Page 44 of Omen's Bombshell

“I did. There are actually several on the property in various shades. You’ve got purple, pink, white, and blue ones. We have a sittin’ area out back for those who need to take a break while they’re here and that’s where most of them are located. I also wanted to have one in front so it would be the first thing you saw when you pulled in, Baby Girl. Are you ready to check out the inside?” he asks me as I nod my head and take the hand he’s holding out for me.

We make our way inside and I take in the warm colors that invite people in. The main entrance is large with a small desk off to the side. On my right I see the openings of several rooms and make my way toward them first. Each room is large and set up so chairs can fill the space with plenty of room for the coffin to be set up at one end of the room or the other. Couches fill the space along the wall with plenty of room for pictures of the loved one to be displayed without crowding the coffin. Several stands are already in each room for flowers to sit on. While the rooms appear to be the same, there are small details that make each one different in the smallest way possible.

Omen shows me where my office will be that’s already filled with a desk I’ve been looking at online for the last several months. A large, overstuffed office chair sits behind the desk and I know I’ll be comfortable in it as I sit and talk with family members as they plan the funeral of their loved ones. Two chairs sit in front of the desk and I can tell as I walk up to them that they’ll also be comfortable. A couch is off to the side but still close enough for anyone else who might need to be involved in the planning process. The room is very inviting and I can’t wait to make it my own with personal touches. My uncle’s office didn’t have very many personal touches until I got old enough to help change it for him. It was cold and empty before I added some pictures of the family and a few other small touches so people would be more comfortable.

Omen finally leads me downstairs where everything will take place to get the deceased ready for each funeral. He explains that he got help with this part from my aunt since she knew how my uncle’s funeral home was set up. The last thing Omen shows me is a door that’s locked. He tells me it leads to a crematorium that’s separate from the rest of the building in case something happens. The door will prevent any possible fire from spreading to the rest of the funeral home so it’s always to be kept shut and locked.

By the time we make our way back upstairs and to the receptionist’s desk, I have more tears in my eyes. Omen pulls me in for a hug with Amanda held between the two of us.

“Aren’t you happy, Baby Girl? I thought this would be a good surprise,” Omen asks me, his voice filled with worry as he pulls back a little bit to stare into my eyes.

“I’m very happy, Kellan. This is the best surprise and the last thing I was expecting to walk into today. Thank you for all of this. It’s perfect and more than I ever dreamed of having for myself,” I tell him honestly as I take a deep breath and turn to face him more. “I have something to tell you. I guess today is one full of surprises.”

“What’s goin’ on, Oaklynn?”

“I took a test this morning and I’m pregnant. It’s just a home pregnancy test, but I’ve been getting sick every morning for the last week and I’m so damn tired all day long. I’ll have to make an appointment with Dr. Matthews, but I’m pretty sure she’ll give us the same results of the home test,” I tell him, waiting as I watch several emotions playing out over his face.

“Are you serious right now? That’s the best news you could’ve given me, Baby Girl. I promise you right now, I’ll be there for everythin’. Every doctor’s appointment, cravin’, the good days, and the days you can’t get out of bed. I want to read all the pregnancy books and watch as your body changes every single day while our son or daughter grows in your belly,” he says, pulling me back into his arms and holding me close while pressing a kiss to the top of my head.

Amanda’s little arms wrap around my neck as she’s pressed between the two of us. This is my life. The three of us, soon to be four, making our way through the world and living each day to our best ability. Memories are made each and every day and today is one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. It’s one filled with surprises and good memories I’ll have with me for the rest of my life.

“I don’t want to tell anyone yet. I’d like to get through the first trimester before we share the news. And have a doctor’s appointment to confirm the pregnancy. There’s such a risk for miscarriage no matter how careful we are and I don’t want to tell everyone only for something to happen,” I tell him, pulling back and looking up at him to judge his response to this.

“Okay, Baby Girl. We’ll do whatever you want. This isn’t your first pregnancy and we’ll go with what you need to do to make sure you’re happy, healthy, and thrivin’. If you want to wait, we’ll wait,” he assures me with the largest smile on his face. “Let’s go home and take the day to be a family with no one else around. We’ll shut our phones off and just enjoy the day together.”

“That sounds perfect,” I tell him as we start walking toward my car.

Omen puts Amanda in her car seat and buckles her in securely before closing her door and coming to lean in over me. He makes sure I’m buckled in before kissing me and letting me know he’ll follow me home. I watch as he rounds the building and soon he’s riding his bike toward me. Pulling out, I make my way toward the compound and we don’t hesitate for anyone waving to us as we slowly make our way home. True to his word, we shut our phones off after letting everyone know we're home and okay but want to take the day for ourselves so if there’s an emergency we can be found. With Amanda between us on the couch, we watch movies and veg out for the day. Omen and I prepare dinner together and eat with our daughter before bathing her and putting her to bed. We spend the rest of the night talking about our future and what we want moving forward. It’s a great day and I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Epilogue Two

Omen

Nine months later

ROCKING BACK AND forthslowly in the rocking chair in the nursery, I hold three quarters of my world in my arms. Oaklynn is sleeping in our bed as I take care of our son and daughter. My wife blessed me with a son this time. He’s now two months old and Amanda is almost two years old. We just found out yesterday that Oaklynn’s pregnant again. We’ve literally had sex once since the birth of our son and I managed to get her pregnant once again. It’s definitely not something we were planning, but I can’t say I’m upset or pissed about it. I told her I wanted a football team of kids which made my wife laugh her ass off. We’re already on number three so I might get my wish after all if things keep going the way they seem to be. We’ll see what happens after this pregnancy.

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