Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
I knew it was time to look at the result, but I hesitated to pick up the stick. Whatever I found there would change the course of Rhys’ and my lives. Forcing myself, I turned it over—and immediately burst into tears at the little plus sign.
I was pregnant.
Rhys and I were having a baby.
And I had to tell him while downstairs the house was filled with our family and friends. I took a couple minutes to calm down, and when my mind finally quit racing, a broad, joyful smile spread across my face. I was going to have Rhys’ baby, the man I adored more than life itself.
Dabbing away happy tears, I checked my appearance, fixed my hair, then went downstairs. I thought about the fact my mom and her husband, Michael, were coming to visit next month, and I’d be able to tell her the news. She was going to be over the moon; she’d always wanted to be a grandma.
Rhys, my Rhys, was opening the door as I came downstairs. Maggie, Shay, and Jonathan had just arrived. Thankfully, Rhys had warmed up to Jonathan a little better, which was a good thing because Maggie often invited him along to various outings and get togethers.
I let my gaze trail over his back and shoulders encased in a dark shirt and was filled with so much love I felt I might get teary again. I really needed to pull it together.
“Maggie, Shay, Jonathan,” I greeted as I came and took Rhys’ hand in mine, all the while my head was filled with questions like, when do I tell him? Now? Later after everyone left? I was a bundle of nervous energy, and a part of me just wanted to blurt the news in front of everyone. I just about managed to keep it in.
“The place looks great,” Maggie exclaimed while her brother, not looking like his usual confident self at all, muttered, “I need a drink.”
Jonathan stalked by us into the house and directly to the kitchen where a selection of beverages was spread across the counter.
“Sorry about him,” Maggie said, her lips forming a sad shape. “His mother passed away the other week, and he hasn’t been himself.”
“My goodness,” I exclaimed while Rhys cast him a sympathetic glance. “Poor bloke.”
“Yeah,” Maggie exhaled. “It’s been rough. That’s why I invited him tonight. I thought being around people might help. Get his mind off it, you know?”
“Anything’s worth a try,” I said before we ushered them farther into the house.
After that, I was swept up giving people tours and was so exhausted talking about what we’d done with the place by the end of the night that I just wanted to collapse. Not to mention, it had been nerve-racking declining drinks every time someone tried to hand me a glass of wine. To my relief, no one had mentioned my out-of-the-ordinary choice to remain sober.
It was almost one in the morning by the time Rhys and I had the place to ourselves again. I was so exhausted I nearly forgot the momentous news I had to share with him. Perhaps I should wait until the morning after he’d had a night’s sleep before laying it on him that he was going to become a father.
“Hey, are you feeling all right?” Rhys asked, eyeing me where I was strewn out on the couch. He lifted my legs, sat, then kept my feet in his lap and proceeded to rub them. Did I mention that I adored him?
“I’m okay, just a little tired.”
“Yeah?” he said, digging his thumb into a particularly achy spot, and I sighed. “I noticed you weren’t drinking after you bought all that nice wine for the party.”
Huh. Well, it appeared my alcohol avoidance hadn’t gone completely unnoticed. “Right,” I said, sliding my feet away from him as I sat upright. “There’s actually a reason for that. I found out earlier, and I wanted to tell you right away, but people had started arriving, and I thought it was better to wait for privacy.”
“Charli, what are you trying to say?” He looked concerned.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat, excitement and anxiety warring for dominance as I finally whispered, “Rhys, I’m pregnant.”
As soon as the words left me, his concern faded away. He blinked several times, merely staring at me as he responded dumbly, “You’re pregnant.”
I bobbed my head soberly. “I am.”
Another blink, and then, the most glorious smile I’d ever seen on him. Relief smacked me hard in the chest. He was happy. I was happy. And we were having a baby. I expected him to haul me into his arms, perhaps kiss me, but instead, he rose and left the room. It was my turn to blink. Okay.
Rhys went upstairs, and I heard him rummaging around in our bedroom before he came back downstairs. There was something small in his hand, but I was too perplexed by his odd behaviour to pay it much notice.