Page 91 of Twenty Years Later

Wow, that suddenly sank in. Alex had really bought a new car? He'd finally given up the last symbol of his previous existence and embraced this new life of total dadhood with a bigger SUV to fit the soon-to-be three kids in our little world.

When I came outside a few minutes later, Alex already had the girls all buckled into their car seats, the Tangled soundtrack playing. He helped me up into my seat then ran around to hop into the driver's side.

"You're fast," I said, putting on my seat belt and arranging it just right over my stomach.

I noticed him check out the clock on the dashboard and wondered at his preoccupation with the time.

He patted the steering wheel as he took off. "So what do you think? Do you like it?"

Looking around, I took it all in, the crazy amount of bells and whistles on the dash, the extra space in the back for our family, that new car smell. "I love it."

"Oh, good." He sighed like he'd been nervous.

"Did you think I'd be mad at you or something?"

He gave a quick glance around at a four-way stop before turning. "It definitely crossed my mind. I had a friend do the same thing once, and his wife was furious."

My laughter made my whole belly shake. "I'm not mad. Honestly, now that the shock is wearing off, I'm thrilled. Do you know how much I hate shopping for a new car?"

"Mama, you said the h-word!" Audrey shouted from behind me.

These kids sure heard every word, didn't they? "Sorry," I said as I caught Alex's grin. "I reallydislikeshopping for new cars."

Laughing once again, I felt a sharp twinge deep down in my abdomen, making me catch my breath. I looked to Alex once again, but he was busy taking us wherever we were going which... where were we going anyway?

He really seemed focused on something, and I wondered whether I should even mention it to him. It was probably nothing, though. How many times had I experienced little cramps and twinges, making me wonder if this was the moment, and it had turned out to be a passing thing?

So I decided to keep quiet and see if it was a one-off.

Taking in my surroundings, I noticed we were nearing the lighthouse. "What's going on exactly?" I asked.

"You'll see."

On a hot, summer day, the parking lot was crowded, and I wondered how we'd ever find a spot. But right when Alex drove up, a car backed out, the young driver giving us a thumbs-up as he pulled away. He looked very familiar.

"Wait, was that our neighbor Hudson?" I asked Alex, my confusion growing. Was it just me, or did it seem like the teenage boy from across the street had been holding a parking space for us?

"Strange coincidence, huh?" Alex said, grinning as he once again looked at the clock.

Okay. Something was definitely up. But I had no clue what.

"Come on," Alex interrupted my suspicious thoughts as he turned off the car. "I have something I want to show you."

I hefted my body around in the seat, ready to test out the distance to the ground. But Alex was there in a flash, holding onto my hand and helping me down.

"Thank you." I smiled at how he still managed to take my breath away, all handsomeness in a short-sleeved shirt that showed off those arm muscles I loved so much.

"Any time, sweetheart," he said, dropping a sweet kiss on my forehead.

A banging on the window startled us apart. "Let me out!" Audrey yelled.

Chuckling, Alex and I helped the girls, each taking a kid's hand as we walked through the parking lot.

"You know," Alex said, "pretty soon, we're going to have to change from one-on-one defense to a zone defense."

"God help us."

Alex laughed as he led the way to wherever it was we were going. After spending so much time here this spring and summer, he now knew this place very well, and we ended up on the grassy area near the stunning rocky beach. Other people were nearby enjoying the beautiful afternoon as well.

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