Autumn
I had never been more thankful to have my own private bathroom than when I opened the pregnancy test. I knew hiding it at home was never going to work, but this was perfect. I’d have an answer by lunchtime, and I could figure out how to approach Emmett, assuming it was positive.
I carefully filled the little cup and wondered why they couldn’t make the damned thing any bigger. I managed to miss my hand as I filled it. Then I placed it on the counter.
Before I could fix my skirt and wash my hands, I heard Emmett’s voice coming from the other side of the door. He had come into my office earlier than expected, and even though I was excited about seeing him, I hadn’t wanted him to catch me taking the test.
I stuck the test stick in the cup and washed my hands before heading out.
“What brings you here so early?” I brushed my hair behind my ears and then walked over to give him a kiss. After a quick peck, I smoothed down my skirt and took the chair behind my desk as he sat in one across from me.
He stared a moment and then cleared his throat. “Well, it’s nothing work related. I just wondered if you wanted to set a date for the wedding.” He pulled out his phone and placed it on the desk.
“I’ve wanted to talk to you about that, actually. I’ve changed my mind.”
Before I could explain, he got a worried look on his face. His eyes widened, and he leaned in closer. “Changed your mind?”
“About a big wedding.” I tried to be reassuring as I reached out and held his hand on the desk.
“Oh, I see. I want you to have the wedding you want. I’m not trying to rush you or anything.”
I didn’t want to appear too eager to rush things, either, but I also didn’t want to walk down the aisle in a maternity wedding gown with a big, bloated face. “I think we could still have an amazing wedding, but keep it small and intimate. Then we wouldn’t have to wait as long.”
“Are you sure? I thought you wanted to have a bigger wedding than before.” We’d talked a lot about the type of wedding I wanted. At first, it was one so extravagant that it put the first one to shame, but then I realized I’d only be competing against myself. Jason wasn’t going to be around to see how much better it would be, and I had to admit that a small part of me was competing against him as well. “I just think it’s a waste of money, and we could put that up for Penelope to go to college.”
“You’re worried about Penelope’s college tuition? Do you have a bad gambling problem that I don’t know about or something?”
It sounded silly to assume that we couldn’t afford to blow a lot of money on a big ceremony when the company was worth billions and I had several million of my own sitting in savings. But I didn’t know what the verdict was on the pregnancy test, and I certainly didn’t want to waste too much time planning a big production when I could use the money on a nursery.
“I would just rather have a smaller wedding with a more extravagant honeymoon.” I knew I was talking in circles, and I was afraid he was beginning to be suspicious. “I thought we’d take some time off and go to a private island getaway for a week or two.”
“You want to leave Pen for that long? I thought we talked about going away for the weekend and letting Paul keep her, but an entire week or two? I’m not sure if I trust him to feed her that long.”
“I was hoping that maybe we’d see if my father could help out. But if all else fails, she could go with us.”
“Whatever you want, Autumn. It’s your day, and I want you to have it your way, honeymoon included.”
“It’s our day, Emmett. And it’s just a thought.” I got up and walked around the desk to take the chair next to him. He had his calendar on his phone opened up, and I took it from him and started to look at dates.
He leaned over, and we were head to head staring down at the device. “Is there any particular month you’re looking at?” he asked.
“Next month would work. Somewhere around the twenty-fifth? I’d like to be married at nighttime, rather than during the day this time.” I figured a smaller wedding would be nicer held at night.
“Is that your plan? Make this wedding as different from the first as possible?” He searched my eyes, and I tried my best to not let him know he was right.
The truth was, I didn’t want it to be anything like mine and Jason’s day. “No, not necessarily. I guess I just realize that it’s not important what kind of ceremony it is as long as I get to marry you.” I turned my head and kissed him.
“I feel the same way.” His arm came around my back, and I relaxed into his embrace. “We can do it on a Wednesday at lunch if you want.” He gave me a big smile and then brushed a stray hair behind my ear.
I took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’ve waited a lifetime for you. I’d do it tonight if we had our license.”
“I think another month won’t kill either of us, but I like it. Having it sooner is a great idea. This time, your father will give you to me properly, and things are going to be perfect, baby.” He stroked my wrist with his thumb and then met my eyes. “Are you feeling okay?”
I gave a shrug, knowing I’d been feeling tired lately, not to mention the morning battles with sickness. So far, I’d managed to hide it, but I had a feeling he would be on to me soon. “Why do you ask?”
“You just look a bit pale today. You’ve been sleeping so much, too. I just didn’t know if you were coming down with something.” He put the back of his hand to my cheek, just like my mother used to. “You don’t feel feverish.”
