Page 88 of The Brutal Arrangement

“But nothing.” I kissed her again. “We will take this one step at a time. That is all we can ever do.”

Without another word, I reached for the plastic test on the vanity.

Two lines.

She gasped as she saw it too.

My heart raced with pure elation and I clutched her close to my chest.

We were having a baby.

Lucy and I weren’t just forced together in marriage, starting as a couple.

We were afamily, with our child on the way.

“Oh, Damon.” She sniffled, burrowing her face against my chest.

I laughed slightly, so overwhelmed with utter joy that I couldn’t stop smiling as I held her.

“We’re having a baby,” she said.

I nodded, rocking her as she hugged me back. “We’re having a baby,” I agreed.

She leaned back quickly, cupping my face. “I’m scared.”

I grinned before slanting close to kiss her. “I can tell.”

“Aren’t you?” she exclaimed as she smiled through her happy tears.

“Not at all. Because I promise you that I will always protect you. I will always keep you and our child safe.” I sealed it with a kiss.

No matter what.

33

LUCY

When I first missed my period, I intended to mention it to Damon. But then we got carried away with each other and I left it in the back of my mind.

Since taking that test with Damon and seeing the evidence that yes, I was expecting, it seemed like it was the only thing on my mind.

“Ugh…” I rolled over in bed a couple of days later, so tired of this already. Fatigue was the first symptom to hit me. In hindsight, I hadn’t only been napping so often and catching myself yawning in the afternoons because Damon was keeping me up too much with sex. He was. But now that I knew I was pregnant and I’d read up with the books Sloane offered me to know what to expect, I realized that it was fatigue from the changes my body was already going through.

But this morning sickness business wasrough.

“Not feeling so good?” Damon asked next to me in bed. He stirred as I moaned slightly.

“No. Not really.”

“Hold on.” He rolled out of bed, quick to help me however he could. I doubted he’d be able to really “cure” this dilemma. No cures would be possible, and I knew I would get used to this. It was worth it. But it sure was sweet of him to be so concerned and want to make me feel as stable as possible.

I closed my eyes and rolled into a tighter ball, willing this nausea to pass. It hadn’t even been a full couple of weeks yet and my throat was raw from puking.

Damon didn’t go far. He’d only walked around the bed to get the plain saltine crackers from my nightstand, as well as the water bottle and bucket in case I couldn’t make it to the bathroom. As I waited for the water and crackers to nibble on, I counted my blessings that I had him to help me.

That I had a husband to stand with me. A partner to shoulder whatever he could in assistance.

I couldn’t imagine facing these changes on my own. But then again, he was half of the participating party in this, anyway.

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