Page 58 of The Plus-One Deal
“That sounds perfect,” I said.
“So, that’s a yes?”
“Of course it is. Yes. I can’t wait.” I snuggled up closer, loving the feel of his skin. The feel of him holding me so close, so safe.
“I knew all my life I was working toward something.” Conrad leaned down to press a kiss to my head. “But I could never get there, no matter how hard I worked. No matter what I did, it felt out of reach — success that mattered. Success that felt worth it.” He raised up on his elbow to smile down on me. “Should’ve known it was this, this here, with you. A real life, a full life. Who wouldn’t want that?”
“I’ve been the same,” I said, with a small, rueful smile. “But now I’ve got you, I won’t let you go.”
Conrad pulled me to him and I nestled into his arms. Outside, a light rain had started to fall, but it couldn’t touch us. Nothing could, here and now. We had each other, and our future before us; rain, shine, and snow, and everything in between.
I couldn’t wait for it to begin.
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER: CONRAD
“We’re late,” said Claire.
“We’re not. We’ll be fine.” I checked under a cushion: nothing there either.
“We need to tag that thing, like an RFID chip.” Claire turned over the same cushion I just had, then bent to peer under the sofa itself. “Let’s go without it. He’ll be okay, right?”
I frowned down at Davey in his bounce chair. He was smiling for now, like a little angel, but he’d been moody since he started teething. Sooner or later, he’d reach for his aardvark, and if he didn’t find it, there’d be hell to pay.
“He can’t have thrown it that far.” Claire got down on her knees. Pressed her cheek to the floor. She exhaled, frustrated, and I couldn’t help smiling. Parenthood was a lot of things, but dignified wasn’t one of them. We’d learned that quickly when Davey popped out. He was born a month early, ahead of our plans, right in the middle of our move to Long Island. We hadn’t set up the nursery or Claire’s home office, or babyproofed anything, or fenced in the yard.
“He can’t do this,” howled Claire, red-faced, mid-contraction. “Tell your son no. Tell him we’re not done moving.”
I told her belly no, but Davey wasn’t listening. He couldn’t wait to come out and meet us, and he did, just two hours after Claire’s labor started. He was tiny but healthy, loud and demanding, with black hair like mine and green eyes like Claire’s. He had my chin too, and my mouth, and my nose, and I swelled with pride when everyone said “He looks just like you.” He did, and he was beautiful, the light of my life. I held him for the first time and my heart could’ve burst, overflowing with love for him and for Claire. This was my family, our family. Our dream.
Our messy, noisy dream — our house was a pigsty. Claire stood up and brushed off her knees.
“I don’t get it,” she said. “How does he lose it? He can’t even crawl yet. He sits in that bounce chair. How is he hiding it? Where the heck…”
My phone went off. I ignored it. “Retrace your steps,” I said. “What were you doing?”
“Getting dressed, getting ready…” Claire plucked at her gown. “Before that, I fed him. Did he have it then?”
I thought back, trying to picture it, but last night had been my night to soothe Davey’s teething pains. I’d been up with him nonstop, and now I was dozy. In my head, I could see him with his stuffed aardvark, but I could also see him without it.
“You’re useless,” said Claire, but she was laughing.
I groaned. “I know.” I checked in the diaper bag.
“I don’t think hedidhave it when he was eating. He had his teething ring before that, and he had it in both hands. He’sstill too little to hold two things at once. Would you check the nursery?”
“On it.” I hurried to the nursery, and sure enough, there it was, his snooty stuffed aardvark tucked up in his crib. I snatched it up, and an extra blanket, and if we got a move on, we might still make it.
“Thank God,” said Claire, when she spotted the aardvark. “Where was he this time? You know what, don’t tell me. We’re so late already… Have you got his blanket?”
I held up his blanket, then tossed it in the diaper bag. Then I went over and took Claire by her arms. I looked her deep in her eyes and smiled my best calming smile.
“We’re not late,” I said. “We’re okay. We’ve got this. And tonight’s your big night, so?—”
“My hair. Is it stupid?” She twisted around to check herself in the mirror, but I turned her back to me.
“No. You look great. And I wouldn’t just say that. You’re radiant. Stunning.” I kissed her on her forehead to spare her lipstick, which really was perfect, just like her whole look. Verity had designed her gown just for tonight, for the launch of her new line, exclusive to Timeless. Tonight was the kickoff show, and everyone was coming, from the press, from the fashion world, and of course, from our lives. “Tonight’s about you, so enjoy it, okay? I’ve got Davey and Snooty, so you don’t need to worry. Just bask in the limelight, and know that we’re cheering you on.”