Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 76(@200wpm)___ 61(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Did you really bribe him?” I can’t believe he would do that.
“Nope.” Fischer laughs. “But I would’ve if I had to.”
“Oh my God.” I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Please don’t be mad, little thief.” My husband turns serious. “I love you and I need to make sure you’re safe and healthy. It will kill me if anything ever happens to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me.” I blow out my breath and attempt to reassure him. “You’re stuck with me forever. You caught me, so now you get to keep me.”
“And I couldn’t be happier with my lucky catch.”
To make my overprotective husband happy, I cave under the pressure and agree to hire another employee and cut back my work hours.
Allie takes the news in stride since she’s so excited to become an aunt. Plus, she knows her brother is going insane over this pregnancy.
Luckily, the new puking phase of pregnancy only lasts for a little over a month. Just as quickly as the hell began, it ends.
I’m standing in the kitchen one morning, trying to decide what I want to eat. I finally choose my usual bowl of cereal and a banana. Hopefully, the baby will play nice and let me enjoy my favorite breakfast.
“Good morning, beautiful.” My husband strolls into the kitchen and wraps his arms around my rapidly expanding waist. “How are you feeling?”
“Not horrible.” I smile up at him. “I haven’t puked in over a week.” I hug him close. “It’s time to celebrate.”
“Every day with you is a celebration.”
EPILOGUE
MADDIE
TWO YEARS LATER
“He gets even cuter every time I see him.” Allie walks into the office and holds out her arms for Charlie to toddle over to her. She lifts Fischer’s little miniature into her arms and blows raspberries on his tummy until he squeals.
“I think you might be a little biased,” I tell my sister-in-law.
“I think you might be a little pregnant.” She looks at me and raises an eyebrow. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice the green tint to your face or your five hundred trips to the bathroom?” Allie laughs.
“Fischer hasn’t realized yet,” I tell her.
“Yeah, but my brother is a male and males are clueless.” My sister-in-law’s attitude has been changing lately, and I’m starting to wonder if she’s dealing with man problems.
“Not all men,” I argue, glancing down at my son in her arms.
“My godson is an exception to the rule,” Allie insists. “Now, let’s change the subject. How are you going to work with two babies?”
I explain my plans to her, “Scarlett wants full-time hours, so I think we should promote her to assistant manager. Once she’s fully trained in the new position, I’ll start working from home. I can do the accounting, payroll, and ordering, which will take that stress off your shoulders.”
“You seem to have it all figured out,” Allie grumbles while smiling down at my son.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Even before I found out about the new baby.” I sigh. “Working fifteen hours a week doesn’t sound like much, but I’m finding it hard to spend time with my son and get everything done.”
Allie walks over with Charlie in her arms and hugs me. He reaches for a strand of my hair and tugs on it. “I love you, and I’m so happy you’re my partner,” Allie tells me. “We’ll do whatever it takes to make it work.”
“Thank you.” Relief that my best friend isn’t upset over my pregnancy courses through me.
“Just remember, I want a niece this time.”
“I’ll work on it,” I promise her, then glance at the clock and notice the time. “Oops.” I start packing up for the day. “I’m going to have to hurry if I want to beat your brother home.”
“See you later.” Allie kisses Charlie one last time before handing him over to me.
I’m taking dinner out of the oven when I hear the garage door going up. “Honey, I’m home,” Fischer calls, walking in the door.
“Hey.” I smile and walk over to hug him. “How was your day?” His spicy scent wraps around me, and my freaking pregnancy hormones wake the heck up.
“It was a typical day.” My husband shrugs and heads over to give Charlie a kiss on the forehead. “Were you good for Mommy today?” he asks our son, who babbles an adorable, unintelligible reply.
“It was a typical day.” I laugh. “We worked at the store for a couple of hours, and Charlie charmed all the customers, then we came home to cook dinner.”
Fischer leans against the breakfast bar and watches me cut up our son’s dinner. “How are you feeling?” His dark smiling eyes meet mine, then his gaze moves down to my stomach. “Oh, come on. Didn’t you think I’d notice the four trips to the bathroom a night?”
“I can’t keep a secret from anyone in this family.” I roll my eyes before wrapping my arms around Fischer’s waist. “I don’t know why I even try.”