by M. Merin
“Don’t ever tell her, but I decided Tabby was mine the moment she slapped me.” That gets a chuckle out of him before I continue. “The other thing I want to be very clear about and why I really wanted to sit down with you. I don’t want any of her money. I make enough for us to live comfortably on, between the County and my rental properties.
“She had mentioned you had a lawyer you knew draw something up when you were getting married? I have no idea what she has, but I want something that says I don’t get a penny of it. Tabby has to know for sure that I have no interest in her money. I’d like to have that document ready to give her along with the ring I’m getting.
“I’ll reach out to my guy,” Jake responds after a moment. “Welcome to the family, Sheriff.” He says next and I’m not entirely sure which family he’s referring to.
Chapter 25
Tabitha
I’m exhausted. Continuously exhausted.
I work. Spend time with Mike. Have lots and lots of sex with Mike. Spend time with my brother, Connal, and Charlie when I can. And, on occasion, have lunch with Mrs. Riley.
Overall, I’ve been a nervous wreck. Jake invited us for Christmas dinner at their home. The MC will all be together on Christmas Eve this year, leaving the day of for those with families.
I get so anxious anytime I ask Mike to spend time with anyone associated with the MC that it’s ridiculous at this point. We’ve been over to Amy and Wrench’s home several times but I guess in my mind she is a surrogate little sister for him, so it’s different.
Calling into the office for my messages as I head to the new bakery in town, I’m surprised that all is quiet. Last year when I was working in Boston, it seemed like half the pregnant woman in our care went into labor either right before or on Christmas Day.
Pulling up to the bakery, I’m not surprised to see the line of people. The owner only has business hours until eleven this morning before she closes for the next two days. I was thrilled to see this new shop and I immediately volunteered to bring dinner rolls and dessert to tomorrow’s dinner.
I watch the young woman take the time to warmly introduce herself to those in line ahead of me and confirm all the orders. This behavior would have caused a riot back home but is expected in Rowansville. When it’s finally my turn, I get the same treatment. The owner, Molly, asks about sweets I like and throws in a couple croissants for our breakfast the next morning.
Getting back to my truck, I’m more than a little annoyed to see a ticket on the windshield. Loading the food into the passenger seat, I reach for the orange envelope as I get to my side and stand there trying to make sense of all the little boxes on it. Until I see the writing towards the bottom.
Will you marry me, Princess?
I feel like all the oxygen has been sucked from my lungs.
“Will you, Tabitha?” Mike’s deep voice comes from behind me as he puts one hand on my truck, boxing me in.
“That depends, will it get me out of this parking ticket?” he tries to pull it from my hand, but I won’t give it up. Oh, no, I’m saving this forever.
“I was going to wait until the morning but I saw you run in there and couldn’t wait any longer,” he kisses me as I turn into his embrace.
“This is perfect, Mike,” I sigh against his mouth.
“Not yet, it isn’t,” he chuckles and I raise an eyebrow in question. “You haven’t said ‘yes’, yet. You’re kind of leaving me hanging here, Tabs.”
Laughing, I hold tighter to him, “Yes, yes, yes. Forever, Mike.” And he slips a ring with a modest-sized solitaire onto my finger.
“Do you like it?” he asks before I look up at him and he sees the tears falling from my eyes. “Good. Get on home now, Princess. I have a couple more surprises for you.”
“What?” I ask, getting a laugh from him at my childish question.
“Home. I’ll be right behind you.”
I drive carefully but I can’t help but to think of how fun it would be to try for another ticket, if the roads weren’t so icy. Getting home, I see a thick envelope that I immediately tear open to find a prenup. Mike’s way of letting me know he plans on supporting me and our children himself. And I know he will, that this cabin is perfect for us and with the extra rooms that will be added on in the spring, one day it will be the perfect place to raise our children.
“Found your first surprise, did you?” he looks unsure of himself as he enters the room. “I only want you, Tabby.”
“Well, technically you get me and my big family.”
“You have one more surprise waiting for you,” he grins softly at me. “But maybe it’s not?”
“Where is it?” I ask looking around the room.
“In the bathroom.”
Alright, not what I was expecting but I quickly walk back to our bathroom. And find a pregnancy test.
“You’re a little late, Princess. And you’ve been so tired,” Mike speaks up from the doorway.
