Jessica
Six Months Later
It’s been nearly a week since I received the news from my doctor, but I haven’t told anyone.
I haven’t told him.
I haven’t shared the news with Matthew that he’s going to be a father again.
It’s true, and I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he discovers that we’re going to have another dragonling. Brooke is going to be a big sister and our little family is going to grow.
I haven’t told him and it’s been driving me crazy. Anytime he looks at me with those big, beautiful eyes, I’m tempted to just blurt the news to him, but this is much too important for that. I want him to be surprised and awed. I don’t want him to be scared when I tell him.
Matthew may have missed being there when Brooke was little, but he’s going to be there every step of the way for this baby. I can tell. He’s going to get to experience being a father all over again, and something tells me that both he and Brooke are going to be so completely overjoyed with happiness.
When he walks through the door of our house, Brooke starts bounding down the stairs and throws herself into his arms. I stand to the side while they finish their hug, and then it’s time for my own.
“I missed you today,” he says with a gentle smile.
“Not as much as I missed you,” I kiss him softly. “I made dinner tonight. Your favorite.”
“Ooh,” he pulls back and rubs his hands together mischievously. “My favorite? I guess I better go wash up!”
Brooke giggles and bounces after him, and I look at them and smile. Tonight at dinner, I’m going to bring out a cake with the announcement on it that our little family is going to grow, and they’re both going to be completely overjoyed. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they realize that soon, there will be four of us.
Soon, our little group will be complete.
“Does he know we’re here?” Casa whispers from the kitchen. “I don’t think he heard us.”
“Hush!” I hurry back to the room. “I don’t want him to know you’re here. Not just yet.”
“Yeah,” Joyce chuckles, pushing back her long blonde hair. “It’s supposed to be a surprise. Did you forget what a surprise is? Is it because you’ve been married for so long now? Are you all tamed and settled down?”
Casa’s eyes narrow, but both Fee and Lyon start laughing out loud.
“You deserved that, man,” Casa chuckles, pointing at his friend.
“Shh,” Fee whispers, motioning for everyone to pipe down. “I hear them coming.”
Matthew doesn’t know I arranged to have all of his former coworkers and their families to come visit tonight just for this special event. He doesn’t know I invited them so we can all celebrate together because tonight is going to be an evening we never forget.
We will always, always remember tonight.
Each member of the team from Casa, Fee, and Lyon is present. There are a couple of babies and several toddlers wandering around the kitchen as we all hide in preparation, but somehow, everyone manages to stay quiet and not give away the surprise.
It’s hard to believe that my life was so different just six months ago. Before Matthew walked into our lives, I had no idea what was missing from my heart.
I was missing my mate.
I was missing my one true love.
As I look around the room at Matthew’s closest friends, their mates, and their children, I can’t help but feel overjoyed at just how adored he really is. Even when he didn’t realize he was making a difference in the lives of the people around him, he was. He made a difference with his bravery, his kindness, and his spirit.
Still, sometimes loving Matthew is bittersweet because even after all of this time, I miss Michelle every day.
My dark-haired dragon beauty friend was the closest thing I’ve ever had to a sister, and I don’t think there will ever be a day when I don’t miss her. If our baby is a girl, I’m going to name her after my friend because while Michelle may have made mistakes in her life, she was a good, caring person. She was a kind person, and I loved her very much.
I know the future isn’t going to be completely smooth. Our family will have ups and downs as we learn how to become one loving unit. We’re an unconventional family, I know, but as long as we have each other, we have hope.
And as long as we have hope, I know the future will be bright.
“Jessica?” Matthew’s voice calls out as he heads down the hallway. “Are you in the kitchen, love?”
“I’m right over here,” I shout out, biting my bottom lip. He walks into the room with Brooke and that’s when we all jump out and shout.
SURPRISE!
Matthew’s eyes go wide as he takes in his group of buddies, and then he looks at them and raises an eyebrow. “You guys are here! I can’t believe it.” He starts hugging his friends one at a time, and then he turns to me. “What’s the occasion?”
I place my hands on my belly and I smile at Matthew.
“We’re going to have a baby, Matthew.”
The smile that spreads over his whole face lights my entire heart.
Oh yeah, me and Matthew? We’re going to be just fine.
THE END
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