I let his words work their way through my soul, loving how good they felt. And then I whispered, “I’ve got one more reason for you to smile.”
The world around us quietened and slowed as he processed what I said. He stayed silent for what felt like an eternity, before finally demanding, “Tell me.”
I reached for his hand and placed it on my belly. “You’re going to be a daddy again.”
His eyes searched mine as his lips slowly spread into the Scott-Cole smile I lived for. “I’m going to be a daddy again,” he repeated what I said.
“Yes.”
Sliding his arms around me, he pulled me to him again. “This is the best first wedding anniversary I’ve ever had,” he said as his eyes flared with more of the playfulness I could easily get used to.
“Me too, but can I ask you a favour?”
“Depends. How hard is it?”
“Possibly really hard for you.”
He chuckled. “Hit me, sweetheart.”
“Do you think we could try not to have a repeat of this on our second anniversary?”
“I’m not fuckin’ guaranteeing anything. Trying to get you pregnant has become my favourite pastime.”
“What do you mean ‘trying to get me pregnant’? Have you been plotting this?”
“You didn’t realise?”
“No, I just thought it was your love of getting your dick out that was going on. I had no idea it was all part of your life plan.”
He placed another kiss on my lips. “Well, I do love getting my dick out, but I also love you being pregnant. Nothing better than seeing my woman with my child in her belly.”
“You just loved how big my boobs got.” I continued to play with him. This was too much fun.
His eyes dropped to my breasts. “Jesus, how could I forget? Fuck, so many things to look forward to.”
I took a deep breath before asking him the one thing I had to know. “So, you’re not upset that I’m pregnant again so soon?” I’d discovered my pregnancy a few days ago and had spent that time worrying about telling him. Aurora was only four months old and I’d never expected to get pregnant again so fast.
He tightened his hold on me and his playful mood disappeared. The Scott Cole I knew and loved returned, and reminded me why I loved him so much. “Harlow, there isn’t a damn thing you could do that would cause me to get upset with you. You’re my world, you and Aurora, and any other children we have, and I will always be standing right by your side, holding your hand, and facing whatever we have to face. Together.”
“I love you,” I said. I had so many words inside that I could say to try and express my love and thankfulness for him, but those three words pretty much covered it all.
He held me and kissed me for a long time. We probably would have stayed there for hours, but Madison interrupted us.
“You two! Everyone’s been looking for you guys. I mean, this is your party and all,” she said while staring at us in exasperation.
I grinned as I stepped out of Scott’s embrace. “You’re just irritated that you had to get off your chair and come looking for us,” I teased her as I rubbed her heavily pregnant stomach. She was due any day now and her cranky mood was at epic levels.
“Fuck you,” she muttered and turned to stomp back inside.
Scott placed his arm over my shoulders and we followed her. “It’s a shame your Mum isn’t here for the party,” he said. “Where is she now?”
She’d come home for Aurora’s birth and had stayed a few months, but had flown out of the country again two weeks ago. “I Skyped with her this morning, she’s in Hawaii, and she’s met another man.”
“Fuck, I hope this one is better than her last one because I’m not fuckin’ joking, Harlow…if he breaks her heart, I’ll break his goddamn legs.”
J met us at the front door of Trilogy as Scott issued his threat of breaking legs. He raised his brows. “Whose legs are we breaking, brother?” he asked.
“Don’t encourage him!” Sharon chastised J, but I took in the happy smile on her face. She now held Aurora who reached for her daddy as soon as she saw him come in.
I couldn’t hold them in any longer – my tears began falling. They weren’t tears of sadness, but rather of happiness. As I stood in the entry to the restaurant and surveyed the room full of our family and friends, I knew deep in my soul that I was beyond blessed.
For all the struggles we’d been through, we’d come out stronger.
We’d fought for love and we’d won.
And life was even better for it.
Acknowledgments