An Unexpected Life, page 47
“You’re welcome.” His lips twist up in return, and he takes a sip of coffee.
“Mmm,” I hum, after taking a bite of my bagel.
“That good, huh?” he asks, putting his coffee back on the other bedside table.
“Yep. Here, try a bite.”
“I don’t think so,” he replies, leaning away, when I lean sideways.
“Why?”
“Because it’s gross.” He shudders.
“Oh, it’s not that bad.”
“That’s what you think.” He chuckles, with a snort.
“You eat cheese and Miracle Whip on bread all the time.”
“Yeah, but that’s different.”
“How?”
“Because when I eat it, there’s a piece of meat and other things on it,” he says, and I roll my eyes. “Plus,” he adds, scrunching up his face, and pointing to my bagel, “the cheese is sliced, not Cheese Whiz, and it’s melted on the meat and the Miracle Whip is just on top of it, not mixed in with it.”
“Okay,” I shrug, “but you don’t know what you’re missing.”
“Oh, I think I do,” he replies, with another shudder.
By the time we finish breakfast, it’s 11:30, and we decide to stay in bed a little longer, just to relax. Despite our efforts of only staying there for a little while, we find ourselves still there two hours later. After making love for the second time, we lie there holding each other until we both fall asleep.
When I wake up again, it’s 2:45. Sighing, I roll back over and put my head back on Steve’s chest and my arm across his stomach, and he automatically puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him.
“What time is it?” he asks, groggily.
“It’s 2:45. We need to get up.”
He groans in protest and I laugh, softly.
“Can’t we stay here for a few more minutes?”
“No.” I laugh again, and kiss his chest.
“Why?”
“Because the last time I said a few minutes it turned into three hours... and counting.”
“It was worth it though, right?” he asks.
I look up at him, with a big grin. “It was definitely worth it... and fun,” I add, “but they’ll be here in two hours, and we still have stuff to do.”
“Oh, okay,” he says, in mock defeat.
I chuckle and kiss him.
After lying there for several more minutes, talking, we finally start moving. When Steve takes our dishes and coffee cups back in the kitchen, I sit on the edge of the bed and pick up the towel from last night off the floor and wrap it around myself. I then get in my chair and go to the bathroom.
Just as I get back in my chair, Steve comes in.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join me?” he asks, leaning his forehead against mine, and grinning.
“You know what’ll happen if I do,” I answer, returning it.
“Yeah. And?”
“And we can’t,” I state.
He sighs. “Okay,” he pouts.
I laugh, lightly. “Get in the shower and I’ll go make the grocery list,” I say, before giving him a quick kiss and leaving.
When I finish the grocery list, I head back to the bedroom. As I go in, Steve finishes tying his second tennis shoe and stands up.
“Here you go.” I hand him the list, as he puts on his coat.
“Is this all we need?” he asks, looking at it, and adjusting his coat.
“Yeah.”
“Okay then. Be right back,” he leans forward and kisses me.
“Is everything set up?” I ask.
“Yeah. There’s another towel on the rail and the chair is where you need it.”
“Okay, thanks.” I smile, before kissing him again. “Oh,” I add, just before he leaves the room, and he turns around.
“Yeah?”
“Be careful.”
“I will,” he assures me, the corners of his lips turning up.
When Steve leaves, I head into the bathroom. Before getting into the shower, I go over to the large vanity and turn on the radio. After my shower, I grab the towel off the rail, on the outside of the shower door, and go back over to the large vanity. Before brushing my teeth, I squeeze out my hair and put it in a messy bun. Once I finish, I decide to get dressed before drying my hair. I put on one of Steve’s long-sleeved t-shirts and a regular pair of jeans, leaving them unbuttoned.
After getting dressed, I head back into the bathroom to dry my hair. Just as I’m putting the hair dryer back in the drawer, I feel Steve’s cold hands on the back of my neck, and I squeal and jump, simultaneously. When I do, he just laughs.
“That wasn’t funny.” I scowl, looking at him in the mirror, and trying to keep a straight face.
