Lucky Bunny

by Eva Luxe

  “Then that would just be the icing on top of our very real wedding cake.”

  THE END.

  Extended Epilogue

  ONE YEAR LATER

  Veronica

  I’d been wary about taking this trip. It’s not that I didn’t want to go, but with my mother’s illness and my pregnancy, it is a recipe for disaster. But the doctor gave us the both the go-ahead. So, mother, one year cancer free, and I, seven months pregnant, are in Ireland. And by God is it beautiful.

  Mother had been wanting to go on a genealogy trip for years and it would be my last chance to go for a while. My doctor felt this would be the last week in the pregnancy where travelling overseas would be safe, and exploring our roots sounded fun. Obviously, our husbands joined us on this little excursion. Isaac and Dad are both being a little overly protective, though. Treating us like we’ll break at any second. I call it helicopter husbanding.

  “Now, Honey! I don’t need you holding my hand everywhere we go.”

  Mom gives Dad a fierce scowl, but he only counters with a big, bright smile.

  “Oh, but dearest, holding your hand is one of my few joys in life.”

  She gives him a look, but doesn’t let go. I turn my head to Isaac, who’s embracing me from behind, his hand protectively around my belly. He’s also watching my parents, but looks down at me when I shift towards him.

  “You, know,” I tell him. “You’re hovering a bit as well…”

  “Well, one of my few joys in my life is being close to my dear wife.”

  He nuzzles into my neck and moves the sleeve of my dress to the side a little, so he can place a few soft kisses along my shoulder. The scruff of his beard tickles and I let out a small laugh.

  “Do you find my affection funny?”

  His face is still buried in my neck, so it comes out muffled.

  “No, but I find your beard hairs ticklish.”

  Before he can respond, my parents call us over and we go to join them. We’ve decided to spend the day being tourists, going to all the popular spots and gawking at the Irish landscape. Since we’re in Dublin, we start our day off by heading for Trinity College. I’m most excited to check out The Long Room.

  But anything we do today will be fun, since I’m in a gorgeous country with my loving husband, healthy mother and happy— if not overprotective— father. And in a couple short months I’ll be having Isaac’s baby. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

  Isaac

  We leave for Trinity College, hell bent on navigating the streets of Dublin with a map we picked up at the airport. I’m worried that Veronica is exerting herself too much, but she seems to be in top form and I don’t want to annoy her with all my doting. Helicopter husbanding, she calls it.

  We head into a café to take a small break and grab a bite to eat. Once we’ve sat ourselves down and ordered, I ask Veronica if she’s doing okay.

  “Of course I am. I’m not some delicate flower that needs constant attention.”

  She crosses her arms to show that she’s done with this conversation. I know she’s not mad at me, but that she just wants to keep hold of her independent spirit. Her fierceness is what drew me to her. But her sexy curves sure didn’t hurt.

  Everything about her is so bright and welcoming. When we first met, I’d been worried about my darker nature. I didn’t want to dampen any part of her spirit by entering her life.

  But the opposite occurred. My life was much brighter with her in it. And now, a year after our wedding, I’m sitting with my wife and her parents and there’s a little one on the way. I’m excited, but admittedly a little nervous. For the longest time, it was just me, and then just Veronica and me, which I thought was a huge change since I’d never thought I’d be in a committed relationship, although I loved it.

  Soon, though, I’ll have another person to love and I know I can get this right. But even with my attempts at constantly reassuring myself, I still have my doubts.

  “You seem distracted, Isaac.”

  Veronica’s father is keenly observing me. His face is open, letting me know I can tell him anything. Veronica and her mother are chatting away, paying us no mind.

  “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  I offer him a small smile, hoping he’ll drop this topic. But Veronica’s family isn’t known for giving up so easily.

  “Do you care to tell me about it, my boy?”

  A part of me really wants to tell him all about the thoughts that are racing through my head, but I don’t want Veronica to overhear all these anxieties I’m having. So, I shake my head.

