Yes, that’s what I said and that’s how I said it. I just blurted it out.
Sam’s body froze solid and he simply stared at me.
I kept blurting.
“I know we haven’t been trying long,” and this was true, we’d been trying for six weeks but “trying” in Sam World meant he expended a lot of effort, not that I was complaining, “but either you have strong swimmers or my womb is exceptionally welcoming or both because the deed is done. I took three pregnancy tests then the doctor confirmed it. And, I will tell you now, if it’s not a boy, I’m gonna be pissed. I’m sure I’ll be happy with a girl if that’s what she is when she gets here. But right now, I want a boy you can teach how to play football and Memphis and I can sit on the deck and watch you two toss the ball around on the beach.”
Sam remained unmoving and staring at me.
I kept babbling.
“The one after this can be a girl,” I allowed.
Sam continued to stand there, immobile and staring at me.
“Hello, Sampson Cooper?” I called. “Your wife, Kia Cooper is talking to you.”
Sam moved then. He let me go, grabbed my hand and dragged me to the deck.
Then Sam stopped us both and shouted, “Yo! Attention!” Everyone, family, coaches, Skip and the boys who were not on the beach looked at Sam. And Sam, just like Sam, didn’t hesitate to share private news very publicly and he did this by announcing, “Kia’s havin’ my baby.”
“Ohmigod!” I heard Maris screech.
She could say that again.
Jeez, my husband.
“Oh, my sweet baby!” I heard Mom screech.
“Well, all right!” I heard Skip shout.
Dad just stared at me, head tipped to the side, mouth smiling, eyes dancing. Happy.
The boys and coaches hooted and clapped.
Sam let my hand go, curled an arm around my shoulders then he curled me into him and his other arm locked around me. I tipped my head back, smiling at him but when I saw his face, my smile died.
My husband was beautiful. My husband was gentle, protective and loving. My husband was funny but he thought I was funnier. My husband gave me everything.
And I returned the gesture.
But until that moment I didn’t realize I had more to give.
Nor did I know when I gave it, how he would feel.
But I knew looking in his eyes.
I knew it because I felt it in me.
We thought we already had heaven.
We didn’t.
Now we did.
Then he bent his head and kissed me, hard, wet, deep, thorough and long. He did it through more cheering, more hoots, some of his boys shouting lurid encouragement and a loud, ongoing ovation.
I didn’t really hear it.
Neither did he.
Yes, it was that good of a kiss.
Then again, with Sam, it always was.
No matter how many he gave me.
And I knew they always would be.
* * * * *
“Hey, did I wake you?” I whispered into the phone.
It was night, our guests were gone, the house was clean, our family members were in their beds, we had not heard word from Hap or Luci (which I decided meant good things but Sam refused to discuss it through the thirteen times I tried) and I was lying on Sam’s chest, Sam’s arms around me, my cell to my ear, Sam’s eyes on me.
“Yes, ma belle, but that’s okay. Is everything all right?” Celeste asked, sounding sleepy.
“Yes, I just… well, we told everyone today and you weren’t here and you’re part of the everyone who needs to know and I couldn’t wait until you were awake so, well…” I pulled in a breath. “Celeste, honey, I’m pregnant.”
Silence.
“Celeste?” I called.
More silence.
Then I heard a soft, delicate sob.
Yeesh. Only Celeste could make crying sound pretty.
Then I heard, “Kia?”
That was Thomas.
“Hey, Thomas, I’m sorry to wake you both. Is Celeste okay?”
“Not really, she’s crying in my arms. Are you okay?”
“Uh… yeah. I just told her Sam and I are going to have a baby.”
Again silence.
Oh man.
“Thomas?” I called.
“Give me a moment, my love,” he whispered, voice thick.
Oh man!
I looked to Sam as tears filled my eyes. His face got soft and arms gave me a squeeze.
I smiled at him then turned my head, rested my cheek on his chest and waited.
Finally, Thomas said quietly, “We’re happy for you Kia. You and Sam. Very happy.”
“Thank you, Thomas, we are too.”
Then Thomas asked, “What did I say?”
“Sorry?” I asked back.
“I would assume, at this very moment, you, my beautiful Kia, are content in the knowledge you’ve done very well and I would further assume your husband is not too far away and he’s feeling much the same thing, except, perhaps, more.”
I closed my eyes but the tears still escaped, wetting Sam’s skin. His hand slid up and cupped the back of my head as his other arm got tight and stayed that way.
That would be yes. Thomas assumed right.
I didn’t answer but I knew Thomas heard my probably not nearly as pretty sob.
And I knew this when he whispered, “Told you so.”
I sobbed louder.
Sam slid the phone from my hand; I wrapped my arm around him tight and listened to him murmur into my phone. Then I listened to him flip it shut. Then I heard it clatter on the nightstand.
Then both Sam’s arms were back around me, pulling me up his chest, he rolled me to my back, him on top and one hand went to my face to wipe away my tears.
“We have good friends,” I told him.
“Yeah we do,” Sam agreed, his eyes coming to mine then he whispered, “Wish Ben was here today.”
Tears filled my eyes again, my hand lifted to cup his cheek and I whispered back, “I do too.”
He kept going. “Gordo too.”
I nodded and swallowed.
Sam’s eyes held mine.
Then, still whispering, eyes intense, he said, “Love you, baby.”
He loved me. Me. All that was him loved all that was me.
“Love you, too, honey.”
I watched my husband smile.
Then I closed my eyes because he kissed me.
Then he made love to me.
And after, I fell asleep in the arms of a powerful man, content in the knowledge that I did very well…
And he did too.
* * * * *
Two and a half years later…
Coming home from his work managing the dining room in an exclusive hotel on Lago di Como, Paolo Garibaldi opened his postbox and saw the padded envelope inside.