Page 83 of Jam and Jingle Bells
He laughed and kissed the top of my head. “What about kids? Do you want kids? I know you have a whole five-year plan thing going.”
I turned my head to gaze up at him. “A five-year plan?”
“You said you were three years into a five-year birth control plan.”
I snickered and patted his face. “You clearly don’t have a lot of experience with birth control. I just meant that it lasts for five years if you don’t have it removed, but I’ve only had it for three so we are safe to rely on it for birth control.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Oh, I see.”
I shook my head. “No, you don’t. You’re doing the math in your head and it’s not adding up with me breaking up with Ethan and telling you I haven’t been with a man since.”
He opened his mouth to speak but shut it again for a moment. “It’s your body, babe.”
“I had a device that needed to be replaced. At the time, I was a year into Ethan’s betrayal and not interested in men or sex, but I also didn’t want to be alone forever. I needed time to lick my wounds and find the guy who was right for me. I opted for the replacement to make life easier. It turns out, I just needed a few more years to find the guy who was right for me.”
He kissed me long and hard with enough tongue to leave my lips shiny with dew when he pulled away. “You take my breath away. Last night while I watched you sleep, I pictured you holding our little girl. She was the perfect shade of cinnamon with long brown hair tinged with ginger. She had her momma’s nose and her daddy’s eyes. She was perfect in every way.”
I gazed up at him, the love in his eyes shining bright in the darkness. “I know you want kids, and I know you’d be the best daddy Bells Pass has ever seen. You’d outshine Shep and Mason without even trying, but what about this?” I asked, patting his chest.
He held his hand there and swallowed, his face serious when he spoke. “I’m going to be here for a very long time, Addie. This device ensures that. You don’t have to worry. Please, tell me you understand that.”
“I understand, Ellis. My mom explained everything to me, but she also told me Ramona-Ward syndrome is autosomal dominant.”
He nodded his forehead against mine. “It is. I had a parent with it and I have it. That gives each one of our kids a fifty percent chance of having it, too. It doesn’t matter that you don’t have it. I know what the risks are, Addie. My mom didn’t know she had it and died. I nearly died. You can bet that when I have a child, the very first thing they will test is their heart. There are treatment options available and if they have it, I’ll be there to help them understand it and live with it.”
“You’d be a wonderful daddy. Sometimes, when we’re alone and quiet, I picture you with our son. He’s about four and sitting across from you in the Sukhasana position, his eyes closed and his breathing even. He’s tiny with glowing light brown skin. He’s got his daddy’s smile and his momma’s head of hair. He wants to do everything his daddy does and those beautiful chocolate brown eyes trust his hero with the love and innocence of a child.”
He growled and hauled me onto his lap, his lips attacking mine with trust, love, and hope that someday both those dreams would come true.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Are we ready?” I asked Ivy nervously.
She patted my back and smiled. “Relax, Addie. We’ve got this. Mason is manning the oven, Mel has the cake and pie, and Holly is running the show.”
I grinned and laughed at the little girl who was indeed, in charge. She had on her white apron Mason had bought her at the kitchen store to match his, and her chef hat that almost swallowed her head whole. She was barking orders about napkin placement and coffee orders.
“You’re right, nothing to worry about,” I laughed, taking a deep breath.
“Is he coming?” she asked, her hands clapping excitedly.
“He was locking up the studio but said he just wanted to stay in for the night. He finally agreed to take food and pie home. He should be here any minute.”
Ivy turned back to the room. “Okay everyone, he’s almost here. Get ready!”
Filling the room was the greatest part of Bells Pass. A community of people who without question or concern for their own plans, dropped everything on a Tuesday night to celebrate with someone who needed a community behind them. His truck pulled into the parking lot and Ivy grabbed my hand, shaking it for a minute before she ran for the light switch, dousing the lights the moment he reached for the door handle.
“Is everyone okay?” he called out, checking the streetlights and noticing they were still on. The door closed behind him and Ivy flipped the lights on.
“Happy birthday!” everyone in the diner called out at once.
A banner stretched the length of the counter and balloons hung everywhere. He stood in shocked silence, his mouth open as he took in the diner. It was filled with his students, other business owners, and all of our friends. I hugged him, whispering in his ear. “Happy birthday. I love you.”
He held me and kissed my temple before releasing me. “Wow,” he said, motioning at the crowd as everyone laughed. “Thank you so much! I wasn’t expecting a birthday party.”
Ivy hooked her arm in his. I was glad the stitches were out and the doctor had cleared him on Monday for full duty. He was going to be busy using that arm tonight. Ivy dragged him over to the counter and plopped a hat on his head that saidBirthday Boyon it. His eyes turned upward to look at the blue feathers surrounding the bottom and he burst out laughing, his smile widening with each handshake and hug.
Ivy clapped her hands and everyone quieted. “Let’s eat!”
