Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Hey, Gab,” I greet.
“Harrison. Where's my sister?”
She's not exactly rude, but she's not giving me the warm and fuzzy vibe either. “In the shower. I'm making her something to eat now.” Not that she needed to know that, but I do need her to know I'm capable of taking care of my wife.
“I'm on my way, and you can go.”
“I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, but I'm not going anywhere.” Losing her changed me. I'm not going to put anything before my family, and those who are close to us, they need to know that. The divorce hurt more than just Winnie and me. It hurt our families too.
“What does that mean exactly?” Her voice is hesitant.
“It means that my wife was in a car accident, and I'm taking care of her.”
“Ex-wife,” she counters.
“That's a piece of paper that never should have been filed. I'm taking care of her.”
“How does my sister feel about this?”
“She's okay with it. I'm staying in the spare bedroom. For now,” I add, letting her know my true intentions.
She coughs as if she's choking. “Wow, when you say you're not going anywhere you really mean it.”
“Yep.”
“You hurt her, Harrison.”
“I know. I'm fixing it.” I know that I have my work cut out for me. Not only do I have to prove myself to Winnie but to our families as well. Nothing worth fighting for comes easy.
“That remains to be seen. I'm on my way. If Gwen wants you to go, we'll call the cops if we have to.”
“I'm exactly where we both want me to be.”
“Don't be so sure of yourself.” With that, she hangs up on me.
Sliding Winnie’s phone into my back pocket, I head back to the kitchen to make lunch. I'm just placing our sandwiches on plates when she appears in the doorway of the kitchen.
“Those smell amazing.”
“I made you two. I wasn't sure how hungry you were.”
“Starving,” she says, placing her hand over her belly. My eyes follow the motion.
“It's still hard to believe there is a piece of me, a piece of both of us, growing in there.” I point to her belly.
“I feel different,” she whispers. “I know that sounds crazy; I'm not even showing yet.”
Setting our plates on the island, I go to her, wrapping my arms around her. “Not crazy. I feel it too. This little one is bringing us home, together where we're meant to be.”
“I want to believe that, Harrison. I really do.”
“You will,” I say with conviction. “Here.” I reach into my pocket and hand her the phone. “Gabby called. I answered, not wanting her to worry when she couldn't reach you. She's on her way over.”
“Thanks.”
“Knock, knock,” Gabby says loudly.
Reluctantly, I release Winnie and lead her to the island, pulling out a chair for her. “Water? Milk maybe?”
“Milk, but uh, I think I want chocolate, but I can get it.” She starts to stand, and I hold up my hand, stopping her.
“I've got it. You need to eat.” I busy myself making her a tall glass of chocolate milk. She's not one for the powdered stuff. My girl likes milk and chocolate syrup, a lot of it.
“How are you?” Gabby asks.
Winnie looks up at me, and I nod. I want to shout it to the world that we're having a baby. There is no need for us to hide it from our families. “Good,” she finally says.
“Good? That's all you've got for me? You had to stay in the hospital overnight, Gwendolyn,” she says, concern lacing her voice.
“Here you go, babe.” I set the glass of chocolate milk in front of her and take my seat beside her.
“About that. Turns out you were right.”
“Of course I was right. Wait, right about what?”
Turning to face her sister, she spills our news. “We're pregnant.”
I don't have to see her face to know she's smiling. I can hear it in her voice. And me, well, my smile is wide. We're pregnant.
“Pregnant?” Gabby asks.
“Yeah.” She looks at me over her shoulder. “We're having a baby.”
Not able to resist, I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Peanut,” I whisper. Her answering smile is blinding.
“How did this happen? I mean, I know how it happened. But how did this happen?” Gabby asks, her face scrunched up, trying to work it out in her head.
Winnie looks back at her sister. “We had a moment of… weakness.”
She's not wrong. We were both weak that day. Not from the emotions of the divorce, but the loss of connection, from our bodies being deprived of the other’s touch for so long.
“It's his?” Gabby asks.
“Watch it.” My voice is stern, leaving no room for argument.
“Of course it's his,” Winnie replies snidely.
“Sorry." Gabby holds up her hands in defense. “This is just… not what I was expecting.”
“Us either.” She turns to look at me. “But we're happy about it.”