We get to listen to the heartbeat, and my own thunders just as loudly. I love this baby. This tiny piece of me, and of Winnie. This tiny human that we created out of love. Please, God, let them both be okay. I send up a silent prayer.
“Everything sounds great. I’ll call you tomorrow with your results, and we can take it from there. If need be, we’ll schedule you in the next week or so for the three-hour fasting glucose test.”
“Thank you, Dr. Taylor,” I say, offering her my hand to shake. She takes it then offers hers to Winnie.
“You’re welcome. You and your baby are in good hands. We see this all the time. What’s important is you doing your part with diet and exercise. Do you have any more questions?”
I look at Winnie who’s already looking at me. “No.” I turn back to Dr. Taylor. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t think of more,” I admit.
She smiles. “When you do, call us. That’s what we’re here for.” She stands and walks to the door. “I’ll call you tomorrow, and we’ll take it one day at a time.”
We say our goodbyes, and it’s just the two of us. “Harrison,” Winnie whispers my name into the quiet of the room.
“I love you.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “I love you more than my job, and I need you to tell me that you know that.”
“I do.” She nods, tears again filling her eyes.
“Good.” I go to her and wrap my arms around her. She buries her face in my neck and lets the tears fall. I don’t say anything. I just tighten my hold on her, and let her work it out of her system.
“We should go.” She pulls away.
“Yeah, you hungry?” I ask her.
“Not really.”
“Okay. Well, I want to stop by the gym and pick up some contracts that I need to go over, then we can head home.”
“You’re not going to work?”
“No.”
“Harrison.”
“Gwendolyn,” I counter. “I’m not going into the gym today. I need to be with you. I can’t explain it, but I can’t leave you right now. Please don’t fight me on this.”
“Okay.”
I offer her my hand, and she takes it. I help her off the exam table and usher her out of the room. We stop at the desk and make our next appointment, then make our way to my truck. The drive to the gym is quiet. “I’ll just be a few minutes. You coming in?” I ask her.
“No. Not right now. I’ll just wait here.”
Leaning over the console, I kiss her cheek. “I’ll be right back.” Climbing out of the truck, I jog into the building.
“Harrison,” Gina calls out for me. “I didn’t think you’d ever get here. We have a new client that wants you to train—” I hold up my hand cutting her off.
“No. I’ve told you I’m not taking on any more clients right now. Not with the baby coming.”
“But—”
This time it’s Chase who stops her. “He said no.” He stops to stand next to her. “You good, man?” he asks. He knows me too well.
“I’m working from home today. Just stopped to pick up a few things.”
“Anything I can do?” he asks.
“Nah, just got some news today. It’s not terrible, but Gwen might have gestational diabetes. I’m going to look over the contracts, and then work on an exercise program for her.”
“What, is she getting too fat for you?” Gina spits out.
“Enough!” I bellow. My feet carry me to her. We’re standing toe-to-toe. “When it comes to my wife, you have nothing to say. Do you understand me? I don’t have to defend my actions to you or anyone else. You know what, I’m done—” I stop when Chase’s hand lands on my shoulder.
“Go get what you need. I’ve got this.”
The words “you’re fired” are on the tip of my tongue. I’ve had enough of her, but even I know that I’m on edge from the appointment. I nod once and turn my back to them, heading toward my office. I trust Chase to handle her. I shouldn’t be making any kind of decisions with my emotions all over the place. Even if she’s been on thin ice since the day she walked through the doors. Grabbing what I need, I don’t bother saying goodbye as I walk out the front door.
“Everything okay?” Winnie asks when I’m back in the truck.
“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I say, then decide not to hold back. “Never again” is a promise I made. “Gina grates on my last nerve.”
“How about some lunch?” she suggests. I know she’s trying to turn my bad mood around, and it works. My focus is no longer on Gina or the gym; it’s all her and our little girl.
“You change your mind?”
“She did.” She rubs her belly with a small smile.