  Thankfully, our food arrives and it’s the distraction I need. As we dig in, the conversation quickly shifts. We talk about Trinity College and all the other things we’d like to see while in Dublin.

  Last night, we met with one of Veronica’s family’s relatives that we’d managed to track down. Her name is Lily. We speak of her for a bit, hoping that we’ll get to meet the others and they’ll be just as friendly. We finish our meal and finally find our way to the college.

  Veronica pipes up, full of interesting facts.

  “This room, The Long Room, is what they modeled the library in Harry Potter after. Pretty neat, huh?”

  Veronica seems particularly proud of her fun fact and after dropping it on us, goes off to explore the library. She looks so happy, perusing the shelves of books, marveling at the architecture. I let her revel in The Long Room and turn in the other direction to check the space out for myself.

  I decide to check out the famous busts that line the room. As I walk around, I once again get lost in thoughts of impending fatherhood. Veronica has definitely made me a better person, but my own childhood wasn’t very ideal and I don’t want to project any of this onto my child.

  I go deeper into the library as I delve further and further into my mind. Sometime later, I hear someone shouting my name. I run out and see Veronica’s dad rushing over to me. I go towards him quickly.

  “What is it?”

  My thoughts immediately go to Veronica, thinking the worst.

  “It’s Veronica,” her dad confirms my worst fear. “We think her water broke. Looks like the baby’s coming.”

  It doesn’t sound as bad as I was fearing. Still, I’m stunned for a second, unable to move or speak. Veronica’s dad notices this and pushes me in the direction of my wife.

  We reach her and she’s steadying herself against a table, breathing heavily. I go to her aide and place my arms around her.

  “I’m fine,” she says through labored breaths. “I just think the baby wants out.”

  She gives me a small laugh and it warms my heart to see her in such a jovial mood. Another patron comes over and lets us know she called the hospital and there’s an ambulance on the way. We thank her and wait.

  “Don’t you think it’s a little early, though?” she asks me.

  I see the strain on her face mixed with worry.

  “I’m sure everything’s going to be okay,” I try to reassure her. “The doctor back home didn’t note anything concerning. The baby probably can’t wait to see us.”

  Even as I say this to her, I find myself filling with some dread. Seven months is a bit early. I try not to dwell on it and we wait for the paramedics to arrive.

  It doesn’t take them long and soon Veronica’s in the back of the ambulance. Only one of us can ride with her, so her parents say they’ll meet us at the hospital. The paramedics close the doors and we’re on our way.

  I do my best to comfort her. I hold her hand and say all the reassuring things I can think of. She offers me a smile and I know my words are getting through. Even in the midst of this chaos, I’m glad I can be a calming presence for my wife.

  We make it to the hospital in one piece and Veronica is rushed to the Maternity Ward. They tell me to wait outside, so I take a seat on a bench in the hallway.

  I guess this place is old fashioned; in the US, I know they would let me go in with her. I do my best to try to figure out what
’s going on from the bench to which I’ve been vanquished, but the doctors and nurses are speeding past and don’t have much time to tell me anything. So, I sit and wait for Veronica’s parents.

  They soon arrive and ask me all kinds of questions and I can’t answer most of them, so Veronica’s mom goes to talk to a nurse while I sit, feeling a little defeated. Her dad plops himself beside me, aware of my current state of distress.

  “I’m sure everything is going to be just fine. My girl has got our family’s fighting spirit and she will pull through. I just know it. And that baby of yours will too, since we’re all one big family.”

  “It’s not that,” I tell him. “I mean, that’s a part of it, but there’s also… I’ve just been having these doubts all day about how I’ll be as a father and if I’ll be any good and blah, blah, blah. I left Veronica alone. I left her all alone.”

  I’m distraught. Getting wrapped up in my head letting all the dark thoughts make their way to the front.

