Page 200 of Not Another Yesterday
The excitement lingers for a while, everyone peppering Frank and Penny with questions about the due date—no idea, they don’t see her doctor until after the new year—and whether they want to find out the gender—absolutely.
My mom approaches me in the kitchen a little while later, concerned that Penny and Frank’s news may have added to my sadness today. I assure her that I’m alright, and actually really happy for them. She hugs me for a long time, talking to me sweetly, telling me that Ronan’s and my time will come when it’s right, that things will work out for us just like they always do.
Eventually we all manage to gather in the living room. My siblings are playing with Dean and Kellan, who I swear are moments away from taking their first steps. They keep pulling themselves up on anything they can reach, balancing with wide-eyed determination before plopping backwards onto their diapered butts.
“Can we open presents now?” Benny yells, eyeing the bag of neatly wrapped gifts I stashed beside the sofa.
We give in and let the kids go first, which turns the room into a tornado of paper and squeals. Afterward, the adults exchange gifts.
Ronan had already surprised me a couple of weeks ago with a weekend trip to a fancy resort.
“Early Christmas present,” he told me at the time. “Because we desperately need to get away.”
He wasn’t wrong. Four days of sex, incredible food, spa treatments, and zero interruptions? I’d never felt more relaxed or connected to him.
Which should make today’s surprise even more satisfying.
“Okay, you have to follow me,” I tell him once everyone’s opened their presents, barely containing my excitement.
“Where?” Ronan asks, confusion etched into his gorgeous features.
“Stop questioning and just follow her,” Frank says with a grin on his face.
Ronan does as instructed, following me into the kitchen. I stop in front of the garage door, my heart pounding so hard I swear he can hear it. This has taken me months to make happen, and I can’t wait for him to see it.
“Alright,” I say, beaming at him.
“Alright what?”
“Open the door!” I huff, stepping back to let him reach for the handle.
He pushes it open and then just stands there.
His Mustang—sleek, satin black and gleaming under the garage light—sits pristine and perfect, like no time has passed at all.
He doesn’t speak. Just stares. Then he turns to me, his face full of emotion. “Cat… is this… how did you…” he breathes, unable to finish his thought. Wordlessly, he walks down the three steps and over to the car. He runs his hand along the smooth curves, over the roof and to the hood like he’s afraid it might vanish.
I follow, fishing the key out of my pocket.
“Merry Christmas, sweet boy,” I whisper.
He takes the key from me, unlocks the door, and slips into the driver’s seat. His hands settle on the steering wheel, feeling the supple leather under his fingers. He looks around the interior like he’s stepped into a dream.
“I don’t know what to say,” Ronan murmurs, getting out of the car. He swallows hard, his eyes watery. He doesn’t say anything more. He just pulls me into his arms and kisses me so deeply my knees almost give out.
“How did you even make this happen?” he asks breathlessly when he finally pulls away, glancing back at the car in awe.
“I may have snooped in your phone a little. Found the guy you sold it to.”
“You went through my phone?”
“Relax. No porn. No sketchy texts from girls named Ashley or Brittney or Chelsey or something else that ends iney,” I grin.
“Yeah, well, I use a burner phone for that,” he deadpans.
“I figured as much,” I say, mimicking his dry tone. “Anyway, I called the guy and he definitely wasn’t interested in selling it.”
“So, how did you get it? Wait, baby, are the cops going to show up to arrest your ass because you committed grand theft auto?”
