“Awesome. Can you give me a double serving? I’m fading away here?” I get an oven mitt thrown at my head in response. I can hear her banging and crashing, but I don’t bother to look. I know my culinary skills will kick in, and I’ll end up telling her what to do, which won’t end well. So, I leave it because I know she’s really trying. But whatever it is, it smells incredible.
“Okay, I gave you extra. Hope you like it?” She says it more like a question than a statement.
“I will love it, babe.”
A huge portion of lasagna is placed in front of me. I have to give her credit, it looks perfect, and she’s even made a béchamel sauce and poured it over the top.
Well done, my love!
“Wait till you taste it,” she beams with pride.
I shovel some into my mouth, and the taste is extraordinary. “This is just like Mom’s but even better.” Then I quickly say, “Don’t tell her I said that, though.”
Sarah does a little jump in the air while clapping her hands. “Perfect, it is your mom’s recipe, but I added the béchamel and some other things to give it my own flair.” She looks so excited, and so she should be. This is better than my lasagna.
“You outdid yourself. I’m so proud of you.”
Sarah smiles and bites her lip, the twinkle in her eye tells me she’s hiding something from me.
“Okay, I know that look. What’s going on?”
She walks over to the buffet and opens the top drawer and pulls out a rectangular wrapped box with the biggest bow you’ve ever seen. I laugh as she brings over my birthday present. “Okay, I’ll open it after dinner.” I don’t want to stop eating this delicious meal she’s made, but she shakes her head while handing it to me.
“Honestly… I can’t wait. Can you please open it now?” Her eyes are sparkling. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time. I’m intrigued as to what could be making her look so excited.
“Okaaay,” I drone and begin to tackle the bow. Luckily, it’s one of those stick-on type, so I just pull it right off. I rip at the paper to reveal a white box. I look up at Sarah, and she’s smiling so brightly. I open the box, and there’s a positive pregnancy test staring me in the face.
My heart leaps into my throat as my body begins to tingle. “Holy shit!” I almost yell, and she jumps in my lap.
“I know, right?” Sarah’s excitement oozes off her in waves as I take her face in my hands and kiss her passionately, my tongue colliding with hers, letting her know how truly and utterly happy I am right now. That spark, that energy which always rolls through me when I kiss my wife is there, but it’s only heightened in this moment as I make out with her for as long as my breath will let me.
Slowly, I pull back, glancing in her glistening eyes. “I’m gonna be a dad again?” I ask, and Sarah nods as a tear rolls down her beautifully blushed cheek.
“Yes, I found out today. It’s weird that when you stop trying, it just… happens.”
I didn’t think this would ever happen for us again, but Sarah’s pregnant and even though her present for me was a peed-on stick, it’s the best damn birthday present I’ve ever received. I stand, taking her with me, and she squeals as I lift her into my arms.
“I love you so much.”
“Can I call Jeni?”
“Of course, you can,” I agree and set her back down on the floor.
I sit at the table and look at the pregnancy test in the little white box displaying two pink lines. I haven’t felt this happy since the last time I saw the same two pink lines for Ethan.
I’m going to be a dad!
Again.
The last nine months haven’t been the greatest. Sarah’s hormones are all over the place, and her morning sickness has lasted this time for pretty much her entire pregnancy, which makes for a really grumpy Sarah. That, plus the endless questions from Ethan about his brother or sister and why they aren’t here yet are driving me crazy. Plus, I miss being intimate with her. Because of the morning sickness, she doesn’t feel up to our usual sex-romp sessions. I don’t blame her. Sarah looks pale most of the time, and I think we’re both ready for this baby to be here with us.
We decided we wanted to keep the gender of this one a surprise, and just like last time, Sarah’s adamant it has to be a girl. She says three men in our house will drive her crazy, so if our baby is another boy, then she says she’s shoving him right back up there until he changes his mind.
I love her crazy talk.
The due date is coming upon us quickly, and this time I’m prepared. I have Sarah’s bag packed and ready to go. The crib is set up in our room and all of the baby clothes, toys, and everything this baby will need is all ready.
I can’t wait to be a dad again.