Nellie

Our fingers were looped together, strong enough to hang us from the top of a mountain. I wanted to believe we couldn't be pulled apart—that we were inseparable in the face of simple things like family politics.

I had faith in Bishop... in us.

That didn't mean I wasn't trembling as we stood in front of his mother.

“Mom,” Bishop began, giving my fingers a squeeze. “We have something to talk to you about.”

She was bent over a notebook on the back patio, her eyes flicking up once—pointedly—to take in my obviously round stomach. Four months was a long time in the world of pregnancy. I'd ridden it out with Bishop at my side, our fears and joy mingling before and after every doctor visit. I always, always thought something was terribly wrong. Most of the time it was just heartburn. Or gas.

He'd endured each of my paranoid phone calls with loving patience.

One night, he came by with a DVD copy of Jaws and a pint of Chunky Monkey ice cream. It was the first time he'd visited me at my apartment.

Gigi found us sleeping on the couch the next morning. She'd given me a look, then started dropping hypotheticals like, “If you had a kid, who would the godmother be?” and “Is purple and gold an okay color scheme for a baby shower?” I didn't mind her not so subtle hints, because after that, she let Bishop sleep over any night I wanted him to.

“Mom,” he said again. That time she didn't look up.

“Miss Callehurst... please, you know what's going on. Let's talk about it.”

“Talk about what?” she muttered, texting someone on her phone, then making a note in her book. “I'm in the middle of arranging a social event, so if you'd both give me some space.”

I blinked. “Social event?”

Her eyes rolled up to mine, her voice scathing. “A party, dear.”

Bishop grabbed the top of the long patio couch. “Enough. No more pointless parties or arranged setups. I'm having a baby with Nell, this is happening.”

My heart was on the verge of bursting. But his mom didn't react; she just lifted the phone, tucking it to her ear and answering it on the second ring. “Hello? Ah, yes, bring the flowers around back. You can set them in the kitchen for now until the coordinator arrives.”

Blown away by her attitude, I couldn't keep my voice from rising. “Are you listening? I'm pregnant with your grandchild!”

There—she stared at me. In a smooth motion she ended the call, placing her phone gently on the outdoor cocktail table. “For all I know you're just getting fat.”

“How could you...” Bishop started. She stood quickly, brushing around us and heading back inside. “Stop being so impossible!” he snapped.

Standing inside the French doors, she sent a cutting look Bishop's way, then rested it on me. Her eyes were gray like his, but nowhere near as warm. “Here's what's going to happen. Tonight, my son will attend this party. He'll smile and entertain the guests, and when Iris arrives, he will take her aside and tell her he plans to marry her.”

“That's not happening,” I said flatly.

Bishop lifted his head high. “Why are you fighting this? You and dad wanted an heir, I'm giving you one.”

“Your father will never let you marry this woman!” she scoffed, hands clutching at her shawl. “She's the damn dog walker. We hired her to fill in for your laziness, not so you could knock her up! Don't embarrass this family any more than you already have.”

I wished I had some clever comeback. I looked on as the woman who fought tooth and nail against my happiness turned her back and walked away.

“She hates me. Your mom literally hates me.”

Scratching at his hair, Bishop groaned. “Don't worry about it, she hates a lot of people.”

My feet were killing me; so was my heart. I dropped heavily onto the couch. “If she doesn't accept me, this won't work.”

He slid beside me, pulling me against his firm chest. Bishop was constantly holding my belly and now was no different. “She can scream at the sky but that won't stop the rain.” I squinted at him, he laughed weakly. “What I mean is... even if she puts Iris in my path, I don't have to go to her. This is my baby inside of you, Nell. I'm making you my wife. Let everyone else screech at us as we walk down the aisle.”

That soothed me enough that I relaxed in his arms. The backyard was small, neatly arranged with rose bushes and crawling ivy up the walls. It was late enough that the sun was setting, our viewpoint allowing us to watch the purple hue take over downtown's skyline. “Are you really going to the party?”

“Sure. I wouldn't miss a chance to wear you on my arm.”

My laugh was hollow; I pet his hands over my stomach. “I'll look like a beluga whale that you broke out of Sea World and stuffed into a dress.”

“Did you know I happen to love whales?” Kissing my cheek, he casually rolled his palms upwards, brushing my swollen breasts. I gasped, pushing him away as he chuckled in my ear. “You're beautiful. Radiant.”

“Radiant is code for 'Nothing really nice to compliment about you.'”

“That's definitely not true.” He palmed my belly, tracing over the curves. Bishop's voice was deep and rich as a river full of gold. “In all seriousness, you drive me wild, Nell. You're more woman than ever, and more of you is never a bad thing.”

There was a parade in my chest. I was sure he could feel the hard pattern of my breathing. “Bishop... is there any chance she's right? Could your dad turn me down, take your brother and his baby even if we beat them on the clock?”

“You're worried that I'll lose everything.”

I hadn't wanted to say it, but... “Yeah.” I grabbed his forearms, pulling them around me, locking us together like I expected someone to physically try and pry us apart. “You were willing to marry a stranger, make a baby, to keep your family happy. If you don't get the ending you wanted it'll be tragic.”

“Are you joking?” Shifting me so that we were facing each other, he nipped my bottom lip. His kiss was fierce—it went on long enough that the sun was nearly gone when he finally stopped. “Nell, you're the ending I want. If I lose all my wealth, my power, but I get to keep you... keep this...” He stroked his hand over my swollen belly. “Then I've come out further ahead than I could have ever hoped for.”

Was it possible to fall deeper in love than I already had?

“Now come on,” he said, smiling slyly. “We've got a party to get ready for.”