Vacant(17)

"I do. I know there will be a lot of work to be done on it, but I have the summer off. There is a lot I can do during that time." I'd yet to tell him he'd be doing all the painting, but I think - all things considered - he'll be just fine with the tradeoff. "This house is in a better neighborhood and is a bit bigger. There is room for us to have a home office and a couple spare bedrooms."

The realtor was anxious to make a deal. The house had been on the market for several months due to the "as is" sale. She's hovering, not wanting this potential sale to slip away. "Do you have any questions, Mr. and Mrs. Parker?"

Despite hearing Mrs. Parker every day, hearing it still brings a smile to my face. I grabbed Ethan's hand and led him back down the hallway. "I think we'll take another look around and meet you back out front." I answer, desperate to get a few moments alone with my husband and away from the hovering realtor.

"Will you marry me?"

Those were the first words out of Ethan's mouth. Not, "Good morning, Emily. How did you sleep?" Stunned didn't even begin to capture what I was feeling. My brain wasn't fully awake, and I hadn't registered the small diamond on my left hand. Ethan had placed it there in my sleep and had yet to bring it to my attention.

The two years before Ethan's proposal had been perfect. Our new apartment was a dream come true, and we'd even made friends with our neighbors Garth and Kim. The guys loved to barbecue, and Kim loved to talk about kids and literature, two of my favorite things.

"Emily? Come on! You're killing me here!" His desperation made me giggle a bit, as if I'd ever tell him no.

"Yes!"

"Thank God! I was so nervous."

Three weeks later found us at Powell Gardens in the Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel. We had the ceremony on Friday evening, then a picnic in the nearby fountain courtyard. It was small, just Margie and her husband, Garth and Kim, and me and Ethan. We didn't have a honeymoon, but that was okay. Someday, we'd get there.

"So what are you thinking we can do with this room?" Easy, Emily, don't rush it. Make it perfect, I tell myself.

"I'm sure you'll want a place to set up shop at home to work on your lesson plans and stuff." Ethan walks into the room and steps to the large bow window. "This window will give you a lot of natural light to work by," he finishes.

"Yeah, but I think the smaller room down the hall will be good for an office space." Deep breath, this is it. "I think this room would be perfect as a nursery since it's right next to the master and has its own quarter bath."

Wait for it....

It takes longer than I think it should for it to sink in. I've counted to thirty before he turns around and stares at me blankly.

I move my hand down to rest on my still flat stomach. His eyes widen and his mouth falls open.

After a long pause, I give him a nod of confirmation and my eyes flutter closed for a couple seconds.

"You're...?"

I simply nod again.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." I don't even think my reply is completely out of my mouth before he's crossed the room and picks me up. He swings me around, hugging me tight. He's mumbling, "Oh my God, oh my God!" over and over into my breasts. I half expect him to sneak a motorboat in there while he's at it. I just grip his head tighter, relishing the moment.

He finally sets me down and kisses me. This is the happiest I've ever seen this man...the man I love and worship and would do anything for.

"Thank you, Emily. Thank you for giving me everything I've always wanted, a family."


"It's something I want to do, babe."

Emily stands silent, looking at me like I'm a two-headed monster.

"Please say something." I really can't handle the silence. "It's crazy, I know. Just say it's a bad idea." I feel like a balloon deflating.

My wife slowly moves to where I pace in front of the couch. "Ethan, after fifteen years together, you still have the ability to surprise me."

Her expression has softened. This means she's going to let me down easy. That's just Emily. She never says no, never yells, and never makes me feel guilty... she'll just phrase something so I realize how fundamentally bad the idea is; and trust me, there have been some terrible ideas over the years.

"You are the most virile, yet sensitive, man I know..."

Here it comes, the compliment followed by the let-down. "Let's make the appointment."

I know I look like, as Mark would say, "a total douche" right now. My son has many great qualities, but his honesty is often overwhelming. Nevertheless, I find that he's rarely wrong.

"Um, what?" I need clarification, because it sounds like she just agreed to this.

"I said, set up the appointment. We have been through so much, and we know what it's like, Ethan. If we can provide someone else with the opportunity to live in a safe environment, to grow, and be part of a family, then let's do it."

Emily wants to do this; with no reasoning, and no explanation, she agrees to this life-changing idea. I know my wife is an extraordinary person, and today she proves there are no exceptions.

"Should we talk to Mark first?" I want this to be a family decision, and this affects our son as well as Emily and me.