Page 93 of Resilient Rhythms
“I wanted to,” I call over my shoulder as I enter the kitchen. I return a moment later to snip the bit of ribbon. “I’m going to rinse off and change and then, lunch?”
“Yes. Okay,” Mckenna says.
“Okay.” I bend to kiss her one more time before hustling up the stairs.
I shower, change, and bound back downstairs.
Mckenna’s eyes flicker to mine when I enter the kitchen.
“I have a job interview at Aiden’s firm next week,” she blurts out, her eyes bright.
“All the pieces are falling into place, Mckenna,” I say, rounding the island to hug her. “Everything you worked hard for is finally happening. Enjoy it, sweetheart. Every damn second.”
“I will,” she promises, her tone serious. “I am.”
“So am I,” I whisper, kissing her cheek.
Then, I help her off her barstool and take my wife to lunch.
Later that day, we learn that we’re going to have a baby girl and my heart nearly bursts.
“A girl,” Mckenna whispers.
“I knew it,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “No, you didn’t.”
I laugh. “I mean, I had a fifty-percent chance of guessing correctly so…”
“We need to start thinking about baby names.”
“We will. We have time.”
“I know,” she says but by the excitement in her expression, I know there will be a stack of books for baby names on our coffee table by the end of the day tomorrow.
When we return home, Mckenna calls her dad and leaves a voicemail for her mom. I dial Jameson to tell him the good news and then call Mom and Nico.
After we share our update with family and friends, Mckenna and I sit down at the kitchen island, power up her laptop, and book flights to Costa Rica.
I’m taking my beauty to my favorite place on Earth so I can tell her, at sunset on the beach, that I will always honor, cherish, and love her and our family.
Not wanting to waste any time, we fly to Tamarindo the following week where we do exactly as I intended. In front of the rolling ocean, Mckenna and I exchange heartfelt vows and make a forever commitment, as the sun dips below the horizon.
“I will never take you or your love for granted,” I promise my wife. “You are my pinnacle, Mckenna, and I am so grateful to share this life with you.”
I kiss my beauty as the water runs over our toes. She’s crying happy tears and I brush them away with my thumbs as I deepen our connection.
“Forever, Maverick. We’re forever.”
“Always,” I tell her.
Wrapping Mckenna in my arms, I marvel at how my life, my daily existence, could be this perfect. This joyous.
This promising.
ONE YEAR LATER
MCKENNA
