by Kait Nolan
“I’ll get Mooch his treat ball.” He started to move toward the back door.
“Already taken care of while you were in the shower. He’s out back. I don’t want to get him all riled up again before we go. Let’s just slip on out. We won’t be gone too late.”
Assured Fiona had enough lead time on them to smuggle in her cargo, Emerson headed for her own car.
“I can drive, you know,” he told her.
“Of course you can.” No way was she letting him drive. She needed the steering wheel to grip so that he didn’t take her hands and find them sweaty.
When she slid into the driver’s seat anyway, he huffed an annoyed sigh and got in on the passenger side. “You’re going to have to let things go back to normal sometime, Emerson.”
“I know. I know all my caution and hovering is chafing on you. I’m getting there. I promise.”
He reached out to tuck the hair behind her ear, voice gentling. “I’m ready to really start my life with you.”
She looked at him, heart tripping into a frantic gallop. Could he see the frenetic beat of it in her throat? “Me, too.”
“We should talk about that. Really talk. Make plans. Pick a date for the wedding. Figure out if we want to stay in this house or if we need a bigger one for when we start that family. Decide when we want to start that family.”
Emotion built in her chest, a hot ball lodging just under her breastbone, like a balloon hitting a ceiling. “I love you, Caleb. And we can talk about all of that. But right now, we have to get to this party.”
“You must be really excited about firehouse cooking.”
“Something like that.” She put the car into gear and backed out of the driveway.
“I hope somebody made cake.”
Emerson’s lips twitched. “I feel certain there will be cake.”
The drive to the station took forever and no time at all. She was praying the whole time that her antiperspirant didn’t give out. As they pulled up, Caleb leaned forward with a frown.
“What the hell are they doing?”
Two engines were pulled out of their bays, with the larger ladder truck parked crossways in front of them, making a U of vehicles that gleamed in the winter sun and blocked the central bay.
“That’s going to slow down response times,” he muttered as she parked in the cluster of cars off to one side. “Somebody’s ass is going to get chewed for that.”
“I’m sure Cue Ball is around somewhere for you to ask about it.” Proud that her voice sounded casual, Emerson slid out of the car, surreptitiously wiping her sweaty palms.
Caleb came around the car to join her, taking her hand as she’d known he would. They began to walk toward the cluster of vehicles. Emerson caught the wink of a face through one of the windows of the firehouse and gave a subtle thumbs up.
Showtime.
She tugged on his hand, interrupting his one-track march toward the engines. “Caleb.”
He swung toward her, eyes full of questions. What little food she’d managed to force down past the nerves that had a death grip on her stomach threatened to come back up.
“What’s wrong?”
Music started playing over a PA system. It took him two and a half seconds to recognize Bruno Mars’ “Marry You”. A smile spread over his face. “Did you seriously pull together a flash mob?”
She shook her head. “I need to ask you something.” Clutching her skirt with her free hand, Emerson dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
The expression of surprise, amusement, and absolute love was worth every second of anxiety over planning this. “I already asked you that. You said yes. They documented it in my chart at the hospital.”
“You did. And they did. I want to know if you’ll marry me today. Now.”
She waved her hand and the ladder truck cranked up, pulling out of the way to reveal rows of white chairs marching down an aisle that ended at the open bay of the fire station. The chairs were full of their friends, his company, and a good chunk of his family. Kyle stood in a suit at the front, with Paisley on the opposite side. Fiona waited at the head of the aisle, holding Mooch’s leash and a bouquet of flowers. The dog himself was decked out with a bowtie and a pillow with the rings tied on.
Caleb’s jaw dropped, his eyes going wide. That. That right there was the money shot that said she’d pulled this insanity off without him suspecting a thing.
“You planned a wedding?”
She couldn’t hold back the grin. “I mean…you did say you were in a hurry.”
He yanked her to her feet and into his arms, covering her mouth in a searing kiss. The audience cheered.
Somebody shouted, “We haven’t gotten to that part yet!”
In the ripple of laughter, he pulled back, pressing his brow to hers. “Yes.”
“Your suit’s in the trunk.”
He raced for the car in a dead sprint that sparked more laughter. All the speed drills he’d engaged in for work meant he was suited up at the head of the aisle, shaking hands with the minister, less than five minutes later.
Whichever joker was in charge of the music cued up something that sounded suspiciously like the start of Jock Jams. “Y’all ready for this!” blasted out over the speakers, followed by a record scratch and a shouted, “Sorry!” that didn’t sound sorry at all. The helpless giggles unraveled Emerson’s nerves, so when the real music began to play and Fiona walked down the aisle, Mooch at her side, a calm settled over her. They’d taken so long to get here, and there’d been a lot of pain and patience. But as she made her way toward Caleb, she knew this was absolutely where she was supposed to be.
In deference to the fact that the company could be called out at any moment, the ceremony was fast, their vows brief and traditional, though no less heartfelt for the brevity. The moment the minister made the pronouncement of man and wife, Caleb dipped her back in a kiss that left her head spinning. Emerson really hoped somebody had gotten a picture of that.
“No takesies backsies, Mrs. Romero,” he murmured.
