Page 123 of The Affair
“Okay,” I agreed.
Slipping out of the room, he returned moments later with a medium-sized package. It was flat and heavy. He set it down beside me as Mary’s attention diverted to the shiny wrapping paper.
“Yes, you can help.” I laughed.
She’d turn one the day after Christmas, and so far, her favorite thing about Christmas was helping me wrap.
Or unwrap, as she understood it.
Going to work, I tugged at a corner and allowed her to take over. But as she began to pull back the paper, my breath caught.
Inside was a bound book, which wasn’t really amazing by itself but the writing on the cover was.
“You printed Nana’s journal?” My hands touched the hard cover as I took it all in.
He nodded, his eyes bright. “I knew it bothered you that you never had a chance to finish it, so—”
“You typed it? All of it? That must have taken you—”
“Years,” he confirmed.
“You’ve been working on this for years?”
“I told you that typing it out would take an eternity.”
“This is too much,” I said, my voice hoarse with emotion.
“Does that mean I win the award for best husband?”
“You win that award every damn day,” I boasted, leaning forward to kiss him.
“I’m not sure how you’re going to top that.”
Smiling, I reached in my pocket and handed him an envelope. “Oh, I think you might be surprised.”
When he ripped it open, I couldn’t help but laugh. Now I knew where Mary had gotten it from.
As his eyes settled on the photo inside, I saw his eyes well up with emotion.
“Is this…” he stammered. “Are you for real?”
Jack stopped reading as all eyes turned to Sawyer.
Looking up at me, he grinned. “Twins?”
“Hope you’re ready.”
“We’re having twins!” he shouted, making the entire room explode with cheer.
I’d once questioned my decision to follow my heart.
Seeing him so happy, knowing the kind of father and husband he’d become, I couldn’t help but remember the journey it’d taken for us to get here.
Heartache and loss. Growth and renewal.
It had been worth it.
Wewould always be worth it.
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