Zoey

I couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous ring that sat on my finger. The moment John, Scott, and Holly walked in, I shamelessly showed it off. But they already knew about it. Carter had asked all three of them for their permission to take my hand in marriage. John and Scott openly welcomed him to the family and called him the perfect gentleman.

****

Nine Months Later

I took in a deep breath as my dads walked into the bridal room of the church.

“Wow,” they both spoke at the same time with tears in their eyes.

“No.” I waved my finger at them. “No tears. Not yet anyway.”

“You look absolutely beautiful, baby.” John kissed my cheek.

“You sure do. We always knew this day would come.” Scott began to cry. “Sorry, I can’t help it.” He wiped his tears.

“Are you ready?” John asked as both he and Scott held out their arms.

“Yes. As ready as I’ll ever be.”

The music started to play and they slowly walked me down the aisle. The only thing I could see was my handsome husband-to-be standing nervously at the altar.

“Who gives this woman’s hand in marriage?” the priest asked.

“We do,” both John and Scott spoke at the same time.

After kissing my cheek, they placed my hand in Carter’s.

“Are you okay?” I whispered to him.

“I’ve never been better. You?”

“Same.” I smiled.

We said our vows, which had both of us crying along with all of our guests. And then we were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Carter Grayson.

“You may kiss your bride, Carter.” The priest smiled.

“It would be my pleasure.”

After the ceremony and pictures, we headed to The Plaza Hotel for our wedding reception. We walked around, greeted our guests and had a wonderful dinner. It was time to share our first dance as husband and wife, and we danced to the song How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding.

“You are so beautiful,” he spoke as he smiled at me.

“So are you.”

As we were dancing, I smiled as I stared at Nora and Angelique, who were a few feet away from us. When the song ended, the DJ announced he had a request for another song for us and not to leave the dance floor. My heart started racing because I had a feeling I knew what it was. Suddenly, Unchained Melody started to play. I looked at Carter, who swallowed hard.

“It’s okay, Carter. She wants us to dance to this.”

“She’s here, isn’t she?”

“Yes, and so is Nora.”

“Tell her I said thank you.” He smiled as we slowly danced.

****

Three Months Later

Carter and I spent a three-week honeymoon traveling around Europe and taking in the beautiful sights of Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Paris, and London. Once we got home, our lives went back to normal. Carter went back to running his company and I went back to the hospice center. So needless to say, our lives were pretty busy.

One morning after Carter left for the office and I was getting ready to work, Holly came over before she had to open the shop. I was standing in the bathroom doing my makeup when she walked in. Suddenly, the smell of her perfume sent a wave of nausea over me.

“What kind of perfume are you wearing?” I asked.

“The same kind I wear every day. Why?”

Placing my hand over my mouth, I ran over to the toilet and vomited.

“Oh my God, are you okay?” she asked as she held my hair back.

“I don’t know. The smell of your perfume made me sick.” I began to laugh. “I’ve been feeling a little sick to my stomach the last few days. I think I have a touch of the flu.”

“Or a touch of a pregnancy.” She smiled.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not pregnant.” I wiped my mouth and stood up.

“Yeah. I think you are, Zoey.” She grinned.

“I can’t be. I’m on birth control. I get the shot every three mon—Oh my God, I forgot to get it last month! With everything going on and the hospice center, I forgot! And come to think of it, I never got my period last month.”

“Yippee!” She jumped up and down. “I’m going to be an aunt!”

“Holly, we don’t know for sure if I am.”

“Well, the only way to find out is to go buy a pregnancy test and take it.”

“I guess I’ll have to.” I bit down on my bottom lip.

“Okay. Call me when you take it and let me know. I have to go open the shop. I love you.”

“I love you too. Have a good day.”

I took a seat on the edge of the bed and pondered the thought that I might be pregnant. Carter and I never really discussed kids. I mean, we both wanted them, but we didn’t talk about when. On my way to the hospice center, I stopped at the drug store and bought three different pregnancy tests. Going into the bathroom once I got to work, I peed on each stick and tried to wait patiently for the results, but I didn’t have to, because instantly, the sticks turned positive. I was in shock, but a good shock. Carter and I were going to have a baby and I couldn’t wait to tell him.

Since his birthday was only a week away, I kept the news to myself. As torturous as it was, I wanted it to be the best birthday ever for him.

“Happy birthday, baby.” I smiled as I gently kissed his lips.

With his eyes still shut, he smiled.

“Thank you.”

He opened his eyes and softly stroked my hair as I leaned over him. Rolling over, I pulled two gift bags out from under the bed.

“Open this one first.” I grinned as I handed him the bag with the new watch he wanted.

“You didn’t!” he exclaimed as he took it out of the bag and opened the box.

“I did.” I smiled.

“How? They didn’t have any left and weren’t getting another shipment in for a couple of months.”

“I had the salesman tell you that.” I winked.

“Come here.” He pulled me into him. “I love you. Thank you.”

“I love you, and you have one more present to open.”

“Sweetheart, the watch was more than enough.”

“I think you’ll like this better than the watch.”

I handed him the bag, and after pulling the tissue paper from it, he took out a newborn white baby sleeper with little yellow ducks on it. He held it up and then looked at me.

“Does this mean—”

“Yes!” I nodded my head with excitement. “We’re having a baby.”

“We’re having a baby? Me and you?” he asked in shock.

“Of course me and you!” I laughed.

“You’re pregnant?”

“Oh my God, Carter, yes, I’m pregnant!”

“Zoey.” He choked up. He brought his hand up to my cheek with tears in his eyes. “We’re having a baby,” he whispered.

I leaned in and brushed my lips against his as he wrapped me tightly in his arms. Then suddenly, he let go of me, jumped out of bed, opened the bedroom window, and yelled, “We’re having a baby!”