Page 42 of Rex's Honor
“I took out chicken, but when I was preparing it, I barfed.” She cocked a brow.
“Stay away from me, then. Last thing I need is the stomach bug.”
“You can’t get this kind of ailment,” she said, shifting to a sitting position. “Annabelle, will you go get Mommy the crackers?”
“All sicknesses are contagious.” He sat down next to the woman who would forever rock his world, pressing the back of his hand on her cheek, but she didn’t feel warm. “A few people have been out sick at the station. Something is going around.”
“Morning sickness is not contagious.”
“Ha ha. It’s evening and… no.” He dropped his hand to his thigh. “Seriously. We weren’t even trying and you’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “I took the test this morning when the smell of coffee made me want to puke my guts out. What is it with you? We go without birth control once or twice and I’m knocked up.”
“We’re going to have another kid?” He pointed to Annabelle, who handed Tilly a sleeve of saltines. “Two of those little things bouncing around like basketballs?”
Annabelle jumped up on his lap. “What little things, Da Da? I’m not a ball. I’m a girl!”
“Mommy’s going to have a baby.” Tears stung the corners of his eyes. “What do you think about that, Annabelle?”
“Yay!” She kissed his lips before jumping down and running off toward her toys in the middle of the room. The kid couldn’t sit still for a second.
He looped his arm around Tilly, pulling her close. “I’m sorry our babies make you sick.”
“It’s only for a few months,” she said, smiling. “I’m more concerned about how you’re going to be when she starts dating.”
“I’ll be fine, because she won’t be allowed to date. Ever. No boy is going to try to kiss my little girl.”
“Because she’s going to take after her mother and kiss them first.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he muttered. “This one better be a boy so he can help me scare the crap out of her suitors, starting with little Tommy next door.”
“Speaking of which, they have a playdate tomorrow afternoon. Since you’re off work and I’ll be sick, you get to play chaperone.” Tilly poked his arm. “And they’re babies, so don’t start with talk about how he can’t date your daughter. It freaks people out.”
“Yeah, well, they were playing doctor the other day.Thatfreakedme out.” He eased back onto the sofa, resting Tilly’s head in his lap, stroking her long blond hair, while he watched his precious daughter play with her new favorite dolly. “They were running around in their diapers with?—”
“That’s normal, Rex. And someday she’s going to grow up, fall in love with some amazing fellow like you?—”
“Who broke her mother’s heart like an asshole.” He leaned over and kissed Tilly’s forehead.
“Anyone ever tell you that you say the dumbest things sometimes?”
“Yeah, my wife. Every day.”
Tilly laughed. “Are you ready to do this all over again?”
“About as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Da Da!” Annabelle came rushing over. “Wanna play wedding? We can get married.”
“Absolutely.” Gently, he slipped from the sofa and scooped up his baby girl, twirling her around. “Remember, someday when you’re much older and some guy tries to take you away, I loved you first.”
