A Spoonful Of Sugar [WILL BE TAKEN DOWN 2/15]

| Two Weeks Later

Two weeks later:

The bell to Kay's Coffee Shop's door dinged as a woman and her daughter walked inside. The girl with a purple dress and space buns on her head giggled as she pointed toward the front counter. At me.

I smiled at her, watching as she approached the register, eagerly holding her mother's hand. "Can I have a cupcake?" she asked me, brown eyes glittering with the reflection of the sun. "Make that two."

I couldn't help but giggle, too. She reminded me of myself when I was that small. Just eager and happy. Wanting all of the sweets in the world. Cakes, muffins, and cupcakes were like magic to me. Each time I laid my eyes on them, the world lit up around me. Judging by the look in that girl's eyes, the treats in our cupcake holder lit up hers, too.

"Two?" I gave her an exaggerated smile as I reached for the lid keeping our cupcakes safe and secured. "You really want two?"

The girl bounced, giggling still. "Yes, yes," she said, still holding onto her mother's hand. "I really do!"

Out of respect, I looked at the woman who brought her in. Short, like me. A curly bun on top of her head, just like mine, too. For a moment, I saw myself in her. Hoped to be her. Holding the hand of a little girl who looked like me, too.

I moved a hand over to my stomach, rubbing gently.

Will you be a girl?

The woman, noticing my movements, smiled at me, but didn't say a word. She simply looked at her daughter. "It's too early for two." Her smile turned into a laugh when the little girl quickly turned with a shocked, disbelieving face. "You can have one."

"But they're cupcakes!" The girl pouted her lips. "And they're so good,"

"I know, I know," the woman said.

Sensing the moment, I leaned against the counter and motioned for the girl to look at me. When she did, I smiled. "You know we'll always have cupcakes, so if you get one today, then next time you come, you can have another, and that'll be your two."

The girl blinked at me.

I cupped my hand over my mouth, whispering, "I promise to save you the good ones each time."

The light returned to the girl's eyes. "Really?"

I nodded, motioning for her to pick the cupcake of her choice. "Really, really," I said.

The girl squealed excitedly as she pointed to a cupcake to my right. Chocolate, covered with red and pink heart sprinkles, was everything in her eyes; I knew it because as a kid, it would've been everything to me, too. The way her face lit up when I pulled the baked sweet off of its tray, placed it inside a foam container, and handed it to her, was amazing. It warmed me. Made me smile.

I watched as she turned, hurrying towards one of the empty tables at the corner of the shop. Her mother didn't follow. She was still in front of me, brows raised, a smile on her face, too. While one hand held her purse firm on her shoulder, the other reached inside for her wallet. "You're good with kids," she said, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Yeah?" I shrugged as I leaned back, fingers tapping the corner of the register to charge the woman for the cupcake. "I love kids."

The woman nodded as she handed me her debit card. "I can tell," she said as her gaze focused on the menu behind me. "Can I get a coffee, too? Cream and sugar."

I looked at her before glancing at her daughter, happily sitting at the table of her choice. Her small legs swung on the sheet. She had already taken the cupcake out of the holder; sprinkles decorated the space in front of her. The way she hummed, and giggled quietly to herself, made me happy sigh through my nose before I lifted my hand to add the drink to the order.

"Of course," I said, looking back at the woman. "Did you want that in a small, medium, or—"

"Large." A hand moved beside me, from behind. In it was a large foam cup with the letter 'N' written neatly across the side. The motion was so sudden, I sort of did a jump-squeal before glancing at the hand, following the arm, until I found the face that matched the voice.

Brian. I blushed as I bit my lip. How did I not notice he was right here?

Brian's smiling face was focused on the woman in front of us. He turned the cup in his hand, so she'd see the initial written across its front. She blinked for a moment before laughing, and shaking her head. With a hand on her chest, she had to chuckle at her response. "Sometimes I forget you know my coffee better than I do, Brian," she said.

Next to me, Brian shrugged, sliding his hand over his head. "You know I make it my duty to know my regulars. Large coffee, extra bold, light on the cream but heavy on sugar. Right, Nonette?"

Nonette, nodding at her name, grabbed the coffee and pointed at him. "You got it," she said. Then she turned her finger towards me as I swiped her debit card for payment. "You got a good man there. He's good with the details."

I knew my brown cheeks were red. What she said was right, on both notes. Brian was good with details. He remembered everything, down to the nitty-gritty. And he also was a really good man. The best I ever had.

When his arm wrapped around my waist, hand settling on my hip, I had to lean into him.

"Thanks," I said as I handed her back her card. "I know."

"Mhm." Smiling, Nonette sipped her coffee before turning towards the table to join her daughter.

Still leaning against Brian, taking in the warmth of his arm, I watched the two of them at the table. The small interactions, the laughter. The way Nonette pointed at the sprinkled mess and the response her daughter gave; giggling with a pointing tongue. I had to laugh and shake my head.

Brian kissed the side of my head. Against my curls, he whispered, "You are good with kids."

I had to wrap my arms around my belly as I closed my eyes. I pictured the life inside of me. Small, but growing. Our unexpected bundle of joy. "I always wanted kids," I said softly, lifting my head to look up at the man of my dreams. "Always thought of the big family, little kids running around. I just..." my voice trailed off.

Brian touched my chin. The look in his eyes softened. With his thumb brushing across my cheek, he said, "I love you."

***

[THE END]