“I’m on the pill,” I say uselessly before shaking my head. If I had a dollar for every time a woman had said that since I started working in hospitals. “Give me a minute?” I ask him, making eye contact in the mirror. He nods and closes the door. Once I finish peeing, I walk out to find him sitting on our bed.
“I’ve been so busy, I just didn’t think of that, Mike.” I study his face, wondering what he thinks about adding a baby to our life.
“Princess?” he reaches a hand out to me and he holds me as I stand in front of him. “When it’s time to name our child, we need to be a little more creative than Michael or Michelle and a little less fanciful than Tabitha or Jarrett, deal?”
“Deal.” I cup his beautiful face and watch his eyes. “You’re alright with this?”
“No, I’m on fucking pins and needles waiting to get those results, Tabby!” he squeezes my ass hard. “I love you so much and the thought of you carrying our child? How much longer?” He looks over my shoulder towards the bathroom.
“Go and check it,” I smile at him, taking his seat on the bed. A moment later he screams ‘Yes’ and comes right back, kneeling in front of me and kissing my belly.
“Are you okay with this, Tabby?” he pauses after a moment. “You aren’t saying much?”
“I feel like an idiot. This is supposed to be my thing after all.”
“But you’re happy, right?”
“Yes, Mike. I’m shell shocked but this is hands down the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” I slide back on the bed, tugging him with me. “This is ours for now, okay? We’ll tell them about the engagement, of course.”
“But this is ours for now,” he agrees, cupping my belly gently.
Chapter 26
Michaels
After talking and laughing about possible names for our child, Tabby falls asleep. I tuck her in and go to work on our dinner, nothing extravagant tonight, just a quiet Christmas Eve for us.
My phone rings as I’m sticking a tray in the oven and I groan, seeing Sheriff Lisson’s name come up.
“Any news on your end?” he asks without greeting.
“Not from the MC.”
“I tracked down another ex-Girlie. Name is Lucy, said she went by Diamond when she was with them. This one said she got into it pretty bad with Frank one day, didn’t give any details but she unwittingly gave him an alibi for the approximate date the autopsy concludes Deb died. Said he was on lock-down waiting on the Grizzlies decide his punishment.
“The only remotely positive thing she had to say about Deb was how good she was on ‘going down’ when they teamed up with one guy,” he lets out a ragged breath. “It’s Goddamn Christmas Eve and I got to hear this shit.
“So, no leads?”
“My money just moved from Frank to Gunner,” he retorts, meaning he has jack-shit for evidence.
“He’s not a choir boy, but I don’t see him cheating on Riley and how else would someone be able to stick a needle into her from behind? He’s a bit big to be sneaking up on people and you said there weren’
t any rope marks or bruises?”
“Well, we’re shorthanded enough around here and Eric announced he’s retiring this next year, so this case will collect dust unless we get any other evidence.” Lisson acknowledges.
“Thanks for the update, I’ll let you know if anything ever comes up,” I disconnect the call to see Tabby standing at the entrance to the hall.
“That smells amazing,” she smiles.
“How’s my baby-mama doing?”
“That’s Doctor–fiancé–barely–pregnant– baby–mama, thank you very much,” she laughs as she peeks into the oven.
“You’ve officially lost all naming privileges.” I deadpan.
“But I’m the one carrying the baby!” she smacks my arm.
“I don’t care. For the sake of our little nugget, no Forsythe gets any input regarding its name,” I pull myself up to my full height and cross my arms.
“Just one – if it’s a girl, I want her middle name to be April,” my absolutely perfect Doctor–fiancé–barely–pregnant– baby–mama decrees.
“Deal.”
Tabitha
Christmas morning we exchange simple gifts over the croissants from the new bakery. I can’t stop looking at my ring. It’s nothing earth shattering like my sisters would have insisted on but it fits me to a T.
Heading to Jake’s house, we laugh and sing along with carols on the radio. I smile each time Mike strokes my stomach, I know we agreed to wait but there’s no way the others won’t notice this gesture – one that Connal and Jake make so often.
We’re standing near the kitchen island getting to know Connal’s brother, Derek. He’s really entertaining except for seeming a little worse for wear from the party the night before. When the doorbell rings, we all exchanges looks, unsure of who would stop by. Jake and Connal exchange a shrug and being the closest Mike turns to reach for the door.
