AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was a sad ending for Finn’s brother. You only had to look at Finn to see how much potential Garrett might’ve had. If only he’d followed a similar path to his twin. Finn’s mother was still in shock, not quite believing everything being said about her precious boy. But at least she and Finn were back on speaking terms, and she’d forgiven him for not telling her the truth about Garrett’s fall from grace back when he first suspected things weren’t right. Indy and Finn were going to fly down and see his mother and sister for Christmas. A trip she wasn’t altogether sure she was looking forward to, but hopefully it might help to rebuild those relationship bridges. And Finn assured her that she would like Caroline, who was the same age as Indy, a passionate animal-lover, and desperate to talk to her about her dogs and horses. But she didn’t want to think about Garrett, or uncomfortable family meetings. Not now, while they were at Skylar and Nash’s engagement party; it was supposed to be a happy event.
Indy shifted her feet; her heels were killing her, she needed to sit down.
“How you feeling? Shall we go home?” Finn was suddenly solicitous, grabbing her arm and laying a protective hand over her belly.
“I’m fine,” she whispered, taking his hand and placing it on her hip instead, hoping no one had seen. “Be careful,” she mouthed. She didn’t want the cat getting out of the bag yet, it was still early days. Really early days. But when she’d peed on the stick a week ago and it’d come back positive, Finn had been over the moon. For which she was forever grateful. Her pregnancy was a surprise, but not an unwanted one. They’d discussed having a family, even while they were doing the long-distance thing. She’d unburdened herself to him about her cold, lonely childhood, and how she wanted more than that now. How she wanted to create a family of her own, with new rules, surrounded by love and acceptance. Everything she hadn’t had and so much more. And lots of kids. At least three or four. To her grateful surprise, Finn had wholeheartedly agreed. Kayleigh was Finn’s first daughter, but he was more than happy to add to their little brood, hopefully including Kayleigh as much as they could. Indy looked to Skylar, Dale, and Julie for inspiration. They were step-siblings who’d grown up in separate families when they were younger, but now had steadfast and strong relationships as adults. It was a positive sign that things could work out.
“Sorry,” he apologized. “But I just get so…excited, and worried. You know.”
And they should be worried, after Indy’s miscarriage with her first pregnancy, she was wary of losing this one, too. Which was why they weren’t going to tell anyone yet. It was hard to overcome her fear at the beginning, when both of them agreed to stop using protection and see what happened. Trepidation and doubt plagued her. Because what if it happened again? Butshe wanted Finn’s baby, and in the end, she had conquered her misgivings so she could fulfill her greatest wish. She had a good feeling about this pregnancy, however. This one was meant to be.
Perhaps her last one hadn’t meant to be, for whatever reason.
She’d never returned Patrick’s calls or texts. She decided she didn’t have anything good to say to him. Telling Finn about getting pregnant to Patrick had been hard. How losing the baby had been devastating at the time. It was the night of their first date, and she’d just blurted it out and then watched him, nervously gauging his reaction. But she shouldn’t have been worried, he was supportive as well as horrified at Patrick’s callous mistreatment of her and his complete disregard of the child he’d helped to conceive. He wanted to go and punch Patrick in the face, and part of her wanted to let him do it. But in the end, she’d said that part of her life was over, and she just wanted to forget him and move on. It was another reason Finn was even more attentive toward her, and her yet-to-grow belly. He knew how precious this baby was to her. As well as to him.
Indy leaned back against Finn’s strong bicep. “I might just go and sit down for a—”
“Did I just see what I thought I saw?” Bindi arrived at Indy’s elbow with the widest grin on her face.
“Oh, ah…” Indy exchanged a look with Finn, but she knew there was no hiding it from Bindi’s astute gaze. “We only just found out ourselves,” Indy confirmed. “We’re not telling anyone yet, it’s too soon.” Now if only she could swear her to secrecy…
“I wondered why you weren’t drinking champagne. Now it all makes sense. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.” The petite woman bounced on her toes with excitement. “Oh, except Skylar, she’ll be over the moon, and we work so closely, I can’t keep a secret from her… And Julie, she’s so in love with babies. I reallythought it’d be her and Aaron doing the kid thing first,” Bindi mused.
Indy smiled, but wished Bindi would keep her voice down. Finn was frowning, but the corners of his mouth were turned up, as if he wasn’t sure what to do with Bindi’s enthusiasm, either.
“And you have to tell Daniella, she really misses Kee’s little daughter, Benni. Having her here last year made her yearn for the pitter-patter of little grandchildren’s feet.” Bindi’s gaze became mischievous. “This is so going to put the pressure on Dale and Daisy. They’ve been married a year and they’re still not popping the kids out, yet.”
“This isn’t a competition.” Indy wasn’t sure whether to scowl or laugh at Bindi.
“And Mack. You have to let me tell Mack. He’s gonna want to do the manly cowboy thing and take Finn out for a beer and cigar, you know.” Bindi turned her gaze to Finn.
It seemed like the genie was out of the bottle, after all. And Indy couldn’t find a reason to be sad about it.
“Okay,” Indy conceded. “But can you do me one favor and keep it a secret just for tonight?” The last thing they needed was to take the shine off Nash and Skylar’s night.
“I can do that,” Bindi promised.
“Let’s go and find you that chair to sit in,” Finn suggested.
“Oh, yeah. You guys do that,” Bindi said. “I can hear the band starting up outside, and I need to go and dance with Mack.” Bindi stood on tiptoe and kissed Indy on the cheek. “I’m so happy for you two. Seems we all got our happily ever after, hey?”
“Yes, we did,” Indy agreed.
Following Finn out onto the veranda, she let him pull her down onto his lap in an empty, Adirondack-style wooden chair. She lay back against his chest and he twined his fingers in her hair. It was true; she was getting her heart’s desire. A family with the man she loved.
They’d have to go and see Kayleigh soon. Finn had gone over to Ireland on his own on a hurried trip just after the drug bust, to persuade Chloe and his daughter that he was safe and well. But he also wanted to introduce Indy to his daughter and spend more time in Ireland, so a longer visit, where she and Finn could spend quality time with Kayleigh and introduce her to the idea of having a baby sister or brother, was definitely on the cards. A blended family might have its problems, but she and Finn would work them out.
Indy had never been happier in her life. She loved working at Stormcloud. She had no doubt Daniella would be amenable to some kind of arrangement once the baby was born. Raising a child on the land was the most grounded type of childhood any kid could ask for. Indy had high hopes for their future at Stormcloud.
“I’m sorry, but I might have to borrow my man Nash’s words from earlier,” Finn whispered in her ear. Then he spun her around so he could stare straight into her face. “Nothing can break us when we’re together. I truly believe that.”
“We’re unbreakable,” she agreed, kissing his delectable lips, tasting the beer, but also acknowledging the desire he was funneling through to her. “Perhaps we should head home, after all,” she suggested with a wicked grin.
