Fifteen
Colt
I guide us to the bathroom in the spare bedroom we’re in. When I turn on the light, I laugh at our appearance. We both look like we could use a shower and a new set of clothes, but that isn’t happening right now. I wet a washcloth and clean my fiancé up as best as I can. I love how she watches me while I care for her, almost as much as I love being the one who gets the privilege of being that person for her.
“That’s the best I can do baby.”
She grins and adjusts her clothes and hair in the way that only women can. Her few adjustments have her looking presentable again. She looks at me in the reflection of the mirror. “I’m ready now.”
I kiss the top of her head and rest my chin there. “Thank you, Erica. You’ve given me the best gift I’ll ever receive. You’ve given me your heart. Without it, my future and everything I will treasure wouldn’t be possible. I promised to give you everything, but you gave it right back.”
“I love you Colt.
“I love you too baby. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” I say while rubbing my stomach.
“Oh, God. I was so loud.” She moans as she adjusts my tie. The silk is ruined from where she ground her sweet pussy against me. I loosen the knot and pull the tie from my neck. I tuck it into my pocket along with the scrap of fabric that used to be her panties.
“Don’t worry about it, baby. My parents will understand. Trust me.” I say laughing. I take her hand and lead us back to the dining room. Once we get there, we see that they have waited for us. I pull her chair out like the gentleman I am. I wait for her to sit before pushing her in and dropping another kiss on her head.
“Smells good Ma.”
I get the courage to look up and see all of them staring at us with big smiles on their faces. Erica’s face is so red, but then Ma laughs a huge belly laugh.
“I’m so sorry. Please, let's just eat.” Erica says, looking down at her plate.
Everyone at the table laughs, and eventually, she joins in with us.
“Girl, don’t worry about that. We’ve all been there, ‘cept maybe Gemma.”
“I refuse to dignify that with a response.” Gemma pouts.
“Let's eat. Everyone dig in.” Dad announces to us all.
Once everyone has a plate, and we start eating, I take Erica’s hand in mine. “We have some news.”
“Oh, thank God! You’re pregnant, right?” This gives me a second to pause.
“Uh, maybe.” She says quietly, and I quickly switch out her wine for water.
“No Ma, that is news for another day. Hopefully soon, but not today. I’ve just asked Erica to marry me, and she said yes.”
Congratulations are offered all around.
“Well, that’s great news. I’m confused though, we all heard her calling you ‘Daddy.’ I just assumed that you were having a baby. Sorry.” Ma says shrugging.
It takes me a minute to realize what she’s talking about. When Erica starts choking on her water, I catch a clue. I rub her back until she’s breathing easy again then begin to laugh. I shouldn’t, but I can’t keep it in.
“It’s not really like that, Ma. It’s a-” I start, but my dad cuts me off.
“Say no more Son. You know when you had just gone away to college your momma, and I decided to spice things up. We were watching this video and then-”
“Oh Jimmy, do you remember what it was called. We should tell them, so they can watch it.”
“I think it was… I don’t know hon, I think I’ve got it in the den still. Here, I’ll go get it, one second everyone.”
“Will you two stop? You’re going to scare her away, and she’ll never come back.” Gemma laughs.
“We are a very open family. No secrets here. You’ll get used to it baby.” I say, once again lacing her fingers with mine. After that, the rest of dinner runs smoothly.
Over coffee and dessert in the living room, we are just chatting about anything but Zahn. That motherfucker.
“So, when are you guys getting married?” Gemma asks Erica.
“Gem, I just proposed. I am sure she hasn’t thought about that yet.” I say.
“No, I definitely have. Is the 26th too soon? I want to start our life together as soon as possible.” She smiles at me. I love this girl, so fucking much. She couldn’t be more perfect for me.
“Don’t you want a big wedding?” Gemma asks.
“God no. I just want to be his wife. It doesn’t matter to me how it happens.” She smiles.
“Baby, you’re killing me.” I want nothing more than to take her home and love her, but we still have a couple more hours here.