Holy shit. They’d really done it. She’d really married her hot, younger, firefighter, best friend next door. And it felt glorious.
Tugging him to the side while everybody leapt into motion to shift the chairs, roll up the aisle and clear the path, just in case, she curled her hand in his. “I’ve got one more surprise for you.”
“I saw the cake.”
Somebody had added a firetruck topper with a little bride and groom peeking out either window.
“Not the cake. Although, it’s red velvet.”
His eyes kindled. “My favorite.”
“I know.” She reached into the bodice of her dress where she’d stuck the small card.
Pulling her closer, he peered down into her cleavage. “What else are you hiding in there?”
“You will have ample opportunity to find out tonight.” Swallowing another little bump of nerves, she handed the card over. “Your sort of wedding present.”
He skimmed it, clearly not understanding. “Okay, it’s an appointment for something on Monday.”
“Flip it over.”
“Hamilton Women’s Clinic.” His eyes snapped to hers. “For your IUD?”
Linking her arms around his neck, she rose to her toes. “You waited forever for me. I figure it’s time to get this party started.”
He lowered his mouth to hers. “Hell, yes.”
Epilogue
“You look way too excited to be here.”
Not being on full duty meant Caleb had zero problem getting off work to go with Emerson to the doctor. He’d been grinning like an idiot since they walked in the door. Probably that was the newlywed haze. “I mean, I’m not the one who had to pee in a cup.”
“Fair point.”
But he was excited. As he looked around the waiting room at all the expectant mothers in various stages of pregnancy, some with partners, some with other small children in tow, all he could think was This will be us soon. Hopefully.<
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He wanted to be here next to Emerson as she grew round with their son or daughter. Wanted to hold her hand through all the exams, hang on to her purse, and all that couply stuff. This was where that life he wanted with family cookouts and T-ball games and kitchen dance-offs really began.
Well, technically no. He was really hoping they’d be starting that literal life on the honeymoon they still needed to plan. “So where do we want to go?”
“Your sisters offered us a suite at the inn as a wedding present.”
“Sweet of them, but I don’t think I can properly honeymoon in the house I used to live in as a teenager.” He was thinking it would be a clothing optional situation, with proper privacy so he could worship every inch of his wife. His wife. He still couldn’t get over the fact that it was real. That she’d actually planned a surprise wedding. And here they were to take the next big step in their life together. Once she made up her mind, Emerson was full steam ahead, and he was so here for it.
At the sound of a nurse calling her name, Emerson rose. They followed her down a winding hallway and into an exam room.
“The gown is on the table. Please undress. Dr. Naylor will be in shortly.”
As the door shut, Caleb picked up the “gown” and unfolded it. “Did they accidentally pull out a drape for the dentist? Because this is not going to do much to cover you.”
“Welcome to the indignities of being female. That would be why I brought the big purse.” As he watched, she opened up the gigantic tote bag and extracted a robe. “I come with my own.”
“Smart girl.”
Rising to her toes, she kissed him. “You didn’t just marry me for my pretty face.”
“True enough. That ass was also high on my list.” He gave it a squeeze.
Swatting at his hand, she disappeared behind a curtain in the corner.
Still chuckling, he leaned back against the exam table. “To get back to marriage and honeymoon, Porter has some rental cabins up in that area. It’s off season, so there’s a good chance one or more of them is available. Then we’d have plenty of privacy to indulge in every conceivable position of baby making.”
The silence stretched out just a few beats too long.
“About that.”
Oh damn. Had he gone too far down the path of enthusiasm?
Emerson drew the curtain back, stepping out in her thin, cotton robe. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth.
Reeling in his excitement, he took her hands. “Hey, if you’re changing your mind, that’s okay. This is a lot really fast. We can put that off until later.” He’d be disappointed, but damn, he didn’t ever want her to think she wasn’t enough on her own.
“No, it’s not that. I’m ready to try. I just…we need to manage our expectations here. I am older. That is a biological fact. Even apart from the fact that my body will take time to adjust to the lack of hormones from the IUD, we need to be prepared for this to take a while. Or…to maybe not happen at all.”
Wanting to put her at ease, he pulled her in. “I love you. Period. End of story. If having kids this way doesn’t work out, then we can check out the alternatives. Or we can revisit not having them at all, if that’s what we decide to do. This is not a dealbreaker for me, and it doesn’t make me love you any less. So, right now, let’s just be positive and hopeful, and if it takes a while, then we’ll just be grateful for all the opportunities to get creative in bed. And anywhere else that strikes our fancy.”
Her cheeks flushed, her eyes going bright. “Okay, yeah, you should talk to Porter about a cabin.”
“Your wish is my command.”
A perfunctory knock sounded, and the door opened. The doctor came in, her bright red hair a stark contrast to the white lab coat. “Emerson, hello again. And is this the father?”
Caleb blinked. Wasn’t that getting ahead of things? Well, Emerson had listed conception and advanced maternal age as topics she wanted to discuss. Maybe Dr. Naylor was making assumptions based on the pre-appointment paperwork.
If Emerson was thrown by the question, she didn’t show it. “Well, we haven’t gotten there yet, but yes. This is my husband, Caleb Romero.”
