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ORLIE
TWO MONTHS LATER…
“We’d liketo invite the happy couple onto the dance floor for their first dance.”
Dana and Drew float up to the dance floor and begin to sway together as the band starts to play a lilting Beatles song.
I reach my arm around Kira in her chair beside me and gently massage her shoulder. She smiles at me, the apples of her cheeks blushing. “How are you feeling?” I ask softly.
“Pregnant,” she says, glancing down at the swell of her belly.
“Fair,” I say and then rest my other hand on the top of her eight-month belly. Every time I think it’s impossible she could get bigger, she does. Still three weeks to go until she’s reached the forty-week mark.
“Well, you are the most beautiful woman in the room, if that helps anything.”
Kira beams and rests her head on my shoulder. It’s not even a lie. When she was standing up at the altar with all her sisters, she was clearly the most radiant in every way. Her teal dress hugs all her curves perfectly, her belly being my favorite, of course. And, she didn’t even have to step out to pee, which was her biggest fear.
We watch as her eldest sister and new husband share their first dance as a married couple. “What would our song be?” Kira asks.
My heart turns into a fist. We’ve been in an official relationship for two months. Marriage right now seems rash.
“Don’t freak out, I’m just asking,” Kira says dryly, reading my mind.
I try to laugh. I’ve tried to avoid ever imagining getting married to anyone after Diane. But in all honesty, I could picture this with Kira.
Just not too fast. Let’s get a baby into the world first and then we can talk. “I don’t know, maybe something to do with hating each other’s guts.”
Kira scoffs and smacks my chest with the back of her hand. “You’re so mean. You want our son to know you hated me?”
“Let’s be clear, Ineverhated you. Never, ever, ever.”
“Good,” she says, snuggling into my chest.
I kiss the side of her head and then smile over at her father who is across the table from me, holding baby Mia who is spitty gurgling. She’s gotten so big so quickly. I have that in store for me sooner than later. Although, I’m not trying to rush anything.
Kent gives me a nod and a soft smile. I’ve done everything I can to get in his good graces the past couple of months and I feel like I’m close to being accepted into his fold. I’m sure a proposal would really solidify that.
The music changes a moment later to another ballad and the band leader announces, “Dana and Drew would like to invite their family members to join them on the dance floor.”
Our entire banquet-length table stands, including the kids.
I help Kira up out of her seat. I’ve gotten better at not treating her with kid gloves, but she is at the point where getting up is becoming more of a hassle. On top of this, there was no way I was letting her wear high heels to this, not that she particularlywanted to, given how swollen her feet have gotten. So, she is quite dainty compared to me. Save her growing belly.
Hand in hand, we sweep onto the dance floor. I pull her as close as I can and we begin our dance.
“Ah, I’m getting déjà vu,” I say.
“Can you believe that was less than a year ago?”
I scoff. “No, I can’t. That’s…crazy.”
“Things change when you least expect them to, I guess,” Kira says with a soft smile.
“Yeah, I’m the CEO of a company now,” I say.
She pouts. “Not what I meant.”
I laugh. “Oh, did you mean – did you mean the –” I point to her belly.
