Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 51122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51122 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
“It’s okay to be sad,” she said quietly.
I swallowed and tried for a smile. It definitely didn’t reach my eyes.
“Come on,” she urged. “Your dad went to get your car detailed, and the car seat installed at a fire station in town. I think we could go get our toes done, too, if we hurry.”
I looked at my watch and frowned. “It’s only eight in the morning. Where is he getting it detailed at?”
She shrugged and said, “I stopped questioning your father after our second year of marriage. We’re much happier that way.”
I snorted.
My parents were so in love with each other, it wasn’t even funny.
But if that’s what they wanted to think…
We arrived at Walmart less than thirty minutes later—we lived out in the country in a small two-bedroom farmhouse that was so far away from fast food that I literally cursed our decision every single night.
But according to Banner, the stars at night out on that secluded little farm reminded him of home. So that’s where we stayed.
“What do you need?” I asked curiously.
She grinned and led me to the baby section. “I wanted to buy you some diapers…and see if they had any cute little outfits.”
I outright laughed at that. We had plenty of cute little outfits. So many, in fact, that it would be a wonder if my little bundle of joy even got to wear them all.
“I’m buying a few cute boy and girl things,” she told me. “That way, at least there’ll be a little pink in there for my princess.”
I rolled my eyes. My mom was a firm believe that I was having a girl.
My dad and Banner? Boy all the way.
Me? I didn’t have the slightest idea, so I stuck with neutral colors of green, white, and yellow.
“That’s not…”
“Marco!”
My head whipped around, and I stared toward where I’d thought I’d heard the sound coming from.
What I found, however, was an old man calling for his wife across the aisle. She found him with a middle finger stuck way up high in the air.
“That’s rude,” she said. “You shouldn’t yell in the store.”
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to hear a yell through the store.
“Baby, you ready?”
I looked over at my mom with a knot in my throat, and nodded since I couldn’t make my voice work.
“He’ll be home soon, sweetling,” she promised.
Maybe. Maybe not. I just hoped that I didn’t have this baby without him.
I had one more week until I was officially considered full-term. And that week was coming in hot.
• • •
I was well and truly depressed by the time I got home.
Every single thing I saw reminded me of Banner, to the point where I was nearly in tears when I arrived home to drop my mom off.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go to the sonogram?” she asked.
That was one thing that I’d reserved for Banner, and Banner only.
All doctor appointments were attended by the two of us alone.
He’d been able to go to the first three before he’d had to leave.
Now, it was just me.
“I’m sure,” I promised. “I love you.”
My mom pressed her hand to my cheek, then kissed the tip of my nose as she tapped the door, causing her ring to click against the metal.
I smiled, then spent the next hour crying my eyes out as I drove.
When I arrived at the hospital in, the last thing I wanted to do was stop at the gate and talk to the men manning it.
But I didn’t want to go to jail, so I did anyway, and received a look of pity from the man who took one look at my puffy eyes and decided not to comment.
After passing through, I drove to the hospital and came to a stop what felt like a mile from where I needed to be.
I started the walk toward my doctor’s office and kept my head down the entire way.
It was easier that way.
Why? Because seeing men in uniform made me long for my man in uniform. And it was easier to ignore them all, and try to block them out, than look at them and compare them to my man.
I passed three or four men in uniform while simultaneously keeping my head down when a familiar laugh had me jerking my head up and looking every which way.
I found the man who the laugh belonged to standing directly in front of me, not even five feet away.
My mouth dropped open, and something inside of my heart started to go wild.
One second, I was standing there feeling sorry for myself, and the next I was running full tilt toward my husband.
“Banner!” I cried out, throwing myself at him.
He caught me as best as he could due to my unwieldy belly, swinging me around like I was a child, and not a full-grown pregnant adult.