Authors: TK Carter
She flipped me the bird over her shoulder and motioned to Katie to come help me. Alissa said, “Just like on the television shows, I’d like to announce that, Ms. Dani Miscato, we’re not done yet. What’s behind couch number one?”
Katie and I took our cue, slid the crib box around the couch and leaned it against the wall. I performed my best Vanna White while Katie curtsied. Dani squealed, “Oh my goodness, that’s a crib! The baby has a real bed.”
“A
real
bed for a
real
boy,” I said with a big smile.
“Way to go, Jiminy Cricket.” Michelle laughed.
Katie’s eyes widened. “Oh, oh! I know! When we get home, we’ll throw another shower for Dani’s friends and family with a Disney movie theme!”
Michelle clapped. “Oh Katie, that’s perfect!”
I put my thumb on my nose. “Not it!” Alissa followed suit, then Katie, so that left Michelle with the nomination to host. I said, “Haha, you lose again, Chelle.”
She said, “I don’t mind planning a party at all. It will be so much fun. Oh I can’t wait to hold that baby, smell him, see his sweet little hands and feet. Gibson had the cutest little cheeks.”
I pointed at her. “You need to quit that, now. You’ve got that look in your eye.”
She laughed. “First of all, one must actually have sex before they can conceive.”
Dani said, “Oh, is that how it works? I bet that’s where I went wrong.”
We all laughed and shook our heads. I said, “Point, Dani. Alissa, what else do we have for the lovely mother-to-be?”
Alissa grinned. “Glad you asked, my friend! What does every prince need to ride in a chariot fit for a king?” Katie rounded the corner and picked up the car seat. “His very own car seat! Blonde bombshell model sold separately.”
“Don’t make me laugh while I’m holding a prize,” Katie said.
Dani stood and took the car seat from Katie. “You guys should not have done all of this. Thank you so much. It’s . . . I’m . . .” She wiped the fresh tears from her eyes. “I’m so grateful. This feels real, now, like this is really going to happen.”
I pointed at Alissa’s belly. “Was there ever any doubt? Look at that thing.”
Alissa slapped my hand. “You’re a jerk.”
“You love it.”
“Come on, Katie.” Michelle pointed to the pile of presents. “Let’s help Dani take all this stuff upstairs and see if we can put the crib together.”
I looked at Dani and cringed. “Maybe we should see if there’s a handyman around here. Have you ever seen the things those two have put together?”
Michelle put her hands on her hips. “Hey, they were cheap shelves to begin with.”
I chuckled. “Yeah but the bookcase still took a side lunge and poor Freddie the fish perished.”
She huffed. “You never forget anything.”
I pointed to my temple. “Steel trap, baby.”
Katie, Michelle, and Dani took armloads of gifts up the stairs, and Alissa and I started gathering up gift bags and tissue paper. I said, “I’m pretty sure this is about forty dollars worth of gift bags we’ll never use again.”
Alissa shrugged. “I’m paying for an indoor pool you’ve never stepped into. Deal with it.” I rolled the idea in my head then decided she had trumped me. She said, “Go ahead and think for a comeback. I’ll wait.”
I stuffed the last bit of tissue paper in the trashcan and cinched the bag. I grunted as I hauled it out of the can. “I don’t have to think of something clever. I’m just trying to decide if I’m going to cut your hair in your sleep or sell your Coach bags on eBay.”
“Go for the hair. It grows back,” she said.
“Not if I keep cutting night after night.” I swung open the door with the trash in my hand and felt the air in the room explode past me and right into Tony’s face. I dropped the bag and stumbled backward. This was no vision; this was no flashback or memory. The man I had tried to erase stood in the door in front of me looking scared to death. I saw the little black swirlies trying to cloud my vision and took a deep breath. “Jesus,” I whispered.
He said, “No, Tony, but I get that a lot.” He looked at my stomach and met my eyes with a puzzled gaze.
