CHAPTER 51: It's the little things in life...

Randol
We didn't wake up the next day until lunchtime. We ordered room service, got dressed, and went to meet the realtor. She showed us apartments, condos, brownstones, everything. We had a lot to take in, so Celeste decided she wanted to think about it more. I spent the afternoon with the realtor signing all the necessary paperwork to have her put my place on the market. The next day, I flew to Chicago with Celeste. She soon went back to work, putting in her two - week notice. She is an amazing surgeon, so they were sad to see her go. They were all thrilled that she was finally doing something for herself, though. I love seeing the effect she has on the people in her life. While she was at the hospital, I would pack more of her stuff. There were boxes all over the place now, but it has already been put on the market, so we needed to empty it soon.
I'm in the kitchen making dinner about three weeks after we came to Chicago. Celeste is with her dad, finalizing the engagement party details. We are leaving for New York in a week and a half, so he wants to do it soon. I have other things on my mind, though. I am stressing out that we haven't picked a house yet. I hate hotels. I hope we won't be staying in one for long. My mom and dad went to my place to pack my stuff for me so that it could be shown. I'm already in escrow on it, so we couldn't stay there even if we wanted to. I pull the lamb chops off the grill top, and put them on a plate to rest just as Celeste bounces through the door.
"Hey, babe, I'm home!"
"I'm in the kitchen!" She leans over the bar and purses her lips. "Hahah. Did you miss me?" My mouth finds hers before I let her answer.
"Mmmm. Every second that I'm not with you."
"Great answer. So why are you so happy?" She settles onto a barstool, taking off her jacket.
"I'm glad you asked. I think I finally know which place I want in New York."
"Oh yeah? Which one?"
"You remember the brownstone townhouse we looked at in Park Slope?"
"Yeah, it needs some work, but it's a great neighborhood."
"That's what I was thinking too. I really like it, and I think we should put in a bid. What do you think?" I smile from ear to ear.
"So what does that goofy grin mean?"
"It means I am so happy to know where I will be living with my beautiful wife." I take her hands in mine and kiss her knuckles. Her faces lights up.
"Really?"
"Really."
"I was hoping you would say that."
"Hahah, why?"
"Well, because I already got you a present to thank you for saying yes. It would have been a waste not to be able to give it to you." Dropping her hands, I hold out my own. "Give it here then."
"You have to wait until after dinner."
"That is so not fair."
"Making me wait for food is what's not fair." She wins, as always. We sit at the bar, and have dinner. She acts like she needs me to roll her to the couch afterward, because she ate too much. This has become common. I love it. I can handle this being my life from now on.
When we finally make it to the couch, she pulls a box from her purse. It's wrapped with a ribbon tied around it. "You fed me, so fair is fair." She leans over and kisses me before handing me the box. "I love you, and this is just a small token of my thanks."
"You don't need to thank me, Celeste. Any chance there is to make you smile, I would do it in a heartbeat."
"Are you going to open it, or are you going to stare at me all night?"
"Jeez, you're so impatient." I finally unwrap the box as she watches me. When I lift the lid off, it is filled with tissue paper. I stick my hand in and feel something wrapped in one of the pieces. I pull it out and set the box aside. As I pull the tissue paper away, T - shirt material comes into view. She got me a shirt. That's so nice. Wait, there's pink letters on it. When I lift it up, I realize it's a onesie. A newborn baby–sized onesie. The pink lettering reads "Daddy's Lil Princess." I just stare at it. Realization hits me like a MAC truck. I lower it slowly to reveal Celeste's teary eyes staring into mine. "Celeste, are you pregnant?"
She nods, trying not to cry. "Yes."
"When did you find out?"
"Yesterday."
"Are you sure?"
"I already went to the hospital and got a blood test. I am absolutely sure."
I throw my arms around her and lift her up off the couch. I am swinging her around the living room, listening to her laugh at me, when I freak out! "Oh my god, Celeste, I'm so sorry. Did I hurt you? Did I hurt the baby? Are you sick now? Let me get you some water." I put her down so gently, you would think she was made of glass, and start to rush off to the kitchen, but she grabs my hand.
"Randol, calm down. I'm not going to break. Listen, there are going to be lots of freak - out moments because neither of us has ever done this before, but we'll get through it. Together."
I nod my head. "Wait, how far along are you?"
"Four weeks or so." The wheels in my head are turning, doing math like crazy.
"Did this happen during the claiming?"
"I think so."
"Wow. I guess it does just take one time."
"Are you upset?"
"I am feeling so many things right now, but upset is not one of them. I am so happy to have you as my mate, and soon as my wife. I'm even happier that you are making me a dad. I promise you that I will cherish you two more than anything in the world. There will never be a time you don't feel loved and appreciated."
"I know. That big heart of yours is why I picked you in the first place. I never knew I was your mate until later. I picked you on my own. You are everything I have ever wanted in a husband. And in a father. We have the luckiest daughter in the world. She will know love like most people never get to experience. She will have a man to look up to that will make it nearly impossible to ever find someone she deems worthy of her. I know that because that's what I had. You blew away every goal I ever set for men, though. I love you with all my heart, because of yours."
"I love you too." That's all I could manage to get out before tears stream from my eyes. I place my forehead to hers again, but this time I also place a hand to her stomach. I have no idea how long we stood there, but it is the perfect moment.
I have no idea where life will take us. It won't always be easy, but I am confident that I can make it through the fires of hell unscathed now. This woman would help me through anything.
She is my rock.
She is my life.
She is my siren.