“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, putting his chin on my shoulder, giving me ‘puppy dog’ eyes, and I just roll my eyes. “Mmm, you smell good,” he whispers, before kissing the spot just behind my ear.
As he makes his way down my neck, I close my eyes and unconsciously tilt my head to give him better access and bring my right arm to the back of his head to rub the nap of his neck, as a soft moan escapes.
“You have to stop,” I tell him, with no strength.
“Why?” he asks, not stopping.
“Because if you don’t, we’ll end up right back in bed.”
“So?”
“So, they’ll be here in about an hour and I still have to clean and pick up the rest of the house.
“Why?”
“Well, unless you want to leave evidence from the past day and a half to show everyone...” I say, and he stops.
“Yeah, we need to pick up the house,” he agrees.
I let out a small laugh. “I thought so.”
“But come 7:30, you’re all mine,” he whispers, before standing back up, and my lips twist up.
Nearly an hour later, the house is clean and picked up, the table is set, and I’m sitting on the couch; with my back against the arm; just re-watching season two of our favorite spy-comedy from the DVR and Steve is coming back from the bathroom. Just as he sits back down and I put my feet back on his lap, the front door opens.
“Mommy!” I hear, and turn my head to look.
When I do, I see RJ running toward me. As she does, her light brown curls bounce, and it’s so cute. Without moving, I hold out my arms and I grin wide, just as she is about to reach the couch, and she jumps into them. After a long hug, I pull back just enough to look into her sparkling blue eyes. It still amazes me how much she looks like Steve, down to his slightly wider nose, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Did you have fun at Gamma and Papa’s?” I ask, and she nods happily. “What did you do?”
“We pwayed in the snow.”
“You did?” I say, with an excited expression, and she nods. “Did you make a snowman?”
“And angels,” she adds, with a soft ‘G’ instead of the ‘J’ sound, as she nods.
“Really? Wow. What else did you do?”
Before she can answer, Sam runs into the couch, causing us to jump a little, and we both look at him.
“Well, hey there, buddy.” I smile, as I help RJ out of her coat.
When I finish, she gets off my lap and goes to get off the couch. Before she can, though, Steve grabs her; making her squeal, and she drops her coat on the floor.
“Where do you think you’re going, huh?” he asks, putting her in his lap.
“To hang up my coat.”
“Well, don’t I get a hug first, too?” he asks, and she shakes her head. “‘No’?” he says, and she shakes her head again, this time with just a hint of a smile. “Well then, you leave me no choice.” He smirks, and proceeds to tickle her; making her giggle, uncontrollably, and I can’t help but laugh myself.
“Stop Daddy, that tickwes!” She giggles.
“Does it?” he asks, grinning.
She nods.
“Well, give me a kiss and a hug and I’ll stop.”
“Okay,” she surrenders, with a smile, and he stops.
As she gives him a kiss on the cheek and a hug, Sam climbs onto my lap and gives me a hug as well.
“Oh, you’re getting so big,” I tell him, rubbing his back, as he hugs me.
“Well, I’m almost four,” he replies, looking at me.
“I know. Only four more months.” I grin.
As Sam straddles my lap and I look at him, I realize just how much of a mixture of his parents he truly is. While his facial features, hair, and height favor my brother, he has strong arms and legs.
“So, did you have fun at Gamma and Papa’s, too?”
“Yeah, we made a snowman.”
“That’s what I heard. What else did you do?”
“I drove my truck in the snow.”
“You did? Did you have fun?” I ask.
He nods and his lips turn up.
“He may have had fun, but I sure didn’t,” my mom interjects, coming into the room, and I look at her.
“Why not?” I ask, with a soft laugh.
“Because he about ran over me half a dozen times,” she answers.
I turn back to Sam, with my mouth in an ‘O’ shape. “Did you do that?” I ask, trying to hide my smile.
When he nods his head, with a big grin, I can’t help but laugh and hug him.
“That’s why RJ and I went in and baked pies,” Mom continues, before heading into the kitchen.
