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The guys had stood beside me and watched the whole sonogram, the both of them stunned to silence by the images on the screen. It had made my heart pound hard in my chest to see just how excited they were at the sight of my child. They showed every expression on their faces that I had wished for Edward to show when I was carrying Willow, and again this time.
He hadn’t ever shown any interest though. He hadn’t even come to any of my sonograms with me for either pregnancy. He had been there at Willows birth, but only on Franks orders. Frank had pointed out the fact that people would have talked if I had delivered our first child all alone. So he had been there, but he had hated every moment and every time we had been left in the delivery room alone he had ranted at me that I was dragging the whole thing out on purpose, like I was having so much fun, pushing his child out!
Then Willow had been born and he hadn’t even wanted to hold her. He’d left the two of us alone in the hospital as fast as he could, feigning work. I hadn’t cared really. I had my beautiful daughter in my arms and I swore I wouldn’t allow him to ruin the happiness that brought to me, but still, it would have been so amazing to have shared that magical time with someone who was as besotted with my child as I was.
“We could see everything. He or she looks so much like you, baby,” Hunter gushed as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. I went happily, a smile on my face as I basked in their excitement.
“He’s right. I definitely saw your little nose,” Kai laughed. “I can’t wait to show the video to Cam. He’s going to be amazed!”
“I really wish you would have found out if it’s a boy or a girl though. We could have got started on the nursery,” Hunter pouted.
“I want it to be a surprise. Edward made me find out for the decorator last time. This time I’m doing it my way,” I told them firmly.
“We can start the nursery anyway. We’ll just keep it neutral. We could make it really colorful. Fill it with rainbows and shit,” Kai shrugged, but he still had the huge grin in place on his face.
“You don’t need to do that. I just need a crib so the baby can sleep in my room,” I protested.
“Of course the baby needs a room. We’re planning to knock through so the nursery has a door right through to your room, just like Willow’s,” Hunter explained.
“Guys, you can’t do that!” I stopped dead and looked between them. “You don’t even know that I’m staying. You can’t remodel your damned house for me.”
“Sure we can,” Kai shrugged again and started walking.
“You’re staying,” Hunter added flatly.
“But what if…if I decide I can’t do what you guys are offering? If I can’t be in a relationship with all of you like that? It’s not going to be as easy as you guys seem to think, you know?” I said stubbornly.
“We know that, Maddie. We’re not expecting unicorns and fairytales. Life never works out like that. We know that better than most, but if we love each other and we make each other happy, we can overcome everything else, can’t we?” Hunter asked, almost pleading in his tone.
“I have to think about my children too. I can’t make their lives harder than they need to be. This kind of relationship could result in them facing some terrible bullying when they start school,” I sighed.
“Then we’ll teach them to stand up for themselves. All kids face bullying, Maddie. It’s not a reason to deny them what could be a really happy, secure family,” Hunter reasoned.
“Times are changing too, sunshine. Relationships like the one we’re proposing are unusual, but not unheard of. Plus there will be other kids from non-traditional families in school by the time the kids start. I agree it won’t be easy, but I know without a doubt it will be worth it. No one can love you, Willow, and that little one as good as we will.” Kai stepped towards me and rested a hand on my belly as he spoke, and as if the baby could hear him, he made the fluttering of the first kick that I had felt so far in this pregnancy.
“Oh my god!” I gasped as I pressed my hand over the top of Kai’s.
“What? Did I hurt you?” Kai gasped as he tried to pull his hand out from beneath mine.
“The baby…I think it heard you. I just felt him or her kick for the first time,” I explained, teary eyed.
“Really? Can I feel it too?” Kai asked in wonder.
“I don’t know. Probably not through my clothes. The kicks are only like a fluttering at first, but they’ll get more powerful as the baby grows. I used to be able to grab Willow’s foot when she kicked me, near the end,” I laughed.
“I think the baby was giving his mom a kick to make the right choice,” Hunter teased as he wrapped his arm around me again. It was getting harder to hold back my heart as Kai took my hand in his, and the three of us headed for the car again.
CHAPTER 16
MADDIE
Willow squealed excitedly from the garden where her, Cam, and Kai were all having a huge water fight. Kai had brought home the huge water guns the night before on his way home from a meeting at the office and Willow had been busting with excitement to try them out ever since.
The guys had been doing all they could to amuse her in the last few days, since my appointment with Doctor Andrews, working to keep her occupied while they insisted I take it easy and rest. Sam had been plying me constantly with food, focusing on the idea of small meals and snacks often, as the doctor had suggested. I had tried to insist the doctor hadn’t meant it to be quite as often as Sam seemed to think, but it hadn’t deterred him. I couldn’t argue too much though. It felt nice to have someone fussing over me the way Sam did – like a parent. I had never had that before.
The evening after the appointment the guys had insisted we load up with snacks and all settle in to watch the DVD the sonographer had given them with my scan footage on it. Everyone had watched it, including Sam and Garth, and ever since the house had been abuzz with excitement about the baby. Kai and Hunter had been in my room the next day, showing Cam the plans they had to knock a doorway through to the room next door, then they were all drawing up plans for the nursery. Even Sam had been suggesting the names that he thought would work, every time we talked. I might have found it overwhelming if I weren’t so happy to actually be allowed to be excited about my pregnancy for once.
Living with Edward had always required me to keep my mouth shut about my pregnancy. He didn’t want to hear about it. Now I could speak and smile about my baby as much as I wanted, and not only that, the people around me were enthusiastic too.
