LALISA

Two years later

"You gotta hold still, honey, or Mommy can't turn you into a dragon," Jennie says gently, struggling with Lauren's costume.

It's a bit of a complicated getup. We suggested a few alternatives that were easier to get into, but the moment Lauren laid eyes on the shiny green dragon on proud display at the costume shop, her heart was set on it and accepted no substitutions. At least it has an easy flap for potty time.

Lauren manages to calm down a fraction, but she's too excited to fully stifle her wiggles. And who could blame her? It's her first Halloween since starting preschool, which means her first time dressing up for class. And on top of that, later tonight there will be trick-or-treating.

It's a lot for a four-year-old to handle. But, of course, Jennie's got the patience of a saint and handles it all like a champ. Just one of the many things I love about her. She's definitely made my life better in every way possible. When we got married last year, I thought I couldn't possibly be any happier, but little did I know I'd fall more in love with her each passing day.

"I'll come help," I call, setting down my spatula beside the panful of sizzling eggs.

But Jennie waves me off when I get close. "I've got this."

I chuckle and back away slowly. I know that determined look in my wife's eyes. Sometimes she wants me to swoop in and save the day, but most times she really does have it all handled. After all, the woman manages a classroom of thirty first graders on a daily basis. One four-year-old is a piece of cake.

"Mommy? Am I a pretty dragon?" Lauren asks, looking down at her costume-clad self.

I glance over from the counter where I'm plating eggs, and my heart squeezes at the sight of them crouched together. My daughter hasn't outgrown her love of all creepy and crawly animals, but she's started to become aware of the other little girls in her class who are into the whole princess scene. As far as I'm concerned, she can be whatever her little heart desires.

Jennie softly touches her cheek. "You're the best little dragon in the whole, wide world. Beautiful and strong."

Lauren's smile widens.

While Jennie and I eat and go over the logistics of our day, Lauren races around the table, roaring and flapping her sequined wings and yelling, "I'm breathin' fire!" at the top of her lungs. I picture a roomful of preschoolers all acting out their costumes at maximum volume, and wince in sympathy for Mrs. Ledford.

"She looks even cuter than she did as our flower girl," Jennie says.

"Some things never change," I murmur, and she meets my eyes and gives me a soft look. "Are you eating enough?"

"Lis." She frowns at me.

I hold up one hand. "I know. I know."

She's asked me not to worry. When I bought all the baby books and prenatal vitamins and started quoting the blog posts I'd read, Jennie shut me down in a hurry. She wants to do this her way, which has been decidedly chill and low stress.

What can I say? I'm just excited to experience the pregnancy alongside her.

With Lauren, it was so different. My ex and I didn't live together, and to be honest, there wasn't all this excitement in the air. There was a lot of uncertainty. Of course, it all worked out in the end because I got my sweet baby girl.

We haven't told Lauren yet about her new little brother or sister yet, since Jennie's only three months along, but we plan to soon.

After finishing my last bite of eggs, I wipe my hands on the napkin and push my plate away. "I'll be done with the closing for the Mount Hill property by four."

Jennie nods. "Perfect. I can't wait for tonight."

I give her a surprised look. "That excited for trick-or-treating?"

She chuckles. "Sorta. Actually, I've just been craving those chocolate-peanut-butter-cup thingies."

I laugh and shake my head at her. "Then you shall have them." I make a mental note to stop at the store on the way home and grab some extras.

Jennie turns that bewitching smile on me and reaches over to squeeze my hand. "All the changes ahead of us . . . there's nobody I'd rather go through them with, Lisa. I love you."

I bring her hand up to kiss it, my lips brushing the cool, smooth gold of her wedding band. Our first anniversary was just a few months ago. I still haven't stopped being awed at the fact that Jennie is actually my wife, that our life together is real and not just an amazing dream, and I hope I never will get used to it. It feels like I just placed that ring on her finger yesterday . . . and yet it also feels like we've been married since the beginning of time, her presence a comforting force that I can't remember living without.

"I love you too. And I can't wait to see them all together."

Jennie rises to her feet and begins clearing the plates away. "Now, if you're done eating, let's take a picture for Grandma."

"Even though we're seeing her in less than eight hours," I say under my breath.

My wife gives me a look, so I promptly shut my mouth.

"We're gonna carve pumpkins and brew witches' slime," Lauren says to me while executing a little dance around the kitchen.

"Absolutely, and it'll be great." I scoop her up. "And then what?"

"Trick or treat, smell my feet, gimme somethin' good to eat!" A renewed burst of wiggles and giggles springs out of her.

"Dinner first, but you've got the gist." Jennie steps beside us and fiddles with her phone until all three of us are onscreen, then taps the button. "There. And . . . sent. To Hanbin and my parents too."

Lauren squirms. "I wanna gooooooo."

"First you gotta brush your teeth, then we'll leave." When I let her down, she crams one last apple slice in her mouth and scampers off to the bathroom. I look at Jennie. "Speaking of Mom, do you remember when we told her about us?"

"Oh yeah, every detail. The first thing out of her mouth was, 'I'm so happy you're all settled now.'" She chuckles. "As if she knew what was coming the whole time, and we were just dragging our feet getting to the good part. Then she told you, 'Now hurry up and propose so I can see you two married before I go. Can't miss my only child's wedding, even if I have to come with a bald head and wheelchair and all.'"

I laugh aloud. Little did we know, she didn't need to be in a rush at all. Everyone except Mom was surprised when she lived long enough to see us married, well past the six months she'd been told, but even she hadn't expected to just . . . keep going.

The cancer started slowly shrinking away shortly before Lauren's third birthday, and two months ago, Mom's oncologist declared her officially in remission. And not just healthy either, but strong and fit as a fiddle. She'll be playing with Lauren and cheerfully meddling for many long years to come, and I'm so happy she gets to stick around and be part of our lives. When I first got that phone call in New York from her with the grim news, I never expected so many happily-ever-afters were in store for me, but I love that I was wrong.

I bring my arms around Jennie and pull her close. "Love you, sweetheart."

She brings her mouth to mine for a soft kiss. "If you really loved me, you'd drop off those peanut-butter cups to me at lunchtime."

I chuckle. "Understood, wife of mine, understood.".

THE END ...