Over the course of a month, time didn’t slow down a bit. Emma stayed awake a little longer, she would smile and giggle every now and then, but mostly she just watched her surroundings. She loved to see her mommy laugh and she loved it even more when I was making her mommy laugh.
The guests that were filing in and out everyday had finally slowed down some. We had to tell Kathryn that she wasn’t allowed to move in with us. She was excited and she never had kids of her own. She didn’t think she would ever have a grandchild and was beyond excited that she finally had a little baby to spoil.
We knew Emma would call Kathryn grandma. Lennox’s mom never called or came to see her. I didn’t even know if she knew about her. Lennox said it didn’t bother her, but I think it did to some degree. She had a grandma in Kathryn and that was all that mattered.
Dane and Alissa had been hanging out more around the house. Alissa was beginning to show and said she needed to suck up some baby knowledge since she had no idea how to take care of a baby. Dane had never showed any interest in children and I was worried that he was secretly freaking out. One night while the girls were fussing over Emma, I pulled Dane aside.
“How’s everything going with you and Alissa?” I asked over a beer.
“Fine I guess. I don’t know, man. She’s going off on this baby thing. Wanting to plan everything and make sure everything is ready. I’m kind of freaking out about it.”
“What are you worried about?”
“Everything I guess. I’m going to be a dad. I don’t know how to be a dad. I’ve never even thought about having kids. I’m not exactly a role model. You know?”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure this baby will straighten your ass out,” I said with a laugh.
“She wants to get married.”
“Well can you blame her? You guys have been living with each other for a while now and you’re having a baby.”
“I know, it’s just that my life is going in the opposite direction than I thought it would.”
“You’re not the only one,” I said taking out the bottle of Jack.
I poured us both a shot and watched as Dane downed the shot.
“But you’re happy.”
“And you’re not?” I asked, almost afraid of his answer.
“Yeah, I guess I am. I don’t know, everything is just happening so fast. I haven’t really had time to sort out my feelings yet.”
“It’s okay to be overwhelmed, Dane. A lot has changed.”
“I know. I just wish I knew what to do,” he said taking the bottle and pouring another shot.
“Do about what?”
“Nothing, don’t worry about it. You have your hands full here, I will manage.” He walked off into the living room before I could ask anything else.
“I thinkit’s time to start planning this wedding again, don’t you?” I asked crawling into bed with Lennox.
“No, not yet. I haven’t lost all the baby weight yet and I am wearing that wedding dress.”
“I’m ready to marry you, can’t we just buy a new dress?”
“No, that is the perfect dress and I’m wearing it.”
“Please, marry me, Lennox,” I pleaded.
“I will, just not yet.” She gave me a teasing smile before moving closer so I could wrap my arms around her.
I let the subject drop. I knew she loved that dress, even if she could have bought a small country with as much as she paid for it. I just wanted to make her happy and if wearing that dress would make her happy, I would wait as long as it took.