Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I had loved everything about our wedding. My vows had been short but heartfelt.
Kassie, I always thought love was complex. Hard. But with you, it’s simple. Perfect. I don’t remember falling in love with you. The time we were apart proved to me that it will never end. Because although we were apart, I never stopped. Finding you again, falling all over again, has made me complete. I’m yours forever, lovely.
She had cried, and I had discovered an unknown allergy that made my eyes leak all day.
Still, it was amazing.
I shook my head at my musings and headed to the door. I was surprised to find it unlocked, and I stepped in, hearing Kassie’s voice in the kitchen. Her tone was shocked, the volume rising as I got closer. She was on speaker, and I stopped before she could see me.
“Are you sure? I mean, how—”
I recognized her doctor’s voice. “Really, Kassie, you’re asking how? I’ve seen that husband of yours and the way he looks at you.”
“I mean, I’m on birth control. How can I be pregnant?”
I gripped the doorway in shock.
Kassie was pregnant? Holy shit.
“Have you been taking it regularly?”
“Well, I missed one day, but I took it as soon as I remembered.”
“That’s all it takes,” Dr. Mitchell replied dryly. “As I have explained before, even taken as prescribed, it is not one hundred percent effective all the time.”
My eyebrows shot up. I had no idea about that fact. Not that I cared.
I was thrilled. Ecstatic.
Kassie hung her head. “Oh God. How am I going to tell Oliver?”
I stepped into the kitchen. “You just did, lovely.”
She spun around, her eyes wide.
Dr. Mitchell chuckled. “Well, I’ll leave you two to discuss this. Kassie, come in next week for an appointment. We need to get you on vitamins and check you out.”
She disconnected, and Kassie met my eyes, her gaze shocked.
“You were late one day?” I asked.
“Hours.”
“Hmm. And still, I knocked you up. Definitely a boy.”
“Oliver…”
I closed the distance between us. “Not the stomach flu.”
“No. I saw Dr. Mitchell this morning. She just called…” She trailed off. “Oh God, what do we do?”
I wrapped her in my arms. “We celebrate. Then we move in to our new house and get a nursery together for our little one.”
“But we planned to wait a year!”
I laughed. “I don’t care. I’m thrilled.” I pulled back. “Aren’t you?”
She blinked. Looked down. Cradled her stomach. “Yes,” she whispered. “Just shocked.”
“As long as you’re happy.”
“I am. I have to get used to the idea.”
“You have a few months. How far along are you?”
“About five weeks. It’s early.”
“Ah. I came home from being away for two days. You had missed me a lot that trip.”
She giggled. “Yes, I did. I think I jumped you when you walked in.”
I smiled and kissed her, resting my hand on top of hers that was still on her stomach. “And look what a miracle happened.”
“Oh God. A baby,” she said, sounding awed. “Our baby.”
“Our baby,” I replied, the words making my allergies start up again. “We’re gonna be Mommy and Daddy.”
“Mommy and Daddy,” she repeated. “I like that.”
“Me too.” I kissed her. “Great homecoming.”
“Hey,” she said, realizing. “Why did you come home early?”
“I was worried. It’s not like you to be sick.”
“I think you need to get used to it.”
“I’ll get used to anything you need.”
“Wong Man,” she said out of the blue.
“What?”
“I think I need Wong Man.”
I laughed. “And so it begins.”
The phone rang, and Kassie picked it up. “Hey, Quinn.”
She listened and started to laugh. “Really? Me too. No, I’m serious.”
There were squeals and laughter on the other end of the phone. Kassie was grinning, crying, and holding my hand. She hung up, and I chuckled. “Not the flu for Quinn either?”
“Nope. Our babies will be friends!”
“John must be thrilled.”
She yawned, and I bent, picking her up. “I think someone needs to lie down and relax.”
“But—”
“No buts. You need to rest, and we’ll make some plans. And later, I’ll get you anything you want from Wong.”
She didn’t fight me, laying her head on my chest. In our room, I skirted the boxes and laid her on the bed, stretching out beside her. “No more packing. I’ll get someone in.”
“Okay,” she agreed, snuggling close.
Moments later, she was asleep. I stared at her, resting my hand where our child grew. Still tiny, but there. Safe. Sound.
Boy or girl, I could hardly wait to meet them.
A year later
Norman dropped me off, laughing as I barely let the car stop before hopping out. I hadn’t seen my family in ten days. That was ten days too long. I sprinted up the walk, opening the door and immediately calling for Kassie. “Lovely! Where are you?”
She came from the back of the house, smiling and hurrying to greet me. “You’re early!”
I lifted her right off her feet, kissing her hard. “Fuck, I missed you. I caught the early flight.”