“Congratulations, darling. I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandfather.”
“You can’t be a grandfather, Curtis. You’re dead. Have you forgotten that?”
“No. What do you think Asher is going to say?”
“I don’t know. We never really discussed kids. Honestly, I never wanted any because of—well, you know.”
“You can’t let that stop you from having a family. What’s meant to be is meant to be. Maybe you’ll get lucky and she won’t take after you.”
“She?” I looked at him and he smiled.
I heard the elevator ding and Curtis disappeared. Shoving the stick in the pocket of my pants, I went down to greet my handsome husband.
“There you are, gorgeous.” He smiled as he kissed my lips.
“How was your day?” I asked.
“Stressful. But better now that I’m home with you. It’s so nice to come home to peace and quiet.”
I swallowed hard when he said that.
“Go pour yourself a drink. In fact, make it a double.” I patted his chest and turned around.
“Okay.” He chuckled. “Are you going to tell me you’re pregnant or something.”
I froze in place as my back was turned to him.
“Everly? Sweetheart? I was kidding.”
I stood there and took in a deep breath as he walked over and stood in front of me.
“Are you pregnant?”
I reached in my pocket and showed him the stick.
“The stick says I am.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
“Wow. Okay. Okay. Okay.” He kept nodding his head.
“Okay what, Asher?!” I loudly voiced.
He gripped my shoulders and stared directly in my eyes.
“We’re having a baby, Everly.”
“Yes. I know. Are you like in total shock or something?”
“Yes. Actually, I am.”
I dropped my shoulders and fell into his arms.
“So am I. It’s all your fault.”
“My fault? You’re the one on the birth control.”
“If we didn’t fuck like rabbits on our honeymoon, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Baby.” He broke our embrace. “If you would have remembered to take your pills, this wouldn’t have happened. But it did and you have a tiny human growing inside you. Our baby.” He smiled. “A baby created out of pure love. One we’ll be responsible for at least until the kid is in its twenties. I need that drink now. I’d offer you one, but you can’t drink because you’re pregnant. Sucks to be you, Everly.” He grinned.
“You just wait, Mr. Remington. I’m going to make your life a living hell during this pregnancy.”
“I have no doubt you will, sweetheart.” He smirked and I walked over and smacked his chest.
“I hate you.” I pouted.
“No you don’t. You love me just as much as I love you. And just as much as we’re going to love our child.” His lips pressed against mine. “Now, come on. Let’s go upstairs and celebrate.” He took hold of my hand and led me towards the stairs.
“I’m going to get fat.”
“I’ll still love you, baby.”
“I’m going to be bitchy and uncomfortable.”
“I’ll still love you, baby.”
“I’m going to have all kinds of cravings and send you out in the middle of the night to get what I want.”
“I’ll still love you, baby.”
We reached the top of the stairs.
“I’m probably not going to want sex as much.”
He turned and looked at me.
“That’s not even funny.” His brow raised at me and I smiled.
44
Five Years Later
Asher
“Hello, my gorgeous wife.” I smiled as I kissed Everly on the cheek and handed her a bouquet of red roses.
“Hello there, my sexy husband. What are these for?” she asked as she brought them up to her nose.
“No reason. Just because I love you and I haven’t given you flowers in a while.”
“You gave me roses last month.” She grinned.
“Like I said, it’s been a while. Where’s Sophia?”
“Up in her room playing. Can you tell her that dinner is almost ready?”
“Of course. It smells delicious and I’m starving.” I kissed her lips.
Walking up the stairs, I unbuttoned my suit coat. As I stood in the doorway of my daughter’s bedroom, I watched as she sat at her little table with her stuffed animals in each chair except for the one across from her.
“Hello, sweetheart,” I said as I walked in and kissed the top of her head.
“Hi, Daddy! How was work?”
“Work was good. What are you doing?” I asked as I knelt down beside her.
“Having a tea party with Grandpa and my friends.”
I swallowed hard.
“Grandpa Richard?” I nervously asked.
“No, silly. He isn’t here. It’s Grandpa Curtis.”
“Everly!” I shouted. Everly!”
“What? I’m sure the entire building just heard you.”
“Sophia, tell mommy who you’re having a tea party with.”
“My two dolls, Millie and Daisy, and Grandpa Curtis. But he left when he saw Daddy walk in.”
“Oh boy.” She gulped as she looked at me.
“Sweetheart,” Everly spoke as she knelt down beside her. “Do you see Grandpa Curtis a lot?”
“Yeah.” A big smile crossed her small face. “He’s funny.”
“Okay. Now I know she’s not talking about my father,” I said.
“Yes, I am, Daddy.”
“Sweetheart, you know Grandpa Curtis is dead, right?”
“Yeah. I know. He told me that he will always watch over me.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes as I let out a sigh.
“Okay. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Clean up your toys,” Everly spoke.
I followed her out of the bedroom and down to the kitchen.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Now nothing. We were afraid this was going to happen, Asher. We’ve had many discussions about it.”
“I know, Everly. But I prayed it wouldn’t.”
“She’ll be fine. And now that I know she has my gift, I can help her with it. Are you mad? You seem mad?”
“No, baby. I’m not mad.” I wrapped my arms around her. “We’ll both help her with it. Since when had my father been coming around again?”
“I haven’t seen him, Asher. I swear. You know I always tell you when he’s here.”
“I know.” I sighed.
“Is it really so bad
