Make Me a Mommy: A Mother's Day Secret Baby Romance

by Liz K. Lorde

  Evelyn puts her hand on my thigh.

  “I’m always amazed by how generous people who have very little are,” I add. “This family shared what little food they had, their small living space, and their water.”

  A sheep walks onto the road, and I swerve.

  “How do they make a living?” Evelyn asks.

  “Agriculture,” I say, steering the car back onto the road. “But it’s tough around here. The continuing drought and the war means the resources they need are practically nonexistent.”

  I hear Evelyn sigh.

  “People are tough around here,” she observes. “It’s amazing what they can do with this unforgiving land.”

  For a while, we drive in silence.

  Being back here leaves me with mixed emotions. From time to time, panic threatens to grab hold and take over. When that happens, I remind myself I’m here of my own choice and that I’m here with my family.

  Evelyn immediately agreed to come with me when I told her I wanted to go back to the family who took me in and gave me food and shelter when I needed it most.

  I throw a sideways glance at her and thank my lucky stars yet again for guiding me back to her.

  I’d hate to imagine how empty and meaningless my life would be without her. Not to mention Tanner.

  I glance at my son.

  He’s such a delight. I can tell right now he’s absorbing every minute detail and that, later, he’ll have about a million questions.

  Some of his questions are totally out of left field and amaze me. How can a six-year-old be so full of wisdom already?

  “Here we are,” I say and point to the sand-colored buildings ahead of us. At the back of the village are steep gray mountains, with not a bit of green them. They almost look as if they belong to another planet.

  Skinny sheep are grazing on the outskirts of town. A few of the older boys of the village are in charge of making sure nothing kills them.

  “I didn’t realize how different their world is from ours,” Evelyn murmurs. I grab her hand.

  “It’s okay, babe,” I reassure her. “These people are happy people.”

  And I think this is true, to an extent. Of course, they’d be happier if their country wasn’t ravaged by war. If their government did more to help get people’s lives back on track.

  But at the end of the day, they make do with what they’ve got.

  “I should have brought a cake or something,” mumbles Evelyn, and the image of us arriving with a cake makes me smile.

  “It’ll be fine,” I reassure her again as I maneuver the rather narrow street through the village.

  The family I stayed with lives right on the other side.

  When we finally get there, a few kids are following us.

  Tanner sticks close to his mother.

  “They won’t bite, Tan,” I assure him and reach into out luggage.

  We didn’t come empty-handed. I grab a couple of soccer balls and hand them out to much chatter.

  “Let’s show them what to do with it,” I invite Tanner and kick a ball to him.

  Somewhat reluctant, Tanner kicks back. My next kick goes to a small boy, a little younger than my son.

  This kid must be a natural soccer player, because he kicks it right across the road to another kid.

  Seeing the children now busy with the new balls, I’m about to head to one of the sandy-colored homes when I hear shouting.

  Before I can turn around, I find someone’s arms wrapped around my waist.

  “Shaaawn,” mutters this little girl about Tanner’s age.

  “You come back,” her father appears behind her and shakes my hand.

  I nod. Suddenly, I feel a lump in the back of my throat and tears well in my eyes.

  I pick the little girl up and swing her through the air. She squeals with delight.

  When I put her down, she turns to her dad and says something. Then she turns to back to me.

  “More,” she says and throws a glance in her father’s direction, who nods and gives her the thumbs up.

  “More?” I repeat and throw my arms up in the air as if not understanding.

  But sign language knows no boundaries.

  “What’s her name?” Evelyn appears beside me.

  “Darya,” I say and pick the little girl up again to swing her around in the air.

  “You come in?” Darya’s father asks.

  “Isaad, I’d like you to meet my wife, Evelyn, and my son, Tanner.”

  The Afghan man nods in their direction. According to their customs, he won’t shake their hand.

  Evelyn bows her head a little and smiles.

  “You come in. Meet my wife,” he says and leads the way.

  I carry young Darya on my shoulders.

  “She’s quite taken by you,” observes Evelyn and smiles.

  Inside the mud hut, a woman dressed in traditional clothing is working away in the kitchen. Her husband goes up to her, and I hear them exchange some words.

  “Shawn,” she exclaims and comes toward me.

  Knowing that, as a man, I can’t touch Isaad’s wife, I place my left hand over my heart and nod at her.

  “Tela,” I turn toward her. “I’d like you to meet my wife, Evelyn, and my son, Tanner.”

  Tela walks up to Evelyn and embraces her before giving her the three customary kisses on each cheek.

  Tanner is eyeing the daughter of the house, who by now is standing in the middle of the room.

  “Maybe you could show this young man your room?”

  I’m surprised Tela is speaking to her daughter in English. Tela herself spent some time in the city at university. She’s had an unusual upbringing, with her father believing a woman needs an education to get ahead in life.

  “You speak English very well,” Evelyn says, and Tela smiles.

  “Thank you.” She returns to what she was doing before we came in. “I can offer you some tea?”

  I can see Evelyn digest this offer of a hot drink on a hot day.

