Page 71 of Splintered Security
“I felt the same this morning. But she has your fire, so I knew she’d be fine when we made it through.”
I wipe the errant tears that don’t want to stop.
“Thank you for today. Thank you for saving her. I need her.”
“Of course, baby.”
Even quieter, I add, “Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re my wife.” It’s the voice he used when he said our vows.
That I am.
29
okay, ren
Ren
Three months later
Another four in the morning wake up to find my wife in the bathroom hunched over the toilet.
“How is it you never get these bugs?” She wipes her mouth and flops back to the tile floor, stretching her legs out.
I’ve wondered for nearly a week when she plans to tell me. Now I’m wondering if it’s even registered with her.
“I must be immune to this one.” I wonder if she can hear the humor in my voice.
“Of course you are.” The sarcasm in her voice pulls a smile from deep inside me. It’s the Anni I knew growing up–the one who could take on the world. The Anni before the weight of the world perched firmly on her shoulders. It’s the Anni who’s slowly shrugged off her old life in Pueblo and settled into Denver like it’s a well-loved hoodie.
“Sunshine?”
“Yeah.”
“Have you considered this might be something I can’t catch from you?”
“Why? Is your immune system superhuman?”
“No. But my sperm may be.”
The look on her face is priceless. Until the day I die, I will keep it in my memory, much like the vision of her on our wedding day. Her mouth bobs open and closed, and her eyes dart around like she’s trying to remember how to diagram sentences from elementary school.
After an abnormally long time, her eyes meet mine, her mouth still open in silent conversation. I finally succumb to my amusement and roar with laughter.
“You think this is funny?”
I nod.
“Don’t you dare laugh at me, Ren Gallo.”
That has me laughing even harder.
“What if I’m actually pregnant?”
“What if you are?”
She sputters. “Are you for real right now?”
