Beth walked back into the bedroom and fell heavily onto the bed. “Why would he go see them?”
Rolling her eyes, Suzy said, “Gee, I don’t know. Perhaps because they pushed the woman that he loves off the deep end, and he blames them for everything.”
“He blames them?”
Suzy flopped on the bed and asked, “Out of that whole sentence, you only picked up on the blame thing?”
“I heard the rest, but Nick doesn’t love me,” she said dismissively.
“Oh, God, was I as stubborn as you are? The man wouldn’t have done half the crazy shit he’s done if he wasn’t in love with you. Wake up!”
“Suzy, I really don’t feel like arguing over this. All he has done is fix some meals and walk with me. How does that spell love? I could probably pay the guy from Domino’s to do the same thing.”
“Beth! The man hasn’t been to work in weeks. He shops for you in the middle of the night after you go to sleep so you won’t need anything while he’s gone. He has refused to travel so Declan is doing most of it. He sold his Audi and got an SUV with a car seat. He bought a damn baby monitor and hid it in your bedroom so he would hear you if you need him. He has parenting books stacked to the ceiling in the living room and he hasn’t shaved in weeks. The entire family divides their time between worrying about him and worrying about you.”
“I . . . I can’t believe that,” Beth whispered.
“Well, you better believe it. You need to get out of whatever funk you’re in and help the poor guy. He’s grieving, too, and you are shutting him out. He needs you, sis. You know men are horrible at this crap.”
“He has really gone to see Mom and Dad?”
Suzy fell backward on the bed in defeat. “Boy, you are fixated on that part, aren’t you? Yes, I think he’s there right now. He called Gray this morning, seriously pissed off. He has been stewing on the things they said to you. He said they needed to know what had happened and that if they didn’t clean up their acts, they wouldn’t be a part of the baby’s life.”
“I can’t believe he’s doing that.”
“No kidding. The man means well, but they are probably chewing him up and spitting him out right now.” Suzy pulled Beth down beside her, hugging her tight. “I’m so sorry, sis. This whole thing just sucks.”
Beth allowed Suzy to pull her close. It felt so good to be with her sister again. They lay there in comfortable silence for what seemed like hours until Nick’s voice startled them both.
“Any other time, this moment would have been a dream come true,” Nick said, as he motioned to them in the bed with their arms around each other. “Now that you’re married to my brother and are like an annoying sister, this just seems wrong.”
With a sniff, Suzy sat up and said, “In your dreams, Nicky. So you survived a parental visit without any visible wounds. I’m impressed.”
Nick’s eyes were locked on Beth as he answered Suzy. “Yeah, I think we reached an understanding.”
Suzy looked at Nick and her sister, and hopped off the bed. “So, I think I’m going to head out. Gray will be wondering if I’m working a street corner again.” When neither Beth nor Nick showed any surprise over her last sentence, she smiled. “No, please stop begging me to stay. I told you, I have things to do.” When she still got no reaction, she walked toward the bedroom door. “Call me when you two come up for air.” With another smirk, she was gone.
* * *
Nick couldn’t take his eyes off the woman in front of him. She was now standing before him, looking like Beth again. Her eyes were no longer empty. Instead, an emotion that he hoped was love shone from them. She looked young, fragile, and beautiful. The deep breath he took stuck in his throat when he saw her hands resting against the curve of her stomach. She usually wore a jacket when they walked so he hadn’t noticed the evidence of her advancing pregnancy. He felt his legs go weak at the miracle growing inside her. Dropping to his knees, he placed his hands over hers and tears blurred his vision. Lowering his head, he laid a tender kiss on her stomach.
“Ah, princess. Please tell me you’re back, because I can’t stand to lose you again.”
Beth dug a hand in his hair, rubbing his head soothingly. “I’m here, Nick. I . . . I just need you to hold me for a while.”
Nick gathered her in his arms and settled them on the bed. She spooned against his front while his arms came around her, linking gently over her stomach. His lips trailed down her neck as he breathed in her famililar scent. How he had missed having her in his arms. He never wanted to go to sleep or wake up again without her lying beside him.