“What are you doing here?” My voice resembled a terrible vibrato in a pubescent boy.
“I . . . I tried to see you. I went to the station, but they said you’d taken an extended leave. No one knew why.” He looked at my stomach again and swallowed hard. “I thought . . . I figured . . . I was afraid you . . .”
Alissa entered the mudroom. “Damn, Chance, were you born in a barn? Shut the damn . . .” She saw Tony and stopped. His eyes dropped to her bulging belly and softened. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and sighed as he put all the pieces together. Alissa stood unmoving but said, “Surprise.”
Tony shook his head and stuttered over his words. “I . . . I’m so sorry to barge in, Alissa. I didn’t know. About you. I didn’t even think . . .” He pointed at me. “She disappeared. I . . .”
She smiled. “Stop it before you make me seasick with all that wavering.
He sighed. “Thank you.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “Are you really here?” I whispered.
He locked eyes with me. “I’ll prove it.” He stepped into the door and wrapped me in his arms. My chest swelled as my soul sighed. He rubbed his hands over my back and buried his face in my neck as he whispered, “God, I missed you.”
I swallowed hard and tried to speak, but all I could muster was a nod. I nearly broke my jaw as I clenched my teeth to stop the sobs of joy, relief, confusion, and shock from rolling out of my body.
Michelle called my name as she wandered down the stairs. “Chance, do you have any . . . holy shitballs! Is that Tony?”
He pulled away from me and grinned. “It is, indeed, Michelle.”
She squealed as she ran past Alissa and threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t believe this shit! This is such a shock. God, you look great!”
“Me? Look at you, skinny mini!”
She grinned. “Thanks. What are you doing here?” As if reality stomped on Michelle’s toe, she jumped and looked at Alissa. “Oh, shit. Tony’s here.” She pointed at Alissa’s belly then pointed at Tony.
Tony raised his hand. “I can assure you it’s not mine.”
Leave it to Tony to save an awkward situation. We laughed as Michelle pulled him through the mudroom toward the living room. “Come on in, come see this place.”
He stopped. “Actually, I left my car running. I wasn’t sure if I was in the right house.” He looked at me and grinned.
I found my voice. “How many have you stopped at?”
That perfect, sly half-grin that was panty-melting hot appeared on his face as he said, “Twelve—give or take a few.”
Twelve houses. Eighteen hundred miles and twelve houses. He was determined to find me. The knot I’d just cleared from my throat reappeared with two more friends. I took a deep breath. “Damn. I’ll walk with you to turn off your car.” I pushed him toward the door and reminded myself to keep breathing. Tony was six inches away from me and still too far. I wanted to bury my face in his chest and sob every apology I’ve longed to say for all the ways I’d fucked up. He turned off the car and grabbed a bag from the back seat.
“Mind if I bring this inside? I’ve got my laptop and a bunch of stuff that might explode in the car.”
I nodded. “Yes, that’s fine.” I pointed to the car and asked, “Rental?”
He sighed. “Yes, and that little piece of shit is governed. Can’t drive over seventy miles an hour. I intend to complain.”
I smiled. “You shouldn’t be speeding anyway.”
His eyes buried into mine as he stood inches from my face. “I had somewhere I needed to be. I didn’t want to dick around.”
I alternated between not breathing and panting like a dog. “Why are you here, Tony?”
He sighed and looked over my shoulder toward the ocean. “Wanna go for a walk? I’ve always wanted to come here.”
I grinned and whispered, “
Florida
.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “Right. Florida. Shall we take advantage of my dream?”
I smiled. “Might as well. I’ve been living it for three and a half months. I guess I could share.”
He smiled and touched my face. “God, it’s good to see you, Chance.”
I closed my eyes and took a step through the unknown. “I’ve longed for you every day.” I looked into his eyes and felt my chin quiver as tears pricked his eyes.
