Page 172 of The Maverick
With a bouquet of flowers in hand, I entered the house. It was unusually quiet. I knew she was home because her car was in the garage. I would have pulled my car into the garage, but she would have heard me opening it.
She wasn’t in the living room or the kitchen, so I made my way to her design studio. Warmth burst in my heart as I found my wife standing with her back to me, working on something on the table.
I leaned against the door frame, watching her work.
Love spread through my chest. I remembered a time when I came home from work, and the only thing waiting for me was the cold, empty house.
Natalie had changed everything for me. She had brought warmth and color into my life. I was about to enter when she lifted her arms, holding up a T-shirt with bold letters that read,You’re gonna be a Dad!
What?
My mouth opened as I stared at the T-shirt. Joy and shock overwhelmed me.
Was she trying to surprise me? I wasn’t scheduled to be home for another two days.
Quietly, I backed away from the door. I left the house, climbed into my car, and reversed to the far end of the street. I took a moment to let everything settle. We’d been trying for a baby for six months. Sadness had overcome her every time she got her period.
I’d seen the disappointment and anxiety on her face. But things had shifted.
This incredible news was what we’d been waiting for. My life was about to change for the better. Sheer joy erupted inside me. I wanted to rush to my wife, gather her into my arms, and hold her close.
But I had to wait. She wanted to surprise me, and I’d give her that.
After a few more minutes, I called her.
“Hey, Buttercup. What are you doing??”
“Oh, you know, just working on the next collection. How’s my McDimple? Your meetings went well?”
“Yes. Guess what?”
“What?”
“I miss you.”
She laughed. “Miss you too, silly.”
“Guess what else?” I asked.
“What?”
“I just landed. Finished early, so I flew home. But I’ll be at the office for a bit. Want me to pick up dinner on the way home?”
Natalie
Oh, my gosh! Excitement surged and rolled through me.
“Okay,” I said as I tried to calm my nerves. “I want a little of everything. Some pizza, chicken wings, lo mein, and sushi.”
He laughed. “Have you been starving yourself the last few days?”
“Nope. I’m just craving a lot of things.”
“Okay. I’ll be home around six thirty.”
“Sounds good.”
My heart raced as I clicked off the phone. Grayson would be home in three hours. That gave me enough time to set everything up to surprise him. It was a good thing I’d started on the T-shirt design earlier this week.