Just as she leaves, Matt comes in carrying the food, and it smells delicious.
“Mmm, that smells so good,” I say.
“I know, and I’m hungry,” Matt agrees, heading into the dining room.
“How ‘bout you?” I turn back to Sam. “You ready to eat?” I ask.
He nods.
“Did you hang up your coat?” I ask.
He nods again.
“Okay, then go wash your hands for dinner.”
“Okay,” he replies, and gets off my lap and the couch, then starts running down the hall.
“No running,” I holler, and he slows down, and I can’t help but shake my head and turn the corners of my lips up at him.
“You too, Doodlebug,” Steve tells RJ.
“Okay,” she replies, and gets off his lap, and heads to the bathroom.
She only goes two steps before he clears his throat, and she stops and turns around and looks at him. He points to her coat on the floor.
“Oh, sowey,” she apologizes, with a tiny smile, before coming over and picking it up.
He watches her hang it up and chuckles as she scurries off to the bathroom. He stands up, comes over, and picks me up off the couch. A moment later he carries me to my chair.
“Thank you,” I say, sweetly, after getting comfortable.
“You’re welcome.” He gives me a quick kiss before I head into the kitchen to help Mom.
“So, was it really that bad?” I ask her, trying not to laugh, as I pour tea into a couple glasses.
“No.” She laughs a bit. “Truth is it was a lot of fun. I’m just getting old and I can’t run as fast as I used to. Granted, I was never very fast to begin with, but now it’s really challenging, especially when I’m running after or away from toddlers.”
“Oh, Mom, you’re not that old,” I say, with a chuckle.
“Well, thanks.” Her lips turn up.
“But I completely understand where you’re coming from. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life and wouldn’t change it for the world, but sometimes keeping up with a two-year-old is exhausting, even with being in a chair.”
“Just wait until there’s two.” She laughs, lightly, looking at my belly.
“I know.” I do the same, absently rubbing it with my left hand.
“Speaking of the baby, how did your appointment go?” she asks, heading into the dining room.
“Good,” I answer, switching the pitcher to my left hand, and following her. “She said that she and I are both right where we should be.”
“Well, good.”
“Yeah.”
After setting the pitcher on the table, I pull up closer and Matt says grace. When he finishes, everyone starts fixing their plates and I just sit back and wait. As I do so, I look around the table and watch as Steve helps RJ into her booster seat then cuts up her food, while Mom does the same thing for Sam and Matt just fills his own plate.
Watching them reminds me just how much my life has changed over the past three years, and my lips twist up. I’ve gone from a college student who didn’t have a care in the world to a college graduate and a wife and mother, to the best, most wonderful, and energetic two-year-old, with one on the way.
As I’m thinking back, Steve comes over and whispers in my ear, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I assure him, and kiss him on the cheek.
“Okay,” he says, with a smile, then sits down beside me.
As we both fix our plates and begin to eat, I can’t help but thank God for how blessed I’ve become.
Acknowledgments
Aunt Terri thank you for all the medical info.
The family and friends that I’ve lost; I love and miss you.
Carmen, you know.
My Beckwith friends-both gimpy and not-thanks for the good times.
Elizabeth, again thank you for helping me with so much.
Amelia, Fee, and Sherrice thank you for being there.
Mandi thank you for being a good friend.
Jenny, thank you.
My PAs past and present, thank you for helping me and being there.
About Sarah Matthews
Sarah Matthews began writing short stories as a child, but it wasn't until 2007 that her journey as an author truly began. She lives in Central Indiana and when she's not writing down ideas for characters, Sarah is watching and catching up on her favorite shows from Bones to Grey's Anatomy and Arrow or listening to a good book. While she has a soft spot for Romance, she will give almost any book a read. Her favorite book is The Giver. She is also a movie enthusiast and watches almost anything, with the exception of Horror. Her favorite genres are Romance and Action Adventure, especially the Avengers franchise. She loves spending time with her family and friends. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
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Sarah Matthews, An Unexpected Life
