Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
The tears in my eyes are stinging warmly, pleasantly.
I slide the ring onto her finger and then leap to my feet, wrapping my arms around her and spinning in a circle, our lips seeking each other out like they always do…
And always will.
Forever.
EPILOGUE
TWO WEEKS LATER
Freya
I sit in the bathroom of the tattoo studio, my pants around my knees. I’m staring down at the pregnancy test with all the love in the world pumping through me. I don’t care if that would sound cheesy or even impossible because I know it’s true.
As I stare at the lines telling me I’m going to be a mother and tears flow down my cheeks, the same way they flowed down Felix’s when he proposed.
I never loved him more than that moment, too impatient to wait any longer, too eager to make us official to even take me home.
We did go home after, of course, and the scene was wonderful. Rose petals, candles, food, and lovemaking.
Standing, I carefully place the test on the sink as if it’s going to break if I don’t handle it delicately.
I’m sure I can feel the life glowing inside of me already, even if I know that’s probably not true… or definitely.
Still, it’s there, like our child is talking to me, telling me they can’t wait to meet us.
I get home before Felix since my shift ends earlier today. It’s only three PM, so I mostly spend a little time cleaning to distract myself.
Then I talk with Julie on the phone for a while – we’re back to brainstorming our graphic novel, and it’s so fun – and then I stand in the guest bedroom, imagining it with a crib and a mobile and with the walls painted pink or blue.
The house is large, and lots of decorations are still in order, but we’ve made an effort and moved most of our stuff out of boxes. Furniture is being delivered almost daily.
We’re well on our way to making it a family home…
And now the family’s on the way.
At around six, I hear his car pull up in the driveway. I leap to my feet and run over to the window, smiling so much my cheeks hurt, already thinking about his face when I tell him.
Felix pushes the front door open with Felicia in his arms and Yasmin walking behind him. Felicia beams when she sees me, wriggling from Felix’s arms and running over.
I scoop her up, looking over her head at Felix, wearing a blue shirt that shows off his arms, his silver hair neatly combed, the warm smile on his face just making me even more certain he’s going to be the best, most loving father.
As I hold Felicia, I can’t help it anymore. Happy tears prick my eyes.
“Hey.” Yasmin walks over, frowning. “Are you okay? Sorry for the surprise drop-in.”
“No, no…I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her. “And you, Fi Fi.”
Felicia giggles at her new nickname, throwing her arms around me.
“I’ve got some big news,” I say as I carry Felicia into the living room.
I place her on the couch, her favorite spot, as more happy tears are in my eyes.
Felix strides over to me, touching my arms softly, that gentle smile on his lips. It’s a different sort of smile these days, even more, infused with love than it was when he proposed.
“Tell me,” he says, his voice getting deep, growly as he fights away the emotion.
He doesn’t want to give into it yet, let himself believe until he knows for sure.
I nod, and that’s all he needs. He can read my face.
Felix leans down and kisses my forehead, his lips warm. “I can’t believe it. But of course, I can. I can’t wait.”
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Yasmin asks.
“Me too!” Felicia yells, laughing. “Miss, Mommy, miss.”
I turn to Yasmin, my hand tightening around Felix’s, my husband-to-be, the only man I’ll ever want or need.
“I’m pregnant, Yasmin,” I say.
“Pregnant,” Felix repeats, his voice low, awash with love.
Yasmin claps her hands together, beaming, and then we both burst into tears of happiness, which call to the future and bring it here, into this room with us.
“It’s real now,” I sob as I collapse against Felix.
His arms wrap around me as I weep into his chest, his hand stroking me tenderly through my hair.
“You’re going to make the best mother, Freya,” he says passionately. “The best.”
EPILOGUE
ONE YEAR LATER
Felix
I sit in the living room corner, and the TV is turned down low as it plays the football highlights, subtitles on. I’ve never been a huge fan, but there isn’t much on at three AM.
I know some fathers may resent this, sitting with their child in the light of the TV. Lucy’s basket is on the table, turned away from the screen’s glow, her eyes closed as her chest rises and falls gently.