Chapter 35
Haddy
“Can you believe Dr. Barry specifically said no more shower sex?” I’m standing in the bedroom reading the text I received from my OB/GYN. “She said with your injury and my center of balance off, it’s too dangerous right now.”
Time is flying, and I can’t get over how big my stomach is getting. It’s pretty terrifying to think I’m having a baby with Gavin the giant, even if it is a girl.
Aunt Liv gave me a pep talk over FaceTime a few days ago. She reminded me that Gina is Uncle Garrett’s daughter, and he’s six-foot-four. She told me she went through the same freak-out when she was pregnant.
Then I talked to Mom yesterday after I learned most women poop during delivery. That put the kibosh on water birthing for me. No floaters in my pool.
Now we’ve switched to all of my aunts’ favorite method, hypnobirthing. It’s basically learning to breathe and chant mantras when you really want to scream your head off and have a panic attack.
I’m not convinced it will work, but at this point, I’m doing my best to take a scientific approach. Women have babies every day with all varieties of men, and only a small percentage have problems. Breathwork and intense focus have been proven to help ease the pain of childbirth.
I can do this.
I wrote it on a Post-it note and stuck it inside my iPad cover. I can do this.
“Damn, that’s my favorite kind of sex.” Gav walks into the bedroom, smiling with his perfectly repaired front tooth.
I melt a little bit at how handsome he is, and despite my baby fears, I wouldn’t change a thing.
“It’s all your favorite kind of sex.”
“Yeah, it is.” He bends down to kiss me. “Get on the bed and let me taste that pussy.”
Heat flushes through my body, and a horny giggle slips from my throat. “Maybe we could switch to bathtub sex.”
His face scrunches. “I don’t think either of us would fit in that tub, much less together.”
Reaching up, I curl my fingers in his shaggy flow. “Sounds like we need a bigger tub.”
His expression stills, almost like he’s about to say something, but stopped himself.
“What? You didn’t get my Jaws reference?”
“I want to show you something.” His hand slides down my forearm to thread our fingers. “Get Peepee and come with me.”
I reach down to scoop up our little dog, and he leads me down the stairs and out the front door. My feet are bare as I skip across our front yard to the sidewalk, hesitating to look both ways, then crossing the street.
“Where are you taking me?” I’m breathing quicker as I laugh.
He doesn’t answer as he walks straight up the porch steps and into the house across the street. It’s an adorable bungalow I’ve always admired.
“What are we doing?” I don’t know why I’m whispering. “Why is the door unlocked?”
Inside, we’re greeted by soft yellow-pine floors and white beadboard walls. The ceiling is also painted white with exposed, matching pine beams across the length.
I put Patsy down as we walk through, looking up and all around the completely empty house. The walls are painted in neutral colors, and it has arched doorways throughout. A wall of windows lines the living room, facing a flowering bush and tree-filled backyard.
“It’s so pretty,” I sigh, walking around and looking at everything. “I’ve always loved that giant sycamore out front.”
“Check this out.” Gavin leads me through a large master bedroom, to the master bath.
It’s a luxurious suite with smooth tile floors. A beige stone, walk-in shower is in one corner and a door leading to a private toilet is situated across from it.
Gavin stops me right in front of a large jetted garden tub beneath a frosted, stained-glass window, and my heart picks up with excitement.
“What do you think about that tub?” He asks, studying my face. “Big enough?”
“It should be…” I put my hand over my thumping heart, not sure what all this means. “What are we doing here?”
“How would you feel about making this our home?”
I turn to walk slowly back into the master bedroom with its pine floors and exposed brick walls. “Our home?”
“I wanted to do this at the game, but it got all fucked up.” He reaches into his pocket, taking out a little blue pouch with Tiffany’s stamped on the side.
From it, he removes a shining silver ring, and my breath disappears.
It has a massive, pear-shaped stone in the center with two smaller baguettes on either side, and I realize when he slides it onto my third finger, it’s in the shape of a crown.
Tears immediately flood my eyes. He’s giving me back my crown.
“I’ve known from the minute I met you, Princess, you were the only woman for me, and every day we’ve spent together, I’ve only known it more.
And to top it all, you’re having my baby?
Damn, Haddy, nothing would make me happier than to have you as my wife.
I don’t want to live another day without you in it.
I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
I have to tell myself to breathe. “Gavin…” My lips part with my inhale. “It’s so beautiful… It’s all so beautiful… I—”
“Is that a yes?” His eye squints, and I’m nodding hard, tears falling onto my cheeks as I laugh.
“It’s a massive yes, a million thousand times yes!” I step forward to throw my arms around his neck.
Warm lips cover mine, and even Lucy gives my stomach a hard push, which makes my chin drop with a laugh. “We’re all saying yes.”
“Welcome home.” His eyes meet mine. “I’ll let the realtor know tomorrow. I can finally get my shit out of storage.”
“And it’s right across the street from Gigi and Mav!”
“I figured that might sweeten the deal.” He’s grinning, and I hug my body close to his side.
“You didn’t need to sweeten anything. I’d have said yes even if we were staying in my bedroom.”
“It’s still your bedroom, only slightly larger and more private.”
We walk down the hall, and I see what will make a perfect baby’s room. “How did this happen?”
“I’ve been looking for places since I got here. You know that, but when things got more serious between us, I changed the location of my search.” He shrugs. “It just so happened these guys wanted to move to the beach. They’re headed to Malibu, and we’re headed here.”
Shaking my head, I scoop up Patsy, and pause at the front door, taking one more look at the warm, cozy space. “I can’t wait to start nesting!”
“It’s that time.” He lifts my hand and kisses the back. “Fit it out with all the twigs and leaves and moss you want. Break the bank.”
Rising onto my tiptoes, I kiss his scruffy square jaw. “You’ve always been so good to me, Gavin Knight. I love you.”
His large hand cups the side of my face, and he kisses me gently. “I know.”
Wrinkling my nose, I give the place one more look. “There will be no twigs or moss in our nest. It’s going to be beautiful.”
Gigi is waiting for us when we get to the house, iPad in hand. Spanky is hopping all around her like he always does when we FaceTime with the family.
“Did she say yes?” My cousin’s green eyes are bright, and she’s smiling so big.
I nod quickly, and I hear a rally of cheers coming from the device in her hand. She holds it up, and it’s a group call with all the cousins, my parents, Gav’s parents, everyone arranged in tiles on the screen.
“How could I not?” I cry. “He bought me a whole house, and look at this ring!”
I hold up my hand so she can capture it on the screen.
“It looks like a crown!” Elaine cries.
“It’s perfect for you!” Kim adds.
“I helped pick it out,” My mom calls, which makes me so happy.
“I love it—thank you, Mom!”
No one was with me when I carefully packaged the sash, crown, and scepter and sent them all back to the organization.
I still have all of my old pictures, and the things I achieved as a young woman. I treasure my memories of the good times, and what I have now, our little family, more than makes up for the few things I lost. I don’t want them now anyway.
“I can’t wait for you all to see the house,” I continue. “It’s so pretty. Gavin really outdid himself.”
My big guy leans down to wrap his arms around me from behind, smiling at the screen filled with happy faces.
They continue talking and laughing, and he kisses the side of my cheek. “Are you ready for this family?”
His deep voice warms my insides, and I turn my face to kiss him right back. “I love your family. Are you ready for mine?”
Our eyes meet, and he nods, adding. “Now we’re starting a new branch.”