What Is Left Unsaid : An Ashley Purdy Love Story

Secret Project

TIANA'S POV :

      As we're eating breakfast , Ash looks across the table at me and says , "Could I ask you to do something for me , T ?"

      "Babe , you know you can ask me anything you want ." , I tell him . "What do you need ?"

      He leans forward and says , "Before I even start , I just want to say that I understand completely if you don't like the idea , but it's just sort of been chasing itself around in my head since you came to the studio last week ."

      I wait for him to go on , and he finally blurts out , "Since you came up with such a cool way of surprising me , I kinda wanted to return the favor . So ... , I was sorta hoping that you'd let me set up the nursery . I have sort of a concept in mind for it , and I'd kind of like to do it as a sort of secret project , I guess . But it's totally cool if you have your own thing you want to do , or maybe we can combine our ideas , or ... , I don't know !"

      "You do know you're rambling , don't you ?"

      "Yeah , probably ." , he sighs . "But I don't want to sound like I'm trying to shut you out of anything . I just wanted to give you a special surprise , if that doesn't sound stupid ."

      I get up from the chair, walk around the table to stand behind him , and wrap my arms around his shoulders . "No , it doesn't sound stupid at all , it sounds really sweet , actually . If that's what you want to do , go for it . You're much more artistically talented than I am , and if you do it , I know it'll be something really special . And when they get big enough to understand , we can tell them how it's something that their daddy did especially for them ."

      He pops up from the chair and hugs me , with a huge smile on his face . "Thank you , darlin' ! I'm going to work my tail off to make this the most kick - ass nursery any kid has ever had !"

      "No , don't do that . I happen to be quite fond of your tail ." , I say , giving his butt a squeeze , which gets both of us started giggling . 

      I clear off the breakfast dishes and start up the dishwasher , then go to my computer and get ready for my daily writing session , while he starts putting on his boots . "Going somewhere , babe?" , I ask .

      "I was gonna go pick up some of the stuff I need to get started on the nursery . Unless you need me to do something here first ."

      "No , go ahead ." , I say . "But stop at Einstein Bros. on your way back and pick up some of those cheese bagels , please . I'm thinking that sounds really good for lunch ."

      He grabs his keys , kisses me , and heads for the door , calling back , "Will do ! And I think while I'm there , I might make a run on that little Vietnamese place across the street and grab something for myself ."

      I get to work on my current chapter , which introduces Feather the halfling druidess to the adventuring party , and sort of lose myself in the story . Fortunately everything seems to be coming together pretty well so far , since my deadline is about a month after my due date , and I'm hoping to have it done early . If I can do that , I'll have a bit of breathing room , without trying to stay on top of that and take care of a pair of newborns .

      I've finished the chapter I started with , and I'm over halfway through the next before I hear the door open . I look up , and see Ash coming into the living room , carrying a couple of bags in one hand , and some sort of electronic gizmo in the other .

      "What in the world is that ?" , I ask , getting up from the chair and walking over to hug him .

      "It's a digital level , so I can make sure I'm keeping everything even . Don't want the room looking like I did it while I was on a bender , do we ?" , he replies , handing me the bags of food .