Page 37 of Keeping Promises

Asher leads me down the row and stops at the fourth one. He enters first and shuffles around papers scattered over the desk. The space is simple: a calendar and some pieces I recognize from Maritime’s media kit pinned to the fabric walls. On the desk sits the office basics: an empty coffee mug and two framed photos. One is a photo I recognize as his late parents and younger versions of him and Ben. But it’s the photo on the right that catches me off guard. Encased in a black frame is a group photo of the six of us from the engagement party.

Ben and Lexi are in the center with Asher and Cal on Ben’s left while Brynn and I are on Lexi’s right. I walk into the eight-foot-by-eight-foot space and gently pick up the frame. All six of us are smiling, laughing at some stupid joke Cal said. I don’t know what I expected to find on his desk, but that was the last thing.

I’m staring at the image when Asher’s reflection appears in the glass. He takes the photo out of my hands. “I did love that dress, you know.”

“I bet you did,” I tease. Asher loved it so much, he couldn’t wait to get me out of it.Memories of that night push to the forefront of my brain.

“Do you want water?” Asher’s voice cuts through the flashbacks, and I nod.

“Okay, I’ll be right back. Take a seat in my chair right there.”

Does he need that space because he was thinking of it, too? I gently rub my stomach when I think of all the things that night brought us.You.

I set my bag down on his desk and take a seat. I don’t mean to snoop, but something on the bulletin board in front of me catches my eye.

“Oh my God,” I gasp softly. Pinned up on the board to see every day while working is one of the sonogram photos. I don’t know what I thought he would do with his copies; I can’t exactly picture him having them hanging on the fridge as I do. Plus, I’ve been to the town house and know they aren’t.

I run my fingers over the black-and-white image of our little peanut. I wonder if he keeps it here as a reminder or just as a proud dad. Either way, I’m learning that this man is full of all sorts of surprises.