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“Weren’t you on the pill?”
“I am! But remember when I had a dot of ringworm on my leg and Justin gave me a script for that drug? He didn’t say it would interfere with my birth control.”
“It’s my brother’s doing then.”
“Well, it was sort of ours,” she said, laughing.
“But if you didn’t miss a period, how do you know?”
“I’m getting to that part. This morning at our park meeting, I got sick to my stomach. Katrina and Maggie encouraged me to take the test and Kat had one so we went to her house and I did it there and it was positive.”
With mixed feelings, Chris reached over to embrace her, not wanting his misgivings to impact Annie. His emotions built up so fast he was afraid he’d start crying and he didn’t want to do that to her. It was enough that they had been bombarded over the past week.
There were times that he’d wished he’d kept it more casual with Annie, as much as he loved her. From the first meeting, he knew she was the one he’d been waiting for and he threw caution to the wind. But everything had changed between them, literally overnight. It was regretful that they weren’t on the same wavelength, apparently, about sharing each other’s lives. But maybe that would have to change now.
“This is the last thing I ever thought I’d hear. Not that it’s bad news.”
“I know because I was adamant about getting married first. But that’s so not important now. I know we need to take it slow until we both adapt.”
“I haven’t exactly taken it slow with you. But when I met you, I wanted to snap you up before someone else came along.”
“I wasn’t looking for anyone,” Annie said, grinning. “Except for a brother to the Chastain boys.”
“And you got one. The nursery next to our bedroom was prophetic,” he said, flicking a tear off his cheek before she could see it.
“Let’s go. I’m ready to get settled and put my sweatpants on and call it a day. I hope you don’t have any plans for a fancy evening out.”
He put his hands up in surrender, making her laugh. “Not a plan in sight. I hooked the TV up in our bedroom and I’m ready to get into bed and watch reruns ofStar Trekall night.”
“Hurry. I’m ready. I’ll probably fall asleep at seven.”
Starting the car, he looked around at the marina and the park. “I really love it here. This will be a great place to raise my child.”
“I think so, too.”
They met in the middle and kissed.
“I love you, Annie.”
“Aw, I love you, too, Chris.”
At the end of the truck trail, Justin Chastain waited for the gate to open. He had one goal and that was to get on the back of his horse, Spooky, and ride for half an hour. Hopefully, Maggie was in a good mood and wouldn’t be offended if he left her alone after being at work all day.
Parking the truck in its usual place at the porch, he grabbed the bag of food Maggie’s mother had given him to bring home—enchilada casserole and salad. He’d thrown the rolls out of the window for the wildlife, remembering Maggie had asked him not to bring any more baked goods home. And he’d eaten something else because it was too good to throw away.
When he looked up, Maggie had stepped out onto the porch with their daughter, both smiling, happy he was home. It was the perfect homecoming. He loved his family and the world that revolved around them.
“You’re home! What are we having for dinner?”
“Nothing sweet,” he said, grinning.
“Ah, you listened.”
“I did. She offered layer cake. So I ate a piece there.” Maggie hugged him, taking the food so he could hug their daughter. “You okay if I take a ride?”
“Go for it. I went out today and I swear, your horse cried when I left. Go make her happy.”
“Thank you, Maggie. You’re the best.”
