Nanny Sarah Pt. 03

"Oh. You should do that."

"I will. But two things. First it's a secret and you can't tell Nanny Sarah about it. Second, I'm going to need your help.

***

I was a nervous wreck. Sarah had definitely noticed something was up, but she hadn't said anything. And I was such a bad actress, several times running out of the room when my phone rang.

Finally it was the Saturday before Christmas and everything was ready. We drove up to Lauren and Rick's to drop of Heidi, just like a normal date night. We left my Escalade there and took an Uber into downtown to the Palomino, where our table was waiting.

The restaurant did little to calm my nerves, and I knew Sarah noticed, as she kept stifling giggles when she looked at me.

"Something's going on with you tonight." Sarah took a sip from her wine glass. "Wonder what it is?"

"Just excited for Christmas. Like every good girl." My hands fidgeted under the table.

"Uh-huh. Nothing special planned for me?" As she spoke she pulled her shoulders back slightly, emphasizing how her tight green turtleneck outlined her perfect breasts. The soft lighting made her auburn hair glow and emerald eyes sparkle, and for a moment I was lost.

I recovered, giving a passably innocent expression. "Whatever could you mean?"

Sarah chuckled and shook her head. "Darling, you are not a good liar. But it's okay. Just something I love about you."

From there Sarah mercifully let me steer the conversation away to calmer waters.

After a lovely meal I settled the bill while Sarah got our coats. This gave me a few precious seconds to ensure everything was in place.

I pulled my coat around me as we stepped out into the wintry air. It was chilly, but the lack of wind made it brisk without being biting. Very pleasant for a December evening.

"Darling, did you call the Uber?"

"Not yet. How 'bout a carriage ride first? We could take our time and see the lights." I nodded towards a horse and carriage stopped just off to our left. It was trimmed in blue and purple lights, while a man in an old-fashioned suit and top hat leaned against his dapple-grey partner.

Sarah grinned up at me and took my hand, and we walked towards it, but her face fell as we got close.

"Oh, it says it's reserved."

"So it does." I stepped up to the man, who met my gaze. "Are you waiting for Walker?"

"Yes Ma'am." He straightened smartly and opened the little half door, handing us inside.

Sarah's eyes were dancing. "You had this all planned out?"

"Maybe." In fact I'd given the carriage company detailed instructions as to not only the time and place but also the route to be taken.

Our driver climbed into position and with a gentle shake of the reins we were off. The little jolt at the start caused Sarah to fall back into me some, and I wrapped her in my arms. Her proximity was soothing, especially since my heart was beating a thousand miles a minute.

My anxiety lessened as we made the turn onto Meridian and headed north toward the circle. I glanced down at a text from Lauren while Sarah was looking at the lights. Everything was ready.

We trundled along, my heart beating faster and faster as we went. Sarah seemed oblivious, her eyes twinkling from the decorations along the way. My stare was locked on the right side of the road as we approached the circle, which was shining with Christmas cheer.

I found what I was looking for, giving a wave and receiving a thumbs-up in return. My co-conspirator hit a button on their phone and held up a sign."

I took a deep breath and nudged Sarah. Here goes nothing. "Hey, sweetie, look at that.

"Hmm?" Sarah shook herself out of her trance, following my pointing finger toward a sign about the size of a poster board. On it was a highly stylized representation of Sarah's name, in vibrant greens and reds. My love covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, my." She looked back at me. "Darling, what did you do?"

I couldn't keep the smile off my face. "Keep watching." I pointed back at the sign.

Sarah turned back and the man holding the sign lowered it, revealing a bushy beard and broad shouldered physique. "Matthew!"

His big friendly grin shone back, but he just turned and motioned down the street. As Sarah looked up a woman stepped out with another sign. "The day I met you." Mindy and Benjamin waved next to their mother as we went past, and a stunned Auntie Sarah looked further down, where Lauren was holding another.

"My heart beat truly."

We continued around the circle. Megan was next. "For the very first time."

