Nick looked at Suzy sheepishly and said, “This was our first . . . date, so it had to be here. I was planning to take her somewhere nice afterward.”
Suzy and Gray hugged them both. With a dramatic shudder, Suzy said, “If you will give me a minute to get my rubber gloves and Clorox out, I’ll grab us a drink from the kitchen to celebrate.” Suzy walked gingerly to the kitchen wrinkling her nose in distaste.
Gray clapped his brother on the shoulder and said, “You do realize when you two are on your honeymoon, Suzy and I are going to christen every surface in your apartment.”
Beth could feel her face turning red as Nick snickered. “Sorry, Gray,” Beth mumbled.
Gray laughed softly, “No worries, Beth. Welcome to the family. I’m happy for you guys and so is Suzy. She just needs to recover from the shock of another kitchen violation.”
Suzy returned from the kitchen with a tray of drinks. Beth drank her glass of apple juice as everyone else sipped a glass of wine.
Suzy cleared her throat and raised her glass. “Congratulations, baby sister. Nicky is a handful, but I know you can manage him. May you have everything you have always wished for. Gray and I are here for you and, with the exception of babysitting, we will help with anything that you need. Our home, with the exception of the kitchen, is always open to you.”
Beth smiled as she looked at her sister leaning with such contentment against Gray. Nick stood beside her with his arm curved around her waist and his hand resting against the swell of their child inside her. It hit her in that moment that this was it. This was what she and Suzy had searched for their whole lives: a family. Despite being told repeatedly that they didn’t exist, they had found their Prince Charmings. From this moment on, it was no longer Suzy and Beth against the world. They were part of the Merimon family where dreams were encouraged and anything was possible.
I have no idea what I’ve done in my life to deserve the love of the man beside me or the support of the family surrounding me, but I have it. I feel it. I’m completely in love with everyone in this room and for the first time in my life, I’m falling in love with me as well.
Epilogue
“Princess, it’s going to be fine. This is our second ultrasound since . . . The last one was fine and we’ve felt the baby kicking.”
Beth wrapped her arms around Nick’s waist, allowing him to pull her into an embrace. “I know, but I don’t think I’ll ever not be nervous.” Their follow-up ultrasound last month had been normal and the baby was right on schedule. They hadn’t been able to see the sex of the baby since he or she had stubbornly kept his or her legs closed. They were having a 3-D ultrasound this morning, and she was both excited and terrified to see the baby.
Nick had been wonderful and, outside of pushing her to get married, he had been more than she could have ever hoped. He was fully involved with every area of her pregnancy. He pampered her, he worried about her, and he treated her exactly like the nickname he used for her: princess. He was ready to get married as soon as possible, but she wanted to enjoy being engaged and to plan the girly wedding of her dreams.
They had also attended two meetings at Eating Disorders Anonymous. Nick had been incredibly supportive and he knew that each day was a struggle to accept the number on the scales. It would be a lifelong process, but she was happy with the progress that she had made.
Nick brushed a kiss on her forehead and led her out of the apartment and to the car. Another thing that Nick had been pushing for was buying a house. He was scared that she would fall on the stairs, and she had to admit that they were getting taxing. She promised him that they would start looking soon. He wanted a house on the beach and, although she loved the ocean, she still enjoyed living in the city and having everything nearby.
She felt the familiar tightness in her chest as they walked into the doctor’s office. She signed her name and took the seat beside Nick. He wrapped his hand around hers and whispered, “These women in here still hate me.”
Beth smiled because she knew that, as usual, they were checking out her man and ogling him like a piece of candy. When her name was called, Nick squeezed her hand reassuringly and followed her to the ultrasound room. He helped her onto the table and whispered in her ear, “I love you, princess,” before sitting down. No matter how calm he tried to act, she knew he was nervous, too.
She was vaguely aware of the bubbly technician chatting, but her eyes were glued to the monitor, waiting to see signs of life from the blurry image. When she saw the image of their obviously active baby, Beth let out a breath that she didn’t know she had been holding. Nick pressed his lips against her temple as they both gazed in wonder at the beautiful 3-D image.
“Ohhh,” said the technician.
They both jerked their eyes to her, alarm evident on their faces.