Page 134 of Love & Other Disasters

Forty-Five

One Year Later:

J.P. didn’t have time to enjoy the warmth of the house as a respite from the frigid winter air. Was it his imagination that the weather this New Year’s Eve harsher than last? It’d be a year tomorrow that Violet announced that she would move in with him. Two weeks later, she’d moved from Nashville. Tonight, they celebrated their move-in anniversary at Violet’s request. He smiled at his secret plans for the evening.

“Violet, sorry my meeting ran late. Are you ready?” he yelled, bounding up the steps to their master bedroom. He stopped off at her home office, where she worked remotely for Pure Botanicals. It was empty.

After she’d brought up celebrating this as an anniversary of sorts, an idea to do one better came to him.

“I’m changing my shirt, and we’ll make it to the train in time.” He pulled off his tie, shirt, and retrieved a clean set from the closet. “After dinner we’re meeting up with Aiden and Samantha for drinks, then we can catch the fireworks show on the rooftop of the hotel.” And there, he’d propose.

The bathroom door was closed, but Violet hadn’t spoken.

J.P. stopped and listened. “Honey?” he knocked on the door and a sniffle came from inside. Violet sat on the floor, knees pulled up, back against the tub. “What’s wrong babe? Are you okay?”

“I don’t know how this happened,” she cried.

“What?” the hair on his neck stood up. If someone hurt her, he’d kill him.

Violet held up a white stick with a purple cap. It took a second to register. A pregnancy test.

He took a deep breath and sat beside her on the floor.

“What’s the verdict?” he asked, but sure of the answer.

“Positive,” she cried.

“Why are you crying?” he asked, putting an arm around her and pulling her to his chest.

“Because we haven’t talked about it. The house isn’t finished yet, and you’ve just started taking on more clients. And I don’t know if you even want a baby.” She grabbed the toilet paper, pulling it to her, and blowing her nose on the still attached tissue. “And we’re not even married,” she wailed.

“I remember,” he said, stroking her hair, “you’ve mentioned wanting kids before. So, it’s pretty standard to start with a baby, right?”

Violet choked on a laugh. “What?”

“To have the two or three kids you wanted, we have to start somewhere.”

“Do you want kids?”

“You’re carrying our baby. There’s no way on earth I don’t want that.”

She smiled. “Really?”

“Cross my heart,” he ripped the toilet paper from the roll and used a clean segment to wipe her cheek. “Come on,” he said, getting to his feet then helping her up. “Are you ready for dinner?”

“I need to freshen my face,” she said.

“Do you feel like going out?” he asked, hand sliding across her belly. She wasn’t showing, but there was a baby in there, and he would become a dad. His father had abandoned their family, and looking down at Violet, he vowed to never do the same thing.

“Yes, I’m fine. Let me fix my face, and I’ll be ready,” she smoothed down her dress. “How did this happen? We’re always so careful.”

“It’s because,” he grinned, “you’re always jumping on me. So insatiable.”

Violet laughed, slapping his shoulder. “Right, I’m the one who always wants it.”

“At least you admit it,” he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face if he had to.

“Move, I need the sink,” she pushed him, and he backed out of the bathroom, closing the door.

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