The Apple Tree (38 page)
Authors: Kara Jimenez
ONE MONTH LATER
L
evi stood in front of the bathroom mirror, running his hands through his hair. It seemed… longer, almost like he needed a haircut. He hadn’t had a haircut in over a hundred years. His hair didn’t grow.
He grabbed Bianca’s hand mirror and turned around so he could see the back. It was unmistakably longer. Could he be… growing? Getting older? A couple of weeks ago, he’d had to shave his beard for the first time, but it had to be a fluke.
The sound of the front door opening drifted into the bathroom.
“
Levi?”
He took one last glance in the mirror and then walked into the living room. “Hey, Bee.”
She stumbled to the kitchen, four cloth grocery bags hanging from her arms.
He took two of the bags off her. “I could have helped you unload the truck, you didn’t have to carry it all in by yourself.”
She laughed, a beautiful, melodic sound that warmed his heart. “It’s okay. It’s my workout.” She pulled a package of rice from the bag and tossed it in the cupboard.
“
Did you stop by your mom’s?”
“
Yeah, I did.” She handed him a brick of cheese and nodded toward the refrigerator. “The place was a mess, but I think they’re doing okay. Owen seemed happy and taken care of.”
He opened the fridge, searching for an empty spot on the crowded shelves. “That’s good.”
“
I did the dishes and cleaned up a bit before I left.”
He tossed the cheese into the corner drawer and turned toward her. “You can’t keep doing that.”
“
I know.” She grabbed a bag of red lentils, holding them up with a huge smile on her face. “I’m making lentil soup tonight, and if it turns out well, it’ll be the very last recipe I need for my e-book.”
Pride welled in his chest as he looked at Bianca. He took the bag of lentils from her hand and set it on the counter, pulling her close. “It will turn out perfect, and when your e-book hits the market the entire internet will be clamoring to buy it.” He kissed her, a slow tender kiss, relishing the taste of her, the feel of her, and the amazing fact that she was his wife.
She pulled away first. “I need to use the bathroom real quick.”
Bianca closed the door behind her and pulled out the pink box she’d hidden in her jacket pocket. She was late and she wasn’t entirely sure what that could mean. If it was possible.
She ripped it open and unfolded the instructions, hastily reading through the tiny black words. Pee on the stick, wait two minutes. Sounds easy enough.
After doing her business, she set the little pink stick on the counter and leaned against the wall, tapping her foot as she waited.
Hopefully, Levi wouldn’t wonder what was taking her so long. If it turned out negative, she didn’t want him to know she’d gotten her hopes up. That would only make him feel worse.
She picked at her nails and then looked at her watch, one minute and thirty seconds. Good enough. She picked up the stick.
Two pink lines.
Her eyes grew wide and she sat on the toilet and cried, tears of happiness.
Wait, wait, wait. She grabbed the instruction booklet. The first line is the control, the second line means pregnant.
Pregnant.
She threw the bathroom door open and ran into the kitchen. “I’m pregnant!”
Levi froze, starring at her with wide eyes, a package of sausage in his hand. “What? That’s not possible.”
She held up the stick, walking toward him. “This says that I am.”
He tossed the sausage onto the counter and then caught her as she ran into his arms. “Are you sure?”
“
My period’s late. It says two pink lines means we’re having a baby.”
He looked at the stick, his mouth turning into a huge grin. “I can’t believe it!” He picked her up, setting her on the counter as he stood between her legs. “I love you.” His lips slammed into hers, the joy they both felt mixing together and growing until it overwhelmed her.
He pulled away, gazing at her with excitement swimming in his eyes. “My hair’s longer.”
Her brows furrowed. “What does that mean?”
“
It means I’m changing.”
She grabbed his neck. “We’re going to grow old together!”
“
I think so, yeah.” He pulled her closer, happiness written all over his face, lighting his eyes. “But first, we’re going to have a family.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kara Jimenez
lives in Corvallis, Oregon with her pizza-making husband, three rambunctious kids and eight crazy chickens that like to peck her to pieces. When she’s not writing you can find her teaching her children, filling her cupboards with homemade jam and eating coffee ice cream.
For more information and book extras, visit
karajimenez.weebly.com
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