Kat Taylor nervously twisted her wedding ring around her finger as she stared out at the passing landscape. She and her husband Jackson were on their way to one of the most important meetings of her life, and she was so nervous she thought she was going to throw up. Her stomach clenched, her palms were sweaty, and she was having a hard time catching her breath.

“Relax,” Jackson said. “Everything is going to be fine.”

Kat sighed. “I… I know, but I want this so badly. You know how much I've always wanted children. I never thought I'd be able to have any, and this adoption process was taking so long, but now we're finally going to sign the papers today. We are going to bring our son home.”

“I know it's been a long time coming,” Jackson said. “But it's happening. Today we become parents.” His smile was huge and he laughed in excitement.

“Have you ever wanted something so deeply that you were afraid to even wish for it? That's how this is for me. I'm afraid at the last minute something will happen and we're not going to be able to adopt him.”

“It's happening today,” Jackson said. “There's no more waiting. He's going to be coming home with us, his parents.”

“But what if?”

“Stop. You can do all the what ifs in the world, but you have to relax and enjoy this, Kat. Don’t be borrowing trouble. Don’t think about things that could go wrong. Simply be in the moment of meeting your son—being able to hold him and bring him to the special room we created for him. Just think of that.”

Kat looked over at the man she married, the one who pulled her out of the darkness and made her believe in happily ever after. She sighed. “I know you’re right, but I can’t stop myself.”

“You wouldn’t be you if you weren’t worrying about everything. But you of all people know that worry doesn’t change anything. Sometimes bad things happen to good people.”

“I can do this. I can do this. I can do this,” Kat chanted softly. “I know this is going to happen.” She pressed her hand to her stomach and rubbed the scars that ran deep across it—the reason she couldn’t have children. She prayed this chance of having a child would go according to plan, and not be ripped away from her.

“I can’t believe you haven’t told Lexi or Evie about this.”

Kat shook her head. “If for some reason everything fell through, I couldn’t deal with their sympathy on top of my own devastation. I would need to wait until it wasn’t so fresh.”

“I can understand that.” Jackson reached over and pulled her hand away from her stomach, and laced his fingers through hers. “But you know they would be there for you no matter what.”

“I know, but then Lexi’s been going through the complications with her pregnancy. She’s not here right now, and you know she’ll just worry. She needs to concentrate on herself and the baby.”

“Don’t you think this could bring her some joy?”

“Oh, I know that this is going to bring her tremendous joy. Once everything is done. Once we can let everyone know he’s officially ours. We already have a trip planned to see Lexi and Noah. I’m hoping they’ll be able to meet their nephew.”

“I think they would love that.”

Jackson pulled into a parking space and turned the ignition off. They both sat there looking out the window for a minute before he broke the silence. “Let’s do this.”

“I don’t know if I can,” Kat whispered. “I’m so scared.” She couldn’t catch her breath. “I’m so frightened I’m going to be a terrible mother. I’m going to do something wrong. I’m going to hurt him, or not be able to protect him. That somehow I’m not going to be able to give him everything he needs to succeed in life.”

“Come here.” Jackson pulled her into his arms and squeezed. “You, my dear, are going to be an excellent mom. Are you going to make mistakes? Of course. He’s going to end up hurt—especially considering I’m his father, if he picks up on my clumsiness. But don’t you understand, Kat? You’re going to give him everything he needs in order to succeed because you are going to love him. That’s all it takes. Love can conquer all.” He framed her face with his hands and forced her to look at him. “We know this. Love. Conquers. All. Look at everything you’ve accomplished since you were attacked and left for dead. You can do this. You are going to be the best mom for that little boy.”

Tears rolled down Kat’s face. “I love you so much, Jackson. I have so much love to give and I can’t wait to give it to my child.”

“All right then, let’s do this.” Jackson turned from her and opened his car door.

In the brief moment she was alone in the car, Kat couldn’t contain the smile that burst from her. She was going to be a mom.

Jackson opened her door and held out his hand to her. “Let’s get our son and bring him home.”

Placing her hand in his, she got out of the car and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”