The Journey Home(59)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Monica sat down as Lily crawled into her lap and settled in. “She’s brilliant. You realize your daughter is brilliant don’t you?”

I laughed as I sat and watched my two favorite girls. Monica was now five months pregnant, and her baby bump was adorable. A small ripple of jealousy raced through my body. I wasn’t pregnant yet, and I was beginning to wonder if the stress of planning our wedding in two and half months had anything to do with me not being able to conceive.

“How’ve you been feeling?” I asked Monica.

She smiled. “Finally better. The morning sickness has really died down. I feel a little nauseous at night but, other than that, I feel good. We have a sonogram tomorrow.”

I smiled and clapped as Lily did the same—Monica was holding Lily’s bottle. I laughed and shook my head. “Are you going to find out the sex of the baby?” I asked.

Monica made a funny face, and I could tell she was excited. “I don’t want to know,” she said, “But I kind of do. Jack totally doesn’t want to find out the sex. He says he wants to be surprised. Even if I decide that I want to find out, he still doesn’t want to.”

I laughed as I pulled my legs up and rested my chin on my knees. I was so happy for my best friend. Who could have known how much would change in a year? Last year her and Jack had just started dating. They’d both been free spirited when it came to dating and sex, but something must have happened that night when they first hooked up. They just fell right into place.

“I’d want to be surprised,” I said, looking at Lily. Lily waved, almost as if she knew the silly doubts that were intruding my thoughts. I waved back. Each morning when we walked into her room she would wave and say, “Mama” and “Dada.” Cale loved it. He loved Lily so much; I couldn’t wait to have another baby. I looked down and sighed.

“It’ll happen when it’s meant to happen, Maddie,” Monica said. “You guys just started trying. Give yourself a break, sweetheart. Just breathe.”

The sliding door to the porch opened and Jack and Cale came walking in. They both had their shirts off and I had to ignore the urge between my legs. I licked my lips as I surveyed Cale’s body with my eyes. He smiled and winked at me as he walked by, headed for the kitchen.

“Jack and I got the boat and the jet skis ready to go,” Cale said.

I rolled my eyes. I hated the jet skis, and I hated the boat. I’d told Cale I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of buying a boat, but all he and Jack ever talked about was fishing and waterskiing. They both loved to ski.

“This warm weather has me itching to get out there and ski,” Jack said. “What about you, Maddie?” he laughed.

I rolled my eyes and looked back at Monica. I loved living on the lake, but you wouldn’t catch me swimming in it. Nope. The moment I felt the little fish nibbling on my legs, I was done. I’d rather float in a pool where I could see what was around me.

“No thanks,” I said.

Monica chuckled as she held Lily, who was sitting up and attempting to stand. Lily bounced with excitement in Monica’s arms. She’d seen her daddy, and that was what she’d wanted.

Cale came into the living room and kissed me quickly before picking up Lily. “Come on, Princess,” he said. “Let’s go outside and enjoy the day now that you have a full tummy.”

I watched as the two loves of my life walked through the sliding glass door and down the deck stairs, making their way down to the dock.

I turned back to Monica and tilted my head. “Why are you staring at me?”

She shrugged. “I just enjoy seeing you happy.”

I smiled and scrunched my nose. “I wouldn’t trade any of this. Never.”

She stood up and placed her hand on her stomach. “That goes for me, too. Come on, let’s go see what the two over-grown boys are up to.”

MY PHONE VIBRATED in my pocket as I looked up from my Kindle. I was working in the library, but I’d tucked myself away in a corner to sneak in a bit of reading. I was reading one of my favorite series, the Remembrance trilogy, and Ryan was about to make me moan internally and wish for Cale’s touch. I pulled my phone out. It was a text from Monica.

Monica: Sonogram went great. I decided to not find out, but my husband broke down at the last minute and told them he wanted to know.

I giggled and shook my head. I could totally see Jack changing his mind when he saw the baby on the screen.

Me: LOL! Did you stay strong?

Monica: No!

Me: So?

Monica: So???

Me: Oh my gosh! Monica. Are you having a boy or a girl?

Monica: We’ll tell y’all at dinner tonight. JJ’s sound good?

Me: So wrong. So wrong on so many levels. Fine. JJ’s at six.

Monica: Perfect! See ya then!

I sent Cale a text letting him know that we were having dinner with Jack and Monica to find out the sex of the baby was.

Cale: Sounds good. Miss your touch. See you soon!

Me: Same here. More than you know. Love you, see ya soon.

I closed my eyes and thought back to last night when Cale and I had been alone. Mary had asked to keep Lily for the night, and Cale and I had jumped all over the chance to be by ourselves. I chewed on my lip as I thought about how hot it had been.

CALE HAD BEEN working with Jack most of the day getting the boat ready for summer when my father called and asked him to join a meeting. Cale had been on vacation, but he’d drop anything if my father asked—which was why my father hardly ever asked.

I’d been in the kitchen when saw him standing there, naked. The only thing he’d kept on was his tie. I couldn’t believe how incredibly turned on I’d been at that sight.

I’d sent him a text saying his mother had picked up Lily for the evening and Cale had texted back to say that the meeting was over and he was on his way home. Monica and Jack had left with Mary, and I’d been cooking dinner. My cooking had improved as I’d branched out to try more things. Tonight was homemade sauce and pasta.

It was warm out, so I’d changed into a light summer dress. I’d been so glad I was wearing my new light blue lace bra and panties. Cale would go nuts when he saw them. He grabbed my breasts as he moaned.

“You look beautiful in this dress.” He’d whispered, placing his lips on my neck.

“Um, thank you,” I’d whispered back, my libido quickly took over. I’d begun to lose all my senses—except for my desire for Cale.

“Maddie,” he’d said. “I’m going to make love to you all night. But, right now, I really want to fuck you, baby.”