“We’re going to have a baby?” The words tumbled from his lips.
Christy nodded.
“Praise the Lord.” David let out a whoop and twirled her around.
Christy could only laugh.
Praise the Lord, indeed.
Epilogue
Valentine’s Day
Two years later
Christy lit the crimson candles on the dining-room table and stepped back, admiring the way the glow reflected off the crystal goblets. It was hard to believe that tonight she and David would celebrate their second anniversary. A shiver of excitement traveled up her spine. He’d told her he had a surprise for her. She’d laughed and told him that they were even then, because she had a surprise for him, too.
She untied her apron and placed it carefully in the drawer, taking out the CD she’d hidden there earlier. Her lips curved in satisfaction as she slid the disc into the player and one of the “world’s greatest love songs” filled the room.
Everything was ready.
She didn’t have to worry about Max. Tom and Joni had offered to keep the toddler overnight. With a new baby of their own in the house, they’d told her their Valentine’s Day celebration was definitely going to be a family one, and the little boy was more than welcome.
Christy wanted the dinner to be perfect. Actually, she wanted the night to be perfect. She’d changed both the dinner menu and her outfit several times before settling on lobster Newburg and a clingy black dress she’d bought a few months ago. Looking down at the jersey fabric, she still wondered if she shouldn’t have gone with a larger size.
The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Christy hurried to open the front door.
“Lauren, hello.” Christy opened the door wide and gestured for her friend to come inside. “I love that red dress.”
“Thank you, I picked it up on a pre-Valentine’s Day sale. Speaking of which, I can only stay a few minutes.” Lauren stepped inside. “A whole group of us are going out to dinner to celebrate V-Day. Rusty and Melanie are picking me up at seven and told me I have to be ready.”
“So Rusty asked her out for Valentine’s Day,” Christy said. “Sounds like it’s getting serious.”
“I think you’re right,” Lauren said. “He’s definitely got it bad. And she seems to feel the same. It’s good to see him so happy.”
“Love can do that to you.” Christy thought of the joy her husband and son had brought into her life. “How’s it going with you and Nate?”
Lauren shrugged. “He’s fun to be with, but that’s about it.”
Christy touched her friend’s arm. “One of these days you’ll find that special someone.”
“Maybe. I just hope he shows up before my biological clock stops ticking,” Lauren said with a smile. “So I’ll have someone besides my little godson to spoil rotten. Where is Max, anyway?”
“Over at Joni and Tom’s for the evening,” Christy said.
“Well, when you see him, give him this.” Lauren pulled a red bear out of the sack she carried. “And tell him his aunt Lauren loves him to pieces.”
“I will.”
They chatted for a few minutes before Lauren took a look at the clock and squealed.
“Got to go.” Lauren grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
Christy barely had a chance to say goodbye before Lauren drove off. Being able to get back on her old footing with Lauren had been only one of the many blessings that had come Christy’s way in the past two years.
After Max was born she’d made her husband and son her primary focus. She’d cut back to one seminar a month and embarked on a career as a marriage counselor. And now she’d restricted her practice to two days a week.
David, too, had made changes. He’d worked out an arrangement with Blake to share the responsibilities for managing Warner Enterprises. This not only allowed both of them to use their talents to the fullest but also gave David more time with his family.
The front door slammed and Christy’s heart thumped in her chest. Please let him be happy with the news.
She barely had time to smooth her hair and wipe a fingerprint from a wineglass before David was in the room, standing behind her, the spicy scent of his cologne teasing her senses.
“How’s my Valentine girl?” He gently massaged her shoulders.
“Happy.” Christy smiled and turned in her husband’s arms. “I was just standing here thinking how very lucky I am.”
“You have a wonderful job—” His fingers played with her hair.
“—that gives me great satisfaction,” she said, her voice slightly breathless.
“A handsome husband—” He lowered his head and nibbled at her ear.
“—whom I adore.” Her heart hammered in her ears.
“And a son—” His lips traveled a path along her jawline.
“—who means the world to me.” She turned her mouth to meet his.
David’s eyes lit up and he brushed a kiss that was way too brief across her lips.
“Speaking of the world…” David reached into his suit coat and pulled out a travel folder. “I’ve got a Valentine’s gift for you. What would you say to a couple of weeks in Belize? Sort of a belated honeymoon?”
Christy didn’t need to close her eyes to picture it. Lying on the beach with David. The warm sand. The blue skies. The endless nights.
It had been her favorite dream when they’d first been married. But then the baby had come and…
“Who’d take care of Max?” she said, realizing suddenly that she hadn’t even thought about her son.
“I’ve already cleared it with your parents. They jumped at the chance,” he said with a chuckle. “You know how they feel about spending time with their grandson.”
“And they never can tell their son-in-law no,” Christy said, realizing that her parents fully accepting David as part of the family was yet another blessing.
“Whatever the reason,” he said with characteristic modesty, “it’s a go. All you have to do is say when.”
Christy didn’t hesitate. “Next month?”
“That soon?” he said. “I mean, that would be great, but can you get your schedule freed up by then?”
“I’ll have to,” Christy said. “Because I want to still be able to wear a bikini. And if we wait too much longer, that’s not going to happen.”
“What difference would a few months make?” David’s brows drew together for a long moment before the light of understanding replaced the confusion in his eyes. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “Are you pleased?”
“Oh, Chrissy.” David pulled her close and kissed her slowly, lingeringly.
“So you’re happy about the baby?” After Max was born, she and David had talked about more children, but she’d never expected it to happen this soon.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better Valentine’s Day gift.”
A warmth of pleasure stole through her. “Really?”
He curled his finger beneath her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze. “It’s been two years since Las Vegas. I’ve never thought of myself as particularly lucky, but right now I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”