Page 88 of Never Really Mine
The woman offers us her congratulations, makes us a copy of the title, and then passes us the keys, sending us on our way.
Beau leads me to the car, and helps me in. Once he’s in and we’re both buckled, he heads off. The drive goes by quickly, and when we pull up the long driveway to the house, I’m in awe. There’s something so special about seeing it again, knowing it’s ours. Knowing this is the house we will bring our babies home to.
It’s perfect. Quaint, two-story house with a deep blue siding and crisp white trim. There is a connected two-stall garage, and a front porch with fresh potted flowers on each windowsill and a few hanging from the overhanging roof.
Beau parks the car in the front spot, glancing over to take in my reaction. I’m trying my best not to cry, but I know it’s inevitable. We’re the only ones here, and I’m grateful. I want this to be ours, just us.
Silently, Beau helps me out of the car, and leads me up to the front porch. The flowers are varying colors of purples, pinks, and blues. “Josie?” I ask.
Beau chuckles. “Yep. I asked her to make me a bouquet for you, and she insisted on this.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say.
“It is.” Beau reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small silver key. “Ready?”
“Ready,” I reply. He slides the key into the lock, turning the key and pushing the door open. The house is filled with natural light from the front picture window, and my eyes widen. It’s just like I remember it, but now, it feels even more special. It’s ours, and it’s where we are going to raise our family.
Beau guides me carefully up the stairs, and down the hall toward the bedrooms. When we reach the closed door of the room we designated, he stops. His hand rests on the handle, and he takes a deep breath.
“My brothers have been helping me with this all week, but I wanted it to be just us when I showed you.”
Heart pounding deep in my chest, I nod.
“I wanted a way to show you that this is for us, for our family, and our future.” He pushes the handle down, opening the door into the nursery.
The once bare white walls are now a perfect sage-colored green. Two white cribs are lined against the far wall, with one solid sage sheet on one, the other patterned with green foliage. Hand-crocheted blankets rest over the rails, and I instantly know that my mother made them. She loves to crochet, and I asked her months ago if she would make the babies blankets, and she said yes, but then I never heard anything of it.
Photos of their first ultrasound are framed in a light wood frame, as well as photos of baby animals. There’s a dresser and changing table to my right, perfectly matching the color scheme. I have no idea how he knew exactly what I wanted, but he did. It’s perfect.
Empty hangers await in the closet, just waiting for the totes of baby clothes to arrive and be filled. A handmade rocker is in the corner, clearly Andrew’s work, with a soft cushion in the seat, and fluffy blanket hanging off the back.
My jaw is certainly on the floor, my entire being filled with so much love and affection for Beau. He did this for me, withoutme knowing, and I couldn’t be happier. One of the things I told him I was worried about most with moving during the end of my pregnancy, was not getting a nursery done and ready before they were born, and he did it. He didn’t even hesitate to take one of my biggest concerns and eliminate it completely.
When I glance over at Beau, I can see the fear underneath the emotion all over his face. “You…” I start, having to swallow the thick lump in my throat. “Beau, I can’t believe this.”
He gazes over at me. “I knew this was the thing you were worried about most with moving.”
I nod. “It’s perfect.”
“You like it?” he asks hesitantly. “I wasn’t sure. I know you mentioned wanting a sage green palette, but I wasn’t really sure what else you’d like. Did you know that Fallon is really good at interior design, too? I think we should have her do the rest of the house,” he babbles, but I stop him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
My belly stops me from getting as close to him as I want to, but I still have contact with him, and that’s most important. “Thank you,” I say, looking up. “It’s everything.Youare everything.”
Beau tilts his head, resting his finger under my chin to keep me looking at him. “I love you, Marley. I’m in love with you, and I’m in love with the life we are going to have.”
A choked sob escapes my lips. “I love you, too, Beau. You’ve proved to me that I can have both sides of you. My best friend and the man I love.”
“Always,” he tells me. His brown eyes are searching mine, and I wait, eager for the moment our lips collide. He doesn’t make me wait long, kissing me deeply. One hand cups the nape of my neck, fingers tightening in the roots of my hair. We make out like teenagers, making up for lost time. It’s not until there’sa loud whoop that echoes through the empty house that we pull apart.
Beau laughs. “There’s Thomas.” He pulls me in for one last kiss, and then with a final glance at the nursery, he leads me down the hall to the master bedroom.
“We don’t have much time, but I wanted to see your reaction.” I quirk my brow as he opens the door. Covering the far wall are picture frames, varying in shapes and sizing. I step closer, my heart soaring when I see them.
Pictures of us. From the first summer we met. In one photo, we’re both soaking wet after swimming in the lake on the Fourth of July. My shoulders are sunburned, and Beau’s grin is cheesy, but his arm is wrapped around me, keeping me close.
Another depicts our eighth grade snow-ball dance. We decided to go as friends, but that night was unbearable, trying not to show him how big of a crush I had on him. Beau has the same grin on his face, but this time, his mouth is full of braces, the neon green bands so vibrant they nearly glowed in the dark. I’m wearing a zebra print dress with a hot pink sash. My hair is teased within an inch of its life, and I have a thick layer of eyeliner on. I don’t know how my mom let me out of the house like that, but that was the trend.
Junior Prom is the next photo. I went with my friends, and Beau took his on-again-off-again girlfriend. We took pictures together and they turned out horrible. We look awkward as hell, almost like we were afraid to touch each other for fear of outing our feelings to the other with a simple touch.