“What sounds good to you?”
“Anything.”
“How about Twist of Lime?”
“Sure. Let’s call it in and take it home,” she suggests, already swiping the screen of her phone. “What do you want?”
“Grilled chicken salad, and some breadsticks.”
“I love their breadsticks,” she says, moaning. I listen as she orders us both a grilled chicken salad and extra breadsticks. “Ten minutes,” she says, ending the call.
I start the truck and head that way.
Looking up from my laptop, I scan the room, searching for Winnie. I don’t see her anywhere. Glancing at the time, I see I’ve been at this for a couple of hours so I gather the contracts and place them back in the folder. Grabbing the water bottle I’ve barely touched, I chug it back, spilling some all over my shirt. I finish off the bottle, and then pull my shirt over my head, wiping my mouth with it. Tossing the bottle in the trash and the shirt in the laundry room, I go in search of my wife.
I find her in our room, sitting on the bench at the foot of the bed. She’s staring into space with her hands wrapped protectively around her baby bump. “Hey,” I say softly.
She smiles, turning to face me. “Hey, you all done?”
“Yeah.” I enter the room, taking a seat on the floor in front of her. “You okay?” I place my hand on her belly.
“I am.”
“You sure?”
“Definitely. She was kicking up a storm, so I stopped to enjoy it. That sounds crazy, but I love this. I love being pregnant. If you say something, she’ll kick. She loves the sound of your voice.”
“No crazier than the fact I can’t seem to keep my hands off your belly, or the fact that she knows my voice,” I say, lifting her tank top to expose her to me. Winnie scoots to the edge of the bench, moving closer. I place my hands on either side of her belly and wait for a kick. Baby girl doesn’t disappoint as she thumps against my hand. “Does it hurt?” I’m fascinated that my daughter is growing inside Winnie and kicking at the sound of my voice.
“No. Well, that didn’t. Sometimes it’s painful.”
“Hey, baby girl, it’s Daddy.” Another strong kick.
“Told you.”
“Maybe she’ll be a soccer player.”
She laughs. “Maybe. She can be anything she wants to be.”
“Definitely, but she’s not dating until she’s thirty.”
“Yeah, right. She’s going to have you wrapped around her little finger.”
“Maybe, but I’m not budging on the dating thing.”
“We’ll see.” She laughs softly.
“Have you thought about names?”
“Yeah, but nothing has come to me that stands out. What about you?”
“I’ve thought about it, but like you, nothing that stands out to me. I mean, this is a big deal. She’s stuck with her name for the rest of her life.”
“Well, until she gets married. Then her last name changes.”
“He can change his,” I grumble, making her laugh.
“I changed mine.”
“Damn right, you did.” I think back to the day I met her, and I knew then that she was going to be important to me. I could never have imagined how much. I didn’t realize how much she would bring to my life. And now, she’s giving me a d
aughter. I have so much love bursting inside me for both of them. I don’t know how to handle not being able to make it better.
“I love her.” I rest my forehead against Winnie’s belly, and she runs her fingers through my hair. “I love both of you. I know the doctor said that it was okay, that lots of women get gestational diabetes. I heard her say the words, but that doesn’t quell the worry that consumes me. It doesn’t diminish this demand for me to protect both of you. The only problem is I don’t know how to do that. I don’t know what to do to help you, and it’s making me crazy.”
“It’s common. I just have to eat right and take care of us.”
“What can I do, Winnie? I hate feeling helpless. You’re going through all of this to bring our daughter into the world, and I’m just sitting by idle.”
“You support me, Harrison. Every day you’re here. You pushed yourself back into my life. You knew that what I needed was you. You’ve never once shied away from me or this baby. You love us unconditionally, and that’s what I need from you. I need to know that you’re here. That even though I’m carrying her, I’m not in this alone. I know I can lean on you and I’m sorry that I didn’t. I don’t want us to lose this, this newfound connection that we have. I love the life we’re rebuilding, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sure, it’s unorthodox, but it’s only ever been you, Harrison Drake. You are the love of my life. You are the man who stands tall next to me, no matter what. The man who drills my doctor with questions for concern for me and our unborn child. That man is doing everything he can to take care of his family.”
