Page 93 of Stick Work

I can’t help but tease, “I bet there is,” feeling lighter than I have in a week. He grins and guides me upstairs, stopping outside one of the spare rooms. He pushes the door open, and my breath catches.

I instinctively place my hand on my chest, overwhelmed by the sight before me. My eyes meet his, searching for something in his gaze. “Elias…”

“I hope you love it,” he says, his voice filled with a tenderness that makes my heart race.

I step into the nursery, my fingers brushing over the crib, the soft wood cool beneath my touch. “It’s beautiful,” I whisper, feeling the emotions bubble up inside me.

“I didn’t want to do too much,” he says. “I know you’ll want to add your own touches, but I just wanted to show you how much I love you... and our baby.”

I glance at him, my heart full, knowing that decorating isn’t his thing at all. This gesture, this sweet, thoughtful surprise, means so much to me. “One more thing,” he says, his eyes serious now, full of something deeper.

“Isn’t this enough?” I ask.

“No,” he replies softly.

I take in the excitement on his face, and my curiosity piques. “Come with me,” he says, guiding me from the room. At the end of the hall, he pushes open the door and I gasp in disbelief. Before me is a dance studio.

“Elias,” I whisper, my heart tightening. “You made me a dance studio.”

I step into the room, overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. It’s perfect—everything I could have ever wanted—and it answers the lingering question I had about the strange vehicles parked outside. But even in the face of this incredible gesture, there’s a tiny flutter of something else inside me. Elias must think I want to become a professional dancer or pursue a career in theater. Why wouldn’t he?

I’ve been doing theater at Boston College, and I perform in dance and acting at the local community theater. But I’ve never told anyone the truth about what I really want, not even myself. Deep down, I know the idea of a dance studio for children isn’t something most people would consider viable, and yet, it’s a dream that has always lived quietly in my heart. But a career in theater has always felt inevitable.

Elias comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight, comforting embrace. His breath is warm against my ear as he asks softly, “You don’t like it?”

I turn to face him, putting every ounce of excitement I have into my voice. “I do,” I say.

He glances over my head, his eyes thoughtful. “I thought it would be perfect for a dance studio… for kids.”

The air catches in my chest as his words hit me, and I stop breathing for a moment, trying to process. I turn to him, my gaze searching. “What?”

He gestures with a slight nod, and I follow his hand to the corner of the room, where I see tiny little lockers and a little bench. “For the kids,” he says with a grin that stretches across his face. “Isn’t a dance studio for kids your dream, Taylor?”

My jaw drops in shock, and I can’t find words at first. “How… how did you know?” I manage, and then, the realization hits. “Wait, did Grandma tell you?”

He laughs, a soft, warm sound that fills the room. “There are some things I’m able to figure out on my own.”

My heart nearly bursts open. “Elias, this is incredible. And while I absolutely love it…” I hesitate, my joy dimming just a little as reality sets in. “It’s not feasible. There are so many studios in Boston already. I’ll never get any students.”

He steps closer, his hand resting gently on my stomach. “Hey, babe…” His voice is steady, calm. “Well, we already have one student. And for now, maybe that’s all we need.”

A small seed of hope starts to grow within me and I bite my lip, a smile tugging at my face. “You think I can do this?”

“I know you can.” He gives me a knowing smile.

I laugh. “This is way better than a pony.”

He laughs with me. “Oh, there’s going to be a pony.” With his hand back on my stomach, he says, “I’ve been eyeing a ranch in California. A place where we can spend our summers, and yes, it has a pool,” he jokes. “We can all escape to California in the winter when Boston gets too cold.”

“Oh, Elias. I can’t believe this.” I go up on my toes to kiss the man I love, my heart thundering in my chest. I break the kiss and glance around again. “Do you really think this is feasible?”

“Of course I do, and don’t forget. Many of our friends have growing kids and many are pregnant. You’ll have your own built-in class.” He grins, his eyes lighting up with mischief. “And if that’s not enough, we’ll just have to keep having our own babies until we fill up this room.”

I laugh, a warmth spreading through me as I throw my arms around the man of my dreams. “You know, I once joked that you didn’t know women. I was wrong. You do know women.”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his touch soft and affectionate as he leans in to kiss me lightly. “No, Taylor,” he murmurs against my lips. “I know you.”

I sag against him, my body melting into his embrace, warmth spreading through me from head to toe. “Yeah, you do.”

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