One More Chance

I cupped both his cheeks and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"Actually, I was just teasing you earlier," I giggled. But that didn't wipe off the seriousness on his face. "Yeah, those things came to my mind all of a sudden, all the memories we had here and everything, but don't worry because I'm not really affected--- I mean, I am no longer affected by them."

The kind of look he gave me made me want to pull him again in a tight hug but I was stopped and gasped when he encircled his hand around my waist pulling me over to him.

I waited for what he was going to say but a frown slightly drew on my forehead when I only heard a one-word question...

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"Why are you no longer affected?"

"Seriously?" I chuckled but he didn't, instead, a poker reaction remained on his face. "Well..." I started, placing both my hands on his shoulders. "...because I'm healed. My heart has already been healed from the wounds of the past. And you know what, just right now I realized that somehow I'm thankful that all those things happened because they made me the person that I am today. Yes, it brought me a lot of tears but when you come to think of it, it was also the reason I'm still standing in front of you right now. Not only did it make me tough as a person but then it also made me find a better version of myself."

I paused, trying to read what was on his mind but I failed as he remained expressionless until now.

"Everything happens for a reason, so I believe everything that happened between us back then had a reason. It caused change not just in me but in everything including you and all the people dear to us. And I guess it was God's way for us to learn that we shouldn't be upset for not getting what we want sometimes because he has a better plan for us. Look at us now."

And again he was silent but at least his lips twitched into a small smile.

"Hmm... why don't we just walk, smell the breeze, and seize the moment?" I asked, trying to change the subject and was about to move but he pulled me by my waist again.

So I looked at him puzzled and asked the same question he asked earlier.

"Why?"

"Are you sure you've really forgiven me? Don't you regret marrying me again?"

"Oh, God! Where are these questions coming from--- of course, I have already forgiven you and the fact that I chose to marry you again means I already did. And... as for your second question, no." I slowly shook my head. "I don't regret marrying you again. First, because I love you, I believe in you and I see that you are doing your best not only as a husband to me but as a father to Cali."

It took him a few seconds to absorb the things I said.

"Thank you,"

"For what?"

"For being honest with what you feel, with your opinion, and for reminding me to be a good husband and a father to Cali,"

"Hmm...well, because you are,"

He stared at me for a few seconds before pulling me into his arms.

"Until now I still feel like all of this is a dream... that you're here with me, with Cali,"

"Uhuh?"

"Hmhm..."

"Then I guess you'll feel even more like a dream if you find out we now have a new family member." I bit my lower lip, suppressing the excited grin when he grabbed my shoulders and looked at me with round eyes. "I'm sorry, but with what?"

I know he heard what I said but maybe it was out of surprise.

"With a new member of the family," I giggled, gently placing my hands on my now bulging belly.

"No..." He uttered, slowly shaking his head but I laughed and continued nodding.

"Yes!"

"Jesus! I - Is it true?" he asked again, stammering as his eyes moved up and down.

I nodded and was about to say something but was stopped when suddenly he carried me by my waist and spun me around.

"Whoa! Oh, my God, put me down!" I patted him on the shoulders as I laughed into the air. "I told you I'm pregnant, didn't I?"

"Oh, God, I'm sorry, sweetheart!" Panic registered in his eyes when he realized what I said. "I'm sorry, I got carried away, I'm sorry," he kept kissing me on the forehead. "Whoa! I'm gonna be a dad again!" "Yes, you are!"

"Thank you!" He then wrapped me again in his arms. "I can't believe this is happening to me... ahh... this wonderful blessing."

"Well, me too," I winked at him.

"I love you," he uttered.

"I love you, too,"

We started the day with a smile on

our lips, feeling blessed and

Venet

thankful. He still had so many questions of course, but I gladly answered them one by one as we walked happily hand and hand along the shore.

There were a lot of things that have happened to us over the past few years. Lots of ups and downs in our relationship to the point where thought it had no end and that no one would think we could survive and end up together again

We even created chaos that really affected those people dear to us especially, our daughter.

But as I think of them and every little thing in our lives, the more I realize that... truly, God's plan is always better than ours.

Now we are starting a new life and building a family with new hope and a strong belief that we can face all the challenges that will come, if not tomorrow, then in the future... together.

After almost an hour of wandering

the shore and letting the sun kiss our skin, we decided to go back to our cottage and check on our daughter who was still sleeping in her, foom when we walked out earlier.

But Luke had no idea that surprise awaited him the time we reached the cottage.

"Whoa! What's going on?" He asked gasping as he looked at me and then at the people gathering in the living room.

"Surprise!" Dale screamed, aiming the confetti poppers above Luke's head, and... boom!

"We're all here to congratulate you and of course, to celebrate with you as well," My best friend Jack walked over to us and patted him on the the shoulder.

"Congratulations, son and of course, Sam," It was my mother who pulled him and kissed him on the cheek.

Then everyone in the living room complimented us and wished us well, even my parents and our lovely Cali who has a little red box in her hands.

"Wait! So all of you already knew about the news?"

Everyone laughed as they nodded at him all at the same time.novelbin

"Whoa! Sweetheart---" he turned to me and was about to say something but he was interrupted by his daughter.

"Congratulations, Mommy and Daddy," she handed the red box to me with a wide grin plastered on her lips.

"Ahh... thank you, sweetie, but what is this?"

"Well, it's just a small present for you and the baby,"

"Ohh... Thank you so much,"

"You're welcome, Mommy," She grinned. "I'm so happy! I'm finally going to be a big sister!"

I couldn't help pulling her into my arms and soon I felt Luke's hand wrap around us.

"Thank you, my princess, and to you, sweetheart," He kissed Cali on the cheek and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. "You will definitely be a good sister to your baby brother," "Brother?" I couldn't help raising an eyebrow as I looked at him quizzically. "How do you know it's a boy and not a girl?"

"I just know," he shrugged. "Father's instinct, I guess?"

"Ohh... well, let's see," I giggled

"Well, well, well... lovely couple, lovely family, do you mind saving your family conversation for later so we can now celebrate the blessing that had just come into our family?" Mom interrupted us waving the bottle of red wine in front of everyone.

"Come on, let's make a toss and have a family picture together!"

I was about to reach for the glass of wine handed to me by my best friend, but Luke was fast to grab my wrist and gave me a warning look that left me puzzled for a few seconds. "Why?" I asked him, frowning.

"Seriously?" The crease on his forehead deepened. "You're pregnant!"

That was just when I realized.

"Oh, yeah! I'm pregnant!" I chuckled not because I'd forgotten about it, but because of the look of disbelief in his eyes.

"Oops! I'm sorry," Jack said with a wink. Yeah, of course, she knew but just wanted to see what my husband's reaction would be.