Reaching up, Winnie runs her thumb under my eye. “This is unexpected, but I’m so happy, Harrison. I don’t know how we’re going to do this. Everything is so messed up, but this baby…” She swallows hard.
“This baby is a blessing,” I finish for her. “Peanut brought you back to me, and I will never take you for granted again. I don’t know what the future holds, but you have given me a gift. A piece of you.” I place my hand over her belly. “And a piece of me to love for a lifetime.” I kiss her again because I can’t not kiss her. “I’ll love you both with everything in me until the day I take my last breath.”
She nods, wiping her eyes. “I should probably get dressed.”
I help her off the table and into her clothes. Once she’s fully dressed, I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck. It feels damn good to hold her in my arms again.
“You ready?” Dr. Taylor cracks open the door and asks.
“Yes,” I say, pulling away.
“Everything looks great. We’ll see you back in four to six weeks.” She hands Winnie a stack of papers. “Here’s a prescription for pre-natal vitamins, and of course the pictures of your baby.” She smiles at us. “Congratulations. If you need us for anything in the next few weeks, please don’t hesitate to call.”
“Thank you, Dr. Taylor,” Winnie says with a blinding smile. She doesn’t tell her that we don’t need the prescription since the ER gave us one as well. I decide to keep quiet too. It doesn’t matter. My wife and baby are both healthy. That’s all that matters.
Once we’re in my truck, I turn to face her. “Do you care if we stop by my place to get some things? That will save Chase a trip.”
“Harrison, I’m fine,” she assures me.
“I know that, but I still want to be with you. Both of you.” I nod to her belly. “You’re my family.”
Her eyes well with tears. This has been an emotional day for both of us. “O-kay,” she agrees.
Reaching over the console, I take her hand in mine and don’t let go until we’re pulling into my apartment complex.
“I’ll just wait here.”
“Nope. You’re coming with me.” I climb out and walk to the passenger side, opening her door. “It won’t take me long.” She hesitates, but removes her seat belt, and takes my offered hand to help her out of the truck. I don’t release her hand. Instead, I hold tight until we’re in my apartment. “I’ll be just a minute.” Dropping a kiss on her cheek, I head to my room to pack some clothes.
Pulling my suitcase out of the closet, I gather everything I think I might need this week, and a few extras. In the bathroom, I grab my razor, shaving cream, body wash, all the necessities. Snagging my phone charger from the nightstand, I zip up the suitcase and wheel it to the living room.
“Hey,” I say when I see her standing in the small living room, staring off into space. “Everything okay?”
She blinks a few times and then turns to face me. “This place, it’s bare, Harrison.”
“I don’t need much.”
“You’ve been living here for months.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’ve been sleeping here, but I haven’t been living. I stopped that the minute I packed a bag and left you crying on the couch.” The memory haunts me still to this day.
I’ve never been more wrong.
A tear slides down her cheek. “I’ve missed you,” she whispers.
Releasing the suitcase, I wrap her in my arms. “I’m right here, Winnie. I’m not going anywhere.” I hold her, letting her work through the tears, all while fighting back a few of my own. When she pulls away and looks up at me, I wipe her cheeks. “Ready to go home?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
A few hours later, we’re sitting on the couch. Winnie is on one end, while I sit on the other with her feet in my lap. She’s watching a movie on the Hallmark Channel, and I’m pretending to do the same. Instead, I’m watching her, only glancing at the TV when she catches me staring. That’s how Gabby finds us.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” she comments.
Winnie looks at me, and I expect her to pull away; instead, she surprises me. “We think so. What’s in the bag?” She cranes her neck to look at her sister.
“KFC,” she says, turning to walk to the kitchen.
“Ready to eat?” I ask, keeping the moment light.
“I don’t know if I want to move.” She laughs. “I never realized how comfortable this couch was.”
“Then don’t.” I slide out from under her, resting her feet back on the couch. “Chocolate milk?”
“Yeah, but I can—”
I stop her by bending to place a kiss to her lips. “Let me take care of you.”
Another surprise, she nods, accepting my plea. I find Gabby in the kitchen, setting everything up. “Winnie’s going to eat in the living room. I’ll get her a plate made up.”
“I can do it,” she counters.
“So can I.” I cross my arms over my chest and stand tall. I know she’s pissed, but I’m not letting her push me out, not when I’m finally exactly where I want to be.
Where I belong.
“Fine,” she grumbles.
I can see in her eyes she wants to no longer be mad at me, but it’s still too soon for her. I get it. I know she’ll come around eventually. I busy myself making Winnie a plate. I make sure to grab two packets of honey for her biscuit; I know how much she loves it. I pour her a big glass of chocolate milk, grab a few napkins, and head back toward the living room.
“Hey, babe, you ready?” I ask her.
She sits up on the couch and grabs a pillow, placing it on her lap. I hand my girl her plate before moving the coffee table closer, so she doesn’t have to stretch to reach her glass.
“You keep this up, I’m going to be spoiled and as big as this house by the time this baby arrives,” she jokes.
“Good. I want you spoiled, both of you, and I can’t wait until you start to show.” I confess my earlier thoughts.
She laughs. “Right.”
“I mean it,” I tell her. “To know that a part of me is growing inside you, that’s…” I shake my head, unable to find the words.
“Some sappy shit,” Gabby says, plopping down in the chair with her own plate.
“You’re just jealous,” I tease her. Her reply is to stick her tongue out at me.
“So, what did the doctor say?” she asks before taking a huge bite of fried chicken.
“Everything’s perfect,” Winnie says happily. “We’re six weeks. Oh, and we have pictures.” She goes to set her plate down.
“I’ll get them,” I tell her. I want to kiss the hell out of her for saying we’re six weeks, not I’m six weeks. It’s the little things that can make a difference, and that statement tells me all that I need to know. Winnie and I are going to be okay. I make my way to the kitchen where we left them on the counter. I’m surprised Gabby didn’t see them. Then again, she was pretending to be pissed that we were so cozy. I take a minute to stare at the grainy ultrasound pictures. It’s hard to believe that’s our baby.
When I get back to the living room, Gabby holds her hands out, and they’re covered in grease. “Don’t touch,” I tell her.
“What the hell?”
“Your hands are covered in chicken grease.”
“Sheesh, Harrison. If you’re this protective of a grainy image that you can’t even make out a baby, how are you going to be when the kid actually gets here?”
Winnie laughs. “Welcome to my world.”
“Get used to it.” I lift her legs and set her feet back in my lap. I see no point in denying it. I’ve always been protective of her, and now that she’s pregnant that protectiveness is heightened.
“You have no one to blame but yourself. You’re the one who’s letting him stay here,” Gabby tells her sister.
“He’s waiting on me hand and foot. Can you really blame me?” Winnie laughs. “Besides,” she looks at me, “Peanut needs Daddy close.”