Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Yes!” I exclaimed.
His pleased grin turned into a smirk as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Seems she’s got a new job.” His tone was smug. As if he’d just won a contest and I was the prize.
“Fine. Go and steal my help,” Than replied.
I felt a twinge of guilt then and looked over at him, only to see he was grinning over his cup at me. He wasn’t upset. Not that I would change my mind if he had been. But I would have felt bad about it. If there was a choice, Bane was always going to win.
Forty-Two
Halo
“That’s a good boy,” I cooed as Slingshot nuzzled his head against my hand.
I had missed him yesterday, although I could relive that day over and over again. Seeing my baby boy again and how much he’d grown had been wonderful. Listening to Bane chuckle as we watched him kick and move around like he couldn’t wait to be set loose was a memory I’d never forget.
Grissele had been surprised when Bane told her that we would pick her up and there was no need for her driver. Although we had been together for the past four weeks, it wasn’t something I’d discussed with her. I’d been waiting on Bane to do that. She was curious, watching us during the drive, and when Bane took my hand when we walked into the doctor’s office, her eyebrows shot up, but she didn’t say a word about it.
Having Grissele laughing and crying while Bane held my hand, squeezing it tightly in both of his during my ultrasound, had made me feel even more emotional than I already had been. That baby boy was more loved than I’d ever been, and the joy that brought me was overwhelming.
When that first pregnancy test had come back positive, all I could think was, I was bringing a child into this world that would only have me. I didn’t know if I trusted Crosby to stick around. I didn’t know what to think. But I had wanted to give my child all I had never had, and at that moment, I had known the one thing that was certain was that the baby would be loved by me.
This was so much more. He had a family.
“Halo!” Grissele’s voice called out.
I turned around to see her walking toward me, looking like a fashion model. She always managed to look so perfectly put together. Nothing was ever out of place.
“Hey,” I replied. I hadn’t expected to see her again today.
She glanced over at Slingshot with a soft smile, then back at me. “He is a beauty. A wonderful choice for your first thoroughbred,” she said.
My first? Slingshot wasn’t mine. Maybe she meant my first one to take care of.
“I brought you something,” she said, holding out a light-blue gift bag. “I …” She paused, and there was a shadow of sadness that passed her expression before her smile brightened. “I thought you might like to have this.”
I opened the bag, and there were two things inside. When I picked up the framed photograph that was on top, my chest felt like it might explode as my eyes began to prickle. It was a picture she must have taken yesterday during the ultrasound. Bane stood beside me, holding my hand. I was looking up at him, smiling with tears in my eyes, as he gazed down at me. There were so many things this moment said that it was hard to express in words.
“Thank you,” I whispered, sucking in a breath and smiling as I tried not to cry.
She reached out and squeezed my arm, but said nothing. It was clear she was trying not to cry too.
When she hadn’t mentioned us being together yesterday and Bane not even leaving the room when I changed out of my clothes and into the hospital gown, I’d worried she was bothered by our relationship. This was my confirmation that she was okay with it. She’d accepted it.
I reached into the bag and pulled out a soft blue quilt with the word Cash embroidered on it in silver thread.
“That was Bane’s baby blanket,” she said, and then her smile got a little wobbly. “And Crosby’s. They both came home from the hospital wrapped in it. I thought perhaps you’d want it. The baby would have something that once belonged to his father and also to the man who is going to be his dad.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
The tears I had been fighting back broke free, and I let out a sob as I held the blanket against my chest. Grissele reached up and wiped at her own tears as she sniffled, then laughed.
“This is—” I got choked on my words and had to take a moment. “This is beautiful. It’s perfect. Thank you. He’ll come home wrapped in it too.”