The Journey Home(64)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Jack rushed to her and said, “What’s wrong, Monica? What’s the matter?”

She looked down—something was moving across her stomach.

“Holy shit,” I said as I walked over and placed my hand on her stomach. I looked at Jack as Monica grinned from ear to ear.

“What was that?” Jack asked.

Monica laughed. “I don’t know. Maybe a tiny foot or something? Oh, shit. One of them is kicking big time.” She grabbed both our hands and placed them under her stomach. Sure enough, someone was going to town in there.

“God, this is the most amazing thing ever,” I said.

Jack nodded. “These are the greatest moments of my life. Nothing like feeling your child moving inside your wife’s body.”

I looked to my right and saw Maddie standing there, holding Lily. She was staring at us, as we had our hands on Monica’s belly. She had a wounded expression on her face.

“The um…the babies were really kicking,” I said, facing her.

She smiled slightly as she nodded and set Lily down.

“Look,” she whispered as she let go of Lily’s hands.

Lily wobbled for a few seconds before she started walking toward me. I dropped to the ground and held out my hands as she walked right into my arms. I held her as Maddie clapped and praised Lily. I glanced back up and saw tears in Maddie’s eyes. Monica and Jack started clapping as Lily clapped and, yelled out, “Bird!”

I WALKED OUT of the bathroom to find Maddie already asleep in bed. I’d wanted to talk to her all evening. I wasn’t sure if she’d been happy about Lily walking, or upset about Monica and the babies. I couldn’t read her, but I knew something was off. Monica had told me that Maddie was starting to worry because she hadn’t gotten pregnant yet. As much as I reassured her, she still seemed to be falling deeper into a depression.

I crawled under the covers and pulled her body into mine. She mumbled something as I kissed her shoulder. “I love you, Maddie,” I said. “I’ll love you and Lily for as long as I live.”

When she rolled over, her green eyes looked so sad. “What if I never get pregnant?” she asked.

“Maddie, you have to stop stressing. Please. It will happen when it’s meant to. Let’s get through Lily’s birthday and the wedding. Then we’ll have our honeymoon. A week alone. We’ll do nothing but relax and try to make a baby.”

She gave me a weak smile. “What if—”

I placed my finger to her lips. “Shh. Stop thinking that way. Now, I need you to do me a favor.”

She nodded. “Anything.”

“Let me make love to you.”

She sat up and pulled her T-shirt over her head as she crawled on top of me and rocked against my dick. I rolled her over and placed her hands over her head as I pushed myself into her and began to slowly make love to her. We didn’t need to say anything. Just gentle kisses and one whispered I love you as we both came together. My body was overcome with so much love. Soon I would be marrying the woman of my dreams.

LILY’S BIRTHDAY HAD finally arrived. I laughed as I watched my father and Mitchel, Cale’s father argue over whose turn it was to take Lily back into the bouncy house. I called to them both, “She’s going to get sick if you guys keep bouncing her around like that!”

My father turned and waved, like I didn’t know what I was talking about. I laughed and turned my attention to Cale. Biting my lip, I placed my hand on my stomach. I couldn’t wait to be alone with him. I’d wanted to talk to him as soon as I got home from my doctor’s appointment this morning, but everyone was around.

I closed my eyes and thought back to when I received the best news of my life.

MY DOCTOR HAD just walked into the room and given me a sweet smile. Internally, I’d rolled my eyes, thinking she was about to tell me I had the flu. I didn’t have time to have the flu. I had a birthday party today and a wedding next week.

“I knew it, I have the flu. Shit. Can you give me something to make me feel better? Oh, God. What if Lily gets sick before the wedding? We won’t be able to go on the honeymoon.”

Doctor Jacobs laughed, as she sat down and shook her head. “I don’t think you have to worry about any of that, Maddie. You don’t have the flu.”

I looked at her, confused. “What’s wrong then? Can you give me something to make me feel better?”

She inhaled quickly and let the breath out just as fast. “I’m afraid not.”

The nurse had walked in and smiled, setting down a plastic bin that had a needle and two vials in it. “What are you doing?” I asked.

“Taking your blood,” she replied.

I turned my head quickly and looked at Doctor Jacobs. “Oh, God. Do you think something is wrong with me? Why is she taking blood?”

Doctor Jacobs stood up and walked over to me and placed her hand on my arm. “Calm down, Maddie. Everything is fine. I’m having her drawn blood to double-check the results from your urine sample.”

My heart dropped. “What kind of results?”

She smiled bigger and tilted her head as she looked at me like I had just said the sweetest thing ever. “A positive pregnancy result.”

I let out a breath. “Oh…that’s it.” I closed my eyes and then snapped them open again. “Wait, what?”

“Congratulations, Maddie. You’re pregnant.”

I JUMPED WHEN I felt someone touch the side of my face. I looked up and was greeted by the most beautiful green eyes.

“Jack and I are headed out on the boat with a few others. We’re gonna get in some knee-boarding and skiing. You wanna come?”

I looked back at my father and Cale’s father. They were taking turns bouncing with Lily. I smiled and shook my head. “Nah, y’all have fun. But don’t stay out there too long. We’re going to be singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Lily soon, and cutting the cake. She’s going to be really tired, and I don’t want her staying up too late especially since she’s missing a nap today.”

Cale leaned down and kissed me on the lips. I loved how gentle his kisses were. At the same time, they were so powerful.

“Okay,” he said. “We’ll just do a few rounds. I love you, Maddie. You look so beautiful and happy today, baby.”

I placed my hand on his cheek. “I love you, too. When we get a moment to be alone, I have something important to tell you.”

He stood up, concerned. “Do you want to talk now?”