Page 9 of Breath By Breath

“Love you too, Lena.”

We pull into the driveway, and I make a mental note to tell Stanley about our conversation later. Maybe there's something to his theory about the magic of love after all.

CHAPTER

FOUR

Stanley

Age Twenty, Community College Graduation

We did it. Lena and I both graduated with our associate’s degrees. Mine is in business management, while hers is in accounting. Over the last year, we’ve talked a lot about what’s next. Neither one of us really wanted to further our education to get our bachelor’s degrees. We’re both currently working in jobs we love and utilizing our education.

I was just promoted to dispatch at Nashville Concrete. The guys I work with like to give me shit because I’m young, and in their words, tied down to the old ball and chain, but they’re a great group, and we all get along well despite our age difference.

Lena is working for the auditor’s office, and she enjoys it. We’re both using our degrees in our roles, and we’re happy. We’re also ready to start the rest of our lives together. That’s why we signed a lease on a tiny one-bedroom apartment last night. Lena cried. Not because she doesn’t want us to move in together but because she feels guilty for leaving her mom.

This has been hard for her. I might have put a little bug in my mom’s ear, and she had a talk with Lena’s mom, Lora. I knew that Lena would never bring it up on her own, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that Lora wants her daughter to keep moving forward. She understands that Lena won’t live at home forever. That’s all part of life.

When Lena called me this morning crying, I was ready to say the hell with graduation, but she assured me they were happy tears. She had a long heart-to-heart with her mom, and she’s excited for us, just as I knew she would be.

That brings us to the present moment. This time, Lena and I insisted on hosting. We have nothing but paper plates, plastic forks, and cups because we just got our keys last night, but that’s okay. This pepperoni and cheese pizza has never tasted better.

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” Dad jokes.

“Right?” I play along. “We’re thinking some lawn chairs over by the window will really liven the place up.” I chuckle.

“Oh, don’t forget the inflatable pool,” Lena calls out from where she’s standing in the small galley kitchen with our mothers.

“You know I’d never forget the pool,” I call back to her. She blows me a kiss, and like the lovesick fool I am for her, I catch it and place my hand over my heart.

“How are you liking the magic?” Dad asks. I can hear the amusement in his voice.

“It’s magical.”

He tosses his head back in laughter. His hand comes down to rest on my shoulder. “I’m damn proud of you, son. You’re going to do great things.”

I turn to look at Lena. She’s laughing at something my mom said. “She’s the greatest.”

“I won’t argue with that, but I will let you in on a little secret.” He pauses, and I know he’s waiting for me to look at him.

“Dad, I believe you. The magic is real,” I say, returning my gaze to his, giving him my full attention.

He nods. “Yeah, but it intensifies.”

“I don’t know how it could be any better than this. I have the love of my life in our home. We’re starting our forever. It doesn’t get better than that.”

“Oh, it does. It gets better when she takes your last name. It gets better with each passing day that you wake up next to her. Then, one day, she’s going to be carrying a piece of both of you. She’s going to have your baby, Stanley, and when that happens—” Dad shakes his head. “It’s a love like you’ve never known. Not just for her, but for your child.”

“I don’t think I could love her any more than I already do, Dad.”

“You’ll see.” His eyes are on my mother, and there’s a small smile tugging at his lips.

I used to think my dad and grandpa were just giving me shit. You know, like when they send you into the hardware store to ask for checkered paint. But I was wrong. So very wrong. I have no choice but to assume that he’s going to be right about this as well.

I lock eyes with Lena and she smiles. I wink at her, and she blushes. I hope that never stops. I hope that when we’re retired with a yard full of our kids and grandkids, I can still make her blush. Lord knows I’ll never stop trying.

One year post-graduation. Age Twenty-One