She Had Me From Hello

Chapter Six-Carina

Three months have now passed and it's Christmas Morning. I am now four months along and Maya has the whole break free because when the campus is closed, so is the Coffee Shop she works at. She is now working at Starbucks in University Village.

I am still in Seattle for another month and we've been at the house. I tried to think of a gift for her that would show how much I love and appreciate her and I think I found it. I want her to know that no matter where we are or how far apart we are, I will only love her and our family and that I see my future with them in it. I got her a few other gifts as well, but they pale in comparison.

I've been awake for a little while now. I've gotten dressed, made coffee and brushed my teeth. Maya is still in bed asleep, or so I thought.

"Tesoro," she wonders.
"Yes, bambina," I answer.
"I thought we said no going overboard," she says.
"I want to spoil you. Plus, I wasn't sure if I was gonna move here, stay in Catania or if you were gonna move there. I wanted to be prepared."
"Well, I've been thinking about that actually. I don't really want us to change colleges. The way things are done here are different there. I know it'll be hard because of the baby, but I'd rather stay here."
"Okay. I understand. We will make it work. Now let's open presents."

We spend the next hour opening presents. Maya gets a few Italia hoodies, cologne, a few pairs of running clothes, a new pair of running shoes and a few pairs of dress clothes. I get some new outfits, a new pair of shoes for med school and some makeup. After they're all opened, I grab a small box and turn to her.

"What-" she starts but I cut her off. "I know the guy is the one that usually does this and that I've said I'm against marriage. But, I also know that the last four months have been the best months of my life. So, Maya Bishop, I am giving you this ring as a promise to you. That no matter what, I will always be here and I will always be true. I promise that I will lie with you and hold you at night when things throughout your day just don't seem to be going right. For you, I would walk a thousand miles and more just to see your beautiful smile that I absolutely adore. I promise that I will make you smile when you feel like crying. I promise that I will comfort you if you feel like dying. I promise to steal away your every sorrow and fear. I promise to wipe away your every tear. I promise to cherish every minute I spend with you until the daylight sky is no longer the color of blue. Without your love, I do not know what I would do. I will not have a future unless it involves you. You've changed me for the better, and I have never been so happy. Now, with you in my life, I can't picture a world without you and me. Fate decided it was time for us to be together, and though our time here on Earth is short, I promise I want you always and forever. I promise that no matter what may happen, we will make it through. Please accept this ring as a symbol of the love I will always have for you and the hope that one day we will show that love." "Yes." I slide the ring on her finger and kiss her. "I love you," she says. "I love you too."

We get up to put everything away and clean up the wrapping paper. When we're done, we go to the kitchen and start putting the food together. We put the turkey in the crockpot and make lasagna bolognese, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, candied sweet potatoes and bread rolls. For dessert we make pumpkin pie and tiramisu. We have non-alcoholic egg nog and apple cider to drink while waiting and then iced tea to drink with dinner.

When done, we put everything in the oven, on the stovetop and in the fridge. We set a timer for everything and then lay cuddling on the couch, watching Christmas movies and relaxing. When the timers go off, we set everything on the counter and pull the pumpkin pie out of the fridge to warm up. We make our plates, grab our glasses and sit at the island. We eat and when done, we clean our plates and put them in the dishwasher.

We decide to take a bath and relax the rest of the day. Thirty minutes later, we're lying silently in bed cuddled up to one another. After a few minutes, Maya breaks the silence.

"This has been the best Christmas ever. Thank you for being here and loving me when no one but my brother ever has." "I'm glad you had fun. I wish you'd have had a better childhood, but you turned into a remarkable young woman," I reply. "I wish you hadn't had to grow up the way you did either, but you turned out to be pretty remarkable as well. I love you." "I love you too." Silence. "Bambina," I question as I look down at Maya and see she's fallen asleep. "Oh, Maya." I get up and make sure everything is locked up and lights are turned off before crawling back in bed and falling asleep next to my love.