“It's my fault,” Matt says.
I shift my eyes from the ghostly white blobs on the transparent black x-ray. “What are you talking about? Your teeth are perfect.”
“Because of extensive orthodontics.” His fingers glide over the panoramic scan of our oldest son Alex’s teeth. “Palate expander only,” he says, nodding his head. The brown eyes I adore roll, and his lips quirk up in a lopsided grin. “If we’re lucky.”
“And if we're not?” I ask around the growing pit in my stomach.
“Headgear or possibly jaw surgery later in life,” my husband says matter-of-factly, like we’re not discussing cracking my baby’s bones.
I groan and push away from the desk.
“Should have wished for a man with perfect dental records,” he teases.
“I still would have wanted you,” I say, reaching up and patting his chest. “I love you, even if you passed on your narrow palate to our child.”
“How did I ever get so lucky?” Matt asks, his warm brown eyes positively glowing with love as he wraps his arms around me.
“Luck had nothing to do with it. Remember? Magic did.”
“Maybe we should try for a little more magic.”
My eyebrows arch. “Such as?”
“I’ve been thinking about another child.”
My breath freezes in my chest and for a moment, I’m too stunned to react. For over a year now, I’ve been wanting us to try for another baby and Matt has held firm that three boys were more than enough of a handful for us.
“Do you mean it?”
“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought and you’re right; our family doesn’t feel complete yet. That third-row seating looks rather empty with just Noah back there.”
Tears spring to my eyes and I sniff loudly. “You’re not going to change your mind?” I ask around the lump in my throat.
Matt plants a loud smacking kiss on the tip of my nose. “When have I ever changed my mind over something this important? My beautiful wife wants to have another one of my narrow palate babies. Who am I to say no to that?”
I reach around and swat his still firm behind. “That’s right. Who are you to say no to that generous gift?”
He wraps his arms around me, and I melt into his embrace, his warmth and the familiar smell of him instantly erasing any lingering tension from my day. “I’m the man that you wished for…” he pauses, his eyes locking with mine. “But what you don’t realize is that I wished for you too.”
Matt doesn’t wait for my answer. His lips claim mine in a kiss that steals my breath and warms my heart, just like it did the very first time we kissed.
All those years ago, when I cast that love spell, I thought the man I wished for was a mere fantasy. It turns out that Matt is so much more than I ever dreamed of in a partner. He’s right though, we’re not perfect, we’re just perfect together, and I cannot wait to finish growing our family with the man I adore.
THE END