“You weren’t. It’s that sweet yet alpha voodoo they put on us. Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Reagan points at each of us.
“I love that all four of us are pregnant at the same time. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the guys planned it,” Kendall jokes.
“What about you?” Reagan looks over at me. “Any thoughts about adding to the Baldwin brood?”
I open my mouth to speak and then close it. I do this twice more before these ladies, my friends, figure me out.
“No!” Dawn says excitedly.
“Shh. I haven’t told him yet.”
“Why not?” Mara asks, concern in her voice.
“I found out for sure yesterday. Then last night when I got home, Kendrix was gone, and he had flowers and candles and all the sweet romantic ‘I want you to have my last name’ stuff, and he was so proud of himself for pulling it off without me finding out. I had no clue, none whatsoever. I didn’t want to take away from his night.”
“I know you missed your chance with that the first time around,” Kendall says gently. “But, he’s just like the others. That news wouldn’t have taken away from the night, but it would have added to it.”
“I know. I just chickened out, I guess. I know he loves me and he’s been open and honest about having more kids. I don’t know. I just froze up and didn’t tell him.”
“Well, what do you say we keep an eye on Kendrix, and you tell him now?”
“I’m going to tell him tonight.” What I don’t tell them is that I have something else to tell him. I had a dream the night before last. We were in the meadow, lying on a blanket. His arms were wrapped around me as he whispered, “I missed you,” into my ear. It was summer break from college, and my first day back in Jackson. We made love in the open field, and he held me the entire day. It was perfect. When I woke up, it wasn’t just a dream. It was my life. Our life. It all came rushing back to me like a flood. Even the night he didn’t show up. I was scared to tell him I was pregnant. We had never identified what we were to each other. I didn’t know how he was going to take it and then he never showed up.
Crushed, I left town early. I still had every intention of telling him about the baby. I never would have kept it from him. It was his choice to make if he wanted to be in our lives. His and his alone.
I admit that a little of my apprehension in telling him comes from that night, but he’s proven over and over again that’s not who he is. He loves Kendrix with everything he is, and me too. I know my worry is silly, but it’s there all the same.
“Nope. You need to do it now. The parents won’t be here for—” Dawn looks at her watch. “—another thirty minutes. We’ve got the kids, everything is done, the guys are just messing with streamers to look busy.” We all laugh at that because it’s the truth. “Go tell him now. We’ve got this.”
“I don’t want to take away from Kendrix and her first birthday with her daddy.”
“Laney,” Mara chimes in. “You’re going to tell her that she’s going to be a big sister and that her daddy is for certain going to be here for all the birthdays to come. That’s not taking away from her big day.”
“Go.” Reagan’s voice is stern.
“Damn, Tyler was right. Those pregnancy hormones are scary,” I tease her.
“Oh, hush.” She snorts. “Go.”
“All right. I’m going. Let him tell the guys.”
“You got it. That’s what they get for not letting us in on the engagement.” Kendall grins.
“Wish me luck,” I say as I stand from the couch.
“You don’t need it,” the four of them call back.
Here goes nothing.EpilogueKentIt doesn’t matter where she is in the room, my eyes seek her out. The connection we have is that strong. That’s why I tune out of the conversation Ridge is having about something cute as hell that Knox said about Kendall being pregnant when she stands and heads this way.
She’s glowing, and I know it’s from happiness, and from the baby she’s carrying. I’m more in tune with her body than my own. She missed her last cycle, and her breasts have been tender. Trust me, I know because I give them lots and lots of attention. She also asked my mom to watch Kendrix yesterday. She had an appointment. One I was unaware of. I don’t need her to tell me to know that she’s pregnant. I thought maybe last night would be the night she would tell me.