Sometimes Good News Devastates Serpents
Amber wrapped her arms around Dan and nuzzled her face into his neck. Dan had stepped off the flat-bottomed boat and walked with assured steps toward the lake house. Blue Serene's event management team was top-tier; the door was opened for them as if it had all been pre-planned and staged just for this moment.
Dan walked into the house, the door shutting behind him as he carried her up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Amber finally sighed as Dan stood holding her close, both of them standing before their bed for several quiet minutes. "I guess I need to get changed and we need to get back."
"We have time. We promised to return, but we never said what time we would return."
She laughed softly into his ear—a flutter that tickled him and soothed his soul. He drew her in even tighter, his mind on their life together and the baby she was carrying. A slow smile spread across his face. He was ready for this change. He was ready to prove himself a good husband and father. He finally exhaled and lowered her gently to the floor, but he still wasn't ready to let her go. He wasn't ready to share her with the world just yet. He kissed her forehead and drew her into a tight embrace.
"You are acting like we are about to separate."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm being selfish. I just want you with me; I don't want to share you just yet."
"You're not sharing me." Even as she spoke, she pressed deeper into him. "We are in this together, walking as one. How can you share an integral part of yourself? It's not possible."
He smiled, her scientific mind giving him pause. "Okay. Let's just call this our alone time."
"Oh. That makes sense."
He smiled broader and exhaled into her hair.
Once they finally extricated themselves from each other, they moved to their separate dressing rooms, then found themselves in the bathroom together. It was going to take them some time to return to their celebration. When Amber went back into her changing room, she saw a beautiful, green silk, form-fitting, full-length dress laid out for her. It went perfectly with her red hair and had a subtle shine that made her smile.
She slid into it and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hand fell naturally onto her stomach as she thought about how she would soon look so very different in a dress like this. She smiled, suddenly breathless with excitement at this new chance at motherhood.
When Dan saw her in the dress, he lost his voice. Her red hair, dangling ruby earrings, and the large teardrop ruby resting at her breast made her look like a princess of some exotic land. He took her hand and led her down to the waiting boat. They stepped onto it without a word, and the rowers began slowly moving them back toward the teahouse. Amber was taken aback when she noticed the rowers had changed their attire: emerald green on the left side of the boat and ruby red on the right.
"Virginia truly thought of everything, didn't she?"
Dan followed her line of sight and smiled. "She did indeed. At least you have one viable sister." He sneered as he said the last sentence, and Amber quietly cringed at his words, the reminder of Jessica stinging even now.
As the boat returned to the teahouse, the guests began to notice. Quite quickly, a group of spectators gathered at the edge of the water to greet them.
Jessica watched, envy sparking in her eyes. Her gaze slid over her sister's emerald green dress as she imagined herself wearing it. Virginia stepped next to her. "Like the dress, Jessica? It might look good on you as well. I always envied you and Amber for your bright red hair; my dull reddish-brown locks sometimes annoy me."
"Did you find that for her, little sister?"
"I did." Virginia sipped her champagne. "It's from that new West African designer everyone is swooning over." She looked at Jessica with a blank expression. "I don't think you'd be able to afford it right now."
Jessica looked at her sister with a sharp smile, and something unspoken passed between them. Virginia confirmed that Jessica had money at her disposal, and Jessica knew her younger sister knew more than she should. Their gazes stayed locked for some time until Angelica, their aunt, and their two sisters-in-law joined them.
Angelica looked out over the lake to her middle daughter and smiled. "Do you know what the announcement is, Ginnie?"
Virginia smiled at Jessica as she replied to her mother. "Yes, ma'am. I do."
The look made something within Jessica squirm with worry. She narrowed her eyes as she looked back out over the water. Virginia always seemed to know things she should not.
When Amber and Dan finally arrived, there was another grand cheer and more confetti. Dan swept Amber up into his arms, smiling broadly at her squeal of excitement. He stepped onto the dock like a professional seaman and brought her to the waiting crowd. They danced with guests, stealing glances at each other, and when they finally found each other again, Dan kissed her gently and whispered into her ear, "Now?"
She blinked several times and then smiled. "Okay."
Dan looked out at his family and friends and raised his hand—pulling Amber closer to his side—to get everyone's attention. "I want to thank everyone for sharing this special moment with us."
Everyone quieted down, excitement rippling through the small crowd as they moved in to ensure they heard every word. "Amber and I have had a rather interesting and difficult year, but we survived it all and came out stronger in the end." He smiled down at Amber and squeezed her a bit tighter. He placed his hand on her belly and continued. "And now, my beautiful wife is giving me a second chance to be a father."
An excited, happy gasp moved through the room just as the sound of breaking glass echoed from the side. Everyone ignored it as if it had never happened.
"My beautiful wife is pregnant, and I ask you all to help me ensure that she does not stress or overdo things. All who love her know her work ethic." He paused and scooped up a glass of sparkling juice for Amber and champagne for himself, raising his glass high. "To my marriage, my wife, and my unborn."
A loud, unanimous cheer went up. They all paused, then there was a surge toward Amber and Dan. They became separated by a wave of congratulations and hugs.
As the atmosphere shifted, Jessica stood frozen in place—her broken champagne flute shattered at her feet. Her mind buzzed and swam at the same time.
Pregnant?
She wanted to rage. She wanted to stomp her feet. She wanted to scream at the injustice of it all. Once again, Amber was stealing her happiness.