“You said you like my belly didn’t you?” she asks, sounding unsure again. “You said you liked it when there’s more of me to grab a hold of too?”
“Of course I do,” I agree, moving my hands up to hold her. Liking where this conversation is going. The more I look, feel, and talk about her body, the harder I always get.
“Krystal, what’s wrong?” I ask, suddenly concerned myself. This isn’t like her at all.
Her lower lip trembles and I draw her close, holding her tight. “Baby, what’s the matter, what’s gotten into you?” I ask her, stroking her hair and rubbing her back.
Her sobs quietly, eventually turning into a sort of cry-laughing that I can’t understand.
“Baby is right, James,” she sniffs, moving back and taking my face in her hands before guiding my hands down to her belly where she holds them.
“We’re gonna have a baby. I got three tests in three days. All positive.”
It’s a shock, but it’s the best kind of shock. Feeling like we have everything and now being given this.
“Oh, baby!” I exclaim, hugging her again, tight until I remember not to squash her and our little one.
“You mean, I’m gonna be a daddy?” I ask, feeling my heart swell with pride as she nods feverishly, tears of joy streaming down both cheeks now.
“And I’m gonna be a mommy. The best mommy anyone’s ever had.”
“But… How?” I hear myself asking, watching her face become a question.
“I mean, how did I not notice?” I ask her, crouching down to put my hand on her belly again, pressing my cheek and then my ear to her, wanting to know everything all at once.
“You do know how babies are made, right?” she asks, and I readily agree, “We’ve been doing plenty of that,” I admit.
“I’m surprised it’s just the one then,” I add.
“What I mean is… D’you think it was from our first time?” I ask her.
“I felt something, something really special that morning in the cabin, Krystal. I wonder if?”
Her hands guide me back up to her lips, and she kisses me tenderly.
“I know it was,” she whispers, kissing me again and stroking my face.
“I love you… Babies,” I tell her. “I love you both so much.”
“And we love you, James. We love you more.”
Extended Epilogue
Two Years Later
Krystal
After little Zoe came into the world, James watched me like a hawk, he still does.
Watching my mood, how I’m feeling, but mostly watching my curves with that satisfied grin of his.
At the slightest sign he finds me complaining about my size or telling him my clothes won’t fit, he promptly books a doctor’s appointment and eagerly awaits the news I know makes him so proud.
Proud of me as well as his babies.
Almost nine months to the day after I was cleared from Zoe, Zak and Zara were born our precious twins.
“I figure if we start with the Z’s, we can work our way backward through the alphabet,” he jokes as we change the twins together, Zoe already big enough to zoom around our feet in her walker.
“Maybe you can carry the next one? I know someplace you can gestate a fetus,” I hear myself say sharply, losing my patience and stabbing my thumb with a safety pin.
My eyes narrow on James. That stupid grin of his making me madder by the second.
But it passes as quickly as it leaves my mouth.
I’m just tired, I know that. And I haven’t forgotten my promise to myself about not getting mad at James or even my dad, even after all this time.
The worst thing out of my mouth is usually gone in a second, but James’ curiosity is piqued.
And I know what that means.
“You feeling alright, baby?” he coos, holding a palm to my forehead, giving me a concerned look.
That paternal look.
“I’m fine, honey. Sorry,” I tell him, craning up to peck his chin.
“Just tired is all,” I admit aloud, sucking my finger until he inspects it, kissing it all better.
“Tired huh?” he says, cocking his brow and making me laugh.
He always makes me laugh when he doesn’t even try. Those goofy faces he pulls when he thinks he’s being serious or cute.
“You’re a rascal, James Silverthorn, you know that?” I chuckle and finish changing Zara and hand her to her daddy so he can feed them both in his big easy chair.
I’ve given up trying to feed them every single time, even when I think he’s asleep James will hear me in the night and get up to feed them with me, ordering me back to bed if he thinks I need more sleep.
But usually, we all end up in the bed together, little Zoe in between us so she never misses out.
One big happy family.
And I know that’s how it’s gonna stay, for now at least.
James thinks he’s smart. Thinks he knows the signs. But I’ve already had my tests and I know I’m not carrying.