Lifting my head, I see the truth in her words. I see the love in her green eyes and know this is it. “Gwendolyn Drake, I want to grow old with you. I want you by my side, always. Will you marry me?”
Tears fill her eyes as she nods and says, “Yes.” She bends down and presses her lips to mine. It’s a soft kiss, mixed with the saltiness of her tears. “A thousand times yes,” she says, pulling out of the kiss. “I don’t want to make this a big deal. I just want to go to the courthouse and make what’s in our hearts official.”
“I never should have signed those papers.” My heart is soaring, racing so hard I fear it might pound right out of my chest. Relief washes over me, knowing she’s truly mine, for the rest of our lives. I’ll never take her for granted ever again. She and our children—because baby girl needs siblings—will be my priority until I take my last breath.
“We were both stubborn and thought we were giving the other what we wanted. I never want to go back to that. I’m sorry for not telling you.”
“Now I know, and we’ll take this one day at a time together. We can sit down and figure out a good exercise regimen that is healthy for you and the baby, and meals, we eat healthy most of the time. Although, now I get why your gallon of chocolate milk in the fridge is still full and about to expire.”
“Yeah, I miss it.” She pouts. “But it’s for her.” She rubs her belly affectionately. “I can do and will do anything for her.”
“It’s for both of you. This affects more than just the baby, Winnie. This is about both of you.”
“I know that. But Peanut and me, we have the key to success. Everything is going to be just fine.”
“Oh, yeah, care to enlighten me?”
She cups my face in her hands. “We have you.”
The emotions of the day, the fear, the worry, and now hope wash over me, forming a lump in my throat. I don’t speak, but I wrap my arms around my family and hold them close, praying I can be everything they need. Now and in the future.
Chapter 16
Winnie
“I’m getting a little mad that you haven’t asked for my help yet,” my sister says when I enter the gym. The music is loud, a deep beat pulsing through my blood instantly.
“Mad? Why?” I ask as we sign in at the front desk and head toward the locker room.
“The wedding? Duh!” Gabby sighs dramatically.
I roll my eyes and open my locker, setting my purse inside. I grab one of Harrison’s T-shirts and a pair of very unattractive pregnancy workout shorts (you know, the ones with the stretchy mesh over the stomach). “It’s on hold. I’m not getting married like this,” I state, pointing down to the very large protruding ball at my abdomen.
My sister immediately smiles. “I don’t blame you there,” she replies, greeting her niece with a friendly rub. “How was your appointment?”
“Fine,” I reply, changing from my classic preschool teacher outfit into the clothes I keep at the gym.
At thirty-two weeks, the pregnancy is progressing quickly. I’m tired more frequently, which makes evenings like this, when I have to come to the gym, more difficult. All I really want to do is curl up on the couch with a book and rest. But with the confirmation of gestational diabetes after my twenty-four-week appointment, I know this is what is best. Harrison has a daily activity plan for me, which includes healthy meals. I started coming to the gym every day after work when school started again in August. As I get closer to my due date though, I’m finding it more difficult to do anything more than just walk.
“I’m going every two weeks,” I confirm, slipping on my walking shoes and meeting Gabby at the door. She looks amazing, of course, in a tight tank top and skimpy little shorts. Something I wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing six months ago, let alone now that I’m approaching blimp size.
We’re quiet as we approach the treadmills. We take two side by side and fire them to life. My workout is much less strenuous than Gabby’s. She’ll run two miles before hitting the free weights. Me, on the other hand, will work up to a heart rate increasing brisk stroll that’ll leave my calves burning and my feet aching.
