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Paulie and Marista had been getting intimate at her place.
"I haven't done that in . . . like five years." She told him.
Paulie kissed her deeply. "That's a long time."
She was smiling up at him when it all just slapped her in the face. "Oh my!" She scrambled to cover herself and sit up. "This was a mistake!" She yelled out.
Paulie felt like crap now. "How is this a mistake?" He looked at her in concern.
"I could get pregnant." She said and sighed.
Paulie moved hair away from her face. "Is that such a bad thing? It'd be nice to have a little us around here."
Sheet balls, He does want a family! She said to herself.
"I know you have three already, but they're grown up. Plus two are having kids of their own." Paulie said with a warm smile. He moved a hand to her stomach area. "And we could have one too."
"Or I could run up to the castle and get some of Mermista's birth control." She said in a hurry.
Paulie took his hand back. "Yeah." He said sadly, "or that."
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Marista looked at him. "Paulie, having kids is life changing." She said, thinking about the past. "It's just that Donovan wasn't a great father. He'd shove money at me and the girls. He never wanted to spend any quality time with them even when they begged for him to stay."
"Our child would never have to go through that." Paulie told her. "Just do what you want to. We can talk about a kid some other time."
Marista leaned over and kissed him. "I need to run up to the castle. Will you stay here?"
"I will make some coffee and wait for you. Plus I don't have a boat docked here. You're gonna have to get someone to take me back to SeaWorthy."
Marista nodded, but she had other ideas in mind. I want you to stay, she thought. Live here in Salineas with me. She would absolutely be talking to him later about their future.
They both got dressed. Then she went up to the castle. Marista found everyone but Mermista in the kitchen.
Amara was laughing at something Meranda had said. Then she saw her mother. "Where's Paulie?"
All of the attention turned to Marista. "Back at our home. Could I please see you three alone?" Together they gathered in the hallway. "This is very important and I need to ask all of you first."
"We don't care if you and Paulie are doing the dirty." Marika said. "We just want you to be happy."
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"True!" Meranda then said. "Is Paulie making you happy?"
Marista nodded and smiled. "Very." She said, blushing. "What are your thoughts on a new sibling? Paulie wants a baby with me."
"We're not surprised . . . right?" Amara looked at her sisters. They shook their heads. "And now you're freaking out because you didn't use protection."
Marista looked away. "Yeah. Freaking the bleep out is correct."
"What do you want?" Meranda asked her mother.
Paulie. She wanted Paulie in so many non-sexual ways. "I love him." She whispered. Her girls had heard her. "I want everything with him."
Amara hugged her mother quickly. "We'd like a new sister or brother."
Marika smiled lovingly at her mom. "You and Paulie are so cute together. Your baby is gonna be beautiful."
Marista was feeling so many things. "I'm going to be a grandmother soon." She said looking at Marika's growing belly. We have what three or four months to go."
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"Yeah, Andrew will be here when he wants to be here." Marika said. "You and Paulie go make a list of baby names. We'll help yall pick out a really good one."
Paulie was at the table sipping his coffee when Marista came back. He looked at her and the smile on her face. "Was the birth control satisfying?"
Wow . . . his tone was unexpected.
Marista stood there in shock while having flashbacks of Donovan.
Paulie saw her trying not to cry. He got up feeling like an idiot. "I'm sorry, Marista."
She turned away losing control of her emotions and tears. Paulie tried to touch her but she swatted him away.
"I'm sorry. I just really want a family with you. You already have one though." Paulie said, watching her cry and wipe away her tears.
Marista composed herself and looked at him. "The way you said that was uncalled for. And by the way I didn't take any. I didn't even see Mermista when I went up there. I went to talk to my girls about us."
Paulie cautiously came closer. "What about us?"
Marista walked away and sat at the table. Paulie sat down too. "They want a sibling. They're excited for us."
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Paulie smiled and then kissed Marista's cheek. "Does this mean you want to keep trying for a baby?" He took his shirt sleeve and wiped the wetness off her face.
"Yeah, I do. Not right now, I've got other things to talk to you about." Marista said to him.
"Like what?" Paulie asked looking into her eyes.
Marista kissed his mouth. He kissed her back a few times. "Us. Things are changing, Paulie. Big things are about to happen. I'm going to be a grandmother. And a mother again. Plus three weddings are going to happen in the new year."
Whoa! He thought, that is a lot! "We can still have fireworks any day! How about New Years Eve?"
Marista's eyes widened. "That's too soon. I'd rather marry in the summer."
"Okay, well at least we have the date picked out. Do you know when Meranda and Marika are getting married?" Paulie pulled her closer and kissed her forehead.
Marista smiled to herself. "They haven't made up their minds yet." She got up and walked off.
Paulie followed her and now they were back in the bedroom.
Marista was sitting on the bed. "Come sit with me."
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Paulie joined her and put his arms around her. Marista laid her head on his shoulder. "When you need to go back to SeaWorthy, take one of my ships." She said to him.
"Really? Thanks. I'll get it back to you." Paulie kissed the top of her head.
She moved to look at him. "Actually choose one and keep it."
Paulie was surprised. "I can't do that."
Marista smiled and nodded. "Yes, you can. We're engaged and we're gonna be married this summer. We're gonna share a lot of things. Let this be the first of many." She was scared to ask, but she went ahead and said, "Paulie, do you want to move in with me." She paused, "or is it too soon for that too?"
Paulie was again, shocked by her words. He just looked at her speechless. Marista's smile held hope in it. Things were changing faster than he could breathe. He and Marista had really just begun and yet it felt right.
"I'd like that. It doesn't have to be right away though." Paulie told her. "We can take things one day at a time."
Marista kissed him with need. "Wanna get back to making our baby again?"
Paulie smiled brightly. "Yes, very much so." He kissed her and she made him lay on his back.
