Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4)

by Toye Lawson Brown

  Ryan worked hard around the house on his day off. He bathed the dog, cleaned the house, and mowed the lawn. He even managed to get dressed, so when Megan got home from work, they would make their dinner reservation. He decided she was right; they did need to get out and mingle with couples their age, and he looked forward to their date nights.

  He went to the window when he heard her car pull into the driveway. He checked his watch; she was on time as usual. “Hey, baby. How was your day?” he asked as she walked through the door.

  “It was okay. Wow, you cleaned the house,” she answered, looking around. She kissed him on the cheek instead of the regular kiss she would usually give him.

  He noticed her slouching body language as she moved away from him. Ryan cleared his throat, and she focused on him again. Her eyes were void of their usual sparkle. He hated that the dullness was back. He hoped she wasn’t falling into another depression after working so hard to overcome the last one. “I was off today and wanted to help out around the house.”

  “The yard and the house both look very nice. You’re a great husband, Ryan.”

  “I appreciate you saying that. So, hurry and change clothes so we’ll make our dinner reservation. I’m ready to eat.”

  “Alright, it will take me a second to change.” She dropped her purse on the table and walked slowly to the bedroom.

  Ryan followed behind her to make sure she picked up the pace. Instead of her changing clothes, she laid across the bed on her stomach with her head tucked between her folded arms. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his trousers. He ditched his normal wear for dress pants and a button down shirt for their date night.

  Rubbing his temples he exhaled. “If you had a hard day at work, Megan, we can stay home and order in or I can cook for us.”

  “It’s not that,” she mumbled.

  “Do you want me to guess what’s bothering you? Even though, I’m tanked out of guesses.” He was getting angry. He hated that she used the silent treatment instead of just talking to him.

  “Ryan, I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

  His mouth fell open, and a gasp escaped. “Pregnant? When did that happen?”

  She sat up on the bed, drawing her knees to her chest. “Oh, I don’t know. Could be the night you tied me to the bed and had your way with me.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Wow, pregnant.” The word bounced around in his head as if it was a foreign object.

  “Yes, pregnant,” Megan confirmed for a second time.

  He rocked on his heels. There was a difference between wanting a child and knowing a baby was actually on the way; it had him feeling scared. The responsibility of having a child would be humongous and, because Megan had had a miscarriage, probably stressful. He would worry about every little ache and pain she had.

  “Ryan, I’m scared. I want this baby. I can’t have another miscarriage and keep my sanity.”

  He sat on the bed, taking her in his arms. “I want this baby too, Megan.” He pressed his hand to her flat stomach. “I can’t believe my baby is in there,” he said, smiling from ear to ear. “I’m going to be a dad.”

  Megan put her hand over his. “And a great one. I love you, and baby loves Daddy, too.”

  The sound of that made his heart thump. He pulled her to him. Her eyes became heavy-lidded as his mouth hovered over hers. His lips lightly brushed against hers before taking her into a full kiss, letting their tongues meet. He broke the kiss. “We’re going to have a kid. A beautiful little human we created.”

  “Are you really happy about this, Ryan? It will be tight money-wise. I know my dad will try to pad our bank account. I don’t want him to do that.”

  “Baby, don’t worry. I’m your man. I’m going to take care of us. We won’t go hungry or be without a roof over our heads. You just concentrate on the bun in the oven and let me worry about the rest.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Okay. I’m putting my trust in yours and God’s hands. I feel better now that I know you’re excited that I’m pregnant.”

  “I’m overjoyed, Megan. I can’t wait to tell the guys at the firehouse.”

  “Jon probably has heard the news already. Gabby made me take the test.”

  “Remind me to thank her, too. My first job as an expectant father is to make sure you eat. I have to get some weight on you.”

  Megan rubbed her stomach. “I am hungry. I have a taste for something gooey and greasy.”

  He rolled his eyes and groaned. “The strange cravings are starting already?”

  “What can I say? I’m eating for two.”

