“Did I ask?”
I match his smile. “We need ground rules.”
He groans. “You and the rules.” He lets out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. Lay them on me.”
“One, no overly public displays of affection around the kids,” I say, ticking it off my hand.
“Define ‘overly’.”
“Anything we do in the bedroom cannot be done outside of it.”
Henry taps his lips with his index finger. “Wow, you’re no fun.” I wait in silence. “Okay. Agreed. But I’m still kissing you whenever I want.”
“I can live with that.” To prove his point, he leans forward, grabs the back of my head, tilts it up and leaves a scorching kiss upon my lips.
When we break, I’m breathless and panting and needier than all hell. “What other ‘rules’ do you have?”
Rules? Who was talking about rules? I shake my head to get some sense back before crawling into his lap. “In all seriousness, I’m afraid for the kids. What if-what if something happens to us? The kids have already attached themselves to you and I don’t want to see them get hurt.”
“And what about you? Have you attached yourself to me? Aren’t you afraid of getting hurt?”
It’s a valid question. I’ve been focusing on how this will affect the kids without taking my own emotions into consideration. If I leave them out of the equation, what would I find?
I’d be living with the man who makes my heart soar high above the clouds and has taught me what it’s like to live again. Hurt, pain…none of that is even a question when I think of Henry.
What am I afraid of?
I cup his cheek and smile. “I know I’ll never get hurt as long as you’re around. You promised me, remember?”
His eyes soften as the realization of my silent acceptance registers in his head. “That I did. And I’ll never break my promise.”
Two years later
I waddle across the living room, on the hunt for my missing phone. This pregnancy has left my memory an absolute black hole. I lost my shoes the other day, my car keys last week, and then lost them again after I had picked them up. Can you still consider it losing something if they’re in your hand?
Henry sneaks up behind me, letting his hands cradle my ever-growing bump. Soon he won’t be able to do that anymore.
We didn’t plan on getting pregnant. After all, it took Henry four months to convince me to marry him after we moved in, then another seven months to go through with the ceremony. Okay, there wasn’t that much convincing. We agreed it’d be easier when the kids were out of school so we could go on a family honeymoon. The kids have never been on a family vacation so it was perfect. And who doesn’t love the happiest place on earth?
When I peed on that stick and the words pregnant showed, I was overjoyed. So was Henry. If it was possible, I think he was even more excited. Ever since I showed him, he’s done everything for me. He even painted my toenails last night because I couldn’t reach them. Then followed it up with a foot massage. It was heaven.
Cassie and Lauren threw me a baby shower last month with a little help from Karen, Ann, Tricia, and Brenda that is. Everyone laughed and had a good time. Somehow I’d forgotten how much stuff you need with a newborn.
I was nervous about how the kids would feel about the new baby, but they’ve been almost as excited as us. Every day there are multiple hands on my stomach, or lips pressed to my belly as they talk to him or her. We refused to find out the sex because it didn’t matter. We already had two of each.
Since we needed an extra room, Cassie and Lauren volunteered to share one, which wasn’t surprising. They picked out a new bunk bed and moved into the downstairs room we built. Henry gave up his office so Jacob could have his own room. He didn’t go without for long because he finished off the bonus area above the garage and moved everything up there. Even installed an intercom so I could let him know if I needed anything.
Henry is still working in the kitchen at the restaurant–because he can’t give it up–but with fewer nighttime shifts. Greg has been doing a great job at night, which allowed Henry to hire another line cook. So now he has all evening to spend with us. The only thing he’s asked is that he’s allowed a few hours on the weekend for business stuff. It was an easy compromise.
“Lost something?” He nuzzles into my neck, covering my skin with a fresh layer of goose bumps.
“My phone. Again.”
He laughs and walks around to pick up something from the table. There, sitting right in front of me, is my missing phone. Huh. What do you know?
“You could have pretended to keep looking with me, you know.”
“Where would the fun in that be?” Taking my hand, he leads me to the living room. Henry props a few pillows behind my back as I settle into the corner of the couch. Grabbing my feet, he starts massaging my insoles, digging his thumb into knots I didn’t even know were there.
“Ooh,” I moan, sinking further into the cushions. “Don’t stop.”
“I haven’t heard you say that since last night.” I can’t resist when he’s playful like that.
I try to poke him with my other foot but barely reach his leg. “You’re a funny, funny man.”
Henry abandons my feet in lieu of my stomach. I slide over, making room as he lifts my shirt to press his lips against my bare belly.
“Hey, baby. It’s Daddy. I can’t wait to meet you soon.”
If you would have asked me years ago how I envisioned my life, it would not have been this. We meet certain people at different times in our lives without knowing how they’ll impact us. Henry was my saving grace, the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Out of everything that happened, I never once regretted falling in love with him. He showed me what unconditional love was and I thank the stars every day for it.
Like every time I type the words “the end”, it saddens me to see a project finalized. This was no different. A lot of emotion was placed into this book, something so different than the others I’ve written. I can’t tell you where this story had popped up, but it begged me for months to be written. And like the slave I am, I wrote it down, though at times it was difficult. Because it’s so different, I love this story just a little more than the others.
First and foremost, I need to thank you, the readers. Without you, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. Your support and encouragement help me more than you’ll ever know. Thank you for enjoying my stories and living along with the characters as I have, though hopefully they don’t wake you in the middle of the night with their talking. :)
To my husband, thank you for your endless support and encouragement. Not a day goes by that you don’t tell me how proud you are of me for achieving my dreams. I’m so glad to share this journey with you.
Andrea, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Thank you for your friendship and unwavering support. You constantly helped me see the light when I didn’t know where to look. And you truly are the “book whisperer”. I’m beyond lucky to call you my friend.
Katie, I don’t know where I’d be without your support. I’m so grateful to have you in my life, even though we didn’t know it at the time we met, you’ve become someone I depend on.
Ellie, you’re going to have to forgive me but I’m about to get all sappy on your ass. I’m so thankful for your friendship. You’re more than just an editor to me. When I see you, I may hug you. This is your warning.
Murphy, once again you amaze me with your talent. You’ve created a beautiful cover and one that I find myself looking at all the time.
Stacey, one of these days I’m coming down and we’re going to drink wine together. This will happen.
A huge thanks to Emilie with InkSlinger PR. I know we’re just starting on this journey, but your support has been a blessing. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
To my friends and family who give me all their love and support as I bombard them with messages, or ignore them because I’m in the middle of a thought and can’t be disturbe
d, I love you more than I could possibly put into words. I’m truly blessed to have you in my life.
Thank you everyone for taking this journey with me.
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Jodie Larson is a wife and mother to four beautiful girls, making their home in northern Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior. When she isn’t running around to various activities or working her regular job, you can find her sitting in her favorite spot reading her new favorite book or camped out somewhere quiet trying to write her next manuscript. She’s addicted to reading (just ask her kids or husband) and loves talking books even more so with her friends. She’s also a lover of all things romance and happily ever afters, whether in movies or in books, as shown in her extensive collection of both.
Other books written by Jodie Larson
Available on Amazon and for free on KU
Fated to be Yours (Fated, book 1)
Fated to be Mine (Fated, book 2)
Lessons of the Heart
Serenading the Shadows (Lightning Strikes, book 1)
Notes of the Past (Lightning Strikes, book 2)
You can find Jodie at:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Website: www.jodielarson.com
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