I froze at his abrupt announcement.
“I want our kid.” He grabbed my hands, searching my face as he attempted to read my reaction. “I want to try to have a baby with you.”
The sudden rush of emotion at his declaration overwhelmed me. Any response was strangled in my throat as I fought to fight tears.
“Lexie?”
For the past year I’d pondered the idea of having a baby with Caine, until the pondering became more insistent, until it became a longing. With our schedules I hadn’t known how to bring it up. Back in the beginning of our relationship, Caine had mentioned kids in an offhand manner, but we’d never really discussed it, so I didn’t know when it would become an option. We’d gone through so much in the last few months with the trial that it just didn’t ever seem like the right time.
So his words that morning meant everything to me.
It meant that Caine and I, God willing, would finally have a family.
“Is this real?” I grinned, causing tears to spill down my cheeks.
Caine hauled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. He kissed the tears away and held me tight. “Baby, it’s real.”
It was so real.
Finally.
I had what I’d always wanted.
And Caine … he had what he’d always needed.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
From the moment Alexa and Caine’s story came to mind, I was swept up in it, so I must first thank all my friends and family for putting up with my absence and absentmindedness—much more so than usual. It can be frustrating living inside another world you’re so captivated by and have the people around you not quite understand. That’s why when the book is finished and it’s in their hands, it’s a lovely feeling to sit back, relax, and say, “This is where I’ve been these last few months … Hopefully you get it now?” The wonderful thing is that my friends and family always do. I love you for your understanding. I’m very lucky to have you!
In particular I want to thank my friend Shanine for traversing across an ocean to visit and research Boston with me so I could fall in love with the city that Lexie and Caine call home. And I did. Hopefully that fondness comes through in the story.
As always I have to thank my fantastic agent, Lauren Abramo, for believing in me, often more than I believe in myself, for always having my back, and working so hard to make sure my stories find their way into the hands of the readers. Also a huge thank-you to my publisher, Kara Welsh, my editor, Kerry Donovan, and the entire team at New American Library for your incredible support. I appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know!
I must also thank experienced ER nurse and avid reader Angela Phillips Lovvorn. Thank you for all your advice and information—it was invaluable to Lexie’s story.
Finally I want to thank you, my reader.
You are my hero.