CALIFORNIA PARADISE
Chapter Twenty-Seven
"No. If you get me anything, I will
promptly throw it in the trash," Rose reprimanded Jack. This year, she
refused to receive any gifts from him for February fourteenth, and promised him
a wonderful present and thank you for everything that he had done for her.
*****
When the romantic day arrived, Jack was
served breakfast in bed.
"Is this my gift?" he asked Rose.
She kissed him on the lips and smiled.
"Mr. Dawson, you have absolutely no idea what’s in store for you."
*****
Jack had his arms wrapped securely around
Rose as they lay on the damp grass after their picnic. The sun had long ago
gone down, and they looked up at the dazzling night sky.
"What time is it?" Rose turned her
head to murmur in his ear.
"A quarter to midnight," Jack
whispered back.
"Then it’s time for your present."
She turned around so that they were facing
each other and her legs were on either side of him. She leaned down until their
mouths were a millimeter away from touching. They could both smell the
champagne on each other’s lips.
Jack felt her hair drape over his chest and
neck as the scent of jasmine soap filled his nostrils. She opened her mouth to
speak and he felt the warm breath against his lips.
"Jack, I’m pregnant." No one but
the two of them could have possibly heard the barely audible whisper. The
deafening silence was shattered with Jack’s joyous whoops.
He jumped up and tugged at her hands to make
her join him as he danced all around the hills. He finally swept her up into
his arms and collapsed underneath a tree, gently cradling her.
"How long have you known?" he
asked.
"The longest week of my life."
"How far along are you?"
"The doctor said about three
months."
"Three months?" he asked in
disbelief, as his hand flew to feel her tummy. "Is it showing, or..."
"Since I exercise every day, he says I’m
small for the progress, but if you look at me closely from the side, you can
see the little bulge."
Jack was filled with amazement and awe as
their lives peacefully wore on.