CHAPTER 33 - CHANCE

The past week had been crazy coming off Christmas, finding out I was going to be a father and making a quick, two-day trip to Chicago to take care of Dream’s business. Things had gotten a little emotional when she’d found a life insurance policy where Nick had planned to gain from her death, as well as a secret bank account with thousands of dollars and a policy on himself in the amount of $250,000. We made arrangements for an estate sale, and then the house was to be placed on the market and sold.

The most disturbing thing was a lock box where he had old photographs of his first wife and other women who he’d surely treated no better.

It was good to be back home and to have allowed her to put a bit of closure on that part of her life, knowing we were starting fresh with the past in its place.

I had been so busy with everything that I hadn’t even had a chance to call Austin and tell him the news, and so while Star and Dream went to the market, I gave him a call.

“You’ve got great timing today, my friend. Lola just stepped out with her mother, and I was about to sit down with a bag of peanuts and kick my feet up.”

“Well, I call with good news, so I won’t fuck up your serenity.” I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face knowing how excited he’d be to hear about the baby.

“Well, don’t leave me in suspense, man. Tell me!” He cracked a peanut shell, and I could hear the crunch as he chewed them.

“I’m going to be a father.”

“Fuck, man. Are you serious? You two must have done some serious making up.”

“We have, and yeah, I’m serious. We just found out a few days ago. And, there’s more great news. We’re adopting Star.”

“Damn, like legal adoption?”

“Well, I’m sure we can. Her mother already tried to give me her rights, and I don’t see any protest, and with the baby coming, we’ll be a family. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

“I bet. That’s fucking awesome. I thought you were just going to tell me you’re getting married, but fuck, you just jumped right over that and into fatherhood. Lola and I will have to catch up soon, I guess. I’m not sure I can let her and Dream meet each other too soon.” He belted a laugh as I felt like the biggest asshole alive.

“Fuck.” All the wind had been let out of me.

“What’s the matter? You sound like someone just ran over your puppy.”

“I forgot about getting married.”

Austin laughed so hard he started coughing. “Shit, I almost died eating that peanut. What the fuck do you mean you forgot? You’re adopting Star; you’ll have to get married.”

“I know, but we’ve been so busy talking about everything else, I haven’t mentioned it, and neither has she.”

“Damn, man. She’s like too good to be true. Carrying your baby and she’s not hounding you for a ring. Fuck. Lola started hounding me the minute I put my dick in her.”

“On the first date? Damn.” I couldn’t help but tease him even though inside I was panicking.

“Watch it, man. She was a good girl; she waited until the second.”

“I have to propose. She’s probably waiting for it.”

“You think?” He belted a laugh, and I couldn’t help but think he was enjoying my situation a little too much.

“Could you at least be helpful and fucking help me out. I need ideas.”

“Look, she’s knocked up, just ask her already. She’s going to say yes. It’s not like there’s a chance she won’t.”

“Yeah, but I fucked up the fancy dinner by getting hammered and then I dropped her roses and passed out on her. I think the least I can do if show her I’m not a complete fuck up.”

“She already knows that.” He cracked another nut.

“You’re no help, man.”

“Hey, I got rid of the husband for you. What more do you want.”

“You said he tried to run.”

“Of course he did. Do you think I’m some kind of psychopath? Not even for you, brother.” He got quiet for a moment, and then let loose a long breath. “I’m happy for you, man. No one deserves happiness as much as you.” Something in his tone told me he would have done it for me, but I knew I’d never get him to admit it as long as he lived.

“Thanks. I really am, and I want our proposal to be romantic.”

“Well, today is the last day of the year. Wait until the last minute before midnight and ask her.”

“But I don’t have a ring.” I thought about trying to find the perfect ring in a matter of hours and knew just any old band wouldn’t be good enough. “It’s got to be special too.”

“You’re a fucking artist. Go make her one.”

He had a point. I hurried and said my goodbyes and then headed to the shop. I had a new mission, and with any luck, I’d have a good head start before she and Star returned.

*

I worked through the day and even into the afternoon, and by the time I was finished planning and crafting her ring, I had to admit, it was a beautiful piece of art, but I wanted to get her a real gold band. I hoped this would be a nice placeholder to get me through the night, and once we were able, I’d get her another one.

As we sat eating, Star poked around in her potatoes looking like something was on her mind. “I think you should have twins,” she finally announced.

“Yeah? Why’s that? Don’t tell me you want a matching set.” I popped a piece of pork chop into my mouth and waited to hear what was on her mind.

