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)
Leaning down, I press a soft kiss to Winnie’s lips. “Thank you. I love you so fucking much.” My voice is thick with emotion, and my eyes glassy with tears.
“We’re going to step out, give you a few minutes. You can go ahead and get changed,” Dr. Taylor says. Neither of us acknowledges her. We only have eyes for each other.
Reaching up, Winnie runs her thumb under my eye. “This is unexpected, but I’m so happy, Harrison. I don’t know how we’re going to do this. Everything is so messed up, but this baby…” She swallows hard.
“This baby is a blessing,” I finish for her. “Peanut brought you back to me, and I will never take you for granted again. I don’t know what the future holds, but you have given me a gift. A piece of you.” I place my hand over her belly. “And a piece of me to love for a lifetime.” I kiss her again because I can’t not kiss her. “I’ll love you both with everything in me until the day I take my last breath.”
She nods, wiping her eyes. “I should probably get dressed.”
I help her off the table and into her clothes. Once she’s fully dressed, I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck. It feels damn good to hold her in my arms again.
“You ready?” Dr. Taylor cracks open the door and asks.
“Yes,” I say, pulling away.
“Everything looks great. We’ll see you back in four to six weeks.” She hands Winnie a stack of papers. “Here’s a prescription for pre-natal vitamins, and of course the pictures of your baby.” She smiles at us. “Congratulations. If you need us for anything in the next few weeks, please don’t hesitate to call.”
“Thank you, Dr. Taylor,” Winnie says with a blinding smile. She doesn’t tell her that we don’t need the prescription since the ER gave us one as well. I decide to keep quiet too. It doesn’t matter. My wife and baby are both healthy. That’s all that matters.
Once we’re in my truck, I turn to face her. “Do you care if we stop by my place to get some things? That will save Chase a trip.”
“Harrison, I’m fine,” she assures me.
“I know that, but I still want to be with you. Both of you.” I nod to her belly. “You’re my family.”
Her eyes well with tears. This has been an emotional day for both of us. “O-kay,” she agrees.
Reaching over the console, I take her hand in mine and don’t let go until we’re pulling into my apartment complex.
“I’ll just wait here.”
“Nope. You’re coming with me.” I climb out and walk to the passenger side, opening her door. “It won’t take me long.” She hesitates, but removes her seat belt, and takes my offered hand to help her out of the truck. I don’t release her hand. Instead, I hold tight until we’re in my apartment. “I’ll be just a minute.” Dropping a kiss on her cheek, I head to my room to pack some clothes.
Pulling my suitcase out of the closet, I gather everything I think I might need this week, and a few extras. In the bathroom, I grab my razor, shaving cream, body wash, all the necessities. Snagging my phone charger from the nightstand, I zip up the suitcase and wheel it to the living room.
“Hey,” I say when I see her standing in the small living room, staring off into space. “Everything okay?”
She blinks a few times and then turns to face me. “This place, it’s bare, Harrison.”
“I don’t need much.”
“You’ve been living here for months.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been sleeping here, but I haven’t been living. I stopped that the minute I packed a bag and left you crying on the couch.” The memory haunts me still to this day.
I’ve never been more wrong.
A tear slides down her cheek. “I’ve missed you,” she whispers.
Releasing the suitcase, I wrap her in my arms. “I’m right here, Winnie. I’m not going anywhere.” I hold her, letting her work through the tears, all while fighting back a few of my own. When she pulls away and looks up at me, I wipe her cheeks. “Ready to go home?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
A few hours later, we’re sitting on the couch. Winnie is on one end, while I sit on the other with her feet in my lap. She’s watching a movie on the Hallmark Channel, and I’m pretending to do the same. Instead, I’m watching her, only glancing at the TV when she catches me staring. That’s how Gabby finds us.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” she comments.
Winnie looks at me, and I expect her to pull away; instead, she surprises me. “We think so. What’s in the bag?” She cranes her neck to look at her sister.