CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
(part four)

Saturday afternoon – 1:05 P.M.

“Kids asleep?” Sandy asked from his living room couch.

“Finally,” Aden said.

He held his hands out to her. She took his hands then let him pull her into his embrace.

“It’s all that Captain Crunch,” Sandy said. “Was that their first wedding?”

“The first one where they know the people,” Aden said. “Jake’s been such a big part of our lives. Jill is your best friend. She has special status. God, Noelle went on and on.”

“About what?”

“Everything.” Aden kissed her lips. He squinted his eyes.

“What?”

“I’m wondering how I can get you into bed,” he said.

Sandy laughed.

“How asleep are the kids?”

“Nash is completely out,” Aden said. “Noelle was just dropping off. You know how she talks until she’s asleep. What did you have in mind?”

“Hot tub. We’ve never….”

“It’s snowing.”

“No nosey neighbors.” Sandy kissed him.

“I love the way you think.”

Undressing as they went, he dragged her through the kitchen. Naked, he wrapped her in a bath sheet. He was reaching for a towel when he dropped to his knees.

“ADEN!” Sandy screamed.

He looked up at her and took her hand.

“Promise me, you’ll think about marrying me,” he said.

“You really scared me!” Sandy said. She swatted at his head.

“Promise me. Please.”

“I will.”

“You will what?”

“Marry you.”

“WHAT?!”

“I’ll marry you,” Sandy repeated.

“Today? Because I bet Delphie….”

“Soon,” Sandy said.

“I have to work tomorrow….”

“I’m working fourteen hour days until Christmas,” Sandy said.

“You’ve given this a lot of thought!”

Aden hopped to his feet. He pulled her into his arms. Sandy nodded.

“I don’t have a ring,” Aden said. “Oh crap, Sandy, I’m sorry.”

“No rings,” Sandy said. “Let’s just play it cool.”

“Cool. I can play it cool,” he said. “Are we telling people?”

“Oh, do you want to?”

“Yes, I want to tell everyone! I want to shout it to the world! I want ….”

Sandy kissed him.

“Slowly,” she said. “For me. Ok?”

Aden nodded. He opened the door and the wind blew a blast of cold onto them. Sandy shivered. With his arm on her shoulder, he led her to the hot tub.

“Aden?”

“Yes, Sandy?”

“You’re naked and it’s snowing.”

He jumped into the hot tub. In a flash, he stretched his arm out and snatched Sandy’s towel off. She squealed and ran to get in the hot tub.

“You’re the very best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Aden said.

“Prove it.”

As the snow fell into the hot water, he rose to her challenge.

~~~~~~~~

Saturday afternoon – 1:05 P.M.

MJ held Honey’s hair while she threw up in the toilet.

“Are you sick from all that Captain Crunch?” MJ asked.

“I don’t think so,” Honey said. “I think I’m pregnant.”

“WHAT?” MJ said. “How is that possible?”

“The egg is released from the ovary. It travels down the fallopian tube where it meets the sperm….”

“But I thought we couldn’t. You couldn’t. I….”

“They said six months,” Honey said. “It’s been about five months since I was injured.”

“Wow.” MJ leaned against the sink.

“Could you get me a wash cloth? I can’t really get it myself.”

“Oh. Yeah. Sure.” MJ wet a hand towel and gave it to her.

Honey wiped her face and hands.

“You seem lost in thought,” Honey said.

“You’re sure? I mean about a baby. You’re sure.”

“No, I’m not at all sure,” Honey said. “It could a combination of the Crohn’s and three bowls of cereal.”

“Oh,” MJ said.

“Oh?”

“Let’s make sure.”

MJ carried her back to bed.

Denver Cereal continues tomorrow….