Page 24 of Reindeer in the Headlights
“Are you okay? You’re very tired, and you don’t want coffee, and you look off. It’s not like you.” I put my wrist up against his forehead. “You don’t feel hot.”
“No, I don’t have a fever.”
“But you do have something.” This time, I wasn’t letting it go. If he were sick, he needed to let me help him.
He set the spatula down. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you went to the doctor yesterday, and you came home acting weird. Now you’re sleeping super late, which you neverdo, and yawning, and not wanting your favorite things. You’re not fine.”
“Wait.”
I thought he was going to continue there, but instead, he walked into the other room. Great. I didn’t mean to ruin Christmas. I followed him in.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He was digging in a dresser drawer and turned around with a box in his hand, wrapped in Christmas decorations. “You didn’t upset me, but you ruined my present for you.”
“How did I ruin the present?” Now it was me who was confused.
He handed the box to me. It looked like a watch box or maybe a bracelet box, but it was far too light to be either of those things. “We’re doing presents now? I put yours under the tree.”
“No. We’re just doing this one.”
I opened it up, and inside was a pregnancy test. A positive pregnancy test. It took a few seconds for my brain to catch up.
“You’re... pregnant?”
“Yes, alpha mine. I went in for my ankle and came out finding out I was pregnant. I wanted to keep it a secret so I could surprise you on Christmas, but... I worried you, instead. Sorry about that.”
He gave jazz hands. “Surprise, we’re having a baby. You’re happy, right?”
“More than anything.” The box fell to the floor as I threw my arms around him. “We’re gonna have a baby! We’re gonna be dads!”
“Yes, alpha, we’re gonna be dads. Merry Christmas, my love.”
“Merry Christmas, Wyndham.”
Best. Christmas. Present. Ever.
15
WYNDHAM
I adjusted my shirt, trying to smooth it over the bump that seemed to have appeared overnight. At four and a half months, I was definitely showing, and while I’d gotten used to staring at myself in the mirror, going out in public made me aware of my changing body.
Not that I’d be parading my belly around the streets in town. We were only going to my in-laws.
“I love seeing your blossoming belly.” Ambrose turned off the car and kissed my bump.
“I do too.” But today was all about celebrating the belly and our little one snuggled inside.
Our furry children were with us as usual. They were almost as at home with their grandparents as they were at our place. They’d been discombobulated the past couple of months because Ambrose and Jeffrey had built an extension to the cabin containing a master suite. It was our haven and contained a bathroom and bedroom. The original bedroom would now be the nursery.
Iris was in the driveway waiting for us, and she greeted us with open arms as usual. I loved being in her embrace, and she treated me as her third son. She zeroed in on my belly and told me how wonderful I looked.
“Are you all done with morning sickness?”
“Yes, thank goodness.” I wouldn’t miss that part of being pregnant.