Rebecca held the next "I love you more."

Then Susie. "Every single day."

Rick's "I never want it to end."

We continued around the circle, tears were rolling down Sarah's cheeks. She leaned back into me and I kissed her gently on the temple.

Jonathan had the next. "I want it to last."

Then Michael and Sam. "For ever and ever."

We'd gone all around the circle, and drive crossed over to the middle, stopping in front of the granite stairs leading up to the central monument. He hopped out and opened the door, and I got out and helped my lady down.

One arm around her waist, the other holding her hand, I led her up the stairs to the landing at the top.

Everyone had crossed to the center, and they lined the stairs as we went up, where a final sign was unfolded. One side was held by Sarah's mother, and the other by a bouncing five-year-old with light, curly brown hair.

"Sarah, will you marry me?"

As she read the words I heard sobs break free, tears running freely from her eyes. My own began to roll down as she turned to me. To this day I'm not sure how I got the words out.

"From the first moment, a part of me knew. You're the one, Sarah, my one and only. You are my family, and I want to watch it grow with you. Only you. Marry me my love. Please."

I dropped to one knee and held out the ring. "Sarah Peters, will you marry me?"

Her voice was thick with emotion, but steady and strong as she answered. "Yes, oh, yes I will."

I slipped the ring on her finger and stood into her embrace. I was dimly aware of our family and friends cheering around us, along with a number of strangers. But it didn't matter. The woman in my arms was my whole world, her voice in my ear the only thing that mattered.

"I'm yours, Connie, yours forever, if you'll just be mine."

"I will. I am. Always. Always."

*****

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER

I picked the photo up off the mantle, running my finger over the glass. Sarah beamed back at me from inside the frame, perfect and beautiful in her wedding dress. I remembered the day.

It was August, the exact day Sarah's two-year contract ended. We'd decided to replace it with a covenant. Some details were fuzzy, but I remember the doors to Agape Church's sanctuary opening, and Sarah began walking towards me. The Earth had stopped moving, and there was only her. I remembered holding her hand as the minister introduced Constance and Sarah Walker to the congregation. I'd told she didn't have to change from being a Peters, but she insisted, saying she wanted to share her daughter's last name.

A hand rested on my shoulder. "Hey, mom. Feeling nostalgic?"

"Do you remember it, Heidi?"

"Yeah, some. You both looked so beautiful. I couldn't wait for my own day."

"Oh, sweetheart, you were a beautiful bride, too." I looked over at Heidi's wedding picture, she and the young man next to her gazing radiantly into each other's eyes.

"Thanks, mom. But we have to get going, though."

"Yeah." I sighed, putting Sarah's picture back and gave myself a shake. "Is your brother ready?"

"I'll check." She went to the base of the stairs and hollered up. "Teddy! We've got to go!"

"Coming!" My son's quick step could be heard coming down the stairs. "I was talking to Tim. Hey buddy, I gotta get my shoes. Talk to mom."

He handed me the tablet, and my younger son's 3D image looked back. "Hi, mom."

"Hey sweetie, how's the tour going?"

"It's going great. Totally sold out. You got the tickets I sent for September, right?"

"Yes, thank you. Where are you now?"

"Portland, Oregon, then up to Seattle."

A petite blond waved from behind Tim's shoulder. "Hi, mom!"

"Hi, Annika! Keeping him in line?"

She put her hands on his shoulders and pecked him on the cheek. "Oh, yes, he is not a problem." Her crisp accent was kind, and Tim leaned back for a kiss. Tim had always been a kind, quiet boy. He reminded me most of Sarah. But he loved to perform. Both my boys did, really. Teddy had done it on a baseball field; Tim always preferred the stage.

I admit I'd wondered what Tim's preferences in a partner would end up being, and I worried about it a bit. Not as to him being gay, but what it would mean for him if he were. Sarah and I had faced a few things over the years. Luckily nothing we couldn't handle, but still.