“Ok, let’s do presents.” My mom says clapping her hands. Erica did a fantastic job on the presents, without even knowing my family.
Gemma graduated from Colorado University at Denver in May. Her first full-time teaching job just started in August at Caraway Middle School. She teaches all levels of Portuguese to the kids. My mom hands her the gift from Erica and me.
“Is this what I think it is? Where did you even find this?”
“What is it Gem?” Ma asks walking over to sit next to her and look in the box.
“This is a first edition of Pride and Prejudice from nineteen forty. It’s the Portuguese edition!”
When Erica asked me what Gemma’s favorite book was, I didn’t hesitate to tell her. Gem has been going on and on about it for years.
“Erica, this is lovely. Thank you. I’ll treasure it forever.” She has tears in her eyes, and she is stroking the cover.
“How do you know that I had nothing to do with it?” I ask Gemma.
“Easy bro. Last year you got me a gift card to McDonalds, because and I quote ‘you like cheeseburgers’.”
I can’t help laughing at that memory. As usual, I had no idea what to get her and waited until the very last minute.
My parents open their gifts next. When Erica asked me what one thing they always wanted to do was, Greece came to mind immediately. There has been a picture of a Greek landscape on the fridge for as long as I can remember. Even through two remodels and the new house that picture remained. My mom has always wanted to go to Greece. Where she goes, my father follows. Erica and I decided to send them on a Mediterranean cruise.
Gemma and my parents bought me a new electric razor. There is no way I am shaving now that I know my girl likes it though.
When I was scoping out Erica’s apartment, I noticed a book of charcoal sketches signed ES. I ended up spending a while looking at every sketch in the pad. The detail she used was exquisite. It was almost as if I could feel her emotions jump off the page. Needless to say, they were amazing. I took my favorite one and had it framed for her. It’s sitting under our tree at home, waiting to be opened.
When my mom asked what she would want I suggested art supplies. My parents came through. I know she wasn’t expecting anything this year. When a huge box is placed in front of her, she bursts into tears. Gemma rubs a hand down her back since I’m across the room.
“Open it E.” Gemma encourages her.
“Is this really for me?” She asks, voice cracking.
“Of course, silly. Open it.” Ma says. Erica rips through the paper like a toddler.
“Oh my God.” She says through tears and smiles. “How did you know?”
“Colt told us. I hope it’s the right stuff. I left the receipt and a gift card for anything I might have missed.”
Inside is an easel, paints, canvases, sketchbooks, and anything else a new artist might require. She takes everything out delicately, treating each object with care.
“I love it. Thank you, everyone. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do now that I’ve resigned.” She says still looking at her gifts.
“It’s totally understandable Erica. Even if this isn’t the right path, you can have fun until you stumble upon it.” Ma kisses her on the cheek and goes back to the tree to grab a box. “Finally, Colt this is from Erica.”
I had no idea she got me anything. My mom hands me the huge box. I waste no time tearing it open. Inside are several things. The first is a coffee cup with a sheriff badge on it that says, ‘I like big busts and I cannot lie.’ Hilarious. The next thing is a wooden sign with a thin blue line in the middle that says, ‘This house bleeds blue.’
The final item is a large black picture frame without glass that has C+E attached to the top. There are rows of rope and clothespins. In the center is a picture of us I snapped the morning after we first spent the night together. Erica was still asleep snuggled to my chest. The rest is blank for us to fill up.
I realize I haven’t said anything yet when Erica says, “You hate it don’t you?” I look up at her and see that she is wringing her hands and chewing on her bottom lip.
“Not all baby. I’m in awe. When did you find the time to do this?” Except for work, I thought I was with her all the time.
“You were sleeping. I thought we could hang it above the bed and add our memories to it.”
I stand and walk over to where she’s sitting and drop to my knees in front of her. Her bruise has darkened, and it kills me that I couldn’t prevent it. I’m not going to let that part of our night ruin the rest of it.
“Baby, I love it. That is the perfect place for it. I love that you were thinking of the future when you made it. Our future together is the only thing that matters now.”