Carried Away

Regardless of how any of us feel about my mother, Dad is happy and as long as he remains that way, we’ve vowed not to interfere.

Elvis proved himself to be the filthy scoundrel I suspected he was. Apparently he did have a few fornications left to give. He managed to escape again. Thankfully, I had nothing to do with it. One day a small white cat showed up on our doorstep, demanding to be let in. Naturally, Nan was not going to turn her away. The joke was on us when she delivered three grey, black, and white long haired monsters two months later.

I glance across the room to find Jake at the door, pointing at his empty wrist.

“I gotta go Charlie. I have a date with some sharks. Tell Jackie we’ll swing by on our way back to New York.”

An hour later, as I’m gazing over the edge of the dive boat into translucent green waters. A school of baby sand sharks waiting to eat me circle below. It doesn’t take much to convince me that my pride isn’t worth the risk.

“Honey…Sunshine…Light of my life?”

Jake stops checking his air gage, expression super intense, and meets my apologetic smile. We don’t agree on everything, but we agree on the most important thing––always listen and respect each other’s choices.

“Remember when we were in New Zealand, bungee jumping, and you said I could never ever get you to say mercy first?”

His brow quirks. Then he places the aluminum scuba tank on the bench and comes over to me. He leans down until we’re practically nose to nose. Close enough that I can count the gentle creases at the edge of his deep blue eyes and the freckles under his coffee-with-cream tan.

Cupping my face, he kisses me. “Never ever ever, Carebear. Turners are not quitters. Now, are you a Turner or are you a Turner?”

His teammates are probably glad he retired. “I’m a Turner.”

“Damn right, you are. Suit up, baby. I checked your tank and you’re good to go. Promise you’re gonna love it.”

“Never ever?”

“Never ever,” my handsome Scrooge of the Adirondacks repeats with a teasing smirk.

“I’m pregnant.”

The smirk drops and his mouth parts. “Mercy.”