I shake my head and remove my hand.“Go ahead.”
This giant of a man, who just asked me to marry him, leans forward and sets his enormous palm on my belly.He’s trembling.When the baby rewards him with a hard kick, he chuckles.“That’s amazing.”He’s grinning from ear to ear, and he dips his head lower and speaks again as if talking to the baby.“I can’t wait to meet you.I bet you’ll be a ray of sunshine like your mommy.”
My chest is tight.He’s talking to my baby.In fact, he shoves his chair back, drops to his knees in front of me, and cups my belly with both hands.
Aaric looks like he’s in heaven.So reverent as if I’ve gifted him the world.“Oh!”He chuckles when the baby kicks again.It almost seems like he or she knows Aaric is here.He continues to hold my belly with his broad hands for long minutes, eventually closing the distance to kiss my stomach.
When he eases back, he looks at me.“Thank you.That was the best experience ever.”
My face is warm.I’m not used to people paying any attention to me and certainly not to the baby.I’ve been alone with Presley for the entire nine months.All he’s ever done is scowl.He’s been worse since he found out I’m pregnant.Now he grumblesandscowls.Sometimes he points at my stomach and tells me horrible things.
“You’re not keeping that bastard.”
“What a hussy.”
“Such an ungrateful harlot.”
“It will never survive childbirth.”
“Don’t think I’m going to help you when you go into labor.I don’t know nothing about birthin’ babies.You’re on your own.”
He never once offered to take me to a clinic or find a midwife to come take care of me for the birth.He gave no indication he cared if either of us lived or died.In fact, I’m certain he hoped the baby would not survive the birth.I’m sure he didn’t relish the idea of losing his personal maid, so I suspect he preferred that I not die.
Aaric cups my face.“Hey… Wherever your mind wandered, come back to me.The past is behind you.Your future is here.”
I lift my head from focusing on my belly and flush deeper.
“You need sleep, sunshine.You need all the sleep you can get between now and the birth.”He stands.“Let’s get you into bed.”
I love the way he takes both my hands and helps me stand.It seems like I’m more wobbly and unsteady by the hour.I don’t know how I managed to walk as far as I did for so many days.I think I was so desperate that I just kept going on sheer will alone.
I’m safe now.Aaric has assured me so, over and over.
“Can you get to the bedroom on your own?I’ll clean the kitchen and come check on you after you use the bathroom.”
Unable to resist, I lean into him and hug him.I could hug him for the rest of my life.It feels so good when he’s touching me.I hadn’t realized how deprived I was of human contact until I got here.Now I can’t get enough.
Aaric wraps his arms around me and holds me tight.“You’re safe,” he reminds me again.“Everything is going to be okay, honey.”
It’s hard to force myself to let go, but I do, and I turn and hurry from the room before he sees me crying again.I’m a giant ball of emotions today.The crying won’t stop.It’s embarrassing.I’m sure he’s tired of it.
In the bathroom, I find an unopened toothbrush on the counter.Aaric thinks of everything.I use the toilet, wash my hands, brush my teeth, and return to the bedroom.
Seven
Aaric
My nerves are frayed.It seems like my life has taken a one-eighty since I got out of bed today.I’ve literally rescued a pregnant woman and asked her to marry me.She hasn’t agreed, but I’m hoping she will in the morning.
When Hannah steps back into the room, she takes my breath away.Nothing has changed.She’s still wearing my T-shirt and the leggings that Rebekah brought her, but she looks more relaxed than a few minutes ago.She’s not frowning in confusion.
I’m sitting on the edge of the bed where she slept earlier, and I quickly stand and pat the mattress.I also point toward the floor.“I found a stool you can use to get in and out of bed, but please be careful.I don’t want you to fall in the night.I’d rather you let me help you get up and down.”
She stares at the stool and shuffles closer.“You think of everything,” she mutters.
“I’m sure I won’t think ofeverything.You’re going to have a million needs in the coming days.I’ll be playing whack-a-mole trying to guess what you might need every step of the way, but I promise to do my best.”
She furrows her brow.“Whack-a-mole?”
