Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.”
—William Shakespeare
“I should tell my parents about the baby,” Lexi said, yawning. “They were worried about me being so tired.”
“You can call them tomorrow.”
“Let’s not tell anyone except our families for now, though, okay? A lot can still go wrong.”
Max placed his hand on her abdomen. “Nothing will go wrong. Look at the odds our baby has already beaten. This little one is determined to join us.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Try not to worry,” he said, kissing her softly. “Today, we dreaded the worst news and got the best news. I think your luck is changing, my love.”
She looped her arms around his neck and drew him into a much more serious kiss. “My luck changed the day I came back to Butler and found you still there and still single.”
Max leaned his forehead on hers. “I was waiting for you, and I didn’t even realize it.”
“I’m so glad you waited for me. I would’ve been crushed if you’d married someone else.”
“Never even came close to marrying anyone else. But I do plan to marry you. As soon as I possibly can.”
Her eyes filled with tears that made her laugh. “Does pregnancy make people an emotional disaster area?”
“It does. My mom said she cried nonstop the whole time she was pregnant with us, which was years when you add it all up.”
“She’s a superstar.”
“Indeed, she is.”
“Do you think I’ll be a good mom?”
“You’ll be a great mom. You have a great mom—and grandmother.”
“Yes, I do. They’ll be so excited. It’s nice to give them something happy to think about after all the years of hell we went through together.”
“The baby will make all the hell worth it.”
She nodded and then raised her head to kiss him.
“You need to get some rest, baby mama.”
“I need you more than I need sleep.”
“What’d they put in that IV?” he asked with a smile, noticing she had a bit of color in her cheeks and had eaten a good dinner when they’d stopped for food earlier.
“Whatever it is, I feel so much better.”
“I’m glad you do, but you still need your rest.”
She hugged him tightly. “I missed you so much these last few weeks. I kept waiting for something to happen to mess up our plans.”
“Nothing will mess up our plans.” He fell into a kiss that managed to be sweet and sexy at the same time. “All this time… I was waiting for you. Now that I have you back, I’ll never let you go.”
Lexi worked the T-shirt she’d changed into up and over her head, leaving her bare except for panties.
Max sat back and took a greedy look at her. “You’re already curvier than you were,” he said, cupping her breasts and teasing her nipples. He bent to touch his tongue to the left one, and she nearly levitated off the bed. “Is someone extra sensitive, perhaps?”
“Yes,” she said, sounding breathless. “It’s never felt like that before.”
“Let’s see if it works on this side, too.”
It did. In fact, she was sensitive all over, which Max discovered one kiss at a time until she was writhing under him and pushing on the boxer briefs he’d left on for bedtime.
“Is my baby mama feeling needy?”
“Very. Hurry up, will you?”
Max choked on a laugh. “Is this the kind of wife you’re going be? Demanding that I service you on a moment’s notice?”
“Yes, can you deal with that?”
Grinning, he said, “I think I’ll manage somehow.”
“Could you start now, please?”
“Yes, dear.”
They moved quickly to remove the underwear that stood in the way of what they both wanted, and as he sank into her heat, Max had no doubt that he was exactly where he belonged, with the woman he was always meant to love.
It’d never been like that with anyone else but her, and to know he had a lifetime to spend with her made him happier than he’d ever been.
“Max? Are you okay?”
“I’m great,” he said, kissing her. “Just making sure this isn’t over before it begins.”
“It’s okay if it is. I’m not going anywhere either.”
“That’s good to know.”
They moved together with the easy rhythm of a couple together a long time, which in some ways they had been. Yes, he’d been with other women and even had a child with one of them. But none of them had ever touched his heart the way Lexi had from the beginning.
He could see and feel how much she loved him in every look and caress and hoped she felt the same coming from him.
“Max,” she said on a gasp as her fingertips dug into the muscles of his back. “Don’t stop.”
“I won’t. I’ll never stop.”
She came with a loud cry that shattered his control.
Someone banged on the wall, startling them. “Shut the hell up over there! People are trying to sleep!”
Lexi laughed so hard, she shook with it. “Oh my God,” she whispered.
“I guess we got a little carried away,” Max said, laughing with her.
“Just a little.”
“If they knew what we’ve been through to be together, they might be more forgiving,” he said as he withdrew from her and snuggled her into his arms.
