Mrs right zakrzewski ant.., p.21
Mrs. Right (Zakrzewski Anthologies), page 21
“We have too many hurricanes for it to be safe to be on the beach. We can stay at the resort when we want to be at the beach if need be. I’d prefer a home in a safe area where Maggie-Rae and the dogs can run around outside in the backyard while we barbecue on the grill. A place where we can lay on the grass and watch the stars on those warm summer nights.”
“That’s a yes then? To getting a home for us all?”
“It’s a big yes. An old farmhouse maybe…a fixer upper we can make our own.”
“Anything you want. When we get back home, I’ll make a call and get it started. I’ll keep in mind the drive time for our jobs. I don’t want you spending all of your time on the road.”
He was cute when he worried about me. “I have a few print-outs on the fridge. Local places that could use a little love but are great properties.”
He leaned in and claimed my mouth again. “We can look at them and find the one right for us. It will be the next step in our new partnership.”
“The best part is right here, like this.” I smiled, pressing a kiss to his nose.
“Aye, you in my arms is always the best part of my day.”
Tonight we’d made the commitment to love and honor each other. To start our new adventure as a pair. I couldn’t wait to see where we went from here.
Epilogue
JACK
This was going to be the biggest surprise I’d ever pulled off…I just hoped I didn’t fuck it up.
I’d made a promise to Grace that she could find whatever home she wanted for us to live in together. She’d spent a few weeks looking through the “wish list” of homes for sale that she and Claire had been accumulating for years. They had lists of must-haves, things they didn’t care for, and I believe a list of wants that could be added on if they weren’t available. Like a playroom for Maggie-Rae, a full-sized laundry room, a library. All of these were things I could get behind.
I’d hired an agent to help me find just the right house, one I knew they’d all fall in love with. And finally, he’d done it. The family selling the old farmhouse and the property had already accepted my offer. I was getting the property today even if it didn’t meet the complete list of requirements I knew Grace had. I just prayed and crossed my fingers it was what they wanted. I was pretty sure it was.
“Why won’t you tell us where we’re going?” Grace asked for the fifth time.
“Lass, it’s a surprise. We will be there in just a minute,” I said, turning into the long driveway. The home sat back off the road a half mile or so. You had to know the drive was there or you’d miss it. I liked that part best.
When the home came into view, I heard my wife gasp as she sat up in the seat to look out of the window. The farmhouse, which was originally built in the 1800’s, was huge.
It sat proudly nestled in the trees with three stories, a wraparound porch on the ground floor, but the second story had a large balcony with a sitting area.
“This place is gorgeous!” Claire said from the back seat.
“It’s perfect,” Grace turned to face me, “Is it ours? What’s it like on the inside? Can we go in and take a look around?”
I chuckled, not answering her ‘is it ours’ question just yet. “The top floor, the third story of the house is a library/office combo with built-in shelves and cabinets already in place. It was fully renovated about thirty years ago to make it livable again.”
I had plans to bring in a crew to fix up a few minor things, like replace the carpet on the second floor with hardwoods, but I had to wait and see what Grace and Claire thought first.
“The second floor has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, including a master bedroom with an ensuite. The bottom floor has an open floor plan for the most part. Living room, formal dining room, kitchen with a built-in hidden pantry and breakfast area. There’s a full-sized laundry room which includes a dumbwaiter that goes to a smaller laundry room on the second floor. There is also a second master bedroom with an ensuite.”
I parked the car and went to meet the agent. Once he opened the door, I stepped into the house and stood in the foyer, listening to the women gush over this and that. The home had been renovated to restore the internal and external architecture while giving it a modern feel. Hardwood floors, fireplaces, high ceilings—it was remarkable.
An hour later, every inch of the house had been inspected by the two. Maggie-Rae and I had moved to the backyard long ago. There was a playset off from the back porch. Swings, a slide, monkey bars, and the best part, an in-ground trampoline. Though it was a little sketchy looking, so I’d have to replace it and maybe have some sort of cover built for it. To help protect it from the elements.
“Oh, Jack!” I turned and scooped up my wife as she ran to us. “I love it! It’s perfect, other than that ridiculous gold carpet upstairs.”
I barked out a laugh. “That was a dreadful color choice, but it’s fixable. You really like it?”
“Yes. Yes, we do. It’s perfect. If we get it, it means Maggie-Rae and the baby won’t have to share a room.”
I looked down at the big smile on her face. Did she just—“Baby?”
“Yes!” She pulled out a blue and white stick. The display screen said ‘Pregnant.’ My heart started to thunder inside of me.
“A baby, really?”
“Yes, I’m about six weeks along. I’m guessing we got pregnant on our wedding night or one of the days we were on our honeymoon.”
“I love ye, my beautiful wife.” I picked her up and spun her around.
“I love you, too, husband. With all of me.”
I stopped, looking down at her, taking in the sparkle in her eyes. I pressed a kiss to her mouth.
Today had just taken place with the happiest day of my life. I only hoped as we moved through life that things kept getting better and better for us all.
