Page 90 of Twenty Years Later

"What's so funny, Mama?" Audrey asked, running over to get her own drink of lemonade from the small table next to me. "Does baby have the hiccups again?" she asked, reaching out to touch my bump.

"Nope, not—" My belly jumped, and I grabbed my drink just in time. "Oops, I spoke too soon I guess."

She felt the little jumps for a second but then quickly ran off again to join Gabby.

I wondered what was keeping Alex. He said he had an important errand to run, and I needed the bathroom yet again.

He had been so incredibly supportive these last months, going to every single doctor's appointment, getting up with the girls if they woke in the night, doing the bulk of the housework all while encouraging me to finish my book. And all while making me the most satisfied woman in the world.

At some point, even Alex had lost track of how many times we'd been intimate. He'd made me feel beautiful this entire pregnancy, practically worshipping my body throughout every stage, taking delight in all the changes along the way.

I could hardly believe how much this man had changed since high school. Sometimes, I had to pinch myself at how happy I was now.

Alex had even mentioned marriage to me several times, but I'd told him I didn't want to make any plans until I had seen how he acted when he was upset. A man who turned nasty during arguments was an absolute dealbreaker for me.

I never actually thought Alex would become a jerk when he was mad, but I had been fooled once before by my first boyfriend in college, and I'd vowed never again to put up with anything like that.

So recently, when we'd finally had our first real argument, I was beyond relieved to see that Alex hadn't turned into a jackass... not even close. Thank God he had passed my test because I really, really, really wanted to marry him.

Looking at my phone again, I checked the time. He'd really been gone a while, and worry started to creep in. Jiggling my leg, I tried to focus on the girls as they screeched with delight at the cold water spraying them.

"Mama! A rainbow!" Audrey yelled, pointing to where the sprinkler spray and the sunlight collided.

"Mamamamamama," Gabby joined in, making my heart sing.

The first time she'd called me mama, I'd melted into one big emotional puddle. Good thing Alex had been there because I'd seriously cried what Audrey called happy tears.

I'd wondered how it would feel to be a mom to this little girl, if I could love her as much as I loved Audrey. And I'll admit it took a little time for that bond to fully form between us, the same thing with Alex and Audrey.

But with the passing days, weeks, and months, we'd all grown so close as a family. It helped that Gabby was a cuddler and wanted to be held a lot, the complete opposite of my fiercely independent Audrey. I was more than happy to hold Gabby as much as she'd let me, and that love in my heart had grown exponentially.

"What's that music, Mama?" Audrey suddenly asked.

I managed to get out of the chair and stand up, straining to hear this music Audrey was talking about, but I couldn't make out anything. Audrey and Gabby both stopped playing and looked off in the distance, down the street. So I did the same.

And then I heard it. The beautiful lyrics of one of my all-time favorite songs from the movie Tangled. A big black SUV headed toward us, windows down, music blasting, while the three of us all stared in confusion. Whowasthat? And what on earth was going on?

But as it grew closer, I recognized the driver which only made me more bewildered. Why was Alex driving this SUV? And what had happened tohiscar which he had taken off in?

Pulling up to the curb, I could see him laughing as he shut off the engine, glancing over at me. I held up my arms in disbelief before I walked closer, hand on my back, still with no clue what was going on.

"What is this? Whose SUV is this?" I asked him, shielding my eyes from the sun with my other hand.

"It's ours, baby," he answered, wearing that smile I loved so much.

"Are you kidding me? You actually bought this?" I really didn't know what to think right now.

"I did," he said, a little hesitant as he slid out of the car. "Normally, I wouldn't buy something like this without talking about it first, but it's all part of my plan."

"Plan? What plan?"

He leaned down to give me a tender kiss, making me forget my train of thought. Sneaky.

"Why don't you go inside for a little bathroom break real quick?" he said. "I'd like to take everyone for a ride."

"Um, okay."

He glanced at the time on his phone, a slight crease in his brow like he was worried about something. I heard him calling to the girls as I headed into the house to relieve my poor bladder. Maybe I was having some serious pregnancy brain at the moment, but something strange seemed to be happening. And not just with the new vehicle Alex had bought.

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