During his second year at Julliard he'd called, asking if he could bring someone home for Thanksgiving. We waited with baited breath until he walked in with Annika, a tiny blonde Russian ballerina. The way he looked at her left nothing to doubt. The two of them were currently touring nationwide in a revival of South Pacific.

Heidi walked back into the room, putting in an earring. "Mark? Is Cole ready?"

"Yes, dear. Just waiting on you."

Cole toddled in with his father, looking very smart in a button down shirt and slacks. He'd inherited his mother's curly brown hair, but they kept it short on account of his preternatural ability to get sticky things in it.

""Where's Auntie Cece, grandma?"

"She's at the school already."

"Okay. Come on, let's go!"

I took a last look at the family portrait. Sarah and I, surrounded by our four children. It had been taken when Heidi had been a senior in high school, just before she'd gone off to culinary school. How'd it go by so fast?

I let my four-year-old grandson drag me out to his parents' minivan, and I climbed in the front seat. It was still cool so far in early June, but clear and bright.

We drove past the playground where Sarah and I always had taken the kids. So many memories there.

We'd started quickly. Sarah had wanted to carry my child, but I was insistent. She was already helping raise a daughter of mine. I wanted to do the same. So, an anonymous donor, and Teddy was born nine months later. We'd picked someone who favored me, right down to the eyes, and everyone thought he was my biological son. That was fine with me.

I let her have her way for our next. Matthew provided the seed, and me the egg, but Sarah still carried. I'd been right. She'd been born to be a mother.

It was about three years after Tim was born, and Sarah was starting to get that look in her eye, and I knew she wanted another.

In an act of providence, a week later our OB/GYN had called. A colleague of hers, a friend from med school, was involved in the first human same sex procreation trial. They were looking for committed lesbian couples that'd had success with IVF in the past. We flew to John's Hopkins for a consult, and were accepted into the trial.

They harvested from both of us, and after several attempts a viable embryo was produced, and the little warrior hung on to be our daughter Cecilia.

Luckily Sarah wasn't the first to give birth from the trial, that honor went to a couple in Florida, along with the media circus that went with it. All we got was a story on the nightly and a write-up in the paper. I didn't cry about that.

I do remember staring at her, ten perfect little fingers and toes. Sarah's and my daughter, in every way. I love all my children dearly, but that was special. And now she was graduating high school.

We arrived and piled out of the van and headed through the gathering crowd and into the stadium. Heidi put her arm around me.

"Last one of these."

"Yeah. Until that one grows up." I pointed at Cole, who was riding on his father's shoulders. "It goes so fast, sweetheart. Don't take it for granted."

"I know, mom. So where're we sitting?"

I looked around, my melancholy washing away as I saw the hand waving at me from down front.

"We're sitting down there." I pointed and headed down the stairs. I slid into the row and made my way to the middle.

"Hello, darling! You've no idea how hard I had to fight to keep these seats."

"You're my hero."

"I know." My wife tilted her chin up for her kiss, which I gladly provided, my insides fluttering as out lips touched. Our family sat around us, and Cole climbed into his Nana's lap.

Sarah put her arms around her grandson's middle as her green eyes looked into mine. "I think we did well, darling."

My hand slipped into hers. "Yeah. Time to celebrate."

"Mm-hm. That's why you're taking me to Europe in the fall." She grinned, her eyes glinting with mischief.

I laughed and shook my head. With all the ups and downs, it had been a wonderful life, but there was so much more coming. And I was going to get to share it with the love of my life.

THE END.

*******

Thank you for reading, rating and commenting on my stories. Writing for everyone here is such a joy. I know the sex in this story was more vanilla than my last, but it felt right for Connie and Sarah. The sex between any of my couples is organic, and often surprises even me. My next couple will be significantly different.

Just a note for anyone who doesn't know, there have been successful same sex reproduction trials in female rodents (Scientific American, Oct '18). It's definitely a pipe dream that it would be available to human parents so quickly, but let's keep praying.