"Oh Shane, did we make you blush," Tina teased.

"Of course not! No sex where we eat."

"It was innocent Shaney, I don’t even want to think of where you and Carmen have had sex in your house," I said and she smiled.

"When are you gonna take the next step with Carmen?"

"I, um, well," she stuttered.

"Uh oh."

"Hey, I’m not ready for marriage yet."

"We’re not saying marriage yet. It’s too soon for you, but she is the marrying type."

"I know, and we’ll get there, I just wanna take it slow. You know I’m no good in relationships, I just don’t want to rush it and panic."

"We know, we’re just happy for you two."

"And I am happy, very happy. But I do want her to know we are going somewhere, so I’m gonna ask her to move in with me."

"That’s fantasic Shane, congrats!"

"No congrats yet, she has to say yes."

"She will, she’s so crazy about you."

"And as am I for her. I think…I, um," she said and cleared her throat, "I think I love her."

"Aw Shaney! Have you told her?"

"Not yet, I just don’t know when the time is right."

"It’s almost always the right time. Just trust your heart."

Soon we began eating, Jackson sitting in my lap and the girls and Angus all sitting around the table. I smiled at my framily. They were the best group of friends I’d ever had. Soon the sun went down and everyone started leaving. Monday was calling and they all had work. Tina and I still had a week before we went back to work.

"B, can I ask you a question," Jackson asks as I tuck him into bed.

"Of course bud."

"Are you and mommy gonna have a baby?"

"Well, would you like to have a baby brother or sister?"

"I don’t know. I just don’t want you and mommy to stop loving me."

"Oh baby, we’d never stop loving you. My love for you grows each day."

"Really?"

"You bet! We’d love for you to have a little brother or sister."

"Me too," he said and smiled, "Momma B, how are you and mommy gonna have a baby without a daddy?"

"Oh boy, that’s a question for when you’re older."

"Ok, goodnight momma B."

I went to our bedroom and jumped into the shower with Tina, we teased each other and then got ready for bed. As we lie there, I told her about my conversation with Jackson and she smiled. We talked about when we’d use the sperm, after I got settled into my new job and after her training in the children’s hospital was complete.

We spent the first night at home, as a married couple making love into the early morning hours. I was determined to keep Tina as happy and satisfied as possible. And I was ready for the next step in our relationship, a baby and I was very excited about it.