Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
The peach-colored top and light blue jeans bring about an innocence to the look. With a smile, I open my arms to her. She rushes right into them. A sense of peace settles in as I hold her in my arms.
I moan into her mouth, then break the kiss before we can get too carried away. Placing my forehead to hers, I absorb her presence and begin to sway her in my arms. She clenches the back of my shirt as if I might float away.
“I’ve missed you something awful, darlin’,” I murmur.
“I’ve missed you more. I’ve been counting down the days.”
Something sounds off about her voice. I pull back and look into her eyes. She looks tired.
I run my fingertips across her cheek and search her face. Now that I think of it, she has sounded exhausted the last few times we’ve spoken. I wrote it off as her being tired after her shows.
Now that she’s here in my arms, I’m not so sure that’s all it is. Concern fills me, and my thoughts begin to race. Maybe I should take her to the house to lie down in my old bedroom.
Cliff hasn’t changed much about my siblings’ and my old rooms. Maybe after a little rest, she’ll feel more up to this. After her first three shows in Texas, they’ve been bouncing around the country to make up for the dates she missed.
“Let me take you inside to lie down for a bit,” I say once my mind is made up.
“It’s okay. I don’t want to miss this. I’ll catch my second wind in a moment.”
“Lynn.”
“I’m fine, Trev. I think I ate something bad at the last hotel. I’ve been sick all morning, but I’ll be fine after I sit for a bit.”
I don’t get to argue any further as Val and Pam come over and tug her into their embrace then carry her off with them. I stand with my hands on my hips and my lips pursed. She’s always worried about me and how much I work, but she won’t listen when I’m trying to tell her to take a moment and slow down.
“What is my stubborn little girl up to now?” Moses asks as he comes to my side.
I roll my eyes. “I want her to go inside and lie down. She looks tired, and she said something about not feeling well this morning. Something she ate or something,” I grumble.
“Told her mama she thinks she needs to go on a diet. Clothes been getting snug. Um-hm. Knew you wouldn’t wait for the wedding. Good thing they’re planning for next year,” he says and pats me on the back before walking off to go talk with my daddy.
I stare at him with my mouth open. Could she really be pregnant? Am I finally getting everything I wanted?
If she’s pregnant already, maybe we can try for at least one more, maybe two. My heart swells. I should probably keep this to myself. At least until she returns in eight weeks.
“What’s the shit-eating grin about?” Tom asks as he comes to stand beside me.
I fold my arms across my chest and rock back on my heels. It took us forever, but we’re right where we want to be. I’m going to spoil that woman rotten.
“Life just coming together, that’s all,” I say to Tom.
“Good to hear. You all set for your trip to New York?”
“Yeah, you and Ann still good to take the kids for me? I won’t have their tutors in place for this trip. I’ll be counting on you guys,” I reply.
“Last time I checked, we were good to go. Ann’s already planning her days off from cooking. I sure am looking forward to having Snacks in the house. Might have a dad bod when you get back,” he says and pats his stomach.
“Stop lying to yourself. You already have a dad bod.”
I laugh and walk off to see if there’s anything that needs doing. I glance over at Cakes. She has that big old smile on her face.
I grab a bottled water and make a beeline for her. If she is pregnant, I want to take care of her and our baby. I smile as I think of when it could have happened.
It was either the night at the Billings ranch or the night we got engaged. I feel it my bones. This is how I always thought it should feel. I wonder if we’ll have a boy or a girl.
I have two of each, but this will be her first. I hope we have whatever she wants most. I’ll be happy with a healthy little baby.
My sister-in-law comes into view. She’s heavily pregnant now with Brad’s next child. I can’t wait for Lynn to reach that stage.
I want to tie her shoes, rub her feet, shave her legs and whatever else she needs. God, I hope Moses is right.