Page 105 of Unexpectedly In Love

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ERYX

She said make it corny; this is as corny as I could get. Drones, Bruno and fireworks.

The neighbors sway as I pass through them only to see my wife standing in a pair of shorts and a crop top.

Something never changes, I think. She is in tears, wiping her face as she sees me.

I walk up to her, and open the ring box. Anise gasps and places her hand on her mouth.

“Is that real?” she asks as she touches the ring in the box.

I nod. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, Ms. Anise Loveridge?”

I can hear my blood rushing through my ear. My palms are sweaty. I wasn’t nervous before, but as I kneel in front of the whole neighborhood, I am now.

She bends forward and begins to cry on my shoulders. “Oh my god, this is so beautiful, baby!”

“So, is that a yes?” I ask with a nervous snigger.

She holds my face and kisses me. “Yes.”

I slide the ring on her finger. She fans her face and screams.

Her sisters all jump to her side screaming, kissing her on the cheek.

My mother-in-law holds my son. “Congratulations, welcome to the family.”

Fireworks light up the sky. Kai is startled, but he holds on tightly to my shirt collar and points to the sky. “Da Da?”

My eyes widen, and I laugh, throwing my head back. “Yes, son, Dada did that.”

Anise slips to the side of me and tickles Kai’s stomach.

“He just called me Dada.” I laugh because I know Anise wanted him to say Mama first. But my boy loves me for that, I’m sure.

“Say Mama,” Anise encourages him

“Dada.” Kai claps and points to the sky.

Anise rolls her eyes. “When we have our next kid, she is going to love me more. Just wait and see.”

“More kids? We can start tonight if you want.” I kiss her and pull her close.

“I love you, Anise Demopoulos.”

She blushes. “I love you, too, psyche mou.” She tiptoes and presses her lips against mine.

As the night winds down, my wife-to-be and son are both sleeping in the car as I drive home. I think about our first meeting, and how lucky I was to find her with my son again. I think about the challenges I overcame, and the lessons that I learnt. I never thought that this would happen, but unexpectedly, I fell in love.

ROSEMARY

Helping my sister plan her wedding is both a dream and a nightmare. I don’t know how Eryx is dealing with it.

Anise is not a Bridezilla, but let’s just say she wants what she wants, and no one can change her mind. After leaving work and driving her around to look at her dress and flowers, I am so tired. I’m still in my scrubs. I just want to take a bath and sit in silence.

That’s the thing about being a big sister—people tend to forget we are people, too, because we are always taking care of someone. I just want someone to take care of me for once. Now I have on my way to make groceries and my ex-husband in my ear making threats on the phone. The kids are back talking, completely oblivious to the trials I’m going through with their dad.

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