“No, that way, we can have one of each. A boy and a girl.”

“The chances of that are slim, honey. And it’s not like we get to choose.”

“Why not? I think people should get to choose.”

“Well, the baby is already whatever it’s going to be, so we’ll just have to be happy and hope for a healthy baby.” I wanted her to understand that its health was what mattered, but I didn’t want to go into all the horrible scenarios I’d worried about since I found out we were expecting.

“Can’t you put another baby in there?” Star let out a huff and stabbed a piece of meat as Dream tried not to choke on her dinner.

“No. It doesn’t work that way, and I think you need to eat and stop asking so many questions.”

“Cynthia said asking questions is how we learn.”

I looked at the little girl, remembering when she didn’t talk very much. She’d comes such a long way, and I knew I had Dream to thank for building her confidence. Just having her around to create normalcy had done wonders. But I wouldn’t know for sure how much until school started again.

“Can I do my sparklers after dinner?”

“Yes, but you’ll have to have my help.” She and Dream had stopped at the fireworks stand and gotten sparklers and some snaps. Dream had even called to make sure it was okay, which I thought was nice. Soon we’d be working together on making decisions for the baby, too, and it was good to know she respected my opinion.

After the sparklers, Dream took Star inside and drew her a bath, then she tucked her in, and they read another story while I sneaked off to our room.

I had a few things to take care of, and I hoped that I’d get it done quick enough.

I heard her footsteps coming down the hall, and I opened the door only enough to step out and greet her. “Is she asleep?”

“Yes, she went right out. I want to take a long, hot bath.” She tried to step around me, but I blocked her, taking the opportunity to give her a nice, deep kiss.

“What are you up to?” She gave me a suspicious look.

I took her hand and let her feel exactly what was up. “Is that up enough for you?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

I opened the door behind me and led her into the room where I’d lit candles and turned the bed down. “I was thinking; I could dirty you up a bit before that bath.”

She stepped into my arms, and we kissed as we made our way to the bed. Her eyes met mine with so much passion and desire that I could have sworn my cock grew even harder.

As if it beckoned her, she reached down and undid the buttons on my jeans and moments later, her hand gripped my cock and pulled it out. She stroked it as we kissed, and I sucked in a breath as she dropped to her knees and licked my shaft.

“The candles are nice.” She whispered against my throbbing flesh.

“I hoped you’d like it.” I’d had limited time to make things too romantic, but the lighting did wonders to set the mood.

“I’m going to show you just how much I love it.” She closed her mouth around my shaft, just below the rim of my head and then gave it a hard pull, tonguing the slit. My eyes rolled back into my head as a taste of my salt splashed her tongue. She moaned with pleasure, and I glanced down to see her looking up at me.

“You’re too fucking good to me.” I had wanted to give her so much pleasure she’d be left in a puddle completely sated, but instead, there she was, on her knees trying to do the same for me.

She winked and relaxed her throat, pushing herself down deeper until the head of my cock locked behind her tonsils and made suction sounds. “Fuck.”

I pulled back hoping I wouldn’t come too soon. I’d barely gotten her in the door, and I wanted the first orgasms to be hers. “You’re going to do me in if you’re not careful.”

“I want to taste it.” She rolled her tongue around my rim and then down my shaft.

“Is that where you want it?”

She gave me a wicked grin and then a nod. “Yes,” she hissed before she swallowed me down again.

I let her have her taste when moments later she brought me over the edge. My cock burst a hot load into her throat, and she gulped it down.

I helped her to her feet and then she leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Now you can take your time with me.” She knew I’d be ready to go again soon, and round two would take all night if we wanted.

“I didn’t mean for you to be on your knees.” I turned and took the ring from the drawer and carefully knelt before her with it closed in my fist.

“Oh? I’m sorry, but you did give me exactly what I wanted.” She kissed my hand as I took hers.

“I wanted to be on my knees for a different reason, Dream.” I held out the ring, and her eyes lit with surprise.

“You bought a ring? When did you buy a ring?”

“I made it earlier, actually. If you don’t like it, we can get you another, but I wanted tonight to be special. I’d like you to be my wife, Dream. I know we talked so much about our future and didn’t really discuss this part of it, but I’ve known for a while that I want to spend my life with you.”

“I want that too. And yes, of course, I’ll marry you.” She held out her hand I skipped it on, seeing that it was a perfect fit. I breathed a sigh of relief and kissed her hand, pulling her closer to hold her around the waist and lay my head close to our baby.