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"I would carry you until my arms fell off."
"Oh, please don't do that, because I love your arms best when they are attached to your god-like physique."
He laughed as he set me down to unlock the door. "God-like? Really?"
* * *
JAMES
"Sooo god-like. Will I be seeing it in my near future?" She asked in her sweet voice.
"Normally I would say yes, of course you can see it, touch it, lick it, suck it, fuck it, but right now you're going to bed...to rest." She pouted, sticking out her bottom lip at me in protest. "Do I detect some displeasure from my woman over my orders?"
"Yes, that would be some very extreme displeasure you are detecting. Please remember that I am pregnant, and my libido is pretty much off the chain right now."
I groaned at the thought of just how fine her "off the chain" moments could be during sex. Hot as FUCK. "You can take it out on me later if you want, but I'm going to hold firm that you need some rest right now. That was a lot just now at dinner with Caleb and Brooke. I saw the look on your face—and it's still there by the way. You've just had some major shocking family news dropped in your lap, on top of taking on a huge project in the span of about twenty minutes. I'm using my prerogative as your man to see that my woman is cared for how she needs to be."
She was quiet as I led her into the bedroom and started to undress her. I loved the way she always turned so soft and pliant whenever I did this. Taking care of her was so important to me. Seeing that her needs were met and that she was comfortable was always my number one. She had far too much on her plate right now. On that matter I was very fucking certain. I doubted that she would agree with me though. I might have to call a timeout on the work with the safehouses. She was pregnant, and our baby was going to be put first regardless of anything else that was thrown at her. Human biology would make sure. And so the fuck would I.
"I love you, James, so much. You are going to be the best father ever. I hope you know that." She yawned as I slipped her nightgown over her head, doling out compliments even when she could hardly keep her eyes open.
I was going to give it my best, but even I was fucking terrified that some of my father's parenting traits might have been passed down by default onto me. I wouldn't admit that to soul, and pretty much refused to even entertain the idea. I wouldn't be anything like my father.
"I love you…so much. I cannot wait to see you holding our baby in your arms." I helped her into bed, tucked her in, and gave her a kiss. "Sleep all the sleeps now, beautiful."
She was already out like a light before I ever left the room.
I went to make myself a stiff drink…and to worry about her in peace.
* * *
WINTER
Two weeks later.
"How do you like your new school? I asked Shane and Brenna as they gobbled down bananas on crackers with peanut butter.
Shane answered first, his mouth crammed full of his snack, "It's good and I met a new friend. His name is Trace and he invited me to come to his house on Saturday, but Mom said we have to ask you if it's okay."
"I think we can arrange a playdate for two friends on a Saturday." I ruffled his new haircut and pointed to his plate. "Don't talk with your mouth full, buddy." Brenna was a complete contrast to her brother in all things. She ate her snack daintily. She did not try to speak with food in her mouth. And she looked freaking adorable in her new navy school uniform jacket and her cute bobbed haircut as she grinned happily up at me. "How about you, Brenna?"
"I made a friend too. Michelle is her name and she has a black and white pony. She showed his picture to the class. She calls him Jock."
"Oohh, ponies are the best. Soon we'll have some of our own ponies here in our barn and you can start riding lessons. Would you like that?"
"Yesssss!" they both screamed in unison.
"Good grief that's loud. Finish your snacks, and then go and change out of your uniforms like we talked about, kids. Hang up your jackets on hangers this time, please," Alanna scolded gently, "then you can play for a while before we start on our homework and chores."
Watching the scene before me was pure joy. Alanna and her twins were now safely installed as residents of Safehouse-Sherborn. One of my very first acts as soon as James signed it over to me was to call Alanna and offer her a place to live where the kids could go to a good school, and she could work for me, indefinitely if she wanted. When she accepted my offer, she became the very first employee of Safehouse-Sherborn, working tirelessly to help in setting up the main office, ordering furniture, equipment, supplies, but mostly just organizing the zillion tasks it would take to get the place ready to open for operations. She was a godsend really, and I could now sleep at night knowing the kids were safe and thriving in an environment where they could grow and just be six-year-olds in peace.
Again…pure joy for me to witness. Good things were starting to happen and it was all thanks to my James I realized, as I settled in at my desk and got back to work.
You never know when people will finally find the precise moment to ask for help, but I've learned to be grateful whenever it happens. It's the very first step, and it doesn't matter so much when as much as starting. For my future mother-in-law that moment happened when she called me tearfully from her car and said she wanted to divorce her husband.
"I—I can't do it anymore, Winter. I am leaving him…today with your help if it's possible."
It was a challenge to keep the excitement out of my voice but I tried my hardest to be professional. "Do your children know, Vanessa?"
