Page 102 of Wicked Love

My eyes meet hers. “You’re worried our baby will have Down Syndrome?”

“No. I-I didn’t mean that. I mean healthy in all the ways, mentally and physically. I think that’s a normal fear to have…I just want to be prepared for all the things. Be capable of giving our child the best care possible.” She frowns. “Down Syndrome isn’t typically passed down from parents. You know that, right?”

I swallow and stare at the floor again. “Yeah, I know…but I thought you might be worried about that. And I guess…I just wonder what you’d do if…the baby weren’t healthy in any way or…if you decided you didn’t want to be a mom after all.”

“Bowie,” she whispers, turning to face me. “I’ve always wanted to be a mom. Is this the way I would’ve gone about having one? No. But I’m not going to abandon my child or you. No matter what. I don’t know yet what you and I are going to be.” She puts her hands on my cheeks and I meet her eyes. “Although, whatever that was in your bed…” Her lips lift and she shakes her head. “I don’t know what that was.”

“Me either,” I admit. “Every time with you has felt…life-altering.”

She nods. “Yes,” she says softly. She takes a deep breath. “Wherever we land with one another, we’re going to be parents together. You’re kind of stuck with me.”

I turn to face her and put my hands on her cheeks too. “You don’t think you’ll change your mind, once the baby comes?”

She leans into one of my hands. “I’m surrounded by kids all the time, Bowie. I chose a profession that deals with kids and disabilities. I’m not a runner.” When my eyes lower, she dips her face until they meet again. “I promise.”

I swallow and lean my forehead onto hers. “Okay,” I whisper.

“Okay.”

Her lips press softly against mine and then she stands up and holds out her hand.

“Come on, you should get back in bed. I’ll head home and you can have it to yourself.”

“I don’t want the bed to myself,” I say.

It’s the most honest thing I’ve said in years.

She grins. “Well, maybe I can stay over another time. I’ve got work early tomorrow and didn’t bring anything with me.”

I curl up my face into a scowl and she laughs, leaning up to kiss me again.

“I promise I’m not going anywhere.”

“Okay,” I grumble.

I walk her to the door and she turns and hugs me. When we part, I smooth her hair back and kiss her.

“Next time, please bring your things,” I say.

“Okay,” she says, smiling up at me.

It suddenly falters and I'm back to nervous again."What's wrong?"

"Easter's coming up. How would you feel about coming to meet my family?" Her nerves are back, and I feel bad that I've given her reason to be so hesitant. "You and Becca," she adds.

At those words, my chest expands. She’s choosing meand Becca, opening a door to a part of her life that matters. It might seem simple to her, but I haven’t imagined that I could have this with someone.

I lean in and press a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you,” I whisper, and in those two words I try to tell her everything—how grateful I am, how excited I could be if I only let myself be. “I’d love to meet your family."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Amazing," she says, her smile wide. "They're going to love you."

“Mmm, we’ll see,” I say, unable to resist smiling back at her.

I watch her walk to her car and stand there after she’s driven away, the quiet night my only company.

---