Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
My boyfriend throws me a wry smile. “Well, at least the pregnancy test prevented those guys from blowtorching through a steel door,” he chuckles.
“Still, are you okay with having a baby?” I ask carefully. “With me, I mean? I know you already have Westie, and this pregnancy was unexpected.”
The alpha male pulls me close, circling me with those strong arms.
“I’m over the moon with happiness that you’re expecting, sweetheart,” he rasps into my hair. “This is the best news I’ve had in years.”
I raise my eyes to meet Caleb’s, daring to hope that he means it.
“Really? So you want to be a daddy all over again? Because I’ve heard parenting can be a bitch.”
The handsome man merely throws me a lopsided smile again.
“It depends on how you look at it, but for me, I know this is right. After all, at age forty-seven, I never thought I would have the opportunity again. I thought my chances of having another child were gone, but you’ve given me the best gift a woman can give a man, sweetheart, and I can’t thank you enough for it. I love you, Lorraine Henderson, and treasure you and the child more than anything.
I blink back tears. “I love you too, Caleb, with my whole heart. I want to have this baby with you, and to build a family with you too. We will find peace, love and happiness with Weston as well. No more craziness, violence, or chemical weapons. That part of our lives is done.”
Caleb growls his agreement and then seizes my mouth in a devastating kiss. Immediately, I mewl into his arms because this is how things were mean to be. We survived a harrowing experience where our lives were literally in danger, but I know my man will always protect me. After all, Caleb’s strong, bold, wise, and so much more, and I count myself lucky to have met the man of my dreams.
EPILOGUE
Lori
Six months later.
The Mediterranean sun beams down on me from overhead, warming my large belly. A cool sea breeze keeps me from getting too hot, along with an icy glass of lemonade.
“I don’t think life gets any better than this,” I call out to Caleb while sitting in my bikini on the deck of the yacht. Of course, I have a huge baby bump beneath my cover up, and I pat it lovingly, eager to meet our little one.
Meanwhile, I hear Caleb chuckle from inside the yacht’s kitchen and then he comes out with a tray of caprese sandwiches cut into dainty triangles.
“Mademoiselle,” he says gallantly as he sets the tray down on the table.
“Oh my goodness!” I giggle delightedly. “I can’t believe you’re learning to cook. These look delicious!”
Caleb chuckles and pops a bite-size sandwich into his mouth.
“Yeah, cooking is one of the things I’ve decided to tackle while we’re on vacation. Especially since now, I have the time.”
I take a bite too, moaning as the tangy tomato and creamy mozzarella hit my tongue.
“You’re spoiling me,” I tell him accusingly. “These are so good.”
He merely shrugs and smiles.
“You deserve it sweetheart,” he replies. “Besides, you’re pregnant, so I want to wait on my woman hand and foot.”
I merely giggle again, feeling truly fortunate to be with such a wonderful and generous man as we sail the Mediterranean. After the panic room incident, we decided to leave town. We didn’t have much of a choice, seeing that law enforcement took over Caleb’s home, labeling it a crime scene, but we decided to make the most of the opportunity. Instead of stressing, my man rented this huge yacht, and now we’ve been sailing the turquoise seas for a few months. I didn’t know such hedonism existed, and I’m so happy to spend the rest of my pregnancy in relative peace and quiet.
“How is Westie?” I ask.
By some miracle, Leonora had a gap in her schedule, and was able to take Weston almost indefinitely. As a result, the sweet boy has been enjoying much-needed time with his mother, although we still Facetime every day.
“He’s good,” rumbles Caleb. “He’s really excited to meet his new sister or brother.”
“Do you think we should fly back to the U.S. for the birth?” I ask.
Caleb shakes his head.
“No sweetheart, we already talked about this. It’s fine to give birth in Europe, and it’s fine to finish your classes here too. Remote options are par for the course now, and besides, quite a few schools have already said your credits from Lakeview will transfer. So there’s no rush to do anything. I want you well-rested, happy, and fat, especially since our baby will be arriving soon.”
I giggle.
“Well, I’ve definitely got the fat part down,” I say in a rueful tone. “I couldn’t believe it when I got on the scale at my last doctor’s appointment, but I’m over two hundred pounds now.”