Eight weeks later
Carrie stared down at her twinkling engagement ring and loved the way their wedding bands matched in alternating diamonds and sapphires.
“What are you thinking, my wife? You seem serious and honeymoons are not times for seriousness, unless it’s making love.”
Laughing, Carrie shook her head. “Well, I was wondering if the twins were missing us because you said we’d only be going to the beach for two weeks and it’s been three. I also wanted to ask you something but I’m worried about you saying no.”
“The twins are in heaven staying with Javier in his bachelor pad, stocked with horrible food you microwave or ordering in. He’s making sure they’re getting to school on time and he’s been taking them out to see grandpa on the weekends. I’m pretty sure they hope we don’t come back anytime soon.
And whatever your question is the answer is, yes.”
“How can you be sure?”
“The day we married, I made a vow to do everything to make sure you never regretted our marriage. When those tests came back negative, I thanked god and made another vow, you would want for nothing. Our life would be as full of your happiness as possible. So, my love, whatever you want the answer is yes.”
“Rafael, I love you so much when you say things like that. Between how welcoming your family has been to me and the boys and how fast it feels like it has happened, sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming. Your grandfather is the sweetest man, seeing him with the twins, I could see how he probably was with you and Javier.”
“No dream, mi dulce, this is everything you deserve. I knew my family would love you and the twins and swarm over you in their excitement. As I admitted, I was being stupid not wanting to share you with them. It’s the reason why we’ll be here another week, Javier let me know he was more than willing to take care of them longer this morning. I will admit even I was surprised my father came to our wedding, I don’t think he and my mother have been in the same room in over fifteen years.”
“Your father wasn’t what I expected. I’m glad by the end of the weekend your father and mother were polite and nice to each other. They were even looking forward to what I wanted to ask you.
If you’re saying yes, then tonight I throw my birth control away and when we make love we’ll be starting on our first of hmm, three or should we go f
or four children?” The look of awe and happiness on his face settled her fears.
“The choice, my love, is yours. I will of course cut back on my work hours and we will hire in a maid for help but we both know that the brunt of raising and managing the twins and our children will fall on you. I want you to be happy, I don’t want you to take on more than we can manage together.”
“I thought you said the brunt of raising our family will fall on me.”
“Ahh, but as my woman, your fears, your stress, your worry are mine.”
“Hmm, then maybe three is a safer bet for your worry.”
“Three has a wonderful uneven and fitting to our family feel to it.”
“I love the way you think. Rafael, let’s go back to bed. It’s warmer than I thought and I feel like I need a nap.” She stood and held out her hand.
“Are you feeling alright? Carrie, we’ve only been outside a little over an hour.”
“Rafael, the first rule around children is to learn code and nap is code for making love.”
“In that case, a nap sounds like a very good idea. Let’s take a nap and you can tell me more about these codes.”