Chapter 15
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve stopped by Lido’s Loco and so, when I arrive for my lunch with Knox and Maddy, Maddy’s eyes just about pop out of her head.
“Oh my God. Oh. My. God. Look at your stomach! You are pregnant! You are totally pregnant. I mean, I know you told me, but oh my God, it is really, really true and I can totally tell just by looking at you.”
I haven’t seen Maddy for six weeks, and in that time, I’ve really started to show, even though I’m only five months.
“What’s it feel like? Does it feel like there’s something growing inside of you? Have you seen Alien? Oh my God, don’t watch Alien, it’ll freak you out. I’m freaked out. Can I touch your stomach?”
I can’t get a word in, but I don’t mind, I’m laughing too hard to say anything, anyway. I put her hand on my stomach.
“Oh my God. Will it kick me? Is it a boy or a girl?”
“I told them not to tell me.”
“How can you do that? I don’t understand how you do that. I always read the last page of a book first, I have to know if there’s a happy ending.” She gives me a more serious look. “Is there? Are you happy? Is life with Knox everything you thought it would be? Are the cats okay in the new place?”
“The cats might have made their displeasure known by shredding Knox’s favorite silk tie. I figure we’re even now.” We both laugh at that. Maddy put up with all my complaints while we were dating, while we were both trying to work out how to best fit in with the other. He’s got the best of intentions, but he’s also really used to everyone doing what he says. That’s why I stayed working at the restaurant for so long; I wanted to keep some sense of independence. But I gave in and quit when we got married.
“It’s fantastic,” I tell her honestly. “I feel guilty; it’s so perfect. He’s working a lot less now. He’s got a great team of three people; they come over every morning for a breakfast meeting. So he’s in constant contact and still in control, but not everything is hitting his desk. He’s even thinking of taking up a hobby now that we moved into the new house!”
We’ve got a beautiful little house on the Waterfront, near the Mission. I volunteer at Mrs. Scaravelli’s animal shelter three days a week, which has been great. It gives me my own focus, but also Mrs. Scaravelli’s been tutoring me in the social expectations and what kind of society events I do and don’t need to attend. She’s become a real friend.
Maddy claps happily. “I miss you, though. I can’t believe it’s been six weeks and you got all fat.”
I hit her arm. “I’m sorry it’s been so long. Only because we were traveling and then moving,” I promise her. “Come over on Friday after work? I know our place isn’t as upmarket as The Bright Spot, and I can’t drink.” I instinctively put my hand to my stomach, and she nods. “But I figure we could get some rom-coms and a big bowl of popcorn and totally act as stupid as we used to.”
“It’s a date! We can wear old PJs and everything!” Maddy grins and then turns when someone at table 7 waves for her attention. Knox is pulling up outside. I take table 2 so that we’re near the kitchen. The menu hasn’t changed since 2003, so I don’t even know why I’m looking at it.
The room goes a bit quiet as Knox walks in, and I can’t help remembering that day he walked in with a drunken Jazzmene. She’s dating some guy from Ecuador and has long since forgiven Knox for failing to fall for her. I wouldn’t say we are best friends, but she’s fun to hang out with at the social events that Knox drags me to. I don’t think she knows I still have her dress, though. I don’t think I’m going to tell her.
Knox slides into the booth next to me, bumping me over with his hip. “Hey,” I laugh and scoot over, though it’s stupid to be sitting next to each other at a table for four. Knox makes me do stupid things a lot.
“Hey, beautiful pregnant wife,” he says, kissing me, even though we only just saw each other an hour ago. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” I say, and it’s true. We spent our vacation on the tropical island of Bonaire, and I’m afraid I’ve become much too used to him being at my side every minute of the day. “How’s the office?”
“Busy, but they’re fine. It’s amazing how much people can get done if you aren’t looking over their shoulder every minute.” Knox still seems a bit surprised at how well everything is going with him taking a step back. I’m thrilled, of course. But sometimes I worry he’ll get bored.
“I bought a band saw,” he says.
“A what?”
