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“This is where it all began,” Brookie whispers. Holding his weight off me, he plants his hands on top of the hay bale as we kiss. My dress is rucked up around my hips as the tulle surrounds him, his bow tie hangs loose. I fumble for his belt and zipper. My sexy husband. We can’t keep our hands off one another.
“It all began in the back of my Jeep,” I remind him.
He chuckles in the moonlight, touching my face with his fingers, looking at me with such a burning intensity I could burst. “Well, that’s true. But we made Blake in this very barn, I’m sure of it.” He smirks.
“I’m sure of it too.”
“I hope there’s more to come. Babies, that is.”
“You’re so sexy as a baby daddy.” I kiss him hard as he pulls my dress down.
“We can practice all weekend if you like. I don’t plan on lettin’ you out of my sight…”
And practice we did. Over and over again. Our love making was never boring.
But we never fell pregnant again. We weren’t exactly trying, or being careful. But as the years went on it just didn’t happen. We were so blessed with Blake, we didn’t care. She’s our whole world.
“What are you thinking about?” Brook breaks me out of my reverie and I realize, with some embarrassment, I’ve been staring into space thinking about the past.
“Just memories.” My voice is strained, and I don’t mean it to be. There’s no way I can elaborate even if the emotion hits me inside all of a sudden.
“I’m glad we have them,” he says simply. “In the end that’s all anyone has. Might as well make them good.”
“I agree, that’s why we need to make Blake’s the best birthday bash the Bassetts have seen so far.”
His smile lights up the cafe. When Brook smiles, it’s like Christmas. “Now that sounds like a plan. Put it here.” He holds his fist out so we can bump knuckles across the table.
“You’re right, we should get co-parenting gold stars.” I smile.
He grins wider. “Whatever you say, Baby Doll, whatever you say.”
4
Brooklyn
I don’t bring up the papers. I don’t bring up the fact I found them while rummaging around like a mad man, and I sure as hell don’t remind her we’re still married. Not when she’s beaming and happy from us discussing Blake’s party. It would be wrong to go and shit all over her good mood for no reason. I mean, it’s been five years since we split. It can wait a few more days. Then I might be able to stomach the idea of bringing the topic up again. Maybe after, when Blake’s party is all said and done. If she was so worried about being divorced, she would’ve asked for a copy of the papers before now. Right?
Now is not the time to panic.
I’ll tell her when the time is right, and then we’ll just file again. It’s not like it can’t be done. Even as I’m putting my hand on the small of her back as we walk outside the cafe, waving to Aunt May on the way out, I know that I’m kidding myself. And I’m chicken shit once again.
“So, I’ll text you when I’ve got the Harry Potter books organized,” I say. “May need a Plan B in case the special copies are all sold out.”
“You could always get her a new saddle?”
Eden always has the best ideas. I’ve done well over the years because she guides me with all the present buying. We went through the My Little Pony and Barbie stages. And I know every single Wiggles tune there is to know. Wags the dog ain’t got nothing on me.
Luckily Blake has always been an outdoor girl — she doesn't care much for video games and watching television.
“Great minds think alike.” She’s still wearing her reading glasses. Instinctively I reach for the sides and slide them up on top of her head, pushing her curls back. “You’ll get sore eyes driving with these on.”
For some reason, she flushes. I see the faint pink dust over her cheeks. I stop, my heart hammering in my chest. Is it just me or is it stuffy out here all of a sudden?
“Uh, thanks.” She pulls the glasses off her head and folds them down. “I’d forget my head if it weren’t stuck on.”
I laugh. “So, that’s that then. The cake was sorted, you said?”
Eden makes a face. “Shit! I forgot to tell you, when Verne called me to offer her services I told her your mom was making the cake, there was just about World War Three.”
