Work of Art (44 page)

I nodded against his chest. “Thank you. I just hope I was able to capture the feeling
s and the emotion in these pictures, you know. I wanted to really tell the story.”

“You did,” he said quietly.
“You always do. But you know the story isn’t over yet, right?”

I looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

He smiled. “Our life – together – it’s just starting. I know it’s new and fresh and exciting, but there’s so much more to come that’s going to be so amazing. One day – down the road,” he said, chuckling, “I’m going to move in, and then we’re going to get married, and then one day, when you’re ready, we’re going to have a baby.”

I felt my heart start to pound at the idea of having another child, and I realized that in the back of my mind, I never thought I’d ever entertain the idea of more children. I was scared – scared of the unknown and of my past and of history repeating itself, and I hated the idea of potentially replacing Tyler. He was my baby. He couldn’t be replaced.

“And one day,” Ryan continued, “when our baby is old enough, we’ll tell him or her about Tyler, who would have been the best big brother. And we’ll make sure that he or she knows how special he was and how much we miss him.”

“Ryan, I don’t know,” I said, so afraid to share with him what I was feeling, what I was afraid of.

“I know. Today, the idea seems scary, but one day you’ll be ready. And it will be incredible. I’ll be the best father, and we already know you’ll be an amazing mom. And we will love our child, or children,” he winked at me and smiled, “unconditionally and never put parameters around what they can do or who they can love. Their lives will be completely their own.”

A tear leaked out of my eye as I looked up at him and saw the conviction in his eyes. I understood that for him, having a family was about creating something together and enriching the life we would already have, but it was also about making sure no child of his went through what either of us had to endure from our families.

I knew Ryan hadn’t spoken to his parents or his sister since the wedding. He kept in touch with his brother, and John was coming out to visit us at Christmastime, but having your family reduced to one person was tough. I’d been there. He’d given up so much that day, and I didn’t blame him, but at the same time I didn’t want to make it worse.

“You know you do have to put some parameters around your kids,” I told him, aiming for playful. There would be plenty of time to hash out my fears. He wasn’t asking me to make any decisions just yet.

Ryan grinned. “That’s why I know you’ll be a great mom. But like I said, our life together is just starting. We have plenty of time to iron out the details. For now, we’re together, I love you more than life itself, and I think you’re so incredible.”

“I love you,” I told him, as I leaned up to kiss him.

“I love you more,” he said, as he returned my kiss.

About the Author

Thanks so much for reading
Work of Art
, my seventh full-length novel
.
I really hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it and developing the characters that helped bring the story to life. If you are interested in reading my other novels, they are also available in e-book format online

Books have always had a big part in my life, and I probably spend way more time reading that I should, engrossed in the stories that keep me captivated. I am a total sucker for romantic comedies in all forms, because at the end of the day I just want to laugh and see some really great people fall in love. When those stories are mixed with an awesome soundtrack, it just doesn’t get much better than that.

In addition to books, I have a serious love for the Florida Gators and the Boston Red Sox, I am addicted to fashion, and I never go anywhere without my iPod. Give me a grande non-fat vanilla latte from Starbucks and chips and queso from Tijuana Flats, and I am a happy girl.

You can read more about me online at:
http://www.goodreads.com/monicaalexander

Other Books by Monica Alexander

Just Watch the Fireworks

Aftershocks

Broken Fairytales

Buried Castles

Forcing Gravity

Searching for Neverland

Playlist

I listen to music constantly, so inevitably songs have a way of working themselves into my stories. Below is a playlist of the songs I hear when I read this book. Some songs I referenced in the book itself, and others are just ones that I felt fit in nicely with story. Enjoy!

Minority – Green Day

All Alone – Fun.

Howl – The Gaslight Anthem

Shake it Out – Florence + the Machine

Creep – Radiohead

Machinehead – Bush

Mad World – Gary Jules (feat. Michael Andrews)

Waiting for the End – Linkin Park

The Longer I Run – Peter Bradley Adams

Broken Mirrors – Rise Against

Sad Beautiful Tragic – Taylor Swift

I Almost Do – Taylor Swift

Name – The Goo
Goo Dolls

Disarm – Smashing Pumpkins

Ronan – Taylor Swift

Breathe In Breathe Out – Mat Kearney

Beam Me Up – P!nk

Nothing Left to Say/Rocks – Imagine Dragons

The World is Ugly – My Chemical Romance

People
Like Us – Kelly Clarkson

Speak Now – Taylor Swift

Plowed – SPONGE

Timeless – The Airborne Toxic Event

Suborn Love – The Lumineers

One Headlight – The Wallflowers

Here Comes Your Man – The Gaslight Anthem

Lover’s Eyes – Mumford & Sons

All Over You – Spill Canvas

If I Lose Myself –
OneRepublic

Tell Me a Story – Phillip Phillips

Be Still – The Fray

The Forgotten – Green Day

Gold on the Ceiling – The Black Keys