Promise of Eternity: (Promises Book 4)

Chapter 15

Two weeks. That was how long I had left in the pregnancy. The events from weeks ago were completely forgotten as I walked into Inferno. All the fire damage was absent, and the repairs were completed. At exactly eight in the evening, the doors would once again open, and we would be back in business.

Dr. Matthews had given me the okay to visit, stating it was fine as long as I didn’t overdo it. I had no clue what he was talking about. I was a model patient. Perhaps that was a bit of a stretch.

The baby was doing well, and so was I. Everything was perfect except that the room I had once occupied was completely empty. Early in my pregnancy, we had agreed that room would become the nursery. The walls were still a muted gray, and the crib sat in its box unassembled. The guys had promised to help me with everything, but they hadn’t yet. It was a time issue, and that we were all tired didn’t help.

Ten out of ten would not recommend the third trimester to anyone. Sleep was terrible. Every time I lay down, my back and hips ached. The over-the-counter sleep aid they prescribed also didn’t help at all. I would sleep for approximately three hours and wake up hot and groggy. My feet were swollen, and I had to pee every ten seconds. Overall, it was a terrible experience.

I had almost convinced myself to paint the room when they were preoccupied with work. As eager as I was to meet the child I was carrying, I was utterly unprepared. Sure, I had tiny onesies and blankets folded carefully in a drawer, and a bag was packed for the hospital, but the baby didn’t even have a bed yet.

“What are you thinking about?” Hunter asked me.

I gave him a small sigh and laid my hand on my stomach as I looked around Inferno. “It’s nothing. I just don’t feel prepared for the baby yet.”

He grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. “Why would you say that?”

“It’s just that... I haven’t painted the room yet. And what about the crib?”

He squeezed my hand. “And what did I tell you about that?”

“Not to worry about it.” I might have mocked him or acted like a brat if I was less tired, but I just couldn’t feel compelled to.

“Exactly. Besides, I think we have a surprise for you.” He gave Dominic a nod and pulled out a small blindfold. “Put this on.”

I stared at the small piece of black cloth. “But why?”

Ethan grabbed the fabric and positioned it over my eyes without asking permission before leaning close to my ear. Everything was dark, and I couldn’t see it as he whispered, “Why all the questions? You’ll love this.”

I was nervous and excited as he positioned his arm around my torso, guiding me where he wanted. I relied on him and my other senses as I heard the door open and balmy air hit my face. Cars honked in the background, and birds sang nearby. As I walked, the gravel beneath my feet made a crunching noise, and a car door opened. Where were we going?

“Help her get in,” Hunter said as a second car door opened.

Time was an odd measurement when you couldn’t see. It didn’t seem like they drove for long, but I couldn’t be sure. Suddenly, the car stopped, and someone unfastened my seat belt. “Are you ready?” Dominic asked. I could have sworn his voice seemed... amused? Excited?

“Yes,” I said as I slid from the SUV. Someone caught me, helping me to steady myself on my feet. I should have waited for one of them to help me, but patience was a virtue I was still learning.

The blindfold slid away, and in front of us sat a house. Not just any house, though. If I had to use a term to describe it, it was a mansion. Its facade was brick, with huge white columns decorating the porch. Flowers surrounded the wraparound porch, and my breath caught in my throat. “Why are we here?”

I was caught in a daze. It was a moment plucked straight from the romance movies that Victoria loved. “We’re home,” Dominic announced. “Do you know how hard it was to keep this a secret?”

Hunter snorted as he pulled a key from his pocket and handed it to me. “We weren’t going to show you until after dinner Friday.” He placed a kiss on my temple before laying his forehead against mine. “But I also don’t want you to think you’re unprepared for the baby. Especially when they could come at any moment.”

My heart fluttered at his words. This was why they hadn’t painted the room yet. And why the crib still sat in its box. “But what are you going to do with the penthouse? That’s your home.”

Ethan shook his head at me. “No, Rayne. You’re our home. Remember what I said? All of my eternities.”

Dominic pushed open the front door and gestured for me to walk inside. The house was simply breathtaking. The living area was a wide open space with dark hardwood floors and strategically placed rugs my feet sank into. A small children’s kitchen set sat in the corner next to a bookcase with board books I recognized, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Goodnight Moon. A toy box sat next to that.

“You guys realize the baby won’t be able to use any of that yet?”

“Just wait until you see the nursery and playroom,” Hunter murmured to me. “I couldn’t stop them.”

I looked at Ethan and raised an eyebrow at him. “You?”

He gave me a sheepish grin and coughed into his fist. “Actually, no. If you’re scolding one of us, it should be Dominic. This whole thing was his idea.”

Dominic’s cheeks darkened slightly, and he turned his back to lead me up the stairs. “I wanted to ensure they had plenty of things for every developmental stage. I’ve been doing some research.”

Of course he had. I slowly climbed the stairs behind him, curious to see what the nursery looked like. When he threw open the door, I smiled. The walls were painted yellow, the exact shade I had picked out. And the crib I had ordered was assembled against a wall. The cutest elephants and giraffes were painted on the wall, perfectly matching the bedding.

And like Hunter had said, more toys sat on an organizer in the corner. So did more books. A rocking horse sat beside it. In the center of the room was a small table with two tiny matching chairs.

“It’s perfect,” I told them as I ran my fingers over the crib. “When did you have time to do all of this?”

Ethan leaned against the wall, his hair glinting in the light. “Let’s just say some of the nights we were working late were spent on this. Dominic hired people to decorate the house, but he insisted we were the ones to work on the baby’s room. Hunter was the one who painted all of the animals on the wall.”

I sat in the small glider beside the bed, completely at peace. Home wasn’t just a place; being able to share it with the men surrounding me was everything.

“Have you looked in the backyard yet?” Hunter asked. When I tilted my head at him, his eyes sparkled.

“No, why?”

“Just glance out the window.”

I stood slowly and looked curious about what he wanted me to see. In the backyard sat an enormous wooden play set with swings, a slide, and a tree house. “This is completely unnecessary, guys. The child isn’t even born yet.”

Ethan let out a small laugh as he stood behind me and nipped my ear. “So? It’s perfect for when Enzo or Rory come over. Their children can play while we grill. We tossed around the idea of starting a poker night of our own. Maybe it’s time to start new traditions.”

Late that night, I lay in bed beside Ethan and Hunter. Dominic was still prowling around the new house, no doubt making sure everything was perfect. And it was.

A small building behind the house had been converted into studio space for Hunter. On the first floor, one room had been turned into a home office for me. And then, besides the nursery, there was my favorite room–a home library. A room filled with nothing but books from every genre that had leather armchairs and a fireplace.

The baby kicked, and I placed a hand on them, completely content. It was a lull in the chaos of our daily lives, but if this is what eternity felt like, I could handle it.