“That meal was incredible!” Marcus pushes away his plate and rubs his hands over his belly like he’s the one who’s pregnant. “I had no idea you were such a great chef,” he smiles at Connor.

“I picked up a thing or two over the years,” Connor shrugs and begins to clear the plates from the large farm style table.

“You certainly have,” Marcus looks around the vast space. “You were right, Charlotte,” he twists in his chair to look at me, “this is the perfect place to raise your family. I can’t believe how you’ve breathed life into this place,” he smiles.

“Well, that’s all Connor,” I stand up and help him bring the dirty dishes to the sink. “He’s worked so hard on fixing this place up and getting it ready for the little one,” my heart feels like it’s so full it might burst. I must be the luckiest woman alive. To find the man of my dreams and then to have it turn out that he’s even better than I ever imagined. Cooking my meals, fixing the house, keeping me safe and happy. Love feels like a cheap and inadequate word for what I’m feeling.

“I’m sorry that I tried to push the house on you two,” my brother continues, but I’m in a haze as I let my eyes travel over Connor’s rugged chin and slide over his full lips.

“I get it, I know you’re trying to look out for us,” Connor answers, but I’m not letting Marcus off that easy.

“If you would’ve come by before this, you would already have known that the house is ready. That we are ready,” I grab Connor’s hand and place it on my belly.

“You’re right, I’ve got no excuse. I’m sorry that I made everything so difficult,” he looks down at his hands and I can see guilt spread over his face.

“Well, good then,” I know it’s not much of a rebuttal, but I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Marcus apologize for anything his entire life. It’s weird to have him admit when he’s wrong.

“I’ve still decided to give up the house, for all the reasons I already said, but,” he holds up his hand to my open mouth, silently asking me to let him finish. “I’m just going to put it on the market. Once it sells, I want to give you half the profit, you deserve it, that house was as much yours as mine,” he finally meets my eyes and I can see he’s tearing up.

“You don’t have to do that, we’re fine for money. Connor has his military pension and I’ve got my job,” I begin to argue.

“Let him do this, Charlotte,” Connor interrupts and blankets his hand over my shoulder. “It’s important to him,” he murmurs.

I shake my head, he’s right, now I’m the one being stubborn for no reason. “Thank you,” I turn to my brother and let go of the grudge I’ve been carrying inside. “That’s really kind of you,” I smile.

Marcus stands up and I give him a quick hug. “Thank you, both of you, I know I’m going to be a better uncle, a better brother, and a better friend because of you two,” his voice cracks.

“Hey, enough of that,” Connor clears his throat loudly. “No more crying allowed,” he jokes. “How about I make us all some tea and we chill out for a bit?”

“I can’t stay,” Marcus lifts his hands, “thank you though. I just want to say that I’m proud of both of you and I know you’ll make amazing parents.” Marcus sniffs and wipes his eyes on his sleeve. “But enough of that, like you said, no more tears. This is a happy time,” he smiles broadly.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for a bit?” I offer but my brother shakes his head no.

“I’ve got to start preparing my sermon for next week,” he answers, “but thank you for the meal, and, well, just thank you. For everything.” He holds out his hand to Connor and they shake, their scarred palms being extended in friendship for the first time in years.

Without any fuss and, for once, without any drama, my brother walks out the door and heads to his car. As he pulls back out of the driveway I look at Connor.

“Ok, now you’ve got some explaining to do,” I tilt my head and purse my lips.

“What? Now what?” He looks up at me, shooting his thick eyebrows upward.

“Do you not think I’m pretty anymore, now that I’m starting to look pregnant?” I put him on the spot.

“What are you talking about? That’s crazy!” Connor tries to laugh off my words, but I don’t smile.

“I’m being serious, I want to know why you suddenly won’t touch me with a ten-foot-pole, or any pole for that matter,” I jerk my head toward his cock.

“Charlotte, are you kidding? I’ve never met a woman that drives me crazy like you do. I love that your tummy is starting to show, I love your curves, I love you. There isn’t a haircut you could get,a pound that you could gain or a wrinkle that could form that will change that. You have my whole heart. And trust me, I want you more than you could ever even understand,” exasperation twists his face as he runs his hand over the side of his soft beard.

“Then what’s going on between us? It’s like you’re shutting me out? If you still find me sexy, then why won’t you touch me?” I step into him and he throws his arms around me, pulling me in tight.

“I’m sorry I made you feel that way. I’m just worried about the baby. I mean, one second I was tossing you down on the bed ready to fuck you and the next we were at the hospital hoping you weren’t losing the baby. I just keep thinking there’s something I did that made that happen. I don’t want to risk hurting either of you, that’s all,” he runs the palm of his hand over my belly and my anxieties ease off my shoulders.

“That’s really the reason?” I look up at him from under my eyelashes.

“I swear,” he holds up his hand. “How could you think I don’t find you attractive anymore. You were all I could think about before you got pregnant, and now that you’ve got my child growing in here,” his fingers trail over my stomach, “you have no idea how beautiful that makes you. If I had it my way, you’d never wear clothes and the only times we’d get out of bed would be to forage for food and use the washroom,” he laughs.

“Sounds like a nice weekend to me,” I raise an eyebrow mischievously.

“It sounds like pure heaven, but I just don’t want to hurt you,” worry flashes over his face like lightning.

I grab his hand and give it a squeeze. “Hey, you don’t have to worry about that. I’m serious, I talked to the doctor, I specifically asked her about sex and she said it had nothing to do with the bleeding. It was just a fluke. It could’ve been anything. You don’t have to treat me like I’m made of glass now. We can still have our cake and eat it too,” I smirk.

“Well, I don’t know about that,” Connor sighs heavily, but I can see a sparkle in his eyes.

“Why?”

“Because,” he swoops his arms under the back of my legs and picks me up bridal style against his chest as he crosses the floor and begins to walk up the stairs, “I’ve always been more of a pie lover,” he grins down at me and carries me up to our bedroom.