  “Listen, son,” her dad reassures me. “You didn’t leave Veronica alone. You were there when she needed you and you’re here now. All parents have their doubts. Raising a child is one of the hardest tasks out there and if you went in with all the confidence in the world, that’s what would be concerning. All you can do is be the best version of yourself.”

  He gives me a small pat on the back and goes to join Veronica’s mom at the counter. I think about what he’s said and it resonates with me. I’m glad I get along with Veronica’s parents, even though at first they understandably didn’t approve of our unorthodox way of “meeting.”

  It takes a few hours before we get any updates. One of the doctors who took Veronica away earlier reappears and I jump up to talk to her.

  “Doctor, is my wife okay?”

  The doctor offers me a warm smile and proceeds to tell me the news.

  “Everything went smoothly,” she says. “The labor was a bit long and intensive, but we were able to stabilize your wife and the baby was delivered safely and healthily.”

  The relief that washes over me is so strong that I almost collapse.

  “We would like to keep them both for observation,” the doctor continues. “Especially the baby, given that she is a little early.”

  “She?”

  Veronica and I had decided not to know the gender of the baby before delivery, so it’s all a surprise to me.

  “Oh, I’m afraid I’ve let the cat out the bag,” the doctor says. “Yes, you are the father of a brand new baby girl.”

  A baby girl. I have a daughter.

  “Would you like to go see them now?” the doctor asks.

  I nod, speechless. The doctor motions for me to follow her. Veronica’s parents try to follow, but the doctor requests that I be the only one to come to the back for now. I leave them behind in the waiting room and go to see my wife and baby daughter.

  Veronica

  A little baby girl. She’s so precious… and small. I’m afraid I’ll harm her just by breathing on her. And I can’t stop nuzzling her with my nose.

  Her soft skin against mine is comforting and I don’t want to break the contact. Even though my body is completely tired, I just want to spend all my time staring at this bundle of joy.

  I look up when I see the doctor return and notice she’s accompanied by Isaac. My sweet, sweet Isaac. He looks so worried.

  I smile, hoping to assuage his anxieties. He’s by my side in an instant, showering kisses on my face.

  “Are you okay?” he asks me.

  I laugh because once again he’s forgotten how ticklish I am and his beard is all over my face.

  “I’m fine. Look at her,” I say softly, motioning towards the baby in my arms. He turns to our daughter and his tense shoulders finally relax. “Do you want to hold her?”

  He nods and I pass her on to him. I watch father and daughter meet for the first time and my heart soars. I could tell he’d been having doubts about becoming a father even if he didn’t share them with me. But the love in his eyes is so immense. I hope he finally feels confident in his ability to be a good father.

  He takes a seat on the bed beside me and we both fawn over our little girl.

  “What are we going to name her?” Isaac looks at me, waiting for my input. It’s funny how we hadn’t really settled on a name. We threw some back and forth, but none were confirmed. I can see him thinking.

  “Remember, that one name?” he asks. “What was it… Flannery.”

  I nod. An Irish name seems appropriate given where she was born. I had suggested it because of one of my favorite writers, Flannery O’Connor, but now the name holds even more significance.

  “Doesn’t it mean red bravery?” Isaac asks me.

  “Too on the nose?” I ask him back, looking down at the little tuft of red curls already sprouting from her head.

  “No, it’s perfect,” he says.

  And it is. She is.

  Our little Flannery. Our baby girl.

  Three Months Later

  Isaac

  It’s been three months since Flannery was born and it’s our first night out, just the two of us. Veronica has been by Flannery’s side all this time, but I feel it’s a good time to go on a date.

  She’s a bit hesitant, but Lily, the family member we met in Ireland, as well as Veronica’s parents, are babysitting. Veronica’s dad had to run some errands, so only her mom and Lily are in the room to listen to Veronica’s instructions.

  I can hear Veronica giving them all the information they will need to look after the baby. She’s trying to see if she’s forgotten anything and I can tell she’s on the verge of backing out of our date.

