Noah

Six Years Later

“Did the permits come through for the place on Tropicana?” Brazen asks me about our newest purchase awaiting renovation.

But my mind isn’t on business. Still, I play along. “Yeah, they came through late yesterday afternoon.”

We’ve been in our new office for about a year now. It’s big and full of windows, and the ocean laps at the shore outside the window on my right. Excitement grows inside my stomach as the waves come in and out with the tide.

I was only nineteen when we got engaged, and after a long engagement, Brazen and I have been married for two years. With each day that has passed, I love him more, and our bond strengthens.

“Noah? Are you listening to me?” He breaks my distraction.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” Whatever it was, I missed it.

“Something on your mind?” he asks me with a hint of worry.

“Yeah, actually, there is.”

He pushes aside the papers he’s been poring over and gives me his full attention. “What’s going on? Is it work? Did something happen with the Orange Grove sale?”

Business has been great, really good. We’re juggling multiple properties at a time, and Brazen has a crew of men underneath him. My distraction today isn’t over work. Moving through our joined office, I open the drawer of my desk and pull out a neatly wrapped box. The pink and blue ribbons tangle, tickling my fingers.

“It isn’t Orange Grove, and there isn’t anything wrong.” I hold out the gift for him to take. “I got you this.” I chew on my lip, anxious to see his face when he sees what’s inside.

Brazen eyes me with a hint of mischief.

“Go on, and open it,” I encourage.

Time moves in slow motion as the colorful ribbons are dropped to the floor. The white wrapping paper is removed with careful precision when I want him to just rip it away.

Come on! Come on! Will it ruin the moment if I scream at him to hurry up?

I can’t wait to see his face. His handsome face that always looks at me with so much love.

Finally, the box is free of its wrapping, and Brazen stares in awe. “Are you … what are you telling me here, Noah?” His voice rises in pitch, and his eyes light up with elation.

“I’m late, very late. I didn’t want to find out for sure without you, but I think we’re pregnant.”

Without even knowing for sure, Brazen lifts me into his arms, and his holler echoes through the spacious office. I excitedly laugh into his neck at his over-the-top response.

“What are we waiting for?” Brazen sets me to the floor and considerately but hastily urges me toward the bathroom.

My feet trip as he holds on to my shoulders.

“Brazen!” I can’t stop laughing. “I don’t need to pee.”

“Hang on.” He leaves me inside the bathroom as I shake my head over his rush. When he returns, he has three bottles of water in his hands. “Drink these.”

“All of them?” I give him a look to tell him that he’s nuts.

“Yeah, or however many until you have to pee. I can get more.” He unscrews the cap of one and pushes it at me.

I take a large sip through a smile. It’s hard to keep the water down while he watches me so intently. Brazen already has the next bottle ready to go before I finish the first, but I hold up my hand.

“No, no more water. I’m good.”

“It worked? You need to go?” He’s opening up the box as he waits for my answer.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Wait, Noah . . .”

“Brazen, you just made me chug water, and now, you want me to wait? I have to pee!”

“I just wanted to tell you I love you, and no matter what that stick says, I can’t wait to start a family with you. You’re going to be the best mom.”

With my legs crossed, I lean in to press my lips to his. He’s always so sweet. That’s never changed over the years.

“I love you, too.”

“Okay, now, take those panties off, and pee on this damn stick!”

The vibe in this tiny bathroom switches so quick, I laugh again, which makes me have to pee even worse.

“Give a girl a little room to do her business. I can’t pee with you standing over me.”

“Fine, but I’m staying in the bathroom.”

“The stick isn’t going to sing out a pregnancy announcement. It takes minutes to give us an answer.” I hike up my dress, one that Brazen bought for me.

“Still not leaving, Noah.”

“Just read the directions,” I tell him with mock annoyance.

He carefully recites the instructions to me as I pee on the stick. Afterward, we sit on the bathroom floor with the test between us at our feet and hold hands while we wait to find out if we’re actually going to be parents. The timer Brazen set goes off, but neither of us reaches for the stick.

“Together?” I ask him.

“Together.” He reaches for the test and holds it between us.

Clear as day, we have our answer.

Brazen’s free hand moves to rest on my stomach. “Little Hashtag is growing inside you.” His hand sneaks up my dress and lovingly strokes my skin.

I can’t help the chortle that bubbles up. “We are definitely still not naming this baby Hashtag.” There is no way, no how.

We’re going to have a baby. I’m going to have Brazen’s child.

Whatever the name, I love him or her more than I ever thought I could love someone I’ve never laid eyes on, and that sentiment will only heighten as we expand our family.