Page 94 of Misery In Me

The night slowly ends, and Gage takes my hand and leads me out onto the dance floor for one last slow dance. He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me, and we sway to the music, our bodies moving as one.

“I love you, Alejandra,” he murmurs, his voice low and sincere.

I look up into his eyes, my heart overflowing with love. “I love you too, Gage. With all my heart, forever and always.”

THIRTY-NINE

GAGE

The house is a flurry of activity as Ale and I work together to get everything ready for the baby. At thirty-three weeks pregnant, Ale’s belly is round and full, a constant reminder of the miracle growing inside her. Whenever I watch her move, her body nurturing our child with such grace and strength, I’m left in complete awe.

“Okay, so the crib’s put together, and the bassinet is in our room,” I say, checking items off our ever-growing to-do list. “What’s next on the agenda, pretty girl?”

Ale looks up from the pile of tiny gender-neutral clothes she’s folding, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Well, we need to stock the nursery with newborn diapers and I want to make sure we have plenty of onesies and sleepers on hand. Oh, and we should probably install that second baby monitor we got as a gift.”

I nod, eager to tackle the next task. “On it. I’ll run to the store and grab the supplies we need. Anything else you can think of?”

She purses her lips, thinking. “I think that covers the basics. But you know how it is—once the baby is here, we’ll probably realize we’re missing something. But if you are feeling extra nice. Some french fries and vanilla ice cream sound amazing.”

I chuckle, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t worry, we’ll be ready. And ice cream and french fries, on it.”

Ale laughs, a warm, beautiful sound that fills the room with joy. “That’s for sure. Now go, before I add a million more things to your list.”

I salute her playfully and head out the door, eager to check off as many tasks as possible. The store trip goes by in a rush as I grab diapers, some more baby shampoo, and an assortment of baby clothes. I probably look like a damn fool, smiling as I throw a few extra items in the cart—a cute little outfit here, a soft blanket there. It’s amazing how something so small can bring so much joy and excitement. I'm hitting the drive-thru for some fries and ice cream before heading home to my girls.

Back at home, I unload the car and bring the supplies into the nursery. Ale is already there, carefully organizing the drawers and shelves with the clothes and other essentials. I watch her for a moment, my heart swelling with love. She’s so nurturing and so caring, and I know our children are lucky to have her as their mother.

“Need any help in here?” I ask, setting the bags down on the changing table.

She looks up and smiles. “Actually, yes. Can you help me hang these mobile toys above the crib? I want to make sure they’re secure.”

I nod, putting down the bag of fries and taking the mobile from her, carefully following her instructions to hang it just right. This room, this space, is a testament to our love and the family we’re building.

“It looks great,Hermosa.Really perfect,” I say, pulling her into my arms for a quick hug.

She leans into me, resting her head on my chest. “It does, doesn’t it? I can’t believe we’re almost ready to meet this little one.”

I kiss the top of her head, inhaling the sweet smell of her perfume. “Neither can I. It’s exciting and a little scary, but I know we’re ready for this. Now, it's time to get off your feet for a little and eat your snack. Zoe’s only going to be down for a little while longer.”

Ale pulls back, looking up at me with serious eyes. “Speaking of being ready, have you given any more thought to names? We should probably decide soon, don’t you think?”

I nod, running a hand through my hair. “You’re right. I’ve been thinking about it, and I have a few ideas. But I want to hear your thoughts first. What are you leaning towards?”

She takes my hand, leading me out of the nursery and into the living room, where we sit down on the couch. “Well, I love the name Sofia for a girl. It’s elegant and strong, and I think it would suit our little princess perfectly. What do you think?”

I consider it for a moment, letting the name roll off my tongue. “Sofia. I like it. It has a nice ring to it. What about a boy’s name? Any thoughts there?”

Ale nods, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I was thinking something strong and classic. Like Joshua, or maybe even Daniel.”

I raise an eyebrow, a smile playing on my lips. “Joshua… I like that a lot, actually.”

She beams at me, her eyes shining with happiness. “Really? You like it?”

“Of course, I do. It’s perfect. Just like you.”

We spend the next little while eating the fries and discussing names and the future, our voices low and serious as we plan for the life we want to build with our children. It’s a surrealfeeling, knowing that our family is about to grow, and with it, our responsibilities and joys will multiply.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about how we’re going to manage with two kids under two,” Ale says, her brow furrowed in concentration. “It’s going to be a challenge, but I think we can do it.”

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