LAKE

ELEVEN MONTHS LATER

 

During almost a year of wedded bliss, a lot has happened. I graduated with my Masters in Education and accepted a job in Six Forks at Bainbridge Elementary. Keiran sold his part of the business back to Jesse and followed me. He’s been volunteering his time to help coach the basketball team at Bainbridge High and started an after-school little league for younger kids. He didn’t seem to be in a rush to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, and when he opened a joint account, I realized why. The nosy wife in me reared its curious head, and I couldn’t believe how much cash he was sitting on.

When we first moved back to Six Forks, we stayed with Keenan and Sheldon while Keiran and I scoped out a home to buy, which ended up the next street over from theirs anyway. They had run off to elope a few months after we married when Keenan decided he wasn’t taking any more chances. She, in turn, convinced Keenan she wanted to stay local despite his earlier ruling on her attending med school in California as planned.

Today was the best day of them all because today my best friend would marry the love of her life. Shortly after Haven was born, they moved into a beautiful home that Dash had built for their family. It was then we discovered where Dash had been hiding all of the baby stuff he had purchased. Willow, Sheldon, and I—and Keenan—all cried at the sight of the beautiful nursery.

Everything was perfect.

Until reality crash-landed and I learned our world was about to get a little bigger. I had been helping Willow with her dress when a wave of nausea overcame me, and I nearly puked all over her ivory gown. It was the most subtle thing I’d ever seen her wear, and I almost ruined it.

“Should I go get Keiran?” Sheldon asked after I finally stopped vomiting. I shook my head and closed my eyes as I leaned over the toilet. He was the last person I needed to see right now. I still hadn’t found a way to tell him.

God.

I thought we’d slain all his demons.

“I just need to sit down, I think.” She nodded and I followed her back out into the church hallway. Keenan walked by as the door closed behind us but stopped when he noticed my face.

“Whoa. Why do you look like that?” he frowned.

“Honey, have a brain. She’s sick and you’re not being nice.”

“Sick?” He stroked his chin and stared at me for a long moment. “Are you sure you aren’t pregnant?”

Sheldon’ stiffened at the same time I did. Her head whipped around to face me, and her jaw dropped. I felt as if my tongue had become lodged in my throat.

“I—I, uh…” I couldn’t form words but it didn’t matter because he smirked and walked away.

“Are you?” Sheldon shrieked. I could only nod and stare down a spot on the floor. “Does Keiran know?”

“No,” I croaked. “I don’t think I can tell him.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“I’ll lose him.” It was the only thing I was afraid of now.

“That’s not possible.”

The door to Willow’s dressing room opened, and she poked her head out. Her curls had been whipped and beaten into shaped by her mother and pulled back to show off the angelic lines of her face, which was now pulled down with concern.

“What’s going on?”

Neither of us responded though Sheldon pulled us inside and shut the door. “Tell her,” she nudged when the silence stretched too long.

“I’m pregnant.”

Moisture immediately pooled in Willow’s eyes, and then she grabbed and pulled me into a tight hug. “Is this for real?”

“I don’t know what to do,” I cried and she pulled me tighter.

“Do you truly believe he wouldn’t be happy?”

“He’ll be terrified.” Just then, the door shook and a loud boom echoed around us.

“What the—”

“Baby, open up.” I recognized the voice instantly and felt my blood drain. I was rooted to the spot. Breathing was no longer an option.

Sheldon growled beside me and stormed for the door. “I swear if Keenan told—” She ripped open the door and was met by my anxious husband who rudely pushed past her. Dash was behind him but she said, “You can’t come in here,” and slammed the door in his face.

“Keenan said you weren’t feeling well.” Keiran reached out and grabbed my waist to pull me close. He tucked his chin low and spoke against the side of my face. “What’s wrong?” His voice was tender with fear.

“I threw up.”

“Why?” The guttural sound of his voice broke me, and I was pretty certain he already knew.

“Because I’m pregnant,” I stated matter of factly and looked up to meet his eyes. I needed to see his true feelings. I was surprised to find him smiling. “Wait… Why are you smiling?”

“Actually, I think we should give you guys a moment,” Sheldon cut in and grabbed Willow’s hand. “But don’t take too long. The wedding starts in fifteen.” She checked to make sure the coast was clear and then they left.

“You’re smiling,” I repeated as soon as the door was closed.

“I was beginning to think my soldiers were weaker than Keenan’s.”

“Explain please.” My tone was short because this was not the reaction I was expecting. He should be yelling and making threats and storming out.

Keiran doesn’t want kids.

“He’s been bragging how he got Sheldon knocked up even though she was on birth control.”

“I’m still not following.”

He swallowed hard and suddenly looked very serious. “I want this.”

“No,” I argued more out of confusion than denial. “You don’t want kids. You’re scared—” I didn’t get to finish because he had placed his palm on my stomach but stared down at his hand confused.

“I’m fucking terrified.”

I didn’t know how to respond because he wasn’t making sense.

“So why?”

“I promised to give you everything, and I know this is what you want. So, I thought maybe I could make that sacrifice.”

“That’s not a reason to face your fears. I don’t want a family to be a sacrifice.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Then why!” I yelled frustrated and stepped back. I wanted to believe him. I wanted a family with him.

But not if my happiness was a sacrifice that he couldn’t live with.

“Haven loves Dash and Dash loves him back. He’s. Just. His. Son.”

“Keiran, baby, explain a little better,” I pleaded. I felt just as desperate as the look in his eyes.

“I got a call from Daniel after we were married. They wanted me to know the inheritance is still in place. If I have a son, I’ll inherit.”

“My son will not be a meal ticket.”

“I’m glad you said that because I told him if I ever did have a son, any cent given to me will be donated or burned. He seemed to understand.”

“So what does this mean?”

“It means I’m not Mitch, and I never will be. I know that now. I want to be a father.”

“What if one day you wake up hating me, or I wake up one day and you’re gone?”

He reached out for me and I went. He needed to touch me just as much I needed him to but he didn’t stop there. He kissed my lips until I softened against him. “That’s never going to happen. Even when I hated you, being without you wasn’t something I could do. It’s you and me forever, wife. Get used to it.” I laughed until he lowered to his knees and looked up at me. “Do you trust me with our kid?”

My relief over his willingness to give our family a try was nothing compared to how I weakened at the humbled look in his eyes. “I trust you,” I found myself saying easier than ever.

He kissed my stomach through the dress, and I wanted nothing more than for him to continue, but a knock on the door pulled us apart. He glanced at his watch and cursed.

“The wedding is about to start.” When he opened the door, we found Willow standing on the other side with her arms crossed. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to walk down the aisle?” he joked.

“In a minute… Is everything cool?” she grilled with her threatening glare on Keiran. He snorted and ignored her to wrap his arm around my waist and he pulled me in front of him. They had grown closer and by closer, I meant they agreed they were each equally important to me. Willow still tried to assert dominance over him, though, and Keiran still found it amusing.

“We’re going to have a baby.”