“You’re right, and I’ve told you this a billion times.”
She smiled at his statement as she ran her fingers down his jaw. “I’m sorry I’ve been a crazy lunatic for the last four years. I should have listened to you sooner. I should have realized I have everything I need with just you two.”
He cupped her face, his eyes boring into hers as a smile pulled at his lips. “I know how you are. You want to please and make everyone happy. You’ve driven me insane—I’m not going to lie—but I love you. So it’s okay. I’ll take the crazy any time of the day as long as I get to kiss you whenever I please.”
She grinned as her arms went around him, running her nose along the bottom of his jaw. “Like now?”
“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “Now is great.”
When he dropped his mouth to hers, she closed her eyes and lost herself in his kiss. His lips were always so soft and inviting and hit her straight in the gut. When a little body came between them, Audrey pulled away, smiling as she looked down to find her daughter watching them. Her eyes, blue like the ocean, were wide as she looked up at them, her arms tightening around Audrey’s leg.
“Mommy, is it cupcake time?”
Audrey nodded. “It is! Let’s eat.”
Kissing Tate’s jaw, she went to step away, but he stopped her, his fingers lacing with hers as his eyes met hers. “Tomorrow though, you’ll get your Christmas wish.”
She smiled. “Santa came five years ago and gave me you and our daughter. There isn’t anything else on my list.”
He laughed. “Liar, I know you want those shoes.”
“Oh yes, those shoes I do need.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he chuckled before kissing her cheek, and then they were off to hand out cupcakes. As they spent the rest of the afternoon at the hospital, she would have been lying if she’d said she hadn’t thought of the following day. But instead of the feeling of dread and nervousness in her belly, she pushed to be positive. She wasn’t going to stress anymore. She wasn’t going to worry. If it happened, then she would be elated. If it didn’t, then she would accept that and move on.
She had everything she needed.
But as she sat in the chair the next day, a needle in one arm and her other hand clutching Tate’s, her stomach was back to knots. She tried so hard to be positive, but her emotions were everywhere. She wanted to be excited for the possibility, but she also wanted to be realistic. This probably wasn’t going to happen. Also, her pregnancy test was faint—not a no, but not a yes—and that was a disappointment. She had read that when people were pregnant, their tests were bright and happy, but hers wasn’t sure. It was as if her body wasn’t sure if it wanted to be pregnant or not.
“We’ll know in a couple hours. Why don’t y’all go to lunch?” the nurse suggested, and Audrey nodded as she looked over at Tate.
“Sounds like a plan,” he agreed, and soon they were at the closest steakhouse. They ate in silence. Well, Tate ate; Audrey picked at her salad.
“I thought we said we weren’t going to stress?”
She let out a breath as she nodded. “I’m not stressing, really. It’s more I’m nervous.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t. Either way, we are happy. Right?”
She laced her fingers with his and looked deep in his eyes. She could see her whole future in his eyes. The two of them raising Pennyloo, going on trips, watching Daddy win, and building Audrey Jane’s into something that maybe Penny would want. Even though Audrey was pretty sure her baby was going to grow up to help people. Maybe as a doctor or a missionary. They would send her to college, and one day Tate would walk her down the aisle. It was all there, and the whole time she would be completely and entirely in love with him.
“Right,” she agreed. “I love you, Tate Ooooooodder.”