As if they were connected somehow, they each looked at me at the same time. “Is this for real?” Shane asked. I scrunched my face, nodding slightly.
“Holy shit,” Cole said.
“Well I’ll be damned.” Shane shook his head.
“Is that what I think it is?” Marge stood over their shoulders staring at the item in their hands.
“Yes, Momma. You’re gonna be a grandmother,” Shane confirmed. I jumped when the women in the room screamed in unison. “Come here.” Shane yanked me to him, his lips hitting mine hard. He pulled back, tears sitting in the well of his eyes. “That’s why you threw the paper; you were trying not to get sick?” I nodded sheepishly.
“You little devil.” Cole laughed, taking me from Shane. His kissed my forehead, my cheek, my jaw, my chin and neck. “How long have you known?”
“I went to the doctor last week.”
“You should have told us, darlin’. You know we would have taken you.”
“I know, but you’ve been so busy with work. Plus I wanted to surprise you.”
“We were surprised.” Cole smiled, placing a hand over my lower stomach.
“August twenty-second, huh?” Shane rubbed my belly next to Cole. I nodded.
“What is that girl still doing on the floor? Are you two crazy?” Marge grabbed my hand, pulling me up and away from them.
“We were gettin’ to that, Momma,” Shane argued.
“Not fast enough. Move your butt, Bobby. Your niece or nephew being comfortable is more important.” Marge pushed me into the sofa.
“I’m fine, really.”
“There’s no use arguing with her. For the next nine months, you might as well get used to doing nothing,” Anna warned.
“That’s the best part of being pregnant,” Carol said, patting my hand. “I’m happy for you. Congratulations.” She took a sip of her drink, her look a bit distant as she walked away.
“Congratulations, honey.” Peter kissed my cheek.
“Don’t just stand there, Peter. Bring me the ottoman. Bobby, get the girl some water. Oh God! You didn’t drink any of the eggnog I gave you, did you?”
“No, it’s sitting on the table.”
“Oh, thank God. Are you hungry? Did you eat breakfast? Carol, did you cook this morning? You know if it’s a boy, you’re gonna blow up, honey. That panther DNA makes them damn near insatiable.” My eyes widened as Marge took over the situation. I loved her to pieces, but she was going just a tad overboard.
I grabbed her hand, pulling her attention to me. “Marge,” –my tone was serious- “I really appreciate all you’re trying to do, but I’m only six weeks. I’m not immobile, just a little queasy, but I really don’t think I can handle any food right now.”
“How often have you been throwing up? You had to have lost your stomach a couple times, or your appetite at the least. You’ve lost a lot of weight since I last saw you. Hm. Maybe that’s a sign that it’s a girl. Boys, are you feeding her like you should be?” They both frowned, unable to hide their guilt. They’d been a bit busy with the new acquisition lately. “Shame on you! You better step up to the plate and make sure she eats regularly from here on out.”
“You know we will.” I saw the promise in their eyes.
“Oh, Carol! Can you believe this? To think, next Christmas there’ll be a little bundle of joy here with us.” Marge began to cry as she wrapped her arm around Carol. The two women dabbed their eyes with tissues as they went into the kitchen.
“Guess I was a little late to say no grandchildren,” Jose said, his eyes gleaming. I nodded. “Well I’m damn happy about it.” He patted my thigh, which was elevated since Peter had put my feet up.
“Congrats, chica. I hope it’s a girl so I can dress her up. That, and I’d rather not have another panther around. They’re extra moody the first couple times they shift. Beyond P.M.S.” Anna gave Cole a pointed look as she hugged me.
“Thanks.” I chuckled.
“I guess tonight will have to wait.” Shane sat down next to me on the couch. Cole lifted me into his lap as he slid beneath me.
“Why? We’ve been doing it this whole time. You just didn’t know I was pregnant until today.”
He frowned. “Don’t remind me. In the next couple days though we would have heard the heart beat ourselves, and will.” I was amazed by what they said they could hear. I guess not being a shape-shifter, I didn’t quite understand their abilities completely.
“We’ll just take it easy for a bit,” Cole said, patting my thigh.
“Are you serious?” I pouted.
“It’s for your own good.” Cole’s hand went to my womb, gently caressing it.
“If you two want a cranky, pregnant woman on your hands, then go ahead and do that.”
“Why do I have the feelin’ we’ll have one regardless?” Shane chuckled.
I slapped his chest playfully. That only sent him into a fit of laughter. “I’ve been just fine, thank you. You didn’t even know it.”
“She has us there,” Cole conceded.
“Thank you.”
“I love you, darlin’,” Shane grabbed my hand, kissing just beyond my ring.
“We both love you and it.” Cole kissed my cheek.
“I love you too.”
Shane scooted over, giving me room to sit between them. Cole pushed the ottoman over, making sure I rested my feet still when he sat me between them. They entwined their fingers with mine, one on each side of me.
I never felt so safe, so protected. I was at peace; happy with all that life had blessed me with in the last few months. I’d finally moved on from my past and into the arms of the two men who owned my future. They’d shown me the true meaning of love, what it meant to be loved by a man without sacrificing your soul. I knew I’d never experience a love greater than theirs, know a love stronger than the one I had for them, or so I thought, until Christian Alexander Riviera-Walker was born nearly nine months later.
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