Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
M arius
I step out of the elevator to see Duck lifting that enormous floral arrangement of lilies and some other flower I can’t remember. Immediately, I hurry over and take it out of her hands.
“You can’t be doing this kind of stuff, Eden. You’re pregnant.”
She levels a very stern look on my face. “Marius, I’m maybe a month along, honey. I can do anything any other normal person can do. Wait until I’m as big as a house and in danger of toppling over for this kind of worry.”
“Fine, but I still don’t want you lifting this huge thing. Where do you want me to put it?” I ask as I try to see around the white flowers filling my vision.
Behind me, she says, “On the island. I’m trying to get things situated for the movers when they come on Friday.”
I set the giant flower arrangement down in the kitchen and turn around to see her smiling at me. “What’s that grin for?”
She walks over to me and slides her hands around my waist before giving me a kiss. “I’m just so happy we found a house so quickly. I can’t believe it’s only been like three weeks since we started looking and we’re moving in next week!”
“That’s what paying cash and overbidding by twenty grand will do for you,” I say with a chuckle.
I should be more responsible with money now that we have a baby coming early next year and a wedding in a few months, but when Eden saw that house with the big yard, a swimming pool, and what she called the “cutest little greenhouse she’d ever seen,” I knew that was the place for us.
I couldn’t risk not getting it for her, so that meant pulling out all the stops since we were competing with at least four other bids.
“Ava and I can’t believe we’re going to be living a stone’s throw away from one another. It’s like a dream come true.”
I love seeing my Duck like this. When I can do things that make her smile, I feel like my fuck ups earlier in our marriage might not be anything she remembers. I want to make her forget how selfish I was, and what better way than to give her whatever she wants?
Cupping her almost non-existent belly, I say, “I woke up early to go to my appointment. Any morning sickness today?”
She makes a face that tells me it’s bad today. “Yeah. I threw up three times, so I settled for a little tea and saltines. Eleanor told me last week that your mother suffered terribly with morning sickness with every one of you, so I’m guessing it’s a boy.”
I know that’s what she thinks I want, but every time she says that, all I can think of is the King family doesn’t need any more boys. I’ve never told her how I feel, though. Maybe today’s a good day to do that.
As I push her black hair back behind her ear, I say, “Duck, I’ll be happy with whatever our baby is, but if you’re thinking I want a son, you’re wrong. I think I’d like a little girl I can spoil like her mother.”
“Really? I just assumed all of you King men wanted sons like Matthias.”
I shake my head and shrug. “No. I’d be happier than anything if we have a daughter. Not that a son would be bad, but I think I’d make a hell of a girl dad.”
That makes her smile, and she kisses me softly. “I think you’d make a great girl dad. Actually, I’m sure you’re going to be a great dad no matter what our child is. Now if only I could believe I’ll be as great as you.”
She’s been worried from the moment she told me that she might not be as good a mom as Ava is. She shouldn’t be concerned, but I’ve told her every time she mentions her fears that my brother and Ava didn’t know what they were doing in the beginning, so we’re going to be fine.
And if things get bad, we know where to turn since those two have been through it before us.
I cradle her beautiful face in my hands and kiss her. “You are going to be a great mom, Duck. You’re sweet and kind and when people step out of line, you have that look you give them that makes them get right back in. I can’t wait for you to see how great you’re going to be.”
She covers my hands with hers and asks, “How did your doctor’s appointment go?”
I’ve been seeing a therapist for two weeks now, twice a week, and it’s been okay. I’m not used to telling strangers about my deepest, darkest thoughts, but that was one of her conditions so she’d marry me all over again, so I kept up my side of the bargain and found a doctor a week after.
“It was okay. The therapist said she thinks I’m making good progress. I’ve got a lot to deal with, but I feel good about it.”
“Oh, baby. You’ve lost a lot in your life, and then when you almost lost Ronan, I knew you should talk to someone about it. I’m so proud of you for doing this. You know that, right?”
“I know, and I owe this all to you. I wouldn’t have gone to see anyone without you lighting a fire under me, but now that I am, I think it’s good. I guess I have some unresolved issues around Theo and Maia, along with issues that stem from losing my mother so early in my life.”
For a moment, I stop because I’m getting choked up. “Then there’s what happened with Ronan. Eden, I don’t want to drag these things into my life with you and our baby. I want to be able to be there for you and her. Or him. Old Marius was good, but I want to be better for you two.”
“Well, I love old Marius and this new Marius. I love all the versions of you, baby