I shift Kurt onto my other hip, wary that his sulky suspicion of his grandpa has vanished now that he's realized there's cream cheese frosting on offer, and that he can almost reach it, and Dad laughs.
"See, he's just like me. He likes his food. Give him a year or two and I'll teach him how to bake."
I roll my eyes, but I'm not really annoyed. Kurt is only fifteen months old, but Dad has loved him since the day he arrived. It's almost a competition between him and Tony to prove which one of them loves him more.
But that's so silly, because nobody could love his family more than my Tony does.
"What are you three doing in here?" My husband appears in the doorway, dressed sharply in a suit that makes him look like the wise guy that he is, and I wouldn't have it any other way. "We got guests. Libby, my gorgeous wife, come out here with me. Let your Dad do the cake."
"What did I tell you honey? I got it under control. Go out there, let them all look at your pictures. It's meant to be your day, isn't it?"
Tony slips his arm around my waist, leaning down to let his lips brush against my earlobe and just like that I'm thinking about how soon we can have some time to ourselves. "You should listen to your father, Libby. The man speaks a whole lotta sense."
"Is that right?"
"Today he’s right. Come out here with me. Celebrate a whole year of us being married."
I shake my head, laughing at his determination to make this as big a deal as he can. Tony always says he has so much to be proud of when it comes to me and him, and our son, and any opportunity he gets, he's all for celebrating it.
"Here she is!" he says as he leads me into the room. "The woman who you all owe a debt of gratitude, because I'd be spending a whole lot more time busting your balls, if she wasn't around to distract me." He takes Kurt out of my arms and our son hides his face against his broad shoulder, wary of all the strangers assembled in the lobby of the hotel, ready to toast us.
All around the walls are the pictures I've been assembling for the past year or more and finally everything has come together, just like our life together has.
"I'd like to remind you all that this is the same talented lady who put together the exhibition today, not only of her work, but also of some very talented young people in the neighborhood. Which just goes to show how much she cares. My gorgeous wife, the best person in the world."
A cheer goes up, and I cover my face with my hand, so embarrassed by his praise and all the attention.
It has been an amazing two years. Because of him I've done so many things I never thought I'd be capable of doing. I'm heading up the community art space now, I'm starting to spend a little time away from Kurt, and best of all, I'm a mom.
"Thank you everyone. I'm not one for speeches, but I guess I'm gonna return the compliment. I wouldn't be here right now if Tony hadn't seen something in me, and I'm so glad he did, because he really is the love of my life and I'm looking forward to so many more years like this, spent right by his side, in this amazing city."
Tony starts clapping, but he doesn't keep it up for long. Instead, he pulls me into his arms alongside Kurt, nibbling a kiss along my neck.
"You're beautiful, Libby. My wife, my woman. And I can't wait to meet Kurt's little sister when she comes. But right now I'm thinking we should make a start on number three."
I laugh, leaning in to brush my lips against his, enjoying his silliness and the fact that he never seems to get enough of me. No matter what kind of day I'm having, Tony acts like I'm a goddess he can't wait to get his hands on.
"I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that, baby." I tell him, smoothing my hand over my tight, rounded belly that's just starting to show. "You gotta wait for the next one to come out."
"Oh, you think so? I reckon I'm getting a head start, fertilizing every single egg that's gonna come out of you in the next ten years."
"That's a lot of babies, Tony."
"I know. It's gonna be amazing."
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
FIFTEEN YEARS LATER
Tony
Every time I look at Libby, I'm so thankful that we were brought together. Every time I think she couldn't be more attractive, she goes ahead and proves me wrong. After all this time together, she's still the only one who sets my pulse racing and my libido hasn't aged a day. When it comes to her, just one look is enough to get me hard enough to drill through concrete.
I never thought I could love her more than when I saw her with our first child, but now I'm holding her hand, sitting in the darkened scan room of the hospital, watching a little fuzzy picture come up on the screen while the technician waves a wand over her belly.
The woman smiles at the pair of us. "Did you want to know the sex?"
Libby nods. "Tony always wants to know."
"It's important," I protest. "How are we gonna figure out a name, and how are you gonna know what color to paint the nursery otherwise?" Every one of our five kids has been a blessing, and I know that this one will be no different.
The technician laughs. "Well, it looks like you've got a little girl in there kicking up a storm."
Libby's smile widens. I know that's what