  “Veronica.”

  She turns to me when I call her name. She looks so beautiful, wearing a simple black dress. Her hair hangs loose, surrounding her face.

  “Yes, Isaac.”

  The way she says my name is so deliberate, I choose my next words with caution.

  “I think your mom and Lily are more than capable of taking care of Flannery for one night. Plus, your dad will be here soon and between the three of them, the night cannot go wrong.”

  I can tell I chose the right words because she relaxes a little, taking in my words.

  “I know. It’s just, it’s our first time leaving her with someone else for so long and I’m a little anxious.”

  Lily walks over to Veronica and places an arm around her.

  “I promise, your daughter is in the best hands. We’ll look after the wee lass.”

  Veronica gives Lily a hug and thanks her. We say our goodbyes, hovering over Flannery for a bit longer than necessary. Then we get into the car and head over to the restaurant. I love my little girl but I’m thrilled to be having a date with my leading lady.

  Veronica

  Isaac is concentrating on driving us to our destination. There isn’t much conversation happening, probably because he doesn’t want to reveal where we are going. I know if I press him enough, he’ll tell me where it is, but I don’t want to ruin his surprise.

  The silence doesn’t bother me any way. Isaac is one of the few people who I can comfortably sit quietly with and feel perfectly content rather than anxious. We arrive at an extremely upscale restaurant and I immediately feel out of place. We haven’t even set foot inside yet.

  “Wow, this place looks really fancy…”

  It’s making me a little nervous. I fidget with the hem of my dress, worried I haven’t donned clothes nice enough for the occasion. Isaac places his hand over mine to get me to stop moving so much.

  “You look perfect.”

  He looks directly into my eyes as he says this and I know he thinks I look beautiful. And that’s more than enough for me. We leave our car with the valet and go inside. It’s dimly lit, adding to the romantic atmosphere.

  We’re led to a more private table in the back. The waiter leaves us to look over the menu.

  “Anything look good?” Isaac asks me

  I look up from my intense r
eading of the menu and find him observing me with a look of amusement. I counter with a small smile.

  “I’m weighing my options.”

  He nods, used to how I operate. My first and last and only lover. My husband. The father of my children. My best friend. He knows everything about me and I love that he does.

  “And you?” I ask him. “Anything you’d recommend?”

  “What I want to eat isn’t on the menu.”

  His features darken and I can tell by the velvety nature of his voice the kind of suggestion he’s making. I blush, a little embarrassed. Thankfully, no one can hear us.

  Even though we’ve been together for a while, Isaac can still make me swoon. And he knows it.

  “Must you be so wicked?”

  He lets out a chuckle at my turn of phrase. Before he can respond, the waiter returns and we both order. I get pasta with white sauce and Isaac goes for a steak. When the waiter leaves, Isaac is right back to his wicked self.

  “You know… I reserved us a hotel room nearby.”

  I’m a little confused because we have to return home. There’s no we can spend the night. But it’s as if Isaac has read my mind.

  “It’s not really for the night…” He explains, and raises an eyebrow.

  It finally dawns on me what he’s hinting at. I look down, twisting my hands in my lap.

  “The doctor has said I’m all good to go in terms of being more physically active…” I look back up at him and see concern in his eyes.

  I must be coming across nervous, which I am. Nervous, with my own husband. As if it’s our very first time all over again.

  “I am a little nervous since it’s been… a while,” I tell him.

  Isaac reaches across the table and offers me his hand which I happily take.

  “I know it’s a little early and we can do as little or as much as you want. We can take it nice and slow.”

  “No, no. I don’t want you to use kid gloves with me. You don’t need to hold back.” I give his hands a little squeeze. “I don’t want you to. No helicopter husbanding, remember?”

  Isaac smiles. He looks pleased that I don’t want him to be too gentle with me. I know he likes it rough, as do I… usually. I just hope I’m totally ready for whatever he has in store for me.