About the Author
Barb is a Carolina girl by right and a Texan by birth. By day she’s a desk jockey for a rural transportation company and a book lover, reading through as many books as she can. At night, though, she turns into her alter ego: a writer—cape optional, depending on her mood.
Her stories are a mix of real-life events, personal experiences, and the craziness of her own imagination and those of her best friends. And when their imaginations blend together, it can be crazy. Barb writes in multiple genres, encounters new adventures, creates new worlds, and has a fantastic time breathing life into new stories, creating something she hopes inspires anyone who reads to fall in love with them as she has.
Barb lives by one little rule: tomorrow is never guaranteed, so make sure you live each day to its fullest.
Visit https://www.authorbarbshuler.com/ for more about Barb and her books.
Mrs. Bennett
TRACY BROEMMER
Chapter One
BODHI
Will had a meeting after school, so Bodhi had plenty of time to get home and get things ready for the evening. For their first Valentine’s Day as husband and wife, they had decided to stay in for the night. Alone. Away from any prying eyes. But that didn’t mean Bodhi didn’t have plans.
She pushed her chair under her desk, glanced at her phone, and tossed it in her purse. Her gaze caught on the diamond solitaire Will had put on her finger just a few months ago. It was new enough that she didn’t yet have the tell-tale white indent in the skin of her ring finger. She hadn’t worn any rings since she was a sophomore in college. She and Boone had been living together for a few years by then, and it felt juvenile to be wearing a high school class ring when she was nearly twenty years old.
The simple white gold solitaire diamond was elegant. Will had picked it out and surprised her with it, even though he had already proposed, and she had already said yes. She hadn’t needed a ring that night, just Will. And she hadn’t needed a big wedding; she loved that Will understood that about her.
It wasn’t that she would have said no if he had made a big production of his proposal. But the fact that Will knew her well enough to ask her over a bowl of popcorn and some made for TV movie on a random Tuesday night in August spoke volumes about how well they communicated. How well he knew her.
Then again, he’d watched her live a love life with his best friend for years. Will had been one of her best friends for years. Of course he knew her. Ironic, maybe, that he proved to know her and understand her better than Boone.
But she wouldn’t go there. She didn’t need to.
She and Will had stood before the justice of the peace three days after he proposed and said I do. To her surprise, he had pulled the little silver box from his pocket and popped it open to reveal the ring. Her wedding ring.
It still had the power to bring her to tears. The ring. The way he loved her.
Will.
“Hey.”
Piper’s voice nudged her into action. Bodhi never thought she would be the moony type. But she’d lost a lot of moments looking at the ring on her finger. At her new last name. At Will. She loved to watch him when he was sleeping. Mornings were nice now—they didn’t usually sit down for breakfast before they left for school, but they talked while they were getting ready, and they stood together in the kitchen for a few minutes drinking their coffee, deciding what they would do for dinner in the evenings. But on the weekends, whether they slept in and had brunch together or were up bright and early and shared coffee and pastries, Bodhi loved to look at Will seated across the table from her.
“Hey yourself,” she said as she turned to the door. Piper stepped inside with a nervous smile plastered on her face. “You ready for tonight?”
Her friend laughed and shook her head. “No. I’m not!”
“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun!” Bodhi stepped back and perched her butt on the edge of her big silver desk.
“Says the woman’s who’s already happily married.” Piper rolled her eyes.
Bodhi wished she could do something to put her friend at ease and cringed with empathy when Piper smoothed her hands over her hips.
“I’m excited for you,” Bodhi said quietly.
“Well, me, too.” Piper nodded. “But I’m scared to death.”
“It’s gonna be great,” Bodhi assured her.
“Yeah? How many times have you proposed again?”
Bodhi barked a laugh and launched herself off the desk to hug her friend. “Pipe. You guys are so perfect together.”
“Maybe.” Piper, still wrapped in Bodhi’s arms, shrugged and groaned. “But then, why hasn’t he asked me to marry him?”
“I dunno.” Bodhi gave her a quick squeeze and stepped back. “But I love that you’re gonna ask him. It’s…right. It’s who you guys are.”
“Meaning I’m the pushy one?” Piper tipped her head and arched her brows at Bodhi.
“No.” She reached for her purse and slipped the strap over her shoulder. “Meaning you’re the bubbly, outgoing one who can’t help but express herself.”
“Or in other words, can’t shut up.”
“Stop it!” Bodhi laughed as she dropped her arm around Piper’s shoulders. They walked together to the door, Piper waiting while Bodhi fished her keys from her purse. “Take a deep breath. You’ve got this.”
Piper did as Bodhi suggested. Once the door was locked, Bodhi dropped her keys back in her bag and looked at her friend again.
“I wanna know all about it.” She waggled her eyebrows. “Tomorrow.”
Piper snorted. “Ditto.”
“Night.”
Piper stepped back into her classroom leaving Bodhi alone with her thoughts again. She was tempted to walk over to the high school wing and peek at Will. Say hi. Give him a kiss. But he would be in a rush to get to his meeting, and she had things to do. So, it was better if she headed straight to her car to get the evening rolling.
Valentine’s Day with her husband. Her husband Will Bennett.
