Page 24 of Sweet Summer

“And hello to you too, Mrs. Hogan.” Laughter dances in this man’s eyes, all the time, and it makes my insides get all gooey like a chocolate bar on a summer day. Wyatt pulls me into his arms and holds me close, nuzzling my hair as he kisses the top of my head. Ahhh, heaven. “I never want to take for granted coming home to you…but what’s for dinner?”

Yep, my man likes to eat. “I’ve arranged for us to have a very special dinner tonight.” Pulling away, I tilt my head toward the oven. “I’ve already made scalloped potatoes, there’s a salad in the fridge and I’m going to put a few steaks––filet mignon, that is––on the grill for us.”

“Wow.” Wyatt’s eyes light up as Smokey dances around us, bumping into our legs and wanting attention. “I must have done something right this week, huh?”

Playing coy, I start pulling plates out of cabinets andcutlery from the drawer for dinner. “I would say you’ve definitely done something that is very right, Wyatt. Very, very right actually.”

I swear I hear the gears turning in his head, trying to figure out what it is he’s done that has warranted this meal. I maneuver around the kitchen and start setting the table for dinner with both Wyatt and Smokey stay hot on my heels.

“Can you give me any hints?” Wyatt asks as he takes the cutlery out of my hands. “Maybe if I set the table you’ll tell me?”

“Love how you’re trying for bonus points.” I swat at him, but let him take the cutlery and finish setting the table. “But, they’re not necessary tonight. In fact we’re doing things differently. Tonight, we’re having dessert first.”

There’s a crash as Wyatt drops the remaining forks in his hand. “We are?”

Oh this man. “Not that kind of dessert.” I roll my eyes and point to the Red Bird box on the counter. “That kind.”

Wyatt eyes the box. “Did Maisey drop this off? I thought I saw her van here when I came home.”

“I asked her to please make this especially for us so I could surprise you.”

Wyatt crosses his arms and eyes me up one side and down the other. “Okay, this is very mysterious but also exciting. Tell me more.”

Opening the box, I pull out the giant cupcake and gently place it on a dish. I slide the plate his way. “I need you to grab a knife and cut into this bad boy for me.”

Wyatt narrows his eyes and looks at me suspiciously. “It’s not a prank right? I’m not going to cut into this and like, some spring loaded fake snake is going to come out at me?”

“Where do you even get that idea from?” I push the plate his way again, trying not to laugh. “Just cut into the stinking cupcake and then I’ll tell you.”

We stand in silence for another few seconds. It’s more like a standoff actually. I’m still trying not to laugh, and maybe scream with excitement, and he’s worried I’m trying to prank him. What takes a few moments feels like years.

Finally, he’s over it. He turns and grabs a knife off the table he just set and, turning back, he eyes me once last time before slicing into the cupcake. He expertly cuts a piece and starts to slide it out. Tears spring to my eyes––I know we’re about to find out something huge and I can’t wait for him to know, too.

My husband. My best friend. The man I get to start a family with.

I watch as he puts the piece of cake onto another plate and my tummy flips.

“Freya, why is the cake pink and blue?”

Well. I wasn’t expecting that.

“Because…we’re having twins.” I’m trying really hard right now to keep my voice calm, but the words escape me with a giant breathy whoosh.

Twins. We’re having twins.

Wyatt’s head snaps up to attention and swivels in my direction. “Say what?”

“I’m pregnant Wyatt. You’re going to be a dad.”

I don’t think for as long as I live that I will ever forget this very moment. The moment I get to see Wyatt’s face as he finds out he’s going to be a dad…to twins. Excitement, fear, amusement. So many emotions and all at once.

But––twins?!

Smokey leans against me, panting and his head swivelling to watch the both of us. I swear he has a smile on his sweet little doggie face like he is totally celebrating with us. Wyatt lets out a rush of air as he finally processes my news and rushes over to pick me up, spinning me around the kitchen as he whoops loudly.

I’m over the moon giddy as he places me, gently, back on my feet. “I’ll be honest, this was supposed to be a surprise just for you but the universe got me, too. We’re having two babies, Wyatt. Two!”

“Twins.” Beaming, he shakes his head. “It’s a case of the more the merrier, I say.”

---