Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Okay, so who’s going to tell her about the baby?” Lidia asked.
Chapter Twenty
Three Months Later
Aria stepped out into the warm summer air. It was going to be a good day. A warm one, according to the forecasters.
“Come on, Bruno, Ernie, Wanda.” She gave a whistle and all the dogs followed her outside.
It had been three months since she had gotten out of the hospital. During that time, Grant had moved in with her. That had been a whole new experience for her, moving in with her fiancé. The Chaos and Carnage MC had helped. With Grant and Maddie’s help, they had been able to keep everyone fed and happy, which was a good thing.
That hadn’t been the most exciting part of the last three months. Nope, the most exciting part had been the wedding that took place on Valentine’s Day. Yes, Grant had been insistent on it being that day. February 14th. Aria had figured it was to make it more romantic for the two of them.
Nope. Not for Grant. No, he wanted that date because he’d remember it, and even if he didn’t remember, which was unlikely, he’d at least get her a box of chocolates and flowers. Aria had found it so adorable. Grant had seen it as practical. He already knew he was going to be in trouble for a great deal of their marriage, but he wanted to get some things perfect.
The other interesting news she had gotten was that she was five months pregnant. She rested her hand on her swollen stomach. Grant had wanted to throttle Lidia for letting that little detail out of the bag, but Aria was grateful.
Her pregnancy was going well. The doctors had been checking her throughout her stay in the coma, and they believe her body had been repairing itself, healing. Either way, Aria was so freaking happy.
She was pregnant with Grant’s baby. The club had teased him, telling him the baby would be doomed, which wasn’t very nice of them. He had admitted he was terrified of being a crap dad. His words, not hers. He was worried he’d turn out like his father.
“My dad wasn’t a good man, Aria. I don’t … what if I turn out like him?”
“Are you going to tell our child that he can’t be friends with people?” she asked.
“No.”
“Are you going to beat him? Punish him? Lock him in a dark room until he forgets about him?”
“Fuck, no.”
“Are you going to love him or her?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’d say that’s a good start.”
She didn’t know if she was having a boy or girl. On the last scan, the doctor had said it was possible for them to know, but she wanted to wait and for it to be a lovely surprise. That was what she looked forward to.
Heading across the path, she took the dogs out toward the park for a long walk. Grant hated it when she went for walks, but their dogs needed the exercise. As she made her way across town, she saw Jase with one of his clients, and she gave him a wave. She no longer visited his gym. The one time she tried to, Grant had left his job at the garage, picked her up while he’d been covered in grease and oil, and then carried her out of the gym. From that day forward, Aria had only ever waved at Jase.
With her hand on her stomach, she thought about her sister who was only a few weeks from giving birth. Isabella spent a lot of time with her. Their mother had cut them both out of her life. Aria didn’t care. She didn’t miss her mother and from what her sister said, neither did she. There was no more toxicity in her life. No one constantly telling her she was ugly and wouldn’t measure up.
She was free.
They both were.
Finally.
Aria saw the garage up ahead and like all other times, Wanda went first, rushing to see Grant. She rounded the garage and stepped inside. Grant was on his knees. The cloth he used to wipe his hands was on the floor.
“There’s my big girl.”
Not only did Grant work at the garage full time, he also still took his role at the animal shelter seriously. Aria continued to work at the veterinary practice. Phil and Andy had proven to be popular and the town had started to trust them. They had become the stop for all animal care.
“What have I told you, Mrs. Reynolds?” Grant asked. He got to his feet but made sure to pet both Ernie and Bruno.
“You tell me a lot of things,” she said.
He chuckled. “How are my woman and my child?” He put his hand on her stomach.
Grant had changed so much. She knew several people around town were shocked by his transformation. Even Maddie had noticed how different he was. Responsible. Grown up. Reliable.