  “Try it,” I encourage her. “You’ll be surprised how good it’ll make you feel. Tea will be lovely. Thank you, Tela.”

  Isaad is sitting at the table, and we join him. Soon, I’m telling them about reuniting with my wife and finding out I have a son.

  There’s much rejoicing for our good fortune. They want to know if we’re going to stay for dinner, but we decline.

  “I just wanted to make sure Evelyn got to meet the good Samaritans who were there for me when I escaped the terrorists.”

  Darya comes back into the room, followed by Tanner.

  “Do you want to give her our presents?” I ask Tanner.

  Tanner seems a little shy.

  “Come here, young lady,” I invite Darya, and she instantly hops onto my lap.

  I hand her a bag filled with goodies. We brought books, dolls, and games. Her eyes light up, and she straight away asks me to read one of the books.

  Several hours later, we leave again. There’s much thanking each other, handshakes, and kisses on the cheek.

  As we leave the village, Evelyn turns to me.

  “You and that little girl got on like a house on fire.”

  I smile. “She’s a gem, don’t you think?”

  Evelyn nods.

  She leans toward me, pressing her body into mine as I’m driving.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  I glance at her and wait.

  She leans even further toward me and whispers into my ear.

  At first, I think she’s joking, but then I notice her radiating glow, and I know she’s telling the truth.

  Wow.

  And here I thought life couldn’t get any better.

  I was wrong.

  With the news that Evelyn is pregnant, it just did.

  Chapter 40

  Evelyn

  Tanner’s tiny, soft hands flutter across my big belly like butterfly wings. At twenty-six weeks, I feel ready to pop already.

  Shawn takes such ama
zing care of me. I’m lying on the couch with my feet up, and Shawn is handling the pancakes. I can smell sweet vanilla and warm butter wafting from the kitchen.

  “…and then, we’ll go bike-riding down the long track. We’ll go camping on the holidays, I can show you this spot where the deer goes.” Tanner looks up from his conversation with my belly to eye me seriously. “Mom, do you know if I’m getting a brother or a sister?”

  I rub my belly lightly. “I don’t know, Tanner. But maybe you shouldn’t try bike riding and hiking right away.”

  “Why?”

  I chuckle, rubbing my belly and covering Tanner’s little hands with mine. Against our hands, my belly feels big, tight, and very warm.

  “Well, babies don’t come out ready to go, not like deer babies or even duck babies. Human babies need time, at least a few years to grow up before they can do things like bike-riding.”

  Tanner frowns, scowling at my belly. “Well, that doesn’t sound very fun. Why is that?”

  I stroke Tanner’s cheek gently, brushing back his hair.

  “That’s just the way it is, sweetie. You’ll see. I’ll show you how to hold our new baby and feed him or her.”

  “But when can I play with him?”

  “It will take a while. Don’t worry, Tanner. You’ll fall in love with the baby. And remember, it may not be a brother.”

  Tanner snorts, the way only a young child can. His voice and manner declares quite boldly that he knows everything and has been everywhere. Meanwhile, he displays a vivid excitement at discovering new things. It’s true that kids these days become teenagers before they’re ready.

  Tanner gives my belly a final pat and goes back to playing with his trucks on the mat. I stretch my shoulders and wiggle amongst the soft cushions propped against my back and legs.

  Pregnant women can never get truly comfortable, no matter how many pillows we use.

  Shawn stands at the door of the room with a small plate of pancakes.

  “Hey, Tanner, buddy. You want to eat there while you play?”

  “Sure, Dad! Thanks. Is it okay, Mom? Remember how James always said I had to sit at the table.”

  I smile for my son, shrugging lightly. “Sure is. It’s our house, sweetie. Our rules.”

  Tanner starts breaking the pancakes into pieces while playing. I look up at Shawn, my smile trailing away. He gives me a grim smile and returns to the kitchen.

  I feel cold and angry, like I always do when someone mentions James. It’s not Tanner’s fault—we fucked up part of his childhood.

  The poor kid will grow out of this. He’ll leave it behind. It won’t take him long. Kids are resilient that way. I have to work on doing the same.

  I can’t let the past ruin the beautiful life we have now.

  Shawn returns with two plates of pancakes, slathered with fresh maple syrup. He puts his plate on the coffee table, handing mine over to me. I take a bite, and they’re fantastic—creamy and sweet with crispy outsides.

  “How did you make these?” I balance the plate on my belly as I cut through the pancakes.

  Shawn grins, starting on his own.

  “It’s a secret. One day, I may tell you.”

  “Hmm,” I waggle my eyebrows up and down. “You’re not the only one with a secret.”

  “Yeah?” Shawn digs into the food, looking up to give me a wink.

  “I don’t think I’ll reveal it just yet.”

  “Tease.”

  “You know it.”

  Shawn laughs, and I eat a bit more. He finishes, and I hand him my plate with about half a pancake left.

  “They’re beautiful, honey, and I was so hungry. But I just get full so fast. I can’t seem to finish anything.”

  Shawn rubs my belly lightly as he stacks my plate on top of his and demolishes the last of my pancake.

