Page 139 of Feels Like Home

“Are you going to move in together? Getmarried?”

“Yes, we’re going to move in together, but I think we’re going to have to add an addition on to his place to make room for me, the baby, and a room for Bri when she’s home. Married? I don’t know. I would love to be his officially. But we haven’t talked about it, not in the marriagesense.”

“What do youmean?”

“I mean, we’ve talked that we love each other in a forever way, but I’ve been too nervous to bring up marriage. Honestly? If he asked me right now, I’d haul his ass over to the court house and marry him on thespot.”

“Ooh, Bri would be upset if she missedit.”

This is true. Andy and Bri have gotten surprisingly close since we’ve been together. She had a great father figure in Barrett, but the bond she shares with Andy is different. It’s been a beautiful thing towatch.

“I don’t think I have anything to worry about there,” Iadmit.

“What do you mean?” Tess reaches her hand over to me, squeezing it once when I don’t respond. “Talk to us,Christine.”

“I don’t think Andy really wants to get married. Heather did a number on him, you know? She just… she was just so bad.” I don’t dive back into all the crap that happened with his terrible ex and definitely don’t want to bring up anything that happened with Todd and her. So far, Bri hasn’t heard any of the grumblings around town, and I want to keep it that way. Her memories of her father, even when he was sick, are wonderful ones. I want to keep it that way because no matter what junk was going through his head or how stupid he behaved, he was an incrediblefather.

“And the way she’s just up and left those boys?” I shake my head and shrug, wiping away a stray tear that starts making its way down mycheek.

“Hey—” Carly comes over and sits on the other side of me while Lauren makes her way over, sitting on the coffee table in front of me. Surrounded by my three best friends, I know I’m not in this alone. I might be having a baby at forty-one years old, but I have the love of my life by my side and the best friends a girl could askfor.

“Listen here, you beautiful, incredible, fabulous woman. Andy knows how lucky he is to have you. He loves you. I bet he’s looking for rings right now. Do you know how much he talks about you? Have you seen how he lights up when you walk into the room? It doesn’t matter if he hasn’t seen you in hours or minutes, his response is always the same. And I can only imagine how much he wants you to take his lastname.”

“He looks at me away?”

“Oh yeah,” they all say inunison.

“I’m surprised your panties don’t melt off from his looks alone,” Tessgiggles.

I’m not sure they haven’t a time or two. I hate feeling this way, but I can’t help it. I loved someone with all I had in me once, and he ended up leaning on someone else, rather than coming to me, when he was at his lowest. As much as I’ve tried to not let it get to me, it isn’t easy. And the more I lean on Andy, the closer we get and the harder I fall for him, the more nervous Iget.

Tess leans over and lifts my chin so I’m looking at her. “Listen to me, andhearwhat I’m telling you. Do not let your mind get in your way at this moment.Feel.” She presses her hand to my heart then moves it to my stomach. “How does he make you feel? How does he feel knowing you’re growing someone you made together? By the look on your face, I would imagine that he loves it more than just a little bit, am Iright?”

I nod my head, feeling overwhelmed by theirwords.

“Damn pregnancy hormones.” Isniffle.

“Oh, they’re the worst,” Lauren says. “And I only had to deal with it once. But I had a boy and girl in there at the same time. It was like my body was going throughwhiplash.”

“Thanks, girls. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I say as the waterworks increase and I start weeping. “We’re having a baby!” I wail, halflaughing.

“Don’t cry! Then I’ll start crying!” Carly wipes at her eyes that are alreadyleaking.

“A baby!” Lauren shouts, throwing her arms in the air, trying to lighten the mood. “I can’t wait to snuggle it and smell it and dress it up!” Lauren, I can only imagine the clothes she’ll buy this littlebundle.

“Meeither!”

Soon we’re all huddled together on the couch, each of us crying andlaughing.

“I think it’s safe to say she told them,” James’s voice carries overus.

I lift my head and nod, seeing Andy’s smiling face. His eyes soften as soon as we makecontact.

“Babe,” he murmurs, making his way toward me on the couch. The ladies move aside as he crouches in front of me and leans up to kiss my stomach. “How’re my girlsfeeling?”

I hear the ladies behind me aww, and the guyssnort.

“I’mgood.”

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