Lucky Irish

“What brings you out here today?” My mom asks as soon as she sits down next to me on the couch.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out. I know that I should have told Seamus first, but I need advice now.

“Wow, really?” she says, tears filling her eyes. “My baby is having a baby?”

“I know. I just found out. I haven’t even told Seamus yet.” Seamus and I have come for dinner here at least twice a week since we’ve gotten together. He and my father bonded over the Sox and he bonded with my mom over their mutual love of movies.

“That’s amazing. Are you happy?”

“So happy,” I say honestly.

“And you think Seamus will be?”

“I hope so.”

“Oh honey, he will. I’ve seen how he looks at you. He loves you,” she says.

“You think? He hasn’t said it yet,” I tell her.

“I know so, Brenna. Go home and tell him,” she says.

“Home?” She knows that I don’t technically live with him.

“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m gonna let you know that he had a very specific conversation with your dad last weekend. I’m kind of surprised he hasn’t said anything to you yet,” she says.

“What? Really?” I say, excitedly.

“Yep, so pretend to be surprised,” she says conspiratorially.

“Oh my God, I will.”

“Go get your man,” she says. We stand and she walks me to the door where I give her a hug.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“I am so excited to be a grandmother, just so you know,” she says.

“Bye. Love you,” I say before walking back to the train station.

I can’t wait until Seamus gets home tonight. I hope he’s prepared for our whole lives to change.

Five

Seamus

As soon as I walk in the door, I smell dinner cooking. Her banker hours have her home by four thirty every day. Mine vary, especially if there is an outage somewhere, but mostly I am home by six barring an emergency. I don’t know what I did to deserve such a good woman, but I’ll take it. Work was good but after another union meeting tonight, I am not in the best mood. The guys have been trying to get me to run for president of our chapter, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to put a target on my back like that, but after tonight’s meeting and more benefits lost, I think I have to. I would never leave the others in the dark about what was going on. It’s too late for this president to be effective, besides he’s letting the company walk all over him. When I met Brenna, I vowed to leave work at the door, so I take some deep breaths, let that shit go, and walk inside.

When I get into the kitchen, I find Brenna making the very same meal we shared for the first time, which makes me smile. She’s so fucking beautiful. I can’t wait to make her mine forever. The only reason I haven’t asked her to marry me is because she’s so young. She hasn’t really experienced anything yet and I don’t want her to regret it or me later in life, but I’m about to be a selfish man.

“Happy One Month Anniversary,” she says holding up a plate of grilled cheese sandwiches. I smile as I stare at her.

Happy Anniversary,” I tell her, taking the plate from her and setting back down on the counter. She’s even wearing the same red robe she wore that first night. She couldn’t be more perfect if she tried. The only thing that is different is that we are at my house instead of her tiny apartment. I gather her into my arms and kiss her softly before demanding more from her. She moans and then pulls back from me.

“Welcome home,” she says kissing me again. “We need to talk,” she says seriously.

“That’s never a good conversation starter,” I say sitting on the barstool.

“It’s not bad. I promise.”

“Okay, so what do we need to talk about?” I ask, taking a bite of a sandwich. Fuck, I worked through lunch today, so I am starving.

“So, um, I am just gonna say it. I love you,” she blurts out. I swallow thickly.

“That’s it?” I ask. She seems too serious for that to be all.

“Well, no. I’m also pregnant.”

“So, to sum up this very enlightening conversation, you’re pregnant and you are in love with me?” I ask trying to wrap my head around it.

“Yeah.”

“Holy shit, lass. This is amazing. A fucking baby. I’m in love with you too. I can’t believe we haven’t said that yet.” Fuck, I must have thought it every minute of every day since I first saw her. Standing, I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring I’ve been carrying since the second day I knew her. I bought it on my lunch break. I knew I was going to marry her the second I laid eyes on her on the train. “Marry me, Brenna. Make me the luckiest Irishman to ever walk the Earth.” I was waiting for the perfect time and place to propose but none that matters now. I am going to be a father.