Hearing her call him “husband” made Caleb want to preen like a peacock. He held it down to a grin.
“Oh, you got married! Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She perched on the end of the exam table. “We wanted to discuss the risks of my getting pregnant at this age and see what we’d be getting into before getting my IUD removed.”
Dr. Naylor checked her chart. “We’ll certainly need to remove it if it’s still there.”
Emerson frowned. “What do you mean, if it’s still there? Of course it’s there.”
“Have you checked the strings recently?”
That seemed to fluster her. “I mean, no, but—”
“Strings?” Caleb asked.
“There are strings on the bottom of an IUD,” Dr. Naylor explained. “They dangle partway down the vaginal canal. It’s an easy way to check to make sure it’s still in place or if it’s shifted or been expelled.”
He glanced at Emerson. “I…uh…haven’t noticed any strings.” And there’d been plenty of up-close-and-personal opportunity since he’d been cleared by his own doctors.
The doctor nodded, amusement curving her lips. “That would explain why you’re pregnant.”
Caleb dropped into the visitor’s chair with a thud.
Emerson’s jaw dropped. “I’m…what?”
He reached for her hand. “Best wedding present ever.”
“I never…I thought…holy shit, I was not prepared for this. How…how far?”
“It’s a little tough to pin down how far since your cycle has been inconsistent, so we’ll do a confirmatory exam.”
Head spinning, Caleb did his best to listen as the doctor performed the exam—her IUD had definitely been expelled at some point—and did the first ultrasound. But after she pointed out the yolk sac and the little lima-bean-sized alien in there, he didn’t hear anything else.
A baby.
That was his son or daughter in there. Their son or daughter. He’d dreamed of this, wanted this, but he hadn’t quite let himself believe he could have it. Gratitude rose up through the sense of disbelief, and beneath it all, a love that would’ve sent him to his knees if he hadn’t already been sitting.
As they heard the rapid swish of the heartbeat for the first time, Emerson’s hand trembled in his and tears slid down her cheeks. “Caleb, we did it.”
“Damn straight.” Bursting with love and pride, he leaned in to kiss his wife. “I love you so damned much.”
“The timeline may shift around a bit as you get further along, but right now my best guess is you’re right at nine or ten weeks.”
“Nine or ten weeks?” Emerson echoed. She met his gaze, her own full of tremulous emotion. “The reunion.”
Caleb reached for her hand as he did the mental math himself. “Or the night we got back.”
What if I want a baby?
God, he’d wanted to give her that so badly. He’d wanted to give her everything. And in that moment, it had all seemed possible. Maybe that wasn’t so far from the truth.
Dr. Naylor finished up the exam, going over instructions and follow-up and nutritional recommendations. Then they were alone.
Emerson slid off the table, pressing one hand to her belly. “I can’t believe we’re pregnant.” The corners of her mouth twitched. “You either have the world’s most determined sperm or the most impressive powers of visualization known to man.”
Snagging her around the waist, he pulled her in. “It could be both. I was thinking really, really hard about making a baby that night.”
She wrapped her arms around him and laughed, and her joy was the best sound in the world. “So was I.”
“Should we wait to tell Fiona?” With just a few more weeks until the end of the first trimester, it wouldn’t be too long.
“You know what? No. Let’
s FaceTime her right now.”
Delighted, he settled next to her against the exam table as she put in the call.
A few moments later, Fi’s face filled the small screen. As she spotted both of them, her brows shot up. “Hey newlyweds! What’s up?”
“So we have something to tell you,” Emerson began.
“Where are you?”
“Doctor’s office.”
“Is everything okay? Because I can skip my afternoon class and—”
“Everything’s fine. Better than fine.” She took a breath. “You’re going to be a big sister.”
“Holy shit!” As soon as the words were out, Fiona’s shoulders hunched and she mouthed an apology to someone nearby. “Gimme a second.”
There was a blur of motion and about twenty seconds later the sound of a door.
“Okay, I’m outside now.” She whooped again. “You’re really pregnant?”
“So the doctor says.”
“This is freaking awesome! I’m going to big sister the crap out of this kid! When are you due?”
“Mid-July.”
“Perfect! I’ll be between semesters and can help out. We’ve got to celebrate. Wait? What can you eat? Not eat? Never mind, I’ll figure it out. This is great!”
“I’m glad you’re excited. I need to get dressed so we can get out of here, but we wanted you to be the first to know.”
Fi pressed a hand to her heart. “Awww. I love y’all.”
“We love you, too, kid,” Caleb said.
They said their goodbyes and Emerson moved to get dressed. “I guess the point of the honeymoon is kind of past now.”
“Not a chance in hell. I still want a week alone with my wife. It’ll just be a babymoon instead. That’s a thing, right?”
“If it’s not, we’ll make it one. And we can put our mutually strong powers of visualization to work figuring out the rest of our happily ever after.”
“That sounds like the perfect way to spend the rest of our lives.”
Taking her hand, they stepped through the door to start it.
Choose Your Next Romance
Admit it. You’re DYING to know what happened with Kyle and Abbey, aren’t you? Their story is coming this summer.