“And it’s our first time doing it in a hotel.”
“That, too. Lots of firsts to look forward to.” He loved the way her hair brushed against his skin, setting off goose bumps. “You know what’s cool about finding out about the baby in Mississippi?”
“What?”
“My parents met there.”
“They did? Really?”
“Uh-huh. They were volunteers on an affordable housing project for a summer, and that’s how they met.”
“I never knew that.”
“They’ll think it’s cool that it happened there. Not the part about you fainting, but the baby.”
“Do you think they’ll be excited about another grandchild when they already have so many?”
“Definitely. They say all the time that grandchildren are the best thing to ever happen to them.”
“My parents will be so excited. I think they’d sort of resigned themselves to never being grandparents because it was such a long shot.”
“I can’t wait to tell them.”
“I can’t wait for everything.”
Lexi called her parents the next morning as they cruised toward Georgia. She put the phone on speaker so Max could hear, too.
“Hi, honey,” her mom said. “I thought we might hear from you last night.”
“Sorry I didn’t call. We had kind of an eventful day yesterday.”
“How so?”
Lexi could hear the worry in those two little words. She’d given her mom plenty of reason to worry and was looking forward to providing some joy now. “We stopped at a rest stop in Mississippi, and when I got out of the truck, I fainted.”
“What? Oh my God! Lexi…”
“It’s not what you think.”
“How do you know?”
“Max called an ambulance, and I was treated in the ER.”
“They checked your blood counts?”
“Everything was normal except for the fact that I’m pregnant.”
“What?” her mother asked on a long exhale. “Lexi… That’s why you’ve been so tired!”
“Sure is.”
“Hold on, I have to tell Dad, Gram and Grandpa the news. Lexi is pregnant. That’s why she’s been so tired!”
Lexi smiled at Max as they listened to the excitement coming from Houston. “I’m only about four weeks along, so it’s very early. We’re not telling anyone besides you and Max’s parents. I wanted to tell you so you wouldn’t worry about how tired I’ve been anymore.”
“This is the most exciting news, sweetheart.”
“It really is. We’re so thrilled and shocked and excited and all the things. I thought I couldn’t get pregnant, so we weren’t exactly careful.”
“What a blessing this is after all you’ve been through.”
“Hello? Is this my mom who used to tell me I’d ruin my life if I got pregnant?”
“That was a very long time ago. A lifetime ago. And now I’m simply delighted for you, for Max, for us, for his parents. For everyone.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I hope you enjoy every second of your new life, Lex. If anyone deserves all the good things, you surely do.”
“We all do. So much to look forward to. Hurry up and get to Vermont, will you?”
“We’re coming, sweetheart. Are you going to call Max’s parents?”
“Right after this.”
“They’ll be so excited. Drive safely. We love you.”
“Love you, too.”
“Let me know where you land tonight.”
“Will do.” Lexi ended the call with her mom. “That was fun.”
“Yes, it was.” He handed her his phone. “Let’s continue the party with my parents.”
“Let’s do it. Is ‘Barn’ them?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I love that you have your parents in your favorites as Barn.”
“It’s fitting, right?”
“Sure is.” She made the call and put the phone on speaker.
“Hey, Max,” Molly said. “How’s the trip going?”
“Very well. We’re almost to Georgia.”
“Making good progress.”
“Are Dad and Gramps around?”
“They’re right here.”
“Put the phone on speaker so I can tell you what happened yesterday.”
“Hang on,” Molly said. “Okay, we’re all here. What happened yesterday?”
“Don’t sound worried. It’s a good thing. A great thing. Lexi passed out at a rest stop in Mississippi.”
“Oh my goodness! Is she all right?”
“She’s great—and she’s pregnant.”
“She’s… Oh, Max. How wonderful!”
“What a difference seven years makes when I come to you with a surprise baby,” Max said drolly.
“Stop that,” Molly said with a sputter of laughter. “You’re all grown up, and this is amazing news. How’s Lexi feeling now?”
“Much better since she got IV fluids, but she’s still tired.”
“She will be for a while yet. The first trimester tends to be that way.”
“That’s good to know, Molly,” Lexi said.
“We couldn’t be happier for you both.”
“We’re pretty excited,” Max said.
“I could hear it in your voice from the minute you said hello.”
