AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He scoffed a laugh. “No, Peanut. Life is just the way it should be. The only thing I wish for is that your mom was still here.”
I dabbed at my eyes. He'd loved her, and even though I didn't know her, his stories let me love her, too.
“Me too, Dad.”
His eyes crinkled with his smile. "So, are you done messing with my emotions?"
I thought for a second. “Yeah, pretty much.”
Dad chuckled and resumed eating.
I returned to my plate, but I'd lost my appetite. One day, it'd be my child and me. And maybe Liam, too?
“So, why all these questions? Where are they coming from?”
I lifted my eyes to meet Dad’s. Trying for nonchalance, I shrugged. “It’s nothing. I’m just thinking about the future.”
Dad didn’t seem satisfied, so I went on.
“I’ve never thought I wanted kids so much, but now, that opinion is changing.”
His face broke into a huge smile. “Really?”
“Um, I was only thinking about—”
“That would be the best thing ever.” He cast his gaze about. “I can almost picture a little one running around on Sunday nights.”
I tilted my head.
“I’ll babyproof, I assure you. I think I still have tools somewhere in the attic.” He moved to stand.
“Dad, are you going right now?”
His eyes lit up. "Oh, well. I just thought I might as well get started." He dropped back into his chair, a huge grin on his face.
Disbelief mingled with joy in my chest, and I found myself smiling back.
Dad's focus went back to his meal. "You know, Christmases will be magical again with a child around. They'll get all excited about Santa, and we could put up decorations. And Halloween, too. We'll get costumes…"
He went on, and I bit my lip, trying to contain my glee. If he was this excited over the prospect of a child, he might be more open to me being pregnant than I thought.
“But hold on a minute.” He pinned me with a serious look. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
My stomach clenched, and my heart drummed against my ribs. "W-what would I be keeping from you?"
“Are you seeing someone? Is that why you’re thinking of starting a family?”
I nearly exhaled my relief, but his suspicions were still very apparent. I wanted to wiggle my way out of this.
But I pushed away that thought. It’d be best if I started laying the foundation for the truth. One of these days, he was going to find out.
The more prepared he was, the better.
“I am…seeing someone.”
His eyes brightened. “Why haven’t I heard about this before now?”
I tried to smile. “It’s new.”
