Peyton and Henry left, and Ellery went upstairs to check on Julia. I walked over to the bar and poured myself a scotch. I could see how upset Ellery was and it killed me not to be able to make it better for her. This was just the beginning of a long and painful road, and I’d do whatever it took to shield my family from it. I walked up the steps and stopped in the doorway of the nursery. Ellery was sitting in the rocking chair, rocking Julia. As I stood there and smiled, she looked up at me with her sad eyes. I walked over to her and knelt down, placing my hands on her legs.
“I want you to listen to me, Elle. We’re going to get through this. I talked to Lou and he said not to worry about it, and that we’ll talk in the morning. He’s going to do some investigating. You know he’s the best lawyer in the country, and he’ll take care of this.”
“The only way we’ll get through it, Connor, is together. There can’t be any secrets.”
“I know that, baby, and there won’t be. You’ll be with me every step of the way,” I said.
She smiled at me as she ran the back of her hand down my cheek. “I love you so much.”
I took her hand and held it against my lips as I closed my eyes. “I love you too, and you better never, for even one single moment, forget it.”
I stood up and took Julia from her arms. I kissed her tiny head and laid her down in her crib. Ellery took my hand and we walked down the hall to our bedroom. She changed into her satin nightgown and I undressed. We climbed into bed, and I wrapped my arms around her as she snuggled against me and fell sound asleep.
When the buzzing alarm went off, Ellery rolled over and looked at me. We looked at each other and jumped out of bed.
“Oh my God, Julia never woke up last night!” she said in a panic.
We ran to her room to check on her. As we looked in her crib, she looked at us and smiled. Ellery gasped and put her hand over her mouth.
“Connor, she smiled! Did you see it?” she asked excitedly.
“Yes, I saw her.” I smiled as I picked her up from her crib and stared at her. Her smile was just like Ellery’s, and I knew right then and there, I was in trouble. “She has your smile, Ellery. That means all the boys are going to fall in love with her, and we’re going to have quite a problem on our hands.”
Ellery laughed and put her arm around my waist. “The only problem we’re going to have is if you become one of those overprotective fathers that scare all the boys away.”
“She’s not allowed to date. I know what boys are like and they’re not getting their hands on my daughter.”
“Connor,” Ellery paused. “Do you realize that our little girl slept through the night?”
I looked at Ellery, who was beaming from head to toe. “You’re right. She did sleep through the night.” I smiled as I held her up in the air.
I passed Julia to Ellery as I ran to the other room to grab my ringing phone. I picked it up and saw that Lou was calling.
“Hey, Lou,” I said as I answered.
“Good morning, Connor. I have a quick meeting this morning and then I’ll stop by your office, let’s say around eleven.”
“I’ll be there, Lou, and thank you.”
“No problem, buddy. I’ll see you then.”
I hung up the phone and turned around. Ellery was standing behind me.
“What time is our meeting?” she asked.
“Our meeting?”
“We’re in this together, babe, and I’m meeting Lou with you.”
I sighed as I kissed her on the lips. “Eleven o’clock at my office. I’ll make sure to have Denny drive you there.”
“Thank you,” she said as she turned and walked downstairs with Julia.
***
I stepped into the shower and stood under the hot water. Thoughts of Ashlyn kept entering my mind and how she could potentially destroy my life, especially with her lies. The thought of my relationship with her and our arrangement coming out made me sick to my stomach. I finished up in the shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and walked into the bedroom. Ellery was standing in front of the mirror in her bra and panties, staring at herself.
“Are you admiring that beautiful body of yours?” I asked as I walked up behind her and put my hands on her hips.
“No, I’m disgusted by how much weight I still have to lose.”
“Nonsense. Your body is just as amazing now as it was before you got pregnant.”
“You’re only saying that so you can get laid.”
“Oh, yeah! Is that what you really think?” I laughed as I picked her up, threw her on the bed, and started to tickle her until she couldn’t take it anymore.
I stopped and stared into her beautiful blue eyes. The smile that I loved so much didn’t leave her face as she stared back. I pushed her hair behind her ear.
“I love you, Ellery.”