“Can I help you?” he asks, blocking out the visitor from our view.
“I’m looking for my grandchildren, Jake and Tabby?”
I’m sure my face is a mirror image of Jake’s shocked look. “Gramps?” I move forward.
Mike steps back and sure enough, Gramps follows him into the room and I rush into his embrace.
“What are you doing here?” I squeal.
“I left you both voicemails. God forbid either of you return a call,” the smile he’s giving me softens his words. Connal and Charlie start to quietly laugh, remembering my words to Jake so many months before. “I was stuck with those pretentious morons for four days over Thanksgiving. I don’t deserve it but I’m asking for asylum this Christmas.”
Jake hasn’t said a word and when we turn to look at him, he’s got his arm around Charlie.
“Charlie, I’m not going blow smoke up your ass, you’re too smart for that. I’m old and very traditional, my realization that day shocked me to my core.” Gramps walks towards her. “I very much regret the way I spoke to you that night, I had no right to do so nor will I in the future. Will you give me the chance to be a part of your family?”
“We’d like that very much,” she smiles shyly at him. “I know how much Jake has missed your talks.”
“With a condition,” Jake speaks up. “Any children we have…”
“I understand, Jake. Donna clobbered me over the head about that already,” he smiles when he mentions his fiancé. “Charlie, Connal – I fully intend to treat any of child of yours as my own great-grandchild. And you, sir? We’ve not met.” Gramps turns to Derek.
“I’m Connal’s gay brother, Derek,” he reaches his hand out with a big grin. Mike chokes on his beer but my grandfather doesn’t miss a beat.
“My brother was gay, also. Would never admit it, poor fellow, but those were different times.” He smiles warmly at him before turning to Mike. “Through process of elimination then, may I presume you were the man who gave that ring to my granddaughter?”
“We were engaged last night, sir,” Mike steps forward to shake Gramps’ hand. “Mike Michaels.”
“And are you in this motorcycle group with Jake and Connal?”
“Gramps!” I narrow my eyes at him before turning to the other three guys who are all cracking up.
“I’m the Sheriff for the county, actually,” Mike smirks down at him. “Nearly arrested Tabby on her first day in town. Decided I should keep a closer eye on her. In the name of public safety, you understand?”
His icebreaker gets howls of laughter from everyone and even more over dinner with the retelling.
Epilogue
The following Christmas
Michaels
Putting our little Nathaniel down in his bassinet, I smile to myself as I smooth back his wild black hair. He’s getting too big to sleep in this, but with Gramps and his new wife, Donna, staying with us over the holiday, we didn’t want his nighttime feedings to disturb them.
Rejoining the party, I stand back for a moment thinking how different the family around the table is from the one I was born to. There’s the same amount of love to go around. Connal is challenging Gramps to a game of chess after dinner. Charlie, Jake, and Tabby are laughing about something, and Donna has taken over feeding ten-month old, Gemma.
I can imagine that little hellion probably sprayed Mona with her mushed peas – Charlie’s grandparents take their role in the baby’s life very seriously and get territorial around others.
Jake and Connal came to a decision before their daughter’s birth. Unless it was obvious, the paternity stays between the three of them, plus Tabby since she’s their doctor. Gemma is nearly a replica of Charlie, and by extension, Mona; so the Scott family is thrilled. Jake and Connal have found Jesus since their daughter’s birth. They’ve taken to praying that Gemma doesn’t inherit Charlie and Mona’s amble chest.
“Oh, good Mike. Come join us!” Charlie calls out to me and I throw a questioning glance to Tabby as I sit next to her. Her little smile gives me the answer I was looking for. “We wanted to let you all know that we’re pregnant again!”
A cheer goes up around the table and Tabby gives me a knowing wink. We’ve decided two children would be the perfect number for us and want them to be close in age. Once Tabby’s body healed from Nathan’s birth we started working on his sibling.
Stayed Tuned For More…
Already out:
Jasper: Northern Grizzlies (Book 1)
Flint: Northern Grizzlies (Book 2)
Gunner: Northern Grizzlies (Book 3)
Charlie: Northern Grizzlies (Book 4)
Coming late July 2018: Betsy: Northern Grizzlies (Book 6)
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Thank you, M
