CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ADAM
The soup kitchen had been a success and all the kids had asked when we could go back. I was so proud of them for being so selfless. I told them we could go back anytime they wanted, and we signed up for another shift right after the New Year. The fact that they would willingly give up their weekends to help people in need made both Kate and me so proud.
It was Christmas morning and the kids were going to be waking up at any moment. I spent the early hours putting the scavenger hunt together and was nervous the whole thing could very well blow up in our faces. I wanted them to feel like their parents were a part of this holiday, even with them gone. Maybe it was a horrible idea, but, maybe they would realize that no matter what happened Beth and Will would always be in their hearts. Ugh! I’m starting to think like a chick. I shook my head and waited for Kate to come into the living room where we had the tree neatly done with all of Beth’s decorations. I had something special for her, and I wasn’t sure I could give it to her with an audience. She walked out of the kitchen holding my cup of coffee and smiling brightly at me. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, beautiful,” I said taking the mug from her and setting it down on the coffee table. “I have something for you.”
“What? You didn’t have to do that,” she asked when I handed her a small velvet box. “Adam? What is this?”
“I’ve had that for a long time. The only person I ever wanted to give it to was you.”
She opened the box and a gasp caught in her throat. “I bought that ring for you years ago with my signing bonus. I thought we would be together forever. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t our time back then. But, it is now. Kate, I never stopped loving you and even though we lost sight of that future all those years ago. I don’t want to give up on it again. I love you more than I need air to breathe. Please marry me?” By the time I was done with my speech, tears were pouring down her cheeks and she was nodding excitedly. She pushed into me and nearly took us both to the ground as she kissed me, hard. “So, is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she said, breathless and I smiled, kissing her roughly.
“Eew, old people kissing is just weird,” April said from behind us, but she had a smile on her face.
“Well, I guess you don’t want to be a bridesmaid then?” Kate asked showing off the ring.
“You guys are getting married?” she shrieked excitedly. “That means you’re not leaving?”
“April?” Kate asked softly. “We already told you honey. We’re not going anywhere.”
“I know, but I kinda didn’t believe it until now,” she said sheepishly. “I though one of you would get tired of us and we would only see you on weekends. I mean you lost your job because of us.”
“Is that what you think?” She walked over and hugged April. “No honey. I lost my job because an insufferable woman thought I was her slave and was going to keep me from you all. I didn’t want to be there. I wanted to be here with you.”
April’s smile was watery as she hugged Kate tight. I was so glad we had finally got through to her. Maybe now, the kids could get back to normal. It was obvious where they got the idea that one of us would leave, but I was glad that we were able to make her see we were in it for the long haul and nothing short of disaster would take us from them.
It wasn’t long before the other kids were up and presents were being unwrapped all over the place. Wrapping paper was everywhere and the kids were looking at all their presents with bright beaming smiles.
“Let’s have breakfast and then there is one more present for each of you.”
They all looked around in confusion, but I just smiled. The framed letters from their parents were pretty big, but they weren’t going to find them under the tree.
We all went and had a huge Christmas breakfast and the kids all talked excitedly about their new things. Peyton was still chattering about her new phone and April was sitting next to her, showing her all the cool things it did and talking happily about what apps she could buy. It was so… normal and I was loving every second of it. When the kids ran to get dressed, Kate walked over and sat next to me with a bag behind her back. I looked at her curiously and for the first time she looked nervous and unsure of herself.
“I wasn’t sure if I should give this to you, or how you would feel about it. I’m not sure exactly how it happened…” she stammered and I silenced her with a finger to her lips.
“Let me see,” I said and reached for the bag. Opening it, I reached in finding a small piece of fabric. Curious, I pulled it out and stopped unsure what I was really looking at. “What is this?”
“A onesie,” she said softly. “Keep looking.”
I reached back in the bag still a little dumbfounded and felt a stick in the bottom. Pulling it out, I looked at the little pink plus sign in the window and back up at Kate. She was looking at me warily, but I still hadn’t processed what she was trying to tell me.
“I took it this morning.” She sighed looking away, clearly disappointed in my slow reaction.
“This… what? We’re having a baby?” I asked as a smile spread across my face. I turned her chin, so she had to look at me and pulled her into my arms, kissing her hard. “It’s incredible, Kate. I’m gonna be a dad?”
“Yeah.” She smiled, relieved I’d finally shown emotion. “We’re having a baby,” she said almost reverently.
I unfolded the tiny little baby shirt and looked down at the writing on it. “World’s Greatest Dad” and nearly choked on my tears. I couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in the last two months. It was finally starting to turn around, and I owed it all to the woman I was holding in my arms.