Page 34 of What About Now

“No, I’m okay.”

“Here.” I hand her the remote. “Pick something.”

“What are you in the mood for?”

“We could be watching paint dry, and I’d be thrilled because you’re in my arms, Brogan.”

She chuckles. “Okay, well, how about this new series?” She motions to the screen. “Briar mentioned that she and Forrest started it and it’s really good.”

“Perfect.”

She starts the show, and I snuggle her closer. I move my hand to her belly and slowly creep my hand under her shirt, and rub soothing circles on her abdomen. At least I hope they're soothing. Honestly, I’m out of my depth here, but she’s not stopping me, so it must not be hurting her even if it’s not helping.

We watch two episodes when she has to get up to use the restroom. “Do you want a snack?” I ask her.

“What are my options?” I rattle off everything I bought for her today and her eyes grow wide. “You bought all of my favorites.”

“I know.” I grin.

“How about some cherry cordial ice cream?”

“You got it.” I climb off the couch, out of my comfortable cocoon, and make us both a big bowl, and I’m ready for her when she gets back.

“Thank you,” she says, sitting right next to me on the couch, and covering both of our legs with the blanket.

“So, my parents want to meet you.” I feel bad putting them off as long as I have, but if she’s not ready, they’re just going to have to keep waiting. These aren’t normal circumstances, and I want her to be ready.

She nods. “I was wondering when this conversation was going to happen.”

“They’ve been patiently waiting, according to my mom.” I laugh.

“When?”

“Whenever you feel up to it.”

“Next weekend?”

I try hard to hide my surprise. She’s in this. She might not be able to admit it out loud, but she wants this to work between us as much as I do. I can feel it. “Sure, Mom wants to make us dinner, so I’ll tell her to choose a day, and we’ll go from there.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.” The sincerity of my tone is evident. This means the world to me. I hate that I didn’t get to meet her father, but I’d like to think he would approve of me, of us. How could he not? I adore his daughter.

She tilts her head to the side to study me. “Together.”

I’m sure my smile is blinding. “Together.” We finish our ice cream in silence, but we keep sharing these looks. Ones that have hope growing inside me. We’re going to do this. I know the woman sitting next to me is my future. I can see it, and every day that I spend with her, she takes another little piece of me to call her own.

“Another episode?” she asks as she takes my empty bowl with hers, and places them on the end table.

“Definitely.” She stands and nods for me to lie down, and not one to pass up an opportunity to have her in my arms, I do and wait for her to take her spot in front of me. Again, I wrap the blanket around us and snuggle her close.

I couldn’t tell you a single thing that happened in this episode because all I see is her. My wife, who is lying in my arms. My wife, who I’ll go to sleep holding just as I am now.

“Did you dust?” she asks. She can’t see my grin, but I love that I was able to surprise her and take some of her burden. Besides, I live here too. Cleaning shouldn’t fall just to her.

“I did.”

“You took care of everything on my list.”

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