Page 46 of Consumed By Fire
"So, do you want your present or not?” she asks, kissing my neck.
"Mmmmm..." I murmur and smile. "I wish it was my birthday every day if this is my gift."
She gets out of bed laughing and I already miss her. She goes to take a bag from her suitcase and crawls back into bed. I sit down, too. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn’t curious. Charlotte has always managed to amaze me, even with the simplest things.
She takes out two boxes and puts them in front of me. I can see that she’s nervous and the situation makes me laugh.
"Two presents? I'm really lucky."
"You’ll be spoiled today, and you deserve it, love,” she says in an excited voice. "Choose. Which one do you want to open first?"
I observe her. The longer I wait, the more she smiles. “This one, with the silver bow." She hands me the box and I take it. I untie the bow and open the box to find the keys to a car and a map of the island.
"I like the idea, a trip around the island?"
"Not really. Following the map, we’ll arrive at your third gift."
"When did you have time to organize all this? We've been here for only two days."
"It's a secret," she whispers and we laugh. She comes over and kisses me, a quick one. Finally, she hands me the box with the blue bow.
I open it slowly. At the top, there’s a note: “You made me live, making me the happiest woman in the world. I hope I can reciprocate it. I love you so much. Yours, Charlotte xx”
I look at her and see that her eyes are tinged. She gestures at me to continue. I found some shoes and a onesie in the colors of my uniform with the words little Cooper in charge.
My heart is racing and I’m speechless.
"Are you serious?" I ask as tears roll down my cheeks. I take her in my arms and kiss her, holding her to me. Consuming those lips of hers that made me mad from the first day. I couldn't have asked for a better gift.
"For real, love?" I ask and she nods, smiling. It seems like a dream to me, a beautiful dream from which I don’t want to wake up.
The phone rings, making me growl. My parents call me on Facetime and I answer with Charlotte in my arms.
"Good morning, newlyweds. I didn't bother you, did I?"
"Good morning, Mom. No, we've been up for a while."
"Thank goodness. Your father said to wait, but I couldn't,” she says, making us laugh. "Happy birthday, Dylan. I hope all your dreams come true," she says.
I notice that she and Dad aren’t alone. "Mom, where are you?"
"We’re with Paul and Annais. They came to visit us,” she says as they greet us. Our families have become inseparable. I never expected them to be so close. And since they decided to move to Armstrong, they’re even more so. Being surrounded by family is really cool.
"Happy birthday, Dylan. Take care of my princess."
"Thanks, Paul. I will,” I tell him, looking at the woman of my life, who nods as if she senses what I wanted to ask her. "Since you’re all there, we want to tell you something.” Everyone looks at us curiously. I wait for a while, creating some suspense before making the announcement. "The Cooper family is about to expand,” I say. They remain silent. I don't know if they are shocked or still don’t understand.
"Oh, my God, really, Dylan? You're not kidding me, right?" Mom says excitedly, finally realizing the news.
"No, Grace, we're not kidding. There will be a little Dylan to brighten our lives," Charlie replies.
The screams of Mom and Annais make us laugh. Dad and Paul wipe away their tears.
"Congratulations to both of you," Dad tells us. I've never seen him so excited.
I know for sure that it will be the most loved and spoiled baby in the world.
"But now we have to go. Charlie has organized a trip and we have to start preparing."