“Yes, but I have to wait three minutes, and it’s only been about two or so.”
“Let me see it.”
“Zach—”
“Let me see it, baby,” he repeats, holding out his hand.
“I hate when you’re bossy.”
“Too bad, now let me see the test.”
“It has pee on it,” I gripe, not sure if I want him to see it, and his jaw clenches.
“Shel.”
“Fine.” I move aside, but don’t look at the test or him as I see him pick it up off the counter. “Two lines mean yes,” I explain, wishing I was brave enough to look at the it myself.
“You’re not pregnant,” he says quietly, sounding disappointed, and I feel a pain hit my chest. I didn’t realize how much I wanted a baby with him until this moment; I didn’t even realize it was something we could possibly have again. With everything going on, I hadn’t even thought about it.
“I’m not?” Tears fill my eye
s as he holds up the test between us and I see there is nothing there. The screen is completely blank. “It’s broken.” I frown, and his head tilts, studying me then the test. “There should be one line at least, but there isn’t. Something is wrong with the test.”
“Do you have more?”
“No, Joe only brought one.”
“Give me ten. I’ll be back.”
“Zach—”
“Ten, baby. Breathe for me. It’s going to be okay. All right?” He holds my gaze.
Swallowing, I nod, and then his lips are at the top of my head, where he kisses me before tipping my head back with his hands under my chin so he can place a soft kiss against my lips, and then he’s disappearing out the door.
“I didn’t mean to listen, but I heard. You may want to drink this, since you’re gonna have to go again,” Joe says, coming into the bedroom holding a glass of water, and I take it from her, drinking it down without thinking.
“It’s probably not okay to have tequila right now, is it?” I ask, and she laughs.
“No.” She turns on the tap and fills the glass again before handing it back to me. “He didn’t seem mad,” she states, and I nod, drinking down the water in large gulps.
“He wasn’t. I think he was disappointed when he thought it was negative,” I whisper, and her face softens.
“Not to say ‘I told you so,’ but I told you so.” She smiles then takes the glass out of my hand once more. “You should sit down. You’re shaking.”
I look down at my hands and see they are trembling, and then let her lead me to the bedroom, where I take a seat on the bed and wait for what seems like an eternity for Zach to get back.
Zach
“She’s in the room,” Joe says, as I step into the house, and I lift my chin toward her, closing the door behind me. “The kids get out of school soon, so I’ll pick them up along with mine.” She grabs her coat that’s lying over a stack of boxes.
“Thanks, Joe,” I mutter, as she slips on her coat and grabs her key out of her pocket.
“Anytime, let me know if you need anything else.” She smiles then disappears. Taking off my jacket, I toss it over the same stack of boxes then make my way down the hall toward the bedroom.
I knew Tina calling my cell out of the blue this afternoon meant drama. We haven’t really spoke since she called to tell me she was sick of hearing how perfect Shelby was from Steven and Aubrey. There was nothing I could do about my kids liking Shel, and nothing I would do, even if I could. I’m thrilled our kids get along and that we all get along together. I had no clue when I answered her call that she would send me into a panic. I wasn’t worried about the words she spewed; I was worried about Shel and what she was going through, so I hung up and drove to the house without even stopping to think.
Opening the bedroom door, Shel is sitting on the bed with her hands in her lap and her eyes blank, making me instantly on guard.
“Joe’s gonna get the kids from school. We’ll go get them from her later.”
“Sure,” she says, but her tone is one I haven’t heard from her before, one I never want to hear again after today. Setting the bag in my hand onto the dresser, I move to where she’s sitting and get down on my knees in front of her, taking her hands in mine.
“You know I love you, right?” I ask, and her eyes meet mine as she nods. “And you love me, right?” I request, just to confirm, running my fingers over her pulse.
“Yes.” She threads her fingers through mine.
“When I saw you weeks ago with Braden in your lap, I wondered if us having another child was possible,” I confess softly, and her eyes flash. “I didn’t bring it up. I figured we’d have time and that I could work on convincing you to carry my baby after things settled around here and we got married.”
“You wanted another baby?” She blinks, and I smile at her surprised look.
“With you, yes. You’re an amazing mom. Hunter, Steven, and Aubrey are lucky to have you in their lives, and I know if we do have a child, that child will grow up surrounded by love. Absolutely, I want another baby with you. So regardless of what the test says after you take it, know that it’s something I will be happy about if it’s positive, and something I’ll be looking forward to if it’s not. I don’t want you to be upset. I never want you to be upset about the idea of being pregnant with our child.”
“What about the kids? How are they going to feel?”
“Hunter and Bre will be excited. Steven will try to play it cool, because that’s what he does, but I have no doubt he’ll be happy about it too. We will all adjust. This is meant to be. Every single thing that has happened between us was meant to happen. The bad and the good have led us here.”
Pulling a breath in through her nose, she nods then looks toward the door. “I have to go.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” I growl, and she tugs her hand from mine and rests it against my cheek.
“No, I need to go.” She tips her head toward the bathroom, smiling, and my body uncoils.
“Right,” I mutter, standing, then pull her up from the bed. Grabbing the bag from the dresser, I follow her, opening one of the boxes on the way and handing her the test.
“How many did you buy?”
“Five.” I shrug, and her lips twitch while her hands on the button of her jeans pause. “Can you wait outside?”
“No.”
“No?” She frowns.
“Baby, I’ve seen every inch of you. I’m not leaving.”