Carol Moncado

YAY! Haven’t Flash Fiction Friday-d with Jan in AGES! So when she suggested we give it ago, I was so excited.

She let me pick the prompt [first line of my entry]. I got the three year old calmed down [after he woke up from a late nap and realized Daddy and sisters went to the ‘fe-a-twer’ to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2] and away we went! Remember, there’s no editing or anything that goes into these. Just write and post!

Since I got to pick the prompt, I found one that I could use where I am in SUBURBAN STRAIGHTJACKET. Andrew and Ruthie have been talking. She had a convo with Dylan [6yo nephew they have custody of] earlier in the day that they’d already talked about earlier in this convo.

A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-nd. Here. We. Go!

The lump in his throat made it hard to swallow. “Are you sure?”

Ruthie nodded. “It’s what I want. I promise.”

“It really would be so much more work for you.”

“I know. I love the kids, you know that. So much, but I want to have a baby with you.”

Andrew felt his heart swell to three times its normal size. God, what did I do to deserve this woman? But she was still talking.

“I’m not saying I want to start trying to get pregnant, I think we could probably use a little more time to adjust to everything before we do. I was thinking that I could go off birth control and just see what happens.”

He kissed her softly. “I’m okay with that. Are you sure Dylan was? I don’t want him, or any of the kids, to think we’ll love him less because they aren’t our ‘real’ children.”

“Dylan seemed okay with it. Maybe you could talk to him?”

“I will. Do you think the adoption process will help with that, some at least?”

Ruthie nodded against him. “I think so. The last visit with the social worker went well. The process is proceeding. I hope all four of them know that we love them.”

His hand rubbed up and down her arm as she shifted to settle more fully against him. “Being pregnant may not be easy. Do you remember what it was like for Ally?”

“It wasn’t easy but it wasn’t horrible. I can handle it.”

He turned, moving away from her so he could see her eyes. “I know you could handle being pregnant, but what about finishing getting everything settled in here? Can you handle four kids you’re still getting to know and being pregnant at the same time?”

“My grace is sufficient.” She didn’t need to finish the verse or give the chapter and verse. He knew she was right.

“Okay then.” He was almost giddy as the idea rolled over him. He’d been a legal guardian since the day his sister and brother-in-law were killed in that car accident. He was learning to be a father to his nieces and nephews. But a baby of their own? When they’d married, he hadn’t even broached the thought in his mind much less in discussion with Ruthie. “We’ll have to be careful to make sure that the kids don’t feel neglected or unwanted in any way.”

“We will.”

Andrew pulled his wife to him, kissing her until the only thing left in the world was the two of them. Later, he tucked his sleeping wife next to his side. Smiling as he drifted off to sleep.

Little did he know just how much things were about to change.

****

There you have it! You can’t hold me to any of it if/when this ever gets published but there tis anyway ;).