“It’s a nice piece of land, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from the best real estate agents in the state,” Max says proudly and would love to say he is being modest, but he’s not.
Sofia comes to sit down next to me. “Abigail, I brought you a gift.” She smiles and hands me a bag with perfect tissue paper, I know the store already.
My eyes turn to Lucas who is gently shaking his head in amusement. “That’s uh… sweet of you. I will open it later,” I try to stave her off.
She shoos a hand at me. “Don’t be silly, open it now,” she insists.
Reluctantly, I open the bag and very slowly pull out a bright red lace nightie. I give her a tight-lipped smile.
“And this is why I don’t have a girlfriend. I know my mother would do this,” Nate comments as he leans back in his chair, clearly amused.
Max and Jake just have an uncomfortable look yet can’t help but laugh.
“I think this will look wonderful on you, especially with your breast size—” She’s interrupted by Lucas.
“Think we got the message, Mother. Let’s maybe move on,” Lucas suggests, and I try to keep my smile tame.
“Why don’t you two go out tonight? I can watch Theo. Your father is only watching golf in the living room anyhow,” Sofia suggests.
My head bobs side to side. At last it feels like she’s on to something. “That is perhaps a good idea.”
“Bon. Then you two can go, and you come back and, well, you know…” She winks and points the bag at me, and everyone bursts into laughter.
“Lucas, I am never going to let you two forget this scene.” Nate gives Lucas a satisfied grin.
Luckily, Theo comes running to us, dripping in pool water with Romeo in tow.
“Abby, is it cake time?” he asks excitedly.
I pretend to consider by bringing my finger to my chin. “Hmm. I think we need to eat hotdogs and burgers first.”
His look is disappointed.
“But then it’s cake time,” I remind him, and his little face lights up again.
“Cool. It is the coolest bestest cake,” he says before running back to the pool.
It makes me smile and my head turns to look up at Lucas who must have been watching my every move the past few minutes. His eyes looking at me and his smile warm and sweet. I see happiness in his face, and it makes me smile at him and puts a glimmer in my eyes.
Even when we’re not speaking together, our thoughts are. Our eyes are the transmitters of our messages.
Our message is that we are in a good place, a great place, a loving place.
Later in the evening, we’re sitting outside at Matchbox with wine for me and a beer for Lucas. The night sky has bright stars and the sound of live music in the distance.
“We survived today.” He sighs as he pulls me close on the lounge sofa.
“Mmm we did. Theo is out like a light at home. And your mother is probably laying rose petals on your bed,” I have to tease.
Lucas laughs. “Oh man, I need to chat with her. Rein her in a little.”
I kiss his cheek. “She did bring up wedding planning. I had to gently inform her that we haven’t discussed that.”
“Maybe we should,” he says it coolly. My head moves so I can study his face that is neutral, but I see his eyes and it says enough. He’s serious and enjoys the idea of this conversation.
My mouth tugs at his answer. “You would want to get married again?”
His grin is now cunning. “With you? Yes. It would be different. Our wedding, our marriage doesn’t have to be the way we did our first rounds. It would be better and right.”
“Different.”
His finger and thumb gently pinch my cheek. “Yes. Everything is different with you,” he reminds me.
“I am not saying that I never want to get married, Lucas. I just can’t picture it right now. Nothing against you, because trust me, you are the only one I could imagine doing it with,” I explain and hope this isn’t a bump for us.
He leans back, confident and casual. “I get it. We should probably try living together first,” he mentions.
“Exactly.”
He moves and brings my face into his hands as he makes sure our eyes hold.
“You know, Abby. The way I feel with you is better than I felt with anyone. Something tells me that it could be a really good future. I don’t need labels, but I do need you always with me. Move in with me?”
My grin is forming. “You do realize that Romeo comes with, right?”
He brushes it off. “The Labrador may have grown on me.”
My ear-to-ear smile should give him my answer, but just in case it didn’t, “Yes, absolutely yes.”
Our mouths meet for a deep kiss that makes me moan, and I wish that I had glue to keep his mouth on me like this forever. His lips are so firm yet soft. Controlled and always meet me with want and leads us to where we should go.
I hum my pleasure as I pull away gently. “Moving in together is the perfect step. It’s us.”
His thumb rubs my cheek. “Yes, and maybe one day we can discuss other things, maybe not. But what I know is that loving you, Dr. Call, is different to everything else I’ve experienced, and I love that. It’s different with you, and that just tells me that you and I may be stuck together for life,” he warns me with a grin.
“I’m not complaining.” I smile before kissing him again.
Epilogue
LUCAS: A few years later
Walking into the exam room, I didn’t get a chance to look at the file. But as soon as I open the door, I don’t need a file. I know this woman inside out.
Closing the door behind me, there is a very curious grin on my face as I approach my soon-to-be wife to kiss her on the mouth.
“I thought I should probably go to a good doctor for this,” Abby tells me with an inviting look as she sits there in a paper gown.
But I’m confused. I wasn’t expecting her and now I’m concerned. My hands touch both of her arms. “Everything okay?”
She nods and almost beams. “Yeah, I just need… well… it’s time for my IUD to be taken out and replaced.”
My forehead furrows. “Oh? Okay, that’s easy. Just want a new IUD or do we try something different?” Phew, I was concerned it was something serious.
I begin to turn to get the supplies I need. But her hand stops me by grabbing my wrist. I look up at her.
“I don’t want anything.” It comes out neutral from her mouth. I look at her, and my eyes look to the side then back at her.
Slowly my brain works. “…As in no birth control?” I’m doubting my brain right now.
She nods yes.
I have to ask to clarify my blurry mind. “As in also no condoms, pulling out, or anything that resembles a way to not get pregnant?”
She slowly nods as her mouth curves up. “As in maybe we can try?” She shrugs a shoulder.
My mouth opens, but no words come out. She kisses me to knock some sense into me.
“If it’s meant to be then it’ll happen. If not, then that’s fine too,” Abby tells me, and she is completely right. I would be over the moon with a child with her, but I would also be content with the way things are now.