Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 81(@200wpm)___ 65(@250wpm)___ 54(@300wpm)
“I love you, Callum,” she says it so soft I almost miss it, but fuck if it didn’t feed me.
“Damn baby. I love you too. So fucking much. Now let me finish this so we can live our life.” I bring her face to mine and slide my tongue into her mouth. She moans, and damn is it hard to remind myself we are not alone. I pull back, kissing her once more before getting up. “You guys ready?”
“Yeah let's go get this shit over with.”
With that sentiment, I walk out, leaving my heart on an island waiting for me to return.
TEN
CATRIONA
“So when are you due,” Kimbella asks me, as she switches her baby to her other breast. I look at her in admiration. She has a four-year-old son named CJ, twin three-year-old girls named Maven and Haven, a one-year-old named Lucy, and a newborn baby boy named Serge. I have no damn clue how she does this, but I definitely need to read whatever book she reads.
“I don’t know. I am only six weeks.” I tell them feeling a bit out of place. I have never really had to interact with babies before except for my best friend Aurora’s siblings when we were growing up.
“Oh my gosh. I love being pregnant. I mean morning sickness aside; I love everything about being pregnant. As you can see.” Saffron says cradling her baby bump. She also has quite a few. She has a four-year-old named Lois and a two-year-old named Axel Junior.
“Oh well, I don’t know if I love it as much as my husband loves knocking me up.” Teresa says. She has four-year-old twins Sara and Samuel, two-year-old Ella and a one year named Odus. “Are you excited?” she continues.
“To be honest, not really. I never planned on babies or having a family to be honest. This sort of took me by surprise. So I think I am still processing.” Might as well be honest.
“I understand that. Not everyone wants to be mommy and that is okay. Have you considered adoption?” Teresa asks. I don’t hear judgment in her voice, so it helps to relieve some of the guilt.
“Yes. Actually, before Callum found out, I had contemplated having an abortion but when it came to do it, I couldn’t. So, I was leaning toward adoption. Then, I started bleeding and all I could think was this was my punishment for not considering keeping it. Now, as scared as I am, I can’t imagine anything else. I just… I am just not sure if I would be good at it.” They all nod their heads.
Out of the blue, Kimbella gets up, and lays her tiny baby in my arms. Immediately I adjust my arms and cradle his perfect little head, enamored by this sleeping little thing in hands. “See, it’s innate. It comes naturally to you. I bet you are starting to feel this protective vibe inside of you right. Like at any moment if that door slammed open you would do anything to protect this tiny baby you don’t even know.” I am still looking at his perfect little face, but I am nodding. I can feel a tear slip down my face and I am officially a goner. “Then, you don’t have to worry about anything else. The rest will come.”
After crying like a leaky faucet in front of women I don’t know, but can also admit who are completely awesome and fun to talk to, we all call it a night. I am lying in bed, restless, and not sure what to do with myself. I am used to having a plan, being up all night looking up things, plotting, and thinking. Fuming and working myself up for what I know I have to do, but now, I have nothing to do, and it is killing me. So, I roll over, hand on my stomach and allow myself to sleep for the first time in months.
“Anyone know when we can expect the guys back?” Saffron asks while we all clean up from breakfast. The kids have long since eaten and are all outside enjoying the open fenced in yard. We plan to take them swimming in a few minutes.
“Colin didn’t say much to me about it, but then again he never tells me,” she says it with a smile that I don’t understand.
“Doesn’t it bother you? Not knowing, I mean.” All the ladies shake their heads no and suddenly I feel like the weird one.
“Their job is to look out for their family. That means keeping us safe and only telling us what we need to know. I am okay with that. I have seen enough of the world to know it is awful. I am ok not having to worry about it anymore,” Teresa says, shrugging and walking away. Well shit. When she puts it like that.