A year later
Lance asked me to marry him that summer, and we had the wedding in the fall. It was now May again, and I could not fathom how much my life had changed in a year.
The commercial had been a big hit.
Everyone loved the part where it said 'I bet they swim faster than me', and there were countless internet memes about it. I still didn’t quite see myself as the same girl who did that commercial, nor did I make singing in front of people a habit, but it had been an extremely fun, life-changing event that I wouldn't trade for the world. I sang a little bit for Lance when he asked me to, and that was enough for me.
It seemed like there was one change after another… I'm in love, I'm married, I'm moving. My job had been the one thing that had remained steady and constant. I had a few of the same students from the year before and some new ones. I had a really good group, and they were all excited when they had to switch from calling me 'Ms. Dixon' to 'Ms. Evans'.
Lance and I were married in November, which was a busy time for me at school, so we waited until Christmas break to go on a honeymoon. I had never traveled outside the U.S., and there were so many places I wanted to see, but ultimately, we chose Switzerland. Miami was hot year-round, so rather than choose a tropical destination for our December getaway, we opted for snowy mountains. We stayed for two weeks, seeing sights, skiing, shopping, and doing a whole lot of nothing while cuddled up by the fire, enjoying picturesque views.
Lance and I both worked hard at our jobs and took them seriously, so neither of us felt guilty about relaxing in Switzerland and doing just as we pleased for two weeks.
I felt like a princess, and I didn't take a second of it for granted. We left the day after Christmas and stayed through the first part of January, which meant I had to get a sub for a week.
Sheila stayed with Mom and Aunt Regina. Lance and I both missed her, and we brought her a big, juicy bone so she'd forgive us for leaving. It worked.
***
It was now the end of another school year.
I had just thrown another barbecue at the park, and I couldn't help but feel like a completely different woman than the one who threw it last year. We had it on a Friday, and that evening, we all went to Lance's brother's house for a family dinner.
D.J.'s daughter, Kate, had just graduated from Kindergarten, and they had us over for a swimming party to celebrate. We were all outside watching the kids swim and hanging out on D.J. and Emily's back terrace. I had a long day with planning and executing the barbecue, so I opted not to swim.
Lance, however, had been in the water with the kids and had just gotten out. We had been married for six months, and still, the sight of his shirtless, wet body caused those electric feelings of desire to happen in my lower stomach. I couldn't help but wonder if it was even okay that I felt this way in my current condition.
Lance started walking toward me, smiling as he towel-dried his hair. One of the kids yelled something about him getting back in the pool, and he turned and yelled that he would think about it after dinner. He came over to where I was sitting at a table with his mom, sister, and Emily. It was a high table with chairs that sat at the same height as barstools, so I was close to Lance's eye level without him having to stoop down. He walked up behind my chair, and I shifted and reached out, smoothing his wet hair, and smiling as that feeling of yearning intensified. He kissed my cheek as he reached around me to retrieve his t-shirt.
"Sidney was just telling us about the frames she made for her class," Maggie said. "I bet they loved that."
"They did," Lance said. "She had a group picture of the class, and she gave them each one in a frame she made out of shells. She always collects them when we walk Sheila. They come out really nice."
"We've seen them before," Maggie said. "Remember, she made Layla one for her new place."
"I love that thing," Layla said. "My friend, Greta, said she saw one just like it at a boutique for two hundred dollars."
"Sidney's got an eye for it," Lance agreed, nodding. "She gave her mom one today, and she bawled her eyes out."
"Your mama got one?" Maggie asked looking slightly confused since we had been talking about the group picture of my students.
"Yes ma'am" I said. "My mom came to the barbecue, and I hated to leave her out."
Maggie smiled and nodded as if she mostly understood. "Oh, okay. She must have really liked it," she added talking about the fact that Lance said she bawled.
I looked at Lance. He smiled and gave me a secret, almost imperceptive nod.
I reached into the bag that was hanging from the back of my chair and pulled out a small box.
I had made a frame for Maggie.
It was a small one, so the box was only a few inches. She gasped and said, "For me?" as she began to open it carefully.
Lance leaned in and buried his face in my neck, nibbling the edge of my ear nervously as we watched his mom. I wiggled and grinned at the ticklish feeling. I put my hand on the side of his still-wet face, holding him in place next to me without looking at him.
Maggie gasped again, holding her hand over her mouth as she took in the frame and then glanced at us. "Is this… is it?" Her eyes were already starting to water, so I knew she knew exactly what it was.
Lance and I both nodded, and tears began to roll down his mother's cheeks.
"What is it?" Layla asked, leaning over the table to try to get a look.
"It's an… ultra-s-sound," Maggie said, crying as she weakly flashed it toward the others at the table.
And that was that.
Charlie Anne Evans was born seven months later, and she was the center of our universe—a picture perfect baby girl with a head full of dark hair.
We would teach her many things, and among them would be to never, ever take for granted the love of our Creator who cares enough to paint us pictures in the sky.
The End
(till book 3)