Page 284 of The Baby Twist

Walking into the bedroom, I tucked the ring box into one of my drawers for safekeeping until I figured out a plan. After changing my clothes, I returned to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator, and sat at the table.

“I saw on Facebook today that a couple who hired me a year ago to plan their wedding are getting divorced,” Marley said, shoving a forkful of food in her mouth.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yep. This is why people shouldn’t get married. The goal of a relationship is to stay together. Marriage doesn’t guarantee that so why bother spending all that time and money trying to prove to the world that you will make it as a couple? If two people are madly in love with each other, they don’t need a piece of paper to confirm it.”

I stared blankly at her from across the table, not believing what I heard.

“What?” she asked.

“I didn’t know you felt that way about marriage. I mean, you do plan weddings.”

“It’s my job.” She cocked her head. “Besides, don’t you agree?”

“I don’t know if I do or don’t. My parents were happily married. Don’t you think you’re basing your decision because of your parents?”

“Probably.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin, grabbed her plate, and walked over to the sink. “But the divorce rate is so high. People just rush into it because they like the concept of a wedding, the fairytale of it all, and think they’ll get their happily-ever-after once they say, ‘I do.’ That piece of paper only complicates things.”

I was getting angrier by the second. Throwing my napkin down, I stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

“Charlie?”

I went to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.

“What’s wrong?” Marley asked, walking into the room.

“All this talk about marriage,” I said.

“I know, right? I’m sorry I went on a rant.” She sat down and softly rubbed my back. “Oh!” She grabbed my hand and placed it on her belly. “The babies are kicking.” She smiled.

I felt the little flutters against my hand. “They sure are.” I leaned in and kissed the side of her head. “We haven’t discussed names for them yet.”

“I know. We should do that.” She brought her hand up to my face and softly stroked it.

Not too long ago, I didn’t want marriage or children. But I’d come to realize that I was wrong because the right woman never walked into my life. Now that I had the right woman and she was having my babies, everything changed. I wanted the entire package.

The following morning, I sat behind my desk and stared out the window at the busy city.

“Morning.” I heard Chase’s cheerful voice.

“Morning.” I turned my chair around.

“You look tired. What’s wrong?”

“I was up all night.” I sighed.

“Ah, having great sex with your soon-to-be fiancée?”

“We had sex, but she’s not my soon-to-be fiancée.”

“What are you talking about?” His brows furrowed.

“Marley brought up marriage last night and went on a rant about how she doesn’t believe in it.”

“Oh shit, Charlie. You didn’t tell her you were going to propose, did you?”

“No way. You should have heard her, Chase.”