ADAM
I walked through the door and was instantly overcome with calmness.
“Honey, I’m home!”
“Hi, home. I’m honey,” Lindsey answered with her favorite joke. She still found it funny.
“What’s cooking’?”
“I’m trying to make burritos.”
“For dinner?” I asked, watching her mix something mysterious in a bowl.
“Yeah, because take-out is so much better.”
I couldn’t care less about what she made. I had everything I wanted.
I showed her that by gently kissing her neck.
“You shouldn’t work so hard, baby,” I said, caressing her belly.
“Oh, relax, this isn’t any real work. Besides, I’m only a few weeks along, the baby will be fine.”
My heart beat faster, her words stirring all sorts of feelings inside me.
“I love you,” I said, incapable of expressing everything any other way.
“I know. I love you too.”
I helped her set the table and couldn’t help but frown at the thought that she’ll be all alone soon. If only my mom would’ve been here for her.
“Babe, smile. I’ll be fine.” It was like Lindsey could read my mind.
“I know. But you can’t say it wouldn’t have been better...”
“It’s fine the way things are. You can’t force them to accept us.”
I nodded. “They’ll come around eventually.”
“Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t have understood us either if I were them. How would you react if your daughter told you she’s in love with her step brother?”
“Yeah. It makes sense, I know, but I can’t help feeling this way. It’s hard, with everything going on.”
“Baby, we have to respect their wishes. They said they don’t want to hear from us, we won’t contact them until they had time to adjust to the idea. If we told them now that I’m pregnant they’d either think we’re begging for help or we’d push them away even more.”
I pulled Lindsey close and kissed the top of her head. I simply loved her, that was the naked truth.
“OK, let’s eat,” she said and pointed to my chair.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Despite her not having experience in the kitchen, she managed to impress me with delicious food every day. And nothing felt better than a nice meal after a day of arduous military training.
I wanted to spend every moment of my life with her.
“They haven’t told me the date yet,” I said quietly, my appetite diminishing gradually.
“Shhh. No such talk at the table, baby. I don't want to hear about your next deployment until I’ve eaten like a small cow and I’m rubbing my belly in front of the TV.”
I smiled. “Baby, I love you. You know that, right?”
“I know.”
“No, I mean, I love everything you do, trying to make me feel better. I should be the one taking care of you.”
“But you are. You’re providing for me, keeping me in college, you’re there for me. It’s the least I can do to repay you.”
“Yeah, it must’ve been a big change for you after your father left. I’m sorry for that.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy here, our house is amazing. And I have you. That’s all I need. You know I’ve always liked to be independent from my father’s money.”
I chuckled. “Then, you better not...”
“Get bored with this military house,” she finished for me. “You’re right, Mr. And it’s your job to keep me interested.” She pointed her burrito at me, in an attempt to look the part, but she couldn’t keep it up for long.
I started laughing first, then she followed suit. In that exact moment I realized I truly didn’t need anything else. I already had the world at my feet with Lindsey. Everything besides that would have been nothing but a bonus.
******
THE END