  “That’s okay, babe. I can always make some more later. I got the house cleaned, too. Honestly, I have no clue how you get the kitchen floor as clean as you do. I got the laundry in as well.”

  “Oh.” I reach out for him and he leans in, snuggling my neck as I kiss him on the forehead. “You spoil me.”

  He pulls back, grinning. “I haven’t even started spoiling you yet.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  He gets up. “I better get the dishes done.”

  “No, stay. Cuddle me a bit.”

  “How can I resist?” Shawn snuggles beside me, sliding one arm across my belly as he leans against my shoulder. I stroke his soft hair, gently.

  “No nightmares?” I ask him softly.

  He nods against my chest. “A few. But not like the ones before. The work with the sleep therapist is really working. I’m not helpless in my dreams. That crippling anxiety which caused the panic attacks before is just about gone.”

  “Excellent! Did the psychologist want to do another follow-up?”

  “Not for another couple of months at least. She said I’m doing great. ‘A very clean mental process’ were her exact words, I think.”

  “Oh, baby,” I pull his face up to mine and we lean in for a kiss.

  Shawn takes his time, lingering over my lips. I bring my hands up around his neck and let him fall in to me.

  “You guys are gross.” Tanner yells from the floor, bashing two trucks together making big ‘vroom’ and ‘smash’ noises.

  Shawn laughs, settling in beside me. Cartoons race crazily across the screen. The characters and the scenes change, but the plots remain the same—crazy characters constantly evolving to new heights of comedy.

  Our lives are like that—how we become several different versions of ourselves until we come so far that, by then, we don’t know who we are anymore. Thank god Shawn and I found each other, right when we needed each other the most.

  “How did your appointment go the other day?” Shawn rubs my belly, kissing it gently and whispering to it. “I just took Tanner to the park because he was howling right there in the surgery. I so wanted to be with you, but we couldn’t just bring him in with you.”

  “What was the tantrum about?”

  “Oh, he wanted a new Spiderman figure. I refused, and Tanner thought Santa couldn’t see his bad behavior when he’s out of the house.”

  I chuckle lightly. “Yeah, that’s a good one. Once he calmed down, what did you tell him?”

  “That Santa sees you everywhere and that, if he wants that figure for Christmas, he better be good.”

  “I am being good!” An indignant yell from the floor and some more smashing of trucks. Both Shawn and I smile.

  Looking into his eyes, having his body so close and warm against mine—it’s like a dream. I dreamed of him so much.

  I feel like my dreams called him back to me. He saved us. He was the only one who could have.

  He saved me from myself. He saved my heart and my soul. I didn’t even know I needed saving.

  He didn’t just save me physically from James. He showed me that bad things don’t have to define your entire life.

  He taught me to be a fighter. To not regret the necessary actions and keep moving forward. And we will keep moving forward—together forever.

  “The appointment was fine,” I rub my belly as I answer the question, our fingers brushing against each other as we both stroke in soft, circular motions. “You know how those baby appointments go. Poking, prodding, and lots of questions. Usually the same questions, over and over.”

  Shawn stares at my belly as if he’s trying to look inside. “So long as everything‘s well, that’s all that matters.”

  I smile a cheeky smile. “You know what else?”

  “What?” Shawn puts an ear to my belly.

  “They had the results from the ultrasound.”

  “Did you get pictures?”

  “Yes, I did. They’re in my purse.”

  “May I see?”

  “Sure. But I need to tell you something first.”

  Shawn sits up, focusing on me properly. “What? Is something not right? Whatever
it is…”

  “No, no, silly billy,” I pull him down and kiss him, smiling reassuringly. “It’s nothing like that. But once you see the photos, you will know, so I can’t really keep it a secret anymore.”

  “What? Keep what a secret?” Shawn’s looking at me like a bomb about to go off, and he has no idea how to diffuse it.

  I pull him close again, getting him to lie next to me. Our bodies press together, delicious warmth and tingles of closeness.

  “It’s a girl.”

  Shawn’s face crumples, and he tears up a bit as he puts his arms around me. He hugs me tight but with extreme gentleness. I wrap my arms around him, mingling us together.

  Tanner throws his trucks down and comes over, throwing his arms around us both. We wriggle around on the lounge until we all fit.

  Warm, cozy, together, and safe. Life can be dark, hard, and dangerous. That’s why she gives us these moments in between.

  These moments of comfort and love. Just so we always know what we’re fighting for.

  Take A Sneak Peek Of…

  Burning Hearts

  A Second Chance Secret Baby Romance

  By Vivien Vale & Gage Grayson

  Copyright 2018 by Crimson Vixens

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is entirely coincidental. This work intended for adults only.

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  Boone

  The second I see the flames rising, all I can think about is her.

  Margot St. James. Daughter of my father’s most hated business rival. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my damn life. And my best friend in the whole fucking world, whether my parents approve or not.

  From the moment I first met Margot, I knew I wanted to make her my wife. But Margot’s parents don’t like me any more than my father likes her. So if friendship with her was what I had to settle for, I’d take it.

  Yet as my firetruck pulls up to her burning sorority house, I realize I might not even have that for much longer.