He grinned. “I
knew
it. I
knew
it.” He shouted, “I
knew
it!” He grabbed my face in his hands and put his forehead to mine. “I knew it,” he whispered. He kissed my lips so lightly, I barely felt anything but his breath. He kissed me again with the sweetest, most tender expression of love I’ve ever felt. My knees felt weak as he pulled away and sniffled. “I don’t want to quit holding or kissing you.” He chuckled then kissed me again.
I touched his face. “Let’s take your bag inside and go on that walk. I have so much to show you.”
“Do you mind if I change first? I’m dressed for Missouri not balmy
Florida
.”
I giggled. “Yes, that’s fine.” We couldn’t quit looking at each other. Even as we walked the short path to the deck, we kept staring at each other and laughing when the other tripped. “The sand will be easier on us.”
“Any chance you have a white bikini?” He grinned.
“Maybe.” I winked.
“You really are undeniably beautiful.” He faked a shiver.
“You’re still thinking of the white bikini.” I smiled.
“Well, yeah. I’m not dumb.”
I showed him through the house to the bathroom, and the minute the door closed, my friends surrounded me jumping up and down and squealing under their breaths. I put my hand over my heart and leaned against the kitchen island. “Someone tell me this is really happening.”
“I think this is the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Katie gushed.
“Why is he here?” Michelle asked. “How did he find you?”
“I don’t know! I swear I’m disconnected from myself right now and can’t even think.”
Alissa handed me a fresh mimosa. “Here. Down this. You’ll center right back up.”
I followed orders and sighed. “Again.” I handed her the empty glass and watched her prepare another one.
Dani grinned and asked, “Do you want me to mix a bottle of that for you to take on the beach?”
“Yes, and I might be back for more before he gets out of the bathroom.”
Michelle put her hands on my shoulders. “This is not the time for you to think. Right now, you feel. You need to listen to him and listen to your heart. No thinking. Thinking has kept you heartbroken for over a year now. You love him more than I’ve ever seen anyone love another human being. Well, maybe minus me and my kids. But seriously, Chance. I’m begging you.”
I nodded. “I will.” I looked at Alissa. “Did you have anything to do with this?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Why the hell would I bring him down here to bust me? Nope. Wasn’t me.”
I pointed at Katie, Michelle, and Dani. “Anyone want to fess up before he busts you?”
They all denied involvement and scattered like autumn leaves when he opened the bathroom door. I grabbed my glass, the bottle, and an extra glass for him. “Ready?” I asked.
He nodded. “Yes, Princess Jasmine. Show me your new world.”
I shook my head. “You’re way too hetero to reference Disney movies as much as you do.”
He shrugged. “I’m secure in my manhood.”
We stepped onto the deck where I ditched my shoes and grabbed my trusty blanket. Never in a million years did I believe I would actually get to share my Tony blanket with its namesake. I slipped my flip-flops back on. “The sand is probably hot this time of day, so we better keep these on until we get to the wet sand.”
He admired the house and whistled. “Damn, I don’t even want to know how much this cost.”
“Me neither.”
“You don’t know?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Good thing I have all the time it will take.” He followed me down the boardwalk and stared at the ocean. “Wow.”
“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?”
“Understatement.”
I tossed the blanket on the sand and poured a mimosa for Tony. I lifted my glass. “Cheers. To crossing something off your bucket list.”
He raised his glass. “I kind of wish it was under different circumstances and you were wearing a white bikini.”
I shook my head and laughed. “Okay, spill it. Tell me everything. Why did you come?”
He swallowed and took another drink. “Man, that’s the shit.”
“Right? Want more?”
“Yes.” He held his glass out. “Why am I here? Well I think that’s pretty obvious. I came to find you. I went to your station yesterday to beg you to talk to me, and they told me you left late December and wouldn’t be back until June or July.”
I muttered, “If I still have a job there.”
“Yeah, well, Stuart isn’t very happy with you.” He smirked. “So I found your boy-toy, Eddie, and asked him a few questions. He was extremely vague at first, but when I appealed to his softer side, he sang like a bird.”