“I’m fine. Maybe it’s all the late nights we’ve been having together catching up with me.” That was the problem actually, but I was afraid they’d caught up with me in a much different way. We’d gotten into a habit of staying up until nearly two in the morning, not only watching TV and talking, but we loved late-night showers and lovemaking. “Someone’s insatiable.” I gave him a wink.
“You’re the one who keeps me up all night,” he teased.
“I’m not complaining.” I didn’t want him to stop keeping me awake. I loved the time we spent together, and it was nice that I had someone who put me above everything else. If I had learned one thing in my life, it was that time was precious, and there wasn’t anything more important than spending time with those you love.
Emmett tapped the screen of his phone. “Okay, so we’re looking at next month. That’s May twenty-fifth?”
“Yes, I think that sounds good. What do you think?” I loved May, and I knew it would be a long weekend for Memorial Day.
“I like it. Now, we just have to set the time and make plans. Do you think we’ll have enough time?”
I felt like we’d have enough time, and with money not being much of an object, I was sure I could throw something small and classy together. “It’s plenty of time.”
“We’ll need to work on invites, too. I want a few of my military friends to come, and I’d like to pay for Hardin’s airfare.” Emmett had always had a special bond with his friend William Hardin who was injured in the line of duty with him. Emmett had been awarded two medals for his quick action to save the man’s life.
“Of course. We’ll make arrangements for whoever we need to. I’d like to find a nice venue, but I’m afraid since we’re doing it so soon, we’ll have fewer options.”
He scratched his head. “Didn’t Paul date a wedding planner?”
“I think he did, but I don’t remember her name. I can’t keep up, and there’s no telling what happened between them.” I didn’t want my special day to be ruined because he’d hooked up and didn’t call her back.
“We’ll find something special.” He took my hand and kissed it. “I’ll just add that to my calendar.” He poked at the screen and pulled up the event planner.
While he was focusing on dates, I couldn’t take my mind off the stick that I’d left inside the tiny cup on the bathroom counter in the next room. It would change everything. I hoped that he was truly ready to be a family.
“Okay, so that’s all set,” he said. “I’ve got May twenty-fifth penciled in.” He turned off his phone, and I nodded. “That’s just a month away. Are you sure? I didn’t come in here to pressure you, you know?”
“I know, and you’re not. I’ve really been thinking it would be good to move it up. We already live together and are doing well, and Penelope is happier than ever.”
“About Penelope. How do you think the nanny is working out?”
Emmett and I had hired her a month before, and her trial period was nearly over. We’d given her the probationary period so that we could make sure that Penelope adjusted and that we all liked her well enough.
“I like her,” I said. “She’s done well in the past few weeks, but I still feel bad about hiring anyone.” I had felt guilty as a mother not being able to do everything for Pen like I should.
“It’s just for a few hours after work, Autumn. You were having Paisley’s mother help out, and this isn’t much different. Now you can extend your days by a couple of hours and get things done. Besides, Pen seems to like Kaye well enough.”
“Kaye’s a nice lady. She’s been good enough to do anything I’ve asked, including going to the store to get groceries and having dinner started.” The woman was a lifesaver, and we’d already used her more than we’d expected. Considering that I might be about to add to the family, I knew we might need her to help out more often.
“Good, I’m glad we agree. I was wondering if it would work out, and it seems to be going well. I think we picked a winner.”
I laughed. “I think so too. Pen had a playdate today, and Pen’s hosting. I guess we’ll see if Kaye can handle the P&P Express.” We’d taken to calling the girls that after she and Paul had given them that name. I got up and headed around the desk.
Emmett got up and walked to the coffee maker I kept across the room to pour himself a cup. “Speaking of my brother and Kaye, I noticed the two of them flirting in the kitchen the other morning, and while I know he’s not into older women, she’s not that much older than him.”
“I don’t think he’s into Kaye.” I just couldn’t see them as a pair. Paul dated women who were a little high maintenance compared to Kaye, who was more of a plain Jane.
“Well, he says he has a date tonight, and I was wondering if it was her.” He didn’t seem convinced.
“No, surely she’d know better.” I didn’t like the idea of my daughter’s nanny dating any of my friends, much less a member of my family.
“Well, they are both adults, and we didn’t put anything in the contract about her dating family. Besides, I know it’s not anyone from LOC. I asked.”
“So just ask him if it’s Kaye.” I shrugged. I really hoped he wasn’t seeing her. I really liked her and wanted her to stick around.
He walked to the door with his cup of coffee. “I better get back to work before you convince me to stay in here all day. If I see him on my way back to my office, I’ll ask him.” He blew me a kiss and then disappeared around the corner. As soon as he was gone, I ran to the bathroom to check the results.