Page 29 of Christmas Souls
"A baby is going to change things. It won't be just the two of us anymore."
My brain is scrambled with a million thoughts. I know I'm going to love having this baby and any others that come along, but I just got back Michael a year ago and am not ready to make room for someone else in my heart.
But of course, the baby is loved already. Since I threw up the first time and realized I was pregnant, I've loved the baby. I guess the hormones are to blame once more.
"We'll make time for each other, baby,” Michael says. “I'll never let you forget that you're the most important thing in my life."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise. I love you, Mandy Hoffer. You're my queen, and I'll keep treating you like one for the rest of our lives."
I smile at him, feeling a little giddy. He does treat me like royalty and his brothers tease him relentlessly about it.
"I love you, Michael. Let's go tell the family."
The rest of Christmas Eve is spent receiving congratulations on our news. Merry, Danny's wife, signals to me that she'll talk to me later. I guess having a Hoffer is an adventure of its own. I'm ready, though. I can keep giving dance classes in the community center until late in my pregnancy, and Michael is already planning on adding a third floor to the house for 'all the children.'
The Hoffer family belongs to me now, and I'm excited to raise a family with their help. I'm hoping for many cousins for my little ones so that they can all grow up together.
At midnight, Michael pulls me into his arms and gives me a slow, soft kiss that is full of promise, and I know our love will last a lifetime.
It will last forever.
Bonus Epilogue
Justin Hoffer
Today, I've decided I'll add some shelving to the library's children's wing. It will take me a couple of days, and I'll need it to calm down. I saw the mayor trying to sweeten up my girl … well, she’s not my girl, but I adore Ana Maria, and seeing him with her has me fuming. I don't let my feelings get the best of me like my brother Ben, who punched the mayor before the Christmas Mixer.
I walk inside the library and stop at the front desk. Ana eyes me warily but doesn't say a word.
"I have a project for the children's wing."
Complete silence.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?"
"I would like to ask you to lower your voice, but I don't think you're aware you are shouting."
"I'm not…"
As I say that belligerently, I realize I am, in fact, shouting. So much for not letting my feelings get the best of me.
"I'm sorry, Ana Maria. I'm a little upset."
"With me?"
"A little bit, yeah."
She frowns and I hate myself for putting that expression on her face.
"What can I do to make it better?"
"You can marry me."
I swear the words just slipped out, but I've been thinking about it for quite some time. Ana would be the perfect mother to my daughter Daisy, not to mention the perfect wife for me, but I don't care about that, not really.
Her response is not what I expected., though She laughs in my face and waves me away.