“Yeah, yeah, I know. What will be will be.”
Things are already stressful, and I don’t want to add to that with talk of making a baby. I know she came off her contraception, she’d said she wanted to try before Noah had his surgery.
Just the knowledge of knowing that during our wedding night was everything.
Everything.
I settle back in my chair and watch Noah sleep. Jessica’s head begins to loll to the side, and I know she’s beat.
“Hey, do you want me to make up the cot so you can rest?”
She goes to shake her head, but my fingers on her jaw stop her as I hold her gaze with mine. “You need to sleep, sweet girl. If he wakes and asks for you, I’ll wake you.”
Her expression is conflicted, but she concedes with a nod of her head. I ease her off my lap and let her take the seat as I make up the bed, her eyes stay trained on Noah the entire time.
“Come on.” I walk over and reach for her hand. She stands up and kisses Noah’s cheek before allowing me to lead her over to the bed.
She might not sleep, but I’d feel better if she at least tried.
In the meantime, I’ll watch over the man we both love and adore.
Now and always.
Chapter Forty-Nine
JESSICA
Noah has been quiet since his surgery. I knew it was to be expected, but it’s been a few days now and he just seems so subdued, almost numb. And yet I know he’s in pain. He has medication to help manage it, but it’s hard to ignore his clear discomfort.
Aspen won’t leave his side, she’s even started to sleep in our room. Caleb moved one of her beds in there too, but he’s adamant once Noah is healed, she’ll be going back to the kitchen, and her nook, but we’ll see.
The doctors said he should be able to resume usual activities within a couple of weeks. It’s not even been a week, and his frustration is evident.
I’m trying not to mollycoddle him, but it’s hard with my need to help riding me all the time. It’s not my intention to smother him, but I can’t seem to help myself and I worry it will make him snap if I’m not careful.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything?” I ask for what feels like the hundredth time.
His sigh is hard to ignore before he replies, “No, but thank you.”
I chew on my lip and move from foot to foot, not knowing what else to do with myself. The house is clean, the laundry is done.
“You know you didn’t have to take time off work,” he says.
Carefully, I sit beside him and reach for his hand, grateful he doesn’t pull away, because I need his touch now more than anything else.
“I know, but I wanted to be here for you, Noah. You’d do the same for me, wouldn’t you?”
He turns his face to mine, the purple shadows under his eyes showing how much rest he’s not been getting. Yet, this is the time he should be sleeping, to help him heal.
“Of course, I just don’t want to be a burden.”
I grit my jaw and tamp down my urge to snap at him. “You’re not a burden and quite frankly I find you even suggesting as much offensive.”
His lips rise into a smile, and I want to be angry with him, but it’s been so long since he smiled.
“It’s not funny,” I reply instead.
Noah tilts his head. “On the contrary, I love it when you get all feisty.”