  “You can eat for two, but it will be healthy food with some mild sinful temptations thrown in once in a while.”

  Megan turned up her lip. “I won’t like it, but I’ll do it for the baby. I’ll be ready to go in five minutes.”

  Epilogue

  The Happily Ever After

  Big brown eyes stared up at Ryan; the faint smile on the baby’s face made his heart flip in his chest. The baby wiggled in his arms, yawned and snuggled against him. Her little body almost became lost in his muscular arms as he held close to him.

  “You are going to spoil her rotten,” Megan said gently caressing Madison’s face with her finger.

  “I’m supposed to spoil her rotten; she’s daddy’s little princess.” He kissed the top of the baby’s head. Wisps of brown hair covered her head as he inhaled that new baby smell.

  “You’re going to be late for your shift, Ryan. Give me Madison so that you can go to work.”

  “Just one more kiss and I’ll go.”

  Megan raised a brow. “One more and that’s it.”

  He laid the baby in the crib and covered her with a soft pink blanket. Megan had redone the spare bedroom in pink, blue and purple. Ryan lingered in the bedroom, watching his daughter sleeping. He was a happy man.

  Megan dragged him out of the bedroom by the arm. “I know you don’t want to be away from Madison, so how would you like it if we dropped by the firehouse later today? You can show her off to those that haven’t been to see her already.”

  Ryan put his arms around his wife. “I’d like that. So, um, has the doctor given you the green light, yet?” he asked with a raised brow.

  She giggled. “Madison is only three weeks old, Ryan. We won’t be doing that for a minute.”

  He dropped his head back and groaned. He opened her robe and scanned her body. “Damn, baby, this is killing me!” Megan’s body had filled out nicely following her pregnancy that went smoothly.

  She made little circles on his chest with her finger, peering at him through her lashes. “It will be worth the wait; I promise.”

  Just as he kissed her neck, Madison began to cry. Ryan let his head fall to Megan’s shoulder. He released a sigh. It was happening just as Orlando said. He chuckled and zipped Megan’s robe. “Want me to get her before I leave?”

  “She’s probably hungry and I have to handle that chore. You go to work, and we’ll keep the home fires burning until you return. Hey, remember we love you and be careful.”

  He caressed the side of her face with his hand. “I’m so lucky to have you and Madison in my life. We fought, Megan. We fought for our marriage and rekindled the flames of our love. I love you, baby.”

  She hugged him tight. “Yes, we did, and I’m the lucky one. I have a real family now with you, me and Madison. Dad wants to be a part of her life, and I want that too.”

  “Mr. Jones should be a part of Madison’s life and so should Eddie.”

  “Of course, Eddie will be a part of her life. Everyone that is important to us will be significant to her, even if I have to swallow my pride and accept Lolita. I still have my fingers crossed that Eddie will come to his senses about her.”

  “Baby, she isn’t a bad person and Eddie is crazy about her. They seem to be happy together. We should mend the fence and do more stuff with them. I mean you will see them together since his always at her place.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.
I’ll be the bigger woman and offer the olive branch first.”

  “That’s my girl,” he said kissing her. Herman nuzzled Ryan in the back of his thigh breaking their embrace. “Oh, we can’t forget Herman. He’s a part of our family too.”

  “Yes, Herman is a part of our family. We love you too, boy,” Megan said rubbing the dogs head.

  Madison cried harder, and Herman whimpered. He pushed Megan in the hip. Ryan chuckled. “I have to get to work and Madison is waiting for breakfast. You’d better get to it before Herman drags you in there.”

  “Right! I’ll call you later, baby,” she said giving him a quick peck on the cheek.

  Ryan took his coffee thermos from the counter and walked outside. Taking a deep breath of the crisp spring air, he looked up at the sky and mouthed. Thank you, God.

  Thank you for reading Ryan and Megan’s story. I hope you enjoyed it. Be on the lookout for the next installment of the Men of CLE-FD.