Little Green Apples (Ivan×OC)

Chapter 20

Jessica woke up bright and early and began reassembling her mother's dress. She used the leftover lace to cover the bodice. She tossed the crinoline petticoat and left the bottom to be flowy and billowy. For the final touch, she paired it with a beaded and pearled belt; she also picked out her jewelry. Her mother's pearls and her matching vintage teardrop earrings. She finished zipping the garment bag back up just in time before Ivan knocked.

"Come in."

Ivan opened the door with a smile on his face.

"We can move the wedding to Thursday after all. So we're getting married in two days!"

"Fantastic! I'm dying to show you my dress," she said, returning his smile.

"I can't wait to see it. You'll be breathtaking in it, I have no doubt about that."

Jessica felt her lips quirking upward.

"Ever the charmer," she bantered, approaching him and pulling his head down for a light kiss.

"I try," he said with a smug smirk.

"You succeed."

He dove back in to kiss her again. In the distance, a tea kettle began whistling.

Jessica set places for them for an early lunch while Ivan poured them tea. They sat down, Ivan said a quick prayer, and they started eating.

"Trying to set the mood for our honeymoon with French onion soup?," she teased. "Will there be any french kissing to go along with our French evening?," she asked in a coquette tone.

Ivan downcast his eyes; he still couldn't wrap his head around the fact someone genuinely enjoyed his company.

"Forgive me. I'm still not used to having a woman be so openly flirtatious with me. Linda wasn't even that way with me the entire time I knew her."

"No offense Ivan, but she sounds like she was a bit of nasty person. Never happy with you, never open and caring... Why did you marry her?"

"I've asked myself that so many times; the only reasonable explanation I can come up with is beacause I got her pregnant. This was before I took up the priesthood, of course. We tried to make it work, but it just never did. And after her death, I turned to God and focused my attention on positive things."

"That's understandable. I haven't slept around, but if I got pregnant, I know I would expect the person who got me that way to marry me. And I would try my hardest to stay around to see our kid grow up; even if it was in a challenging situation."

Ivan was silent for a moment, looking deep in thought. He'd been wanting to ask her what her opinions were on children and getting a house. He figured this would be as good a time as any to ask.

"... Since you bring up the subject, I've been wanting to ask you about your expectations you have about us getting married. Do you want children? A house with a picket fence? I'm perfectly fine with whatever you say, but I would like to know."

At the mention of children, she froze mid-drink. She set her glass down and looked at him for a moment.

"I honestly haven't thought about it. The only thing I know for certain is that I love you. And if children come into the picture, I'll love them too. That being said, if it happens, it happens; if not, I wouldn't turn bitter or be distraught. And as for a house, it would completely depend on the baby situation. If it remains just us, we don't have much need for a house. If we have any, we'll need space."

"Very reasonable answers. But... What do you WANT?"

She thought for a moment before answering.

"Well, one baby wouldn't be bad. And depending on how it goes, I wouldn't object to more. The housing I don't really mind either way. As long as I'm with you I'll be happy."