Page 38 of Dark Truth

“This is the reaction I should have given you this morning, my dear. Come along, into the living room.” I marched her and the guy behind me in, tipped the man after he’d set everything down, and watched her as he let himself out of our home.

“What is all of this, Dylan? Really?” She had tears in her eyes again, but they were happy tears, so it was alright.

“Here, open this one first.” I handed her the box that I knew had the dress in it and sat down beside of her.

The living room was now filled with roses, carnations, tulips, and a variety of other flowers, as well as the stack of boxes.

“Oh, it’s beautiful, Dylan.” She pulled the dress out of the box and held it up. It was a light, stretchy material that would suit her well as her belly grew.

“I know you’ll probably have a dozen more dresses by the time this is finished, but I wanted to get you one too. And these.”

I handed her the much lighter boxes and felt delight as her eyes went round. “Baby clothes?”

“I got them in neutral colors, until we know what we’re having. I just wanted you to know, I’m in this with you. You aren’t alone and won’t have to be. As long as we can keep me healthy, that is.”

“It’s a good reason to stay healthy, don’t you think?” she asked and opened another box. It was mainly sleepwear and onsies, and I’d even found the tiniest pair of socks that I couldn’t resist buying. “I think you’ve got the baby’s entire wardrobe for the first year of its life here.”

“Oh, the saleswoman told me that I’d need to get clothes in a variety of different sizes, because the baby would grow so much in its first year.”

“She’s right.” Emily leaned over to kiss me on the cheek and stayed there. “You’ve done well, Dylan. This is fantastic.”

“I hope so. I know I didn’t give you what you wanted this morning, but I’m not totally stumped now. I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t upset you too much.”

“I was a little disappointed, but it was a shock. You have a lot on your plate, Dylan. A lot. I knew it wouldn’t be easy for you.”

“You always think about me before you, don’t you, Emily? It always amazes me just how thoughtful you are.”

“Just wait until this baby is born; you’re going to have to be almost as thoughtful as me.”

“I can only try to do my best.” I chuckled and moved. “Oh, there’s this too.”

I found the piece of paper in the folder, lost amongst wrapping paper and boxes. “This might be the most important part of all.”

“What is it?” she asked and opened the folder. “You’re kidding me?”

Her head whipped back to look at me, and I knew I’d done really well.

“You like him?”

“I’ve always wanted a dog! I almost got one when I first met you, but I didn’t want to neglect it by leaving it at my place so much. I didn’t know if you’d want one.”

“I always wanted one, but my real mother was a little nuts, and we were afraid to have one in the house. My adoptive mother is allergic to dogs, somehow. So I never had one. I thought our little one should grow up knowing what puppy love is.”

“He’s perfect.” She stared at the picture of the dog with large brown eyes and a curious look on his face. “I love him already.”

“I’m not so sure about his name.”

“Oh, his name is fine, Dylan. Let’s not confuse him by changing it.”

“You’re right.” I leaned back on the couch, relaxed now that I knew she was happy. “So what do you think we should name the baby?”

“Caroline, if it’s a girl, because of the place where we met. Or Charles for a boy?” she offered, and I knew she’d been thinking on it.

“Or we could call it Charlie, either way.” I liked the sound of it, even if it wasn’t a conventional name anymore. I liked her idea of naming the baby for where we’d met and fell in love. I hadn’t told her that part yet, but I would when the time was right.

“I like Caroline better if it’s a girl, and you could call her Charlie,” she offered, a light tease in her eyes.

“I like Charlie,” I grumped and looked away, teasing her back. “You’re her mother. So if you prefer Caroline, then that’s what her name shall be.”