"Oh, there will be going to birthing classes and rubbing my feet and building a nursery and putting together baby furniture. You'll have your hands full for the next few months."
"Think I'd rather take on another prospect for all the heavy lifting, and spend the next few months with you in bed."
"Well, that is certainly an option," I told him, slipping onto his lap, burying my face in his neck, feeling his big, strong arms going around me, knowing right down to my bones that me and this baby could never be safer anywhere else than with this man.
"I need to get you a ring now."
"Yes, you do," I declared.
"Think I should ask your family for your hand too," he added, chuckling.
"I'd pay to see that."
"And, the most important thing of all."
"What's that?" I asked, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
"Gotta get you an old lady cut."
"A... what?"
"An old lady cut. Like the ones we wear, but saying you're mine."
"Oh, for God's sake. That's a barbaric custom."
"Want the whole world to know you're mine, babe, and that you're carrying my baby."
Well then.
Maybe an old lady cut wasn't so bad after all, was it?
"Oh, shit," he declared, suddenly shooting up, leaving me on the couch alone. "I need to talk to Arty. We need background checks on all the doctors in the area. Gotta get the best one lined up and over here as soon as possible," he said on his way out of the door.
Remy came in, handing me my hot chocolate, then rushing out to go take more orders from the barking president outside.
"Hey girl," I said, patting the cushion next to me as Ramona came up to me. "These men are lunatics, don't you think?" I asked, patting her big, flat head. "And they think we are the dramatic ones," I went on as she rested her head in my lap. "I guess I should thank you for all of this, huh?" I asked, watching as she turned just enough to look up at me, a little doggy smile on her face, her eyes keen.
Almost like she was telling me this was her plan all along.
Sneak out.
Come get me.
And introduce me to the love of my life.
Remy was making his way through the front of the house, carrying some giant pile of what looked like scrap metal, tripping, and crashing down, the clatter making both Ramona and I shrink into ourselves.
"You okay? Are you alright?" Remy asked, shooting up onto his feet.
"Remy, you're the one who fell," I reminded him. "I'm supposed to be asking you that. Your daddy is crazy, girl," I told Ramona, shaking my head. "I don't know how we are going to make it through these next nine months. We need more girls in this house to even things out," I told her.
And I swear, the old girl brightened up.
Like I'd just given her a new mission in life.
"Hey," Huck said, voice booming into the space, making me jolt and turn to find him leaning in from the kitchen.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"I love you," he told me, giving me a firm nod, then rushing off.
He did.
It was becoming more and more clear by the moment.
And, God, I loved him right back.