“I was looking at furniture for the nursery, and I just couldn’t find anything quite right. So I’m thinking we can make the garage into a workshop, and I can get some woodworkers in to teach me.”
“You’re training to become a carpenter?” I realize my worries are me being stupid again. There’s no way this man is ever going to get bored.
“Well, a very specialized one,” he says. He puts his hand on my stomach, and my heart flutters at his touch, like it always does. “But I’d like to keep making nursery furniture for a while, if that’s okay with you.”
“Hey, let’s make it through this pregnancy first!” He’s crazy, but I love him. He’s thrown himself as thoroughly into creating our family as he ever did into the business.
And of course, the sex continues to be phenomenal. But there’s something I need to tell him. That’s why I asked him to meet me at the restaurant today, where it all started.
Maddy slides in across from us with two grilled cheese sandwiches, which she knows are our favorite. “Hey, sexy couple of the year! You guys look like you belong on the cover of Contessa.”
“Don’t even say it,” warns Knox. “We’re already getting phone calls for photo shoots of Crystal and her belly!”
“Ooh, really? What magazine? What kind of photograph. I know, I know, you are totally going to do a Kardashian nude preggers shot, aren’t you! Oh, and your boobs will be all big, so it’ll be—”
I’ve known her for five years, and it still takes me that long to get my hand over her mouth when she’s on a roll. “Bite your tongue, Maddy!”
She squirms away, but I get a brief respite as she gets up to welcome a group of people walking in. “No rest for the wicked,” I call after her and she makes a rude gesture at me without even turning around.
Knox puts his arm around me and pulls me to him. I rest my head on his chest, feeling soothed by the low thud of his heart beat.
“I promise you, if we do any photographs, they will be totally clothed and tasteful,” he whispers.
Part of being married to the richest man in New York is becoming more public, I know that. But I also know Knox has a handle on it, so I don’t need to worry.
“Did you mean it about making nursery furniture?”
“Well, yes,” he said. “Although maybe we’ll decide later to have a professional fix it up.”
I sit up and look at him. “I meant, making lots?”
“I meant that for sure, yes.” He looks deep in to my eyes. “I want to make a family with you, Crystal, you know that.”
“I wanted to meet you here for a reason,” she said. “I had a phone call from the doctor.”
His face goes pale, and I’m quick to grab his hand. “Everything is fine, don’t panic,” I tell him. “Just, she didn’t want to say during the appointment on Monday until she was sure.” I grab his hand. “We’re having twins.”
“That’s wonderful!” He shouts in joy, and half the diners turn around. Maddy’s face is a picture, I know she’s dying to know what’s going on. Luckily, Knox doesn’t leave her wondering. He stands up and addresses the whole restaurant. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I want you to know that I’ve just been informed that I’m soon to be the father of twins!”
Then he takes my hand and makes me stand for an ovation from all the customers. Maddy screams and drops her pad in her rush to come over to us. I find myself in a group hug, and in a minute I’m crying, just overwhelmed with the joy of the moment. I am so blessed to have Knox and Maddy and a beautiful house and a beautiful life and soon two beautiful babies.
“The greatest thing I have done with my life was to walk into this restaurant in search of coffee,” says Knox as he wipes my tears away.
I tiptoe kiss him, and he holds me so tight, I’m afraid he might never let me go. It takes me too long to break it off, even though we’re standing in the middle of the restaurant, and I know people are watching. “And the greatest and craziest thing I ever did was let the two of you convince me to go out with you,” I tell him. He throws two twenties on the table and takes my hand to lead me out.
I call to Maddy as he leads me. “Friday night, yes?”
She gives me a thumbs up. “Tell Knox to make himself scarce. I’ll bring my bunny PJs and that new salted caramel ice cream.”
“I know better than to get between Crystal and her ice cream,” promises Knox. “Besides, I have a workshop to set up.”
I’m overflowing with happiness. “Perfect.”
And it really is. I don’t know what I did to deserve all this, but honestly, everything about my life is like a dream come true, even when I’m spending Friday night watching TV in my PJs with a pint of ice cream. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
—