Lucy stared down at the pregnancy test in her hand, her heart in her throat, her hands shaking. A little pink positive sign stared back at her, and although Lucy wasn’t surprised, given the fact they hadn’t exactly been careful when they were intimate, she still couldn’t believe she was going to be a mother.

The sound of the front door opening and closing had her heart beating double time. She curled her fingers around the pregnancy test and stared at the hallway, knowing Ian was home, and anxious but a little bit scared to tell him he was going to be a father. They’d only been married for a few months, and although things with his family were still tense, she was starting to see that they realized he wasn’t going to leave her, that he wasn’t going to change.

Even the small meeting they’d had with his mother had seemed like things could go in the right direction, that she would possibly be welcomed, if only hesitantly, into his family. She knew it would take a long time. But she didn’t care about being part of his family’s life. What she cared about was Ian not distancing himself from people because of her, even if said people were assholes.

With her throat tightening, and her mouth drying, Lucy forced herself to walk out of the bathroom and down the hall. She could hear Ian in the kitchen, presumably making himself a drink after a long day at work.

Once she rounded the corner she stood there and stared at him. He had his back to her, his suit still on, his broad shoulders taking up her view. Although she was pretty confident in knowing him and what he wanted in life, what he felt for her, she knew it was still so early for them, the beginnings of their marriage.

He’d stood up for her, stayed by her side, and with the magazine issue behind them, and him speaking to his family about it, calling them on their bullshit, they’d slowly started coming around. Hell, his mother even came over last week and brought them a bottle of wine and a flower arrangement. Although she was still pretty cold toward her, Lucy knew that was a big step for her. But Lucy also didn’t care if she ever communicated with his family again. They’d offended her, hurt her feelings, and that just pissed her off.

She did this all for Ian, because he knew what it was like to not have family. She didn’t want that for him.

Lucy had the pregnancy test still in her hand, pressed to her outer thigh. She didn’t know how to go about saying this, didn’t know if just blurting it out was the best move. He turned around, a square-cut glass in his hand, the amber liquid half filling it. When he saw her his face lit up, his lips spreading into a wide grin, his white, straight teeth flashing.

“Hey baby,” he said in his deep, masculine voice. Chills raced up her spine at the sound of it, like he was actually reaching out and touching her, stroking her skin with his fingertips. “I missed you,” he said and walked toward her.

And just as he came forward, her hands shaking so badly, she dropped the damn pregnancy test. He stopped and looked down, and she did the same, both of them staring at the little white stick. When he lifted his head up and looked at her, she was already watching him, waiting to see what his reaction would be.

Slowly he moved to the side and set his glass down, then moved toward the stick and picked it up off the ground. Then he just stared at it for long seconds. She couldn’t breathe, not sure if he’d be upset or, as she hoped, happy. She was nervous about being a mother, but she also anticipated it.

“A baby?” he asked softly, and she swallowed and nodded once he was looking at her again.

More long seconds passed, and then, as if he’d just gotten the biggest gift ever, he grinned broadly and came forward those last couple of feet. He embraced her, holding her closely, whispering how much he loved her. Lucy was shocked by his reaction.

“You’re happy?” She didn’t know what she’d expected, but him being ecstatic wasn’t one of them. He pulled back and grinned even wider before leaning down and kissing her.

“Fuck. Yes, Lucy, I am so damn happy.” And then, shocking her even more, which she didn’t think was possible, he got down on his haunches and pushed up her shirt. He placed a hand on her belly and glanced up at her. “How far along are you?”

She shook her head. “Maybe a month or so.” She was going to cry, she was so happy. “You’re really happy about all of this? I worried you’d be upset.”

He stood and embraced her. “Baby, I am so fucking happy you’re carrying my baby.” He pulled her in tightly and rubbed her back. “It’s you and me, and I can’t wait for us to be parents, for us to have a family.” He pulled back and kissed her soundly. “And our baby is going to know it’s loved. He or she will know that he has parents who care about him, who will let him lead his life. I’m not going to let him feel like status and money are everything.” He smiled and she knew he was talking about himself, how he’d been brought up.

“I love you,” she said and rose up on her toes to kiss him.

“I love you too.”

For only being married to Ian for a few months, and having not even wanted to stay married, she felt like this was perfection.