“Lexi thought she couldn’t have kids after her treatment.”
“What a miracle,” Molly said.
“It’s a total miracle,” Lexi said. “And the biggest and best shock ever.”
“How cool is it that we found out in Mississippi?” Max asked.
“Very cool indeed,” Molly said, sounding tearful. “Caden will be a wonderful big brother.”
“I know. I can’t wait to tell him. Keep this between us for now, okay? It’s still early days, and Lex is superstitious.”
“No one will hear it from us. I’ll muzzle your father.”
“Hey,” Lincoln said indignantly. “I heard that.”
Max laughed. “You’re the weak link when it comes to family gossip, Dad.”
“I’m hurt.”
“Truth hurts.”
“Congratulations to both of you,” Lincoln said. “We’re so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“And Gramps,” Elmer said. “I’m excited, too. I’ve been waiting for this for you for a long time, pal.”
“Don’t go thinking you can check out because little Max is finally settled, you hear me?”
“I ain’t going nowhere, son. I’ve still got a lot of work to do around here.”
“Yes, you do. It’s starting to rain, so I need to focus on driving. We’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Can’t wait,” Molly said. “Drive safely, and congratulations again.”
“Thanks. Love you guys.”
“Love you, too.”
Molly put the phone on the table and then did a little happy dance that included clapping and cheering.
“What’s going on with your wife?” Elmer asked Lincoln.
“Not sure. I was going to ask you what’s happening with your daughter.”
“Gentlemen, what you see here is a full-on celebration of a plan well designed and executed.”
Elmer glanced at Linc. “What’s happening?”
“I have beaten you both at your own game, so you’d better just suck it up!”
Linc eyed her suspiciously. “Start talking. Leave nothing out.”
“When I heard about the reunion, I tracked down Lexi’s mom and made sure they knew about it.
We agreed to do everything we could to make sure those kids were both at the reunion.
It took a little bit of convincing, as you know, but in the end, all it took was for them to see each other again to pick right up where they left off.
” She punctuated her words with another fist pump, a twirl and a squeal.
“Never seen her quite like this,” Elmer said, sounding concerned.
“Neither have I,” Linc said.
“I knew he’d never stopped caring about Lexi,” Molly said. “I knew it, and I was right!” More twirling and cheering ensued. “And now they’re pregnant! Whoop!”
“Did she say she’s beating us at our own game?” Linc asked Elmer.
“I believe she just seriously smoked us on our most vexing challenge,” Elmer said.
“I smoked your asses, boys!”
“We’re never going to hear the end of this,” Lincoln said on a moan.
“I’m moving in with Hannah,” Elmer said.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! You two think you’re all that and a bag of chips, getting all the kids paired up and married off, but meet the master.”
“She has one win, and suddenly, she’s the master?” Elmer asked, scoffing.
“I am the master.”
“I never knew you were so full of yourself, love,” Linc said.
“Sure, you did. When I am right, I’m right, and I knew if he could see her again, that’d be all it would take.
Angie felt the same way, that Lexi had never gotten over Max.
They gave her an early Christmas gift of the weekend in Butler and presented it to her as a done deal.
” Worn out from her celebrating, Molly dropped into a chair.
“I thought I was going to have to drive Max to that reunion myself and make him go, but the wager worked. An Abbott can never resist a wager.”
“Well played,” Lincoln said. “Very well played. But you’re not the master.”
“Not even close,” Elmer said. “But you’ve clearly learned a few things from the masters.”
“Whatever,” Molly said with an eye roll that encompassed them both. “All I care about is that Max is back with the only woman he’s ever loved, and now there’s a baby, too!” She lifted her hands in the air in a raise-the-roof motion. “Best day ever.”
“Are you planning to tell Max and Lexi how you and Angie shamelessly manipulated them?” Linc asked.
“Oh, um, I don’t think they need to know that.”
“Is that so? How much is our silence worth to you?”
“You aren’t serious,” Molly said.
“Are we serious, Elmer?”
“Dead serious.”
The phone rang, and Molly jumped on it. “It’s Angie!” She took the call and had a good scream with the baby’s other grandmother.
Max had stood silently by as each of his older siblings had found their true loves. Molly had been hoping for this kind of happiness for her youngest child for a long time. This really was the best day ever.