Page 31 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)
okay, ren
Ren
Three months later
Another four in the morning wake up to find my wife in the bathroom hunched over the toilet.
“How is it you never get these bugs?” She wipes her mouth and flops back to the tile floor, stretching her legs out.
I’ve wondered for nearly a week when she plans to tell me. Now I’m wondering if it’s even registered with her.
“I must be immune to this one.” I wonder if she can hear the humor in my voice.
“Of course you are.” The sarcasm in her voice pulls a smile from deep inside me.
It’s the Anni I knew growing up–the one who could take on the world.
The Anni before the weight of the world perched firmly on her shoulders.
It’s the Anni who’s slowly shrugged off her old life in Pueblo and settled into Denver like it’s a well-loved hoodie.
“Sunshine? ”
“Yeah.”
“Have you considered this might be something I can’t catch from you?”
“Why? Is your immune system superhuman?”
“No. But my sperm may be.”
The look on her face is priceless. Until the day I die, I will keep it in my memory, much like the vision of her on our wedding day. Her mouth bobs open and closed, and her eyes dart around like she’s trying to remember how to diagram sentences from elementary school.
After an abnormally long time, her eyes meet mine, her mouth still open in silent conversation. I finally succumb to my amusement and roar with laughter.
“You think this is funny?”
I nod.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me, Ren Gallo.”
That has me laughing even harder.
“What if I’m actually pregnant?”
“What if you are?”
She sputters. “Are you for real right now?”
“Will I be in trouble if I am?”
She stands in a huff and storms off, returning with her phone. One foot is propped out in the angle that can only speak sarcasm. She scrolls while her face leaches of all color. Right there on the tiled bathroom floor, she sinks to her butt, hand over her mouth .
“I’m pregnant.”
“You don’t say.”
Fire burns in her eyes.
“Are you… okay with this?”
I level her with my eyes until she squirms beneath my gaze. “I want to be angry that you asked that. Of course, I’m okay with this. I get a little you or a little me soon. We made a baby, Anni. And I’m already in love with them.”
“Don’t say them . Please don’t say them .
I’m not prepared for twins. We’re not prepared for twins.
I’m barely ready for a cat, and they don’t require much.
Twins. Two babies. Two whole babies is off the radar scary.
One? One I can probably handle, but you’d have to help.
I mean a lot. Like a lot a lot. Are we ready? ”
“We’re ready.” I extend my hand. “Come here, Wife.”
“Okay, Ren.”
My favorite two words. My very favorite two words. More than I love you . More than anything. The very best moments in my life have come when she’s offered those two little words.
Okay, Ren.