“How’s Roman?” I ask, trying to figure out what’s going on with my sister’s personal life. She seemed all about him, but then suddenly, nothing. Gabby hasn’t mentioned the guy she was seeing for the last week or so.
She shrugs. “We ended it. There was no spark.”
“Nothing?” I ask.
She glances around before her eyes connect with mine. “Not a thing. Kissing him wasn’t even that good.”
I glance at her, shocked as all get out. I thought they seemed to get along fine when they were on the boat. “And the sex?” I whisper so no one else around us can hear.
“Never got there. If the kissing isn’t that great, that means his tongue-work isn’t up to par. I’m not sure I want that subpar action for my lady bits,” she replies with a decisive nod.
I can’t help it, I laugh.
As soon as she finishes her warm-up and starts her jog, she asks, “So when is the big day anyway?”
“Yes, when is this very important big day, where you vow to love and cherish me for the rest of your life?” Harrison asks as he steps on the empty treadmill to my right. “Again…”
I offer a warm smile. He’s wearing Nike basketball shorts and a T-shirt with the gym logo on the front. My entire body starts to hum, and it’s not from the pace I’ve set on the treadmill. Harrison Drake is fucking hot, and the further along I get in this pregnancy, the more I want to take him for a ride. My hormones are out of control. Not that he seems to mind. I crave him morning, noon, and night, and he’s all too accommodating to help with my little problem.
Trying to keep my eyes straight ahead, I risk one more quick glance his way. He gives me a knowing smile, as if he can read my mind and knows exactly what I want to do to him. On his desk. With my tongue. “Knock it off,” he whispers, taking my hand in his. The warmth of his lips pressed against my palm spreads through my blood like lava, making me almost trip up. “Careful,” he states, placing my hand on the handle and ensuring that I’m holding on.
“I’m fine,” I assure him, but keep my eyes looking forward.
“Isn’t this the point in the pregnancy where you want to hump day and night?” my sister asks, clearly throwing any trace of decorum out the window.
“I’m available for humping,” I hear over my shoulder as Chase hops
on the treadmill on the opposite side of Gabby.
“Puh-lease,” she draws out, barely even breaking a sweat or breathing hard from her jog, “I’d rather hump a porcupine.”
“Prickly,” Chase replies, firing up his machine and immediately cranking it up to a fast pace. Gabby notices, of course, and bumps hers up a few more notches so she can one-up him on the speed. Chase just smiles and accelerates even more.
“So, about this wedding thing,” Harrison starts, jogging at a much slower pace than the lunatics on the other side of me.
“I’m thinking next June,” I blurt.
Harrison stops his machine and turns to face me. “June? That’s seven months away,” he grumbles, crossing his arms over his broad chest. I can’t help but smile at the motion, so reminiscent of that of a toddler. All he’d need to do was stomp his foot.
I slow my snail pace to a stop and turn to face him. “I know I said I’d be happy with a quick trip to the courthouse, but I don’t want that. I want a small ceremony at the lake. Or maybe the backyard. I want our close family and friends to be there and share in the joy of us remarrying. But most of all,” I start, placing both hands on my stomach, “I want our daughter to be there and be a part of it all.”
His eyes flare with heat and excitement, partly because of my finally agreeing to remarry him, but also at the prospect of our future and what it will hold. A daughter.
“June at the lake sounds perfect,” he whispers, leaning over the machine and kissing my lips. His hands thread into my hair as he devours my mouth with his own. He’s a master kisser, and the longer his lips are on mine, the more I want other parts of him on me.
“Awww,” I hear behind me, the sugary sweet voice breaking through the sex-haze cloud we’re surrounded in.
“Hey, Gina,” I say, trying to turn and face Harrison’s assistant, but he holds tightly to my head.
“Are we still on for Saturday?” she asks.
That catches his attention and finally turns to face her. “What do you mean? We don’t have anything on the calendar for Saturday.”
Fair Lakes Series Box Set Page 19