“Just water.” Her voice is suddenly strained.
I hurry to the minifridge built into my bookshelf. “Are you all right?”
“Overwhelmed.”
I crack open the bottle of Fiji on my way to her and hand it to her.
“Thank you.” She chugs it. Downs most of it in one go.
“Shit, Iris–” I crouch down in front of her.
Her face is blotchy and sweaty.
Could it be all the stress of coming out to see me?
“You coming down with something?”
“You could say that.”
I touch her leg hesitantly, but she doesn’t draw away. “You want to lie down?”
“Do you think we rushed things?” Iris asks. “Do you think– Did you not want to marry me?”
“Are you kidding? I wanted it more than anything, it would have been the first good thing I ever did. Seriously.”
“Don’t say that.”
I place my hands on her cheeks. “It’s true. You, everything you are, are the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m sorry I ever gave you reason to think I would clip your wings. Never. Ever. I will always help you fly.”
I’m assuming a lot here.
That she is here to welcome me back into her arms. I have to make my position known one last time.
Iris leans her forehead against mine, clutching at my shirt. “I love you.”
“You don’t have to–”
“Ilove you, Trevor. I’m sorry I couldn’t say it.”
Someone start the fireworks. “You’re saying it now. That’s what matters.”
I move forward to kiss her, stop short to confirm she won’t draw away, and then press my lips to hers. Soft. Passionate. “I love you. More than anything.”
“There’s more.”
“You have a second ex-husband? I don’t care. A third.Fine. I love you. You’re the love of my life.”
We’ve both lied. Or withheld the truth. A mutual mistake. I can’t hold that against her when I’ve done the same.
“No, no more ex-husband’s but something else. Probably bigger.”
I hold my breath, giving her space to say it, praying it won’t ruin everything.
Iris touches my curls, cups my chin, looks into my eyes. “I think I’m pregnant.”
That is news that is theoppositeof ruining everything. “Pregnant?”
“Yeah, I took a test yesterday. And I flew here today because–” Iris glows. “Because I wanted to tell you in person. And I wanted you to go with me to see for sure.”