Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 68390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Sterling likes to print out travel plans for the upcoming months ahead of time. Then, we sort through and pick out and make itineraries. We match our travel plans with his business obligations, and we make it work. We haven’t done our scheduling for the next few months yet. We just got back from London last week, and my parents just got back from a month of cruising the Caribbean. We wanted to be home for Beans’ birthday, but really, it’s so we could all celebrate together. I think that’s why he was waiting before booking anything. He wanted to talk to my parents first and be here in Detroit if they were going to be here at the same time. We’re all busy, but we always make time for each other. Family is always going to be our priority, first and foremost.
“Goodness.” I pick up a few pages where he has our dream trip planned, with stops in Ireland and Scotland and then over to Spain, France, and Italy. We did Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, and Denmark last year. “That’s the trip of a lifetime.”
“I was thinking we could spend the next couple months here the way we talked about because it’s so nice here in the summer, and your parents said today that they’re going to be hanging around too. Plus, your brother is here, of course. We could go in the fall. Maybe your parents would join us.”
“And be gone for a few months?” I clarify.
“I think so. We could take our time and do however many months we want in each place and see whatever we want to see. Castles, art galleries, vineyards, the whole lot.”
“Ooh, castles!” I love castles. We’ve seen a few already. “What about those hairy cows? I really want to see hairy cows!”
Sterling takes my hands in his. “Whatever you want to see, my love, we’ll make it happen. I will get you all the hairy cows in the world if that’s what your heart desires.”
“I think I’d just like to see them. Maybe take some photos!” I say excitedly.
“Then hairy cows we shall see and photograph!”
“We might have to make sure we’re back by January at the very latest, though.”
“Back? January? In Detroit?” Sterling looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.
I’m still holding his hands, and I guide them to my belly. “Yeah, because traveling later in a pregnancy is sometimes not the best. I really want to be here to have the baby, too. I know if we talk to my parents, they’ll change their plans and make sure they’re here for us, although the baby won’t be born until spring, early April or mid-April, I think.”
I get a confused blink back at me. Sterling has gone completely blank. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I knew it would take a few minutes. We didn’t plan this. It was a surprise. We’ve always talked about having kids, and we both want them. We were just busy traveling and writing songs and, honestly, just getting to know each other. Yes, we’ve been getting to know each other for two years, but even when someone is perfectly open and lovely, it still takes a while, and we don’t want to rush anything. I know I made threats about babies when we first met, but I was content to wait until we were both ready and the time felt right.
However, sometimes life just makes you get ready, and you have to do your best to make it the right time.
“You’re…I’m sorry, we’re…we’re having a baby? In April?”
“That’s right,” I say softly.
He takes me with him when he plops down on the bed. “Oh! Oh, wow. That is a surprise, isn’t it?”
“It is, yes. I was surprised too. Very. I haven’t taken a test yet, but I’m three weeks late, my boobs are sore, and I’m tired. I didn’t even think about it until last night, and then I was really thinking about it, and I just know. I can take a test, but I’m pretty sure. I’m never late.”
“Oh! Oh, wow. Weland… I…I’m so excited right now that I don’t even know what to do.”
“You look shocked and scared. Not excited,” I point out.
That starts the grin that was just waiting to break out. “I am excited. This is my excited face. You know that. You know me. You know me inside and out. You know me in ways no one else knows me. You’ve made me a part of your family, and now we’re going to be our own little family. I think that’s why I’m so stunned. This is…this is my dream. I know my cousins have come around lately, but I wasn’t…I never felt like I…I never had a mom or a dad.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and sit on his lap. “I know.” I kiss him gently. “I know what this means. You absolutely don’t have to have grown up with a dad to be a great dad. We are going to raise our son or daughter together, and they will be so loved. We have great people in our lives to love on them lots as well. Not just my mom and dad or my brother, but your cousins too. They will adore our kids. I feel like it’s going to be true because we’ll make it true. We already know babies heal the past and soothe wounds. Look at little Michael. He’s a miracle, and that’s when your cousins really made the effort to have us in their lives.”