like a giant child when he first set eyes on this little guy, the last remaining puppy in a cardboard box by the side of the road. ‘How could we leave him?’ he’d said. Apparently, we couldn’t.
For someone who used to wear solitude like a badge of honor, he sure is a big old softy inside—a marshmallow man. Cock excepted, of course…
“Don’t worry,” he says. “We’re almost there.”
I look around, suddenly surprised by the progress we’ve made. The drive seemed a lot longer on the way there.
“Wow, you’re right. What have we got, twenty minutes?”
“Less.”
I look around again, mentally judging our location.
“No way, we’ve got twenty minutes minimum.”
He looks at me from the corner of his eye, a mischievous smile now occupying half of his face.
“What?” I ask.
He just chuckles, completely ignoring my question.
“Derek, what? What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. Who said anything was funny?”
I sigh in frustration, throwing my hands up dramatically.
“Fine, you just keep your little inside jokes.”
“You know I will.”
I roll my eyes.
“Oh, he just thinks he’s terribly funny,” I say, this time speaking to the puppy, “but we know better, don’t we? No, I agree, we should probably just humor him.”
Derek rolls his eyes. “Oh, real nice, ganging up on me already.”
I shoot him a coy smirk and turn my attention to scratching the puppy’s ears.
“We really do need to give you a name already, don’t we?”
“I already came up with a name!” Derek growls.
“We are so not naming him Derek Junior!”
“Why not? It’s a good name. You seem to like it well enough.”
“Derek…”
“What?”
“Not happening.”
“Fine.” He fake pouts, but he’s already starting to laugh, his mirth spilling through the façade.
“We’ll think of something,” I assure the puppy. “It’s going to be great.”
He gives a little yip of agreement. I smile victoriously across at my husband.
My husband.
Yeah, I’m never getting used to that.
We’re on the outskirts of the city now, beautiful homes beginning to pop up in place of open hills. I watch them as we pass, taking note of the large trees, tire swings, and sprawling lawns.
I’m so distracted by them it takes me a moment to notice we’ve turned.
“Where are we going?” I ask, coming back to the moment. “Home’s that way,” I point.
“Is it?” Derek asks, something strange in the tone of his voice.
“Um, yeah, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten where you live already. We haven’t been gone that long.”
“I didn’t forget. I know exactly where I’m going.”
Men and directions.
“If you say so, dear.”
We drive a few more minutes in silence, more houses springing up around us as we drive into the residential area.
Now I’m certain Derek’s lost. There’s no way he’s getting home from here.
“What are you—”
My words die off as he makes a hard right into a driveway. A beautiful Victorian home stands before us—white paint, tire swing, the whole enchilada.
“Where the hell are we?” I ask, looking around for clues.
“Home.”
“We’re not—”
I take another look around, excitement already thrumming through my veins. My eyes catch on a For Sale sign in the yard. I notice the sticker scrawled across it.
SOLD.
“Oh my God, Derek.”
“I told you I knew the way home. I don’t know why you always doubt me.”
Whatever self-congratulating spiel he has lined up is effectively ruined by the squeal that jettisons from my mouth, making both man and dog widen their eyes in shock.
“You’re serious? This is our home?”
He chuckles. “Every square inch.”
I propel myself towards him, barely remembering the puppy in time to make sure he doesn’t get squished in the intensity of my hug.
“I can’t believe this!”
“Believe it,” he says, pulling back to plant a kiss on my mouth. “Come on, let’s take a look inside.”
I’m so excited I’m actually shaking as I get out of the car, puppy clenched to my chest.
“We live here now!” I tell him as I nearly sprint for the door.
Derek’s hot on my heels as I fly through the door to our new home, giggles of pure delight spilling from my mouth.
I stop in the entryway, eyes raking over the polished floors, crown molding, and winding staircase. It’s almost too much, almost too perfect.
Almost.
“What are you waiting for?” Derek asks, coming to a stop at my side. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen him look happier. Though I suspect I could.
“I want to tell you something.”
“I know, I know. I love you too, Beth. Now come on, I want you to see the master bedroom!”
I laugh. “No, that’s not it. I mean, yes, I love you, but there’s something else, too.”
He looks at me curiously, eyebrow arching in question.
“What is it?”
“Well, I kind of have a surprise of my own.”
He grins mischievously. “You do, huh?”
“Yeah,” I say, setting the puppy at our feet. “I do.”
“Well?”
I reach for his hand, squeezing it gently as I guide it towards me, placing his palm against my stomach.
He looks confused for an instant, eyebrows knitting together as he opens his mouth in question.
I see the moment it clicks. His eyes widen in shock, and his mouth drops as he looks at me in pure astonishment.
“Are you serious?”
All I can do is nod.
“Holy shit, Beth!”
I’m lifted from the floor, crushed in his thrilled embrace. More giggles pour from me as he spins me wildly around, mutters of ‘Holy shit,’ still sounding at regular intervals.
I’m actually dizzy by the time he returns me to my feet.
“I’m gonna be a dad?”
“Yes, you’re gonna be a dad. And… I was thinking. If it’s a boy, we should name him after your father.”
Now I’ve never seen him happier.
“Fuck, I can’t believe this. We’re going to be a family! You, me, the kid, and the dog. It’s like a movie.”
“That’s what I keep thinking! How did we even get so lucky?”
He turns his gaze upward, seeming deep in thought for a moment before answering.
Then: “I have no fucking idea.”
Our laughter echoes from the ceiling. Great bursts of joy so pure I can’t believe myself capable of making the sound.
When we’re quiet, he pulls me back to him, gazing down at me, his eyes sparkling like I’ve never seen.
“Thank you,” he says simply.
“Well,” I glance pointedly toward my stomach, “I couldn’t have done it alone.”
He laughs. “No, not just for that. Thank you for making me a better man, for making me the kind of man who can have this.” He gestures around us. “You, the house, a family. I wouldn’t be worthy of any of it without you.”
There are no words.
Tears of joy spring to my eyes as I pull him into a kiss, my touch saying what I seem currently incapable of voicing: how much I love him, how happy I am, how amazing our family is going to be.
We stay that way for a lo
ng time, clinging to each other like our lives depend on it. Which of course, in some ways, they do.
After a long beat, Derek reaches again for my hand, raising it to his lips to plant a small kiss before turning his attention towards the staircase.
“Now,” he says, “which way was it to the bedroom?”
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About Teagan Kade:
Teagan Kade thinks talking about yourself in the third person is silly, just like her collection of snow globes and rare manga. When she’s not being silly, she’s hanging out with her own Brock and two children in the south of Australia, dreaming of new characters and torturous ways they can get themselves into trouble. Teagan loves hearing from her readers, all of whom are as dear to her heart as salted caramel cookies. Shoot her an email at: [email protected]. She doesn’t bite.
www.teagankade.com