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Chapter One
Have you ever had that moment, that one instant, that will forever be a line of demarcation? There will always be a ‘before’ and ‘after’, featured prominently in your history? This story is about my moment, the one that will live eternal in my heart for the rest of my days.
Three Days After Graduation
Standing nervously, twisting my fingers together in front of my swollen belly, I wait for the passengers to begin entering the baggage claim in the Sea-Tac Airport. The carousel had started up shortly after the scheduled landing time popped up on the overhead screen for arrivals, and I’m checking every few seconds for baggage or people to appear, but my bladder is about to pop.
Chancing a quick trip to the nearby bathroom, I try to hurry, barely drying my hands after washing them. I take one quick second to shake the white flowy skirt of my dress down to make sure it's not stuck in my underwear before I’m rushing back out.
Still no baggage or passengers. I’m relieved yet disappointed at the same time and move closer to the screen to check the information again, as well as my phone for messages.
“Boo,” a voice whispers in my ear as hands grip my pear-shaped waist. I screech in fright, briefly gaining the attention of nearby commuters, and spin to discover a tall, dark-haired man dressed in a military uniform.
“Kael, you’re here!” I launch into his arms, momentarily forgetting my protruding stomach, and nearly bounce off his hard body.
Laughing, he embraces and steadies me, while I blush profusely at the near mishap. At least my bladder is empty. He drops a kiss on my lips before just resting his forehead on mine for a moment.
“Missed you, baby.” Kael is usually soft-spoken, but now he's even more so as he steps back enough to address my gigantic baby bump and rub small circles over it. “Cupcake, I think you’ve grown a bit since I last saw your mama.” The tiny terror that delights in kicking my insides out of her way is true to form and gives Kael’s hand a good thump. The look of awe that dawns across his face sends hormones raging through me, inducing tears.
“I think she recognizes your voice from all the video chats.” I blink back the moisture, doing my best to regain composure. “You really came.”
Kael’s attention pops up to my face at my quiet words. “Of course I came, Cora. I promised you I would. I wouldn’t you leave you, even if it weren’t for this little darlin’ cookin’ in here.” He taps my belly as he reassures me, making relief course through my body.
I give him a nod and a shy smile, attempting to lighten the mood. “Let’s see if your bags are out yet.” I don’t want to bring up our next destination even though he’s just reassured me. We move toward the carousel where passengers are pulling their luggage but I stay back far enough to avoid the jostling crowd.
Kael quickly locates and retrieves his large duffel bag after it spits out of the fringey rubber flaps on the conveyor belt and comes back to where I stand waiting for him. “You want me to go get the truck and pick you up, or are you gonna be alright walking to it?”
“I'm fine to walk. It’s good for me, and baby too. I’ll let you drive though. The steering wheel nearly presses on me, and I have the seat adjusted back as far as I can reach with my legs and still be able to drive.” He eyes my belly with worry but doesn't comment; instead, he laces the fingers of his free hand with mine.
We make our way out of the baggage terminal and out to the parking area. Thank goodness there’s an elevator. I was truthful when I said that walking was good for me and baby, but at seven months, nearly eight, pregnant, it’s a chore to do stairs without getting winded. We reach my truck that was a graduation present from my aunt, the only family I have left that will speak to me. Well, my older step-brother would, except his best friend is a total jerk, and I won’t associate with him, or my step-brother, anymore.
We get in the truck after Kael tosses his duffel in the backseat, and he helps me into the cab. When he gets in, I direct him out and to the interstate, the butterflies kicking up with a vengeance. I’m back to twisting my fingers around each other and staring out the passenger side window until a warm hand grips the both of mine, stalling my twisting.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Do you not want to do this? We don’t have to if you’re having second thoughts.” Deep and melodious, his tone alone helps to calm me. But I don't want him to think I don’t want him.
“That’s not it at all! I just worry you’re only doing this because you think you have to.” I wait pensively for his answer. In person is a lot different than a video chat from hundreds of miles away.
“Cora, I want you to be my wife so badly that I put in for a transfer so we could stay where you’re familiar. I love you, darlin’. Don’t fret. You’ll eventually understand that my lovin’ you won’t ever stop.” He loosens my left hand from my right, pulling it over onto his canvas-clad thigh and lacing our fingers together. The rest of the drive to the courthouse he just keeps rubbing soft circles with his calloused thumb above mine on the back of my hand.
I try to stay confident. I love him. He loves me. Baby makes three. Kael manages to find parking fairly close to the courthouse, and I pull the marriage license out of the glove box. I’d come and filled out the forms, and Kael had done his portion by mail since he was stationed out of state. He takes the papers and looks them over, before folding them up and hopping out of the truck. I still expect him to back out, but he takes my hand again and leads me in and up to the Justice of the Peace.
It’s over before I know it. I went in Cordelia Calliope Malbec and came out Mrs. Kael Shultz. In a fog of excitement and a slight sense of disbelief that it actually happened, I kiss the daylights out of Kael. “Can’t believe we’re married!” He laughs softly into my open mouth, and my mind goes from my new name to what usually follows a wedding, even simple ones like ours. My southbound thoughts are interrupted by Kael.
“I still wish at least your parents would have come down since I don’t have any family. I’m sorry, baby. After we have our lives started and have some friends, we’ll have a redo. A big shindig for you, promise.” His baby blues are begging me to believe him. I reach up to trace one black brow that matches the midnight crew cut on his head.
“I don’t need a big wedding, and I don’t need my family. I have you and the little bean here. You two are my family now.” I hope he believes me, and by the grin stretching over his even white teeth, I’d say he does, at least somewhat.
“Alright, then, I’ll ask again in a few years. How about you direct me to our new apartment and we’ll get down to christening it good and proper like, if you catch my drift.” I play along with him, giggling at his wagging eyebrows and elbowing him in the ribs. Even though I’d just been thinking the same thing.
“Yes, please, husband. Your wife needs servicing. Ignore the evidence that she’s been well tended to already.” I giggle again and dart out toward the truck.
“Cora, no!” A car backing out of its space nearly hits me as Kael pulls me to safety. “Baby, fuck. I think you nearly gave me a heart attack. Watch where you're going, please.”
Slightly embarrassed and shaken from the near miss, I nod my agreeance. It was dumb not to be paying attention. I could have hurt the baby. At that thought I cup my belly protectively, silently promising not to let anything happen to her.
“Let’s get home and relax. My butt is tired of being in a seat, and I’m sure you’re ready to get off your feet.” He’s pointedly looking at my feet that have begun to swell in the strappy sandals I’d worn under my summer dress.
I color up, pale skin turning red from my chest up, but give a toss of my white-blonde hair and march to the passenger door of the truck. After checking both ways for traffic. So not doing that twice. At the truck Kael barely beats me to open the door and picks me up to set me in the cab, giving me a peck on the lips before shutting the door and jogging around the front of the truck to hop in the driver's seat.
