Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Anything for you. You know that.”
We stop by the cottage to kiss the kids good night and begin our drive to the city. We’ll be having dinner at Bond 45 NY just like we did on the night I proposed. That’s our anniversary tradition. After dinner, we’ll take in a late showing of Moulin Rouge on Broadway and, if Beth is up for it, we’ll take a trip to the 102nd floor observation deck of the Empire State Building.
Dinner is amazing as always, but it’s my beautiful wife’s company that makes it so special. I reserve the same table each year so we can relive the first time we said, “I love you.”
Even the show is good, though it wouldn’t have been my first choice. I’m not much into musicals, but seeing Beth’s expression as she immersed herself into the world being presented on the stage makes it all worth it.
“Are we going to the Empire State Building?” she asks as we exit the theater.
“I didn’t know if you’d be up for it. This is a lot for someone in your condition.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything, Daddy. Let’s go, okay?”
“Of course, sweetheart.”
It’s a windy fall night, and I wrap my suit jacket around her to keep her warm. She looks out at the city below and takes my hand. “This is the place that brought us together.”
“Well, actually, that’s the place that brought us together.” I point up at the sky.
She laughs. “You’re partly right. That’s where we had our first encounter, but if I hadn’t decided to come to work for you in this city, that would never have happened.”
“I remember how scared you were that day. You were so sure the plane was just gonna fall out of the sky.”
“Yeah, I was so scared that I confessed I was a virgin. I still can’t believe I just blurted that out to you.”
“I don’t think you were talking to me. I don’t think you even knew I was there at that moment. You were in your own little world.”
“Until you followed me into the restroom. Then I was in your world. You took me there when you kissed me for the first time.”
I take her in my arms and hold her tight. “You’re freezing, baby. I think I need to get you home. The last thing we need is for you to come down with a cold while you’re pregnant.”
“You always take such good care of me. Did I mention that you’re also an amazing father?”
“If it wasn’t for you, that wouldn’t be possible. You gave me children, little girl. Do you have any idea how amazing that is?”
“I love you so much, Daddy.”
“I love you too, little girl.”
We go down to the car and start the hour-long drive home. In minutes, Beth settles into her seat and closes her eyes. I figured the trip might take a lot out of her, so I turn down the radio and let her sleep.
With the lights of the city in the rearview mirror and the darkness of the world coming through the windows, I spend the long, silent drive thinking about how our lives have come together. Before Beth, I couldn’t imagine anything becoming more important to me than my work. Now, I’m thinking that two days per week might be too much time away from my family. Maybe I’ll have the tech guys come out and wire my office so I can work from home all the time.
We arrive home and I gently shake Beth awake. She stretches and asks, “Why did you let me sleep? I could have kept you company.”
“You did keep me company. I like watching you sleep.”
I help her inside and we find her mother seated on the sofa, reading a book.
“How were they?” I ask her.
“Perfect as always. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s past my bedtime. I hope you guys had a wonderful time.”
“We did,” Beth answers. “Look what Bryan gave me.” She holds up her arm to show her mother the antique bracelet.
“It’s beautiful. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Her mother leaves and I make Beth her nightly cup of tea. We sit together on the sofa as she sips it by the fire. When she finishes, I help her up the stairs. We look in on all the children on our way to the master bedroom. She looks confused when I stop at the door to the empty nursery.
“Why are we stopping?” she asks.
“I have one more surprise for you.”
I open the door and switch on the light. In the center of the room sits the crib that I’ve been making with my father in the wood shop. He rubbed it down with tongue oil, causing the grain of the wood to glisten under the light, and tied a large red ribbon around its center. As promised, he delivered it while we were gone.