KANDY

I felt awful that Cane and I were butting heads so much. We were like two rams in an open field sometimes, going head-to-head over the most trivial things. I couldn’t stand it. It wasn’t like us, and I knew most of it was my fault, but sometimes I couldn’t help the way I felt. I couldn’t blame it all on being pregnant, either.

To be honest, I was happy that I could carry a child. I was happy that everything looked okay…but I was terrified of how much my and Cane’s life would change. Especially mine. I would no longer have any privacy or moments to myself. I’d lose sleep, which I hated the idea of, because I loved my sleep. It was precious to me, and I cherished it so much. Not only that, but I still hadn’t told my dad, and I knew the longer I waited, the angrier he would get about it.

I’d been reading a lot of forums to find advice on embracing the whole pregnancy thing, because it was harder than I thought it would be. I couldn’t believe Mom suffered like this, just to have me.

On the flip side, Wednesday had finally arrived.

Cane took me to Dr. Maxine’s office, where I was told to do my usual routine with checking in, peeing in a cup, and so on. Dr. Maxine was a lovely woman. She had skin that reminded me of cocoa, a short buzz cut, and a beautiful French accent that I was so envious of. I’d always wanted an accent.

“Okay, Kandy! You ready to hear that little one?” she asked with a bold, white smile.

“Yes!” I grinned at her before looking at Cane. He was standing at my side, watching every little thing she did with soft features. He looked so childlike. He’d never seen any of this happen, so he was intrigued and more than a little excited. It was all we could talk about on the car ride here.

Dr. Maxine asked me to pull my shirt up and to lower my pants just a bit, and then she applied some warm gel. She got straight to it with her ultrasound wand, running it over my lower abdominal area. “Let’s see. Where are you, little one?” she whispered softly. She kept moving the wand, narrowing her eyes here and there.

I glanced at Cane nervously. Why couldn’t she find the baby? I knew he or she was still there. I could feel it. My heart felt heavy in my chest as she moved to the left, and then she said, “Ah! There is the little bean!”

Relief struck me. Oh, thank God.

She kept the wand in place. “Okay, now let me turn on the sound.” She pressed a button on the keyboard of the computer beside her, and as soon as she did, a soft thumping sound filled the room. She moved the wand a bit more, and the thumping got even louder.

Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump.

The heartbeat was so quick, like the baby was running his or her own marathon in there.

“Holy shit. Is that the baby’s heartbeat?” Cane’s voice was winded.

“Yes, it is,” she said, smiling at him. “And it sounds so strong and healthy, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” I cooed. “Oh my gosh, it does!” My eyes welled with tears as I looked at the screen. So there really was someone in there. That little someone was alive, with a beating heart, and I had to protect him or her with everything I had in me.

Cane looked down at me and then leaned forward, cupping the back of my head and kissing my forehead. “You hear that?” His voice was so sweet. So full of joy. “That’s our baby, Kandy.”

“Our baby.” I grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it.

“Things are looking as great as ever, too,” Dr. Maxine went on. Cane leaned back a bit. “I’m happy with what I’m seeing. Have you been keeping your movements to a minimum for now, like I requested?”

“I have,” I said, and Cane cleared his throat, like he was calling bullshit. I gave him a small glare.

“Good. I’d like you to keep it that way, just for the next month or so.” She placed the wand down and then grabbed a warm towel from a drawer under the bed to wipe some of the gel off. “The baby seems to be doing well. Considering that you have gone through a loss before, I do think a calm life is a necessity for the duration of your pregnancy. No major traveling or clubbing—things of that nature. Being in a comfortable, stable environment is best. You mentioned you are in school, correct?”

“Yes, but I only have two or three classes a day. I’m careful,” I assured her.

“Good. If there is ever a day when you aren’t feeling too well, just let me know, and I’ll write up a doctor’s note for you.”

“Okay.” She helped me sit up as she stood. “Thank you.”

“Do you think she’ll be able to carry the baby for the whole nine months?” Cane asked, sounding like my mom.

“Well, with the damage that was done to her uterus before, I wouldn’t suggest carrying the baby for the full forty weeks. Instead, what we’d probably do is induce the pregnancy around the thirty-sixth or thirty-seventh week, to be on the safe side, and to avoid ruptures. But I will say that she looks to be on the right track. The baby is growing well.”

Cane sighed, clearly relieved. “That’s good to know. Thank you.”

“Any other questions for me?” Dr. Maxine asked while washing her hands.

We both shook our heads.

“Okay, then. I will see you guys again in two weeks! Feel free to check out with Stacey up front.”

We thanked her and left, but not without big grins on our faces. Cane walked with me down the hall that led to the lobby, draping his arm over my shoulders. “See what staying positive does?”

I laughed. “Okay, okay. I know.”

He pulled back and grabbed my hand, leading the way to the desk. “How does it make you feel? Hearing the heartbeat?” he asked.

There was only one word that could describe the way I felt in that moment. “Happy,” I told him.

But of course, happiness never seems to last long in my world.

The following day was peaceful. I read a new book and helped Miss Cane bake an apple pie, but then Friday arrived. Cane got home and seemed a little on edge when he came into the room. I’d just gotten out the shower and was still wrapped in a sky-blue towel.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as he paced his way to the closet. He always did that pacing thing when he was bothered.

“We have to have dinner with Eden tomorrow night,” he grumbled.

“What?” I walked into the closet as he snatched off his tie. “Why?”

“She came to the Tempt store today. She approved the banner, but informed me that Mr. Miller wants us to have dinner at his house to celebrate the deal. I know she’s the one who thought of it. She’s trying to fuck with me.”

I frowned a little, keeping my annoyance at bay. God, that woman really had no chill. “Then we’ll go,” I said as he tugged a shirt over his head.

“I don’t want to be anywhere near her, to be completely honest.”

“But in order for you to stay on good terms with a man who is giving you the opportunity to open many new jobs, you have to go. You can’t refuse his hospitality like that, Cane.”

“You know what? The shit that annoys me so much is that she specifically asked that I bring you with me. Not me alone, but both of us. She’s a shady bitch, and I don’t like that shit. She’ll try to get between us, make you feel insecure. I can feel it.”

I pressed my lips together. I couldn’t lie; I did feel a little insecure being in the same room as her. She was beautiful and looked like she could have any man she wanted, but she was fucking with mine. Ugh.

“She won’t get between us,” I said, walking up to him. “We’re stronger than some random ex who thinks she can walk in and twist shit up. She doesn’t know our story or what we’ve been through.” I smirked. “Let’s have some fun with it. Show her how unbreakable we really are.”

Cane smirked at that. “Mmm,” he murmured. “I like this new attitude of yours, little one. If I hadn’t been ordered to keep my cock away from you, I’d be buried so deep inside you right now.” He caught my chin between his fingers as I blushed. “You think you’ll be okay going there tomorrow? It’ll be the last thing you do for a while. I really don’t want you leaving the house much, but since you’ll be with me, it should be fine.”

“I’ll be fine, man.”

“All right.” He dropped a kiss on my lips and pulled his hand away. “Let’s do it then, girl.”