She was cooking. They usually shared the duty, and on weeknights, dinner was something quick and easy. Tonight, she was making linguini with a homemade Alfredo sauce. And she planned to dip strawberries in chocolate for after dinner. She would stop at the grocery store on the way home to pick up a salad mix and bread.
And a bottle of wine.
They’d found a Cabernet Sauvignon they liked. She’d waffled on this part. The wine they both enjoyed? Or champagne? They hadn’t done a champagne toast—not after they were officially engaged. And not after they were married. Their friends—surprised but pleased with their marriage—had chastised them a bit about how they’d done it. Not Piper, as she knew the whole back story. Though she was with the rest of the group, insisting Bodhi and Will plan a reception of some sort now so they could all celebrate with them.
As with the rest of her plans for Valentine’s, she had decided on simple and real—the same as she and Will had been from the beginning, the new beginning. Why do champagne when they both enjoyed the wine? Why do Vegas or the beach, when they only needed each other to celebrate their love?
Her students had exchanged Valentine’s cards this afternoon, and Bodhi had enjoyed watching them. Some of them were just doing what was expected, of course, but she could see that there were a few crushes live and well in the classroom. She’d hung silly Cupid cutouts, and she handed out Valentine’s candy, but she hadn’t done anything to promote the crushing or dating ideas. In her mind, these kids were too young to worry about dates and attraction and kissing.
Then again, she’d been caught up in all of that when she was their age.
She glanced at the candy display at the front of the store as she passed through. Maybe she should pick something up for Will. He liked sweet-tarts. Or maybe a giant chocolate kiss.
Or maybe a can of whipped cream.
That thought brought a smile to her face. They didn’t need it. They were nowhere near needing to jazz up life in their bedroom. But it would be fun. Maybe one crazy little splurge for the day.
Chapter Two
WILL
Bodhi had announced earlier in the week that she had Valentine’s Day covered. Will didn’t question her; no doubt, she had something special up her sleeve. But that didn’t mean he planned to slack on his first Valentine’s Day with a beautiful, new wife. He was happy to stay home with her. Just as happy as he would be to take her somewhere nice for dinner or even somewhere across the country for a little getaway. But she had insisted on staying in, so Will had agreed and exacted a promise from her that they would take a vacation over the summer.
Still, as soon as this meeting was over, he was making a quick stop. The florist he preferred to use closed at five, and he’d had the foresight to assume this science department meeting would last at least that long, so he’d ordered a bouquet of roses from the floral department at the grocery store. While he was there, he planned to find something fun and sweet for he and Bodhi to share. Maybe chocolate covered strawberries. Maybe just a tub of chocolate frosting. He could think of things he would love to do with chocolate frosting and his wife’s body.
Thoughts like that only made this meeting seem to drag even slower. Who planned meetings on Valentine’s Day, anyway? People who weren’t newlyweds, he guessed. People who had been married years and years and didn’t care to choose one day to celebrate love. Or maybe people who were divorced or single and weren’t interested in celebrating love or a relationship. It wasn’t too long ago that Will qualified as single and not particularly interested in the conversation hearts and Cupid and all that jazz.
He didn’t judge. Never had been one to judge. But now that he was in a new category, he was ready to get the show on the road and get out of here. They had talked about the curriculum, changing things up a bit. Looking at new textbooks for next year, which Will thought was a waste. The texts they were using were barely two years old. Apparently, someone on staff had voiced concerns that the texts weren’t preparing their students well enough for standardized testing.
They had finished most of the discussion over fifteen minutes ago, but Magnum Cornwell—the new physics teacher—had asked three questions now and kept the chatter going. Will liked the guy okay, and maybe the questions were valid, but he was ready to leave.
When the meeting finally adjourned fifteen minutes later, Will bid his friends a quick goodbye and ignored the smirk on Janti Barclay’s face. She was a good friend, and she was now a good friend to Bodhi, but he didn’t even want to take the time for teasing about whatever his wife had planned for him tonight.
It was dark when he left the building. But with his mind on Bodhi, the winter night, the frigid air—none of it bothered him. They had played rummy for hours the night before. Talking. Laughing about the old days, though they rarely brought up Boone. Which was okay with Will. After Will beat Bodhi for the fourth time in a row, she’d cried uncle, climbed into his lap, and stripped her sweatshirt off. Will hadn’t had time to register that she wasn’t wearing a bra before she captured his mouth in a kiss and led him down the delicious path of making love.
They could spend tonight the same way and he’d be happy.
When that first time last night was over, after Bodhi had come undone in his lap, Will had ducked his chin to rest on her head, and they whispered a conversation about making love without protection. Even after they were married, they’d used condoms. Bodhi had talked about getting to an ob-gyn, about establishing and getting on birth control pills again.
But she hadn’t done it yet.
And they’d gotten carried away a couple of times, forgetting to take precautions. Last night, they decided together that they didn’t care. Maybe they hadn’t been a couple that long and they were newlyweds, but they’d known each other forever and loved each other forever, and if it happened, if Bodhi were to get pregnant, they were ready.
