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When it comes time for each of us to say “I do,” I feel like a new man again. Like we’re re-living our first moment and our first night together, all in one phrase.
Slipping the ring over her trembling finger and watching her hands put a ring on mine, I kiss her like I’ve never kissed her before.
Our first kiss as husband and wife.
Later that night, after all the hugs and well wishes from people I should know but hardly do, and way too much food we finally settle back in bed.
The bridal suite at her favorite hotel, and just for the night because tomorrow we fly out for Europe. Krystal’s passport only reaching us just in time before securing the first-class tickets.
She seems more nervous than tired, and I remind her that there’s nothing we could do on our wedding night that we haven’t done already.
Except maybe just a peck on the cheek and straight to sleep. That’s never happened before.
“Honey, what is it?” I ask her, sensing her shift in mood and wondering if she’s nervous about the flight tomorrow.
Going overseas for the first time can be intimidating, but I’m here. I’ll be with her every minute of every day from now on.
“Is the trip away your present, a wedding present, I mean?” she asks and I frown a little.
“Do we even do presents?” I ask, knowing she can have anything she wants and every minute she’s with me is all I could hope for and more.
“Let’s say it is though,” she says quietly, fidgeting with the sheet and gnawing at her lip.
“Okay, but it’s not much of a surprise. We’ve been planning it for weeks,” I muse aloud, wondering what’s gotten into her all of a sudden.
“Well, I kinda have a surprise,” she says so quietly I can hardly hear her, feeling her shiver under the covers I tell her she’s scaring me.
“Baby, what is it?” I ask, hoping she’s not sick. Hoping she’s as happy as we both were on our first night together.
“Happy three month anniversary,” she tells me, taking my hand and kissing it gently before placing it under the covers over her belly.
It is a surprise, and I feel bad for not remembering.
It’s three months to the day that we met, and here we are on our wedding night about to head off on a three month...
It hits me in a flash, and she smiles up at me, her lip trembling with tears of happiness.
“We’re gonna be mommy and daddy, Blake. Not just husband and wife,” she manages to tell me before being overcome with emotion.
I keep my hand on her belly, and holding her closer with my other arm I let it sink in as I stroke her hair, kiss her lips.
Telling her I love her.
Telling our baby I love her or him too.
“It’s the best surprise ever,” I sniff. Feeling the pride and affection I understand better than ever now. My first glimpse of a father’s love as well as a husband’s undying love for his wife.
My family. My wife and child.
Mine.
Extended Epilogue
Six Months Later
Krystal
Blake suggested we cancel our extended honeymoon at least a dozen times while we were away.
Every time I’d throw up or get dizzy, need to sit down, or just plain lose my shit with him, he’d rush me off to the nearest doctor and have me fully checked out.
“There’s no way I’m missing this trip for the world,” I’d tell him because that’s the truth. I’ve never had such a great time, with him or any other time.
“It’s the trip of a lifetime, Blake. Can’t you just accept the fact that pregnant women throw up occasionally and get grouchy?” I’d ask him, but he seemed more determined than ever to dote on me.
Fussing over every little thing and sometimes making me feel like he’d rather wrap me in cotton and put me in a carrier himself.
“If this is how you treat pregnant me, god help our child,” I almost shouted at him one day in a Paris coffee shop. Crying at first and then laughing as my own emotions took their regular roller coaster ride.
It did take him a while, but he gradually eased up, just a little. So much so that by the time we do make it home and absolutely nothing’s wrong with either mommy-to-be or the baby inside me, it’s no big issue when I make an appointment to check in with our family doctor once we get back home stateside.
I’m booked in for an ultrasound, which is something I avoided looking at while overseas. Not sure if we wanted to know the baby’s gender, but our doctor wants a look at my latest blood test.
“Just routine,” Dr. Fitzgibbon explains to Blake and me. Daddy to be is more wound up than I’ll ever be because I know everything’s fine inside me but he likes to worry.
