My ever-so-handsome husband sat behind the steering wheel, motioning for me to hurry up. When I got in the car, he asked, “You okay?”
“Umm… of course. Why would you ask that?” So smooth. I needed Special Forces training. In these types of situations, I was anything but calm.
Austin raised his eyebrow at me. So I changed the subject. “They’re making good progress on the house. We should be in by Christmas.”
And before the baby arrives. Baby. I was going to be a mother. And Austin, a father. I knew he wanted kids… but this fast? The more I thought about it, the more excited I got. Should I blurt it out?
“You sure you’re okay? You’re acting strange.”
We pulled up to the restaurant. “Me? Oh, I’m great. Just dandy. Let’s eat. I’m starved. You hungry? Good!”
Before he could say anything else, I got out of the car. Austin was hot on my heels as I rushed into the restaurant. “I know you’re not telling me something.”
I gave him a cheesy grin with a shrug. “Let’s have dinner with your parents. I’m starving.”
The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air as Austin let the hostess know we were there and we made our way to the private dining room. His parents hadn’t arrived yet. Austin put his hand on my hip and brought me closer to him as we followed. “You have a terrible calm face.”
“I do not. I have a perfect calm face. My calm face is as good as yours.”
“Oh no, it’s not. You know I can keep a secret. You can’t. What are you hiding?”
I widened my eyes, hoping to appear shocked. Instead I probably looked like a buffoon. “I totally do. You have no idea what I’m hiding.”
He snapped his fingers. “I knew it.”
Oh shit. “Maybe I’m lying.”
The hostess showed us in and shut the door. “Scarlette.”
I took a second to look around the room, hoping I would come up with an idea. Instead, the room took me by surprise. There were candles and flowers all over the place. “This is beautiful.”
“Happy one-month anniversary, sweetheart.”
I glanced at the table, noting it was set for two. I brought my hand to my mouth, overwhelmed and filled with joy. “I love you.”
“You are my world.”
I shifted my focus back to Austin and searched his eyes. This was the perfect time. “I’m pregnant.”
Sheer excitement filled his face. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. I just took the test. I wanted to wait until after we had dinner with your parents.”
He took my shoulders. “You’re pr
egnant? Really pregnant?”
“The two lines confirmed I am.”
Austin picked me up and spun me around. “I’m going to be a dad.” Then he set me down and smiled. “You do have a terrible calm face.”
I giggled. “Absolutely horrible.”
From his pocket, he opened a black velvet box. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings. “Happy anniversary, Scarlette.”
Kissing him, I smiled against his lips. “Happy anniversary, Austin.”
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