“That’s okay. I don’t have any expectations.” I smiled.
“Well, I do.” He swept me off my feet and carried me over the threshold like a groom would carry his bride. He kicked the door closed, leaned his back against it, and kissed me for all he was worth.
“More kissing? Yuck.” Nova’s giggles rang in my ears as Abe stole my breath away and turned my brain to jelly.
“Get used to it, kid. Kissing your mom is my way of showing how much I love her.”
Nova giggled some more as she ran around.
“I never got to carry you over the threshold.” He stared into my eyes. “We never got to christen every room on our wedding night.”
“Oh Abe, why are you bringing me to tears?” I cradled his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his.
“Because we missed out on so much. Like bringing our first baby home from the hospital together. Birthdays and holidays, Sunday morning pancakes.” He brushed his nose against mine. “I don’t want to spend another day without you and our daughter.”
“Me either.” I threw my arms around his neck.
“Mommy, this house is so big!” Nova shouted as she ran past us.
“Come on, Mommy. Let me give you the grand tour.” Abe put me on my feet and took my hand.
He wasn’t kidding when he said grand tour. There were four bedrooms and three bathrooms, a massive kitchen with an island, and a dining space to fit a table for ten. Like most homes in the Upper Midwest, there was a basement, but it wasn’t finished. Abe said we could add two more bedrooms, a bathroom, and a movie room. Nova went nuts over the movie room idea.
Speaking of Nova, she was crashed out on an air mattress in the room she picked to be hers. It was two rooms away from ours. She picked it because of the walk-in closet and window seat.
“I can’t recall seeing her so happy.” I swirled my finger through Abe’s beard. We were lying on our sides facing each other on our bed, the original mattresses he’d bought for our wedding night. They’d been in our room untouched. He’d tossed out the linens and got new ones for our fresh start. I was stunned, blown away, and amazed at all he’d done.
“I share her joy.” He played with my hair. “I haven’t been this happy since Montana. We should go back and take Nova with us.”
“We wouldn’t have any privacy.”
“Good point. We’ll take two trips. One for the family and one for just us.”
“Who will watch Nova?”
“My parents, of course.” He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger.
“I’m nervous about seeing them tomorrow.”
“I know, baby.” He kissed my forehead. “But it’ll be okay. I promise.”
I exhaled a heavy breath. “Do you want me to go back to being a blonde?”
“I want you to do what makes you happy.”
“But I want to please you. There isn’t anything I can do about removing the tattoos. There are over twenty on my body, and I really love them. I’m not so attached to the nose ring and black hair.”
“I’m not in love with the color of your hair.” He dragged his fingers down my chest, keeping our eyes locked. “It’s what’s inside you I’m in love with.” He covered my breast and lowered his lips to mine. “You’re my one and only, and that will never change no matter what color your hair is or how many tats you add to your collection.”
“You’re my one and only, too,” I whispered. “The man who I have loved nonstop for over a decade.” I rolled onto my back. “Make love to me, Abe. No condom.”
“Are you sure?” He covered my body with his. “I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything. I want to feel you bare. I want to give you all of me because I love you with all my heart and soul.”
“Karma, why are you bringing me to tears?” His steel-gray eyes glimmered with emotion.
He didn’t give me a chance to reply when he captured my lips. But did I really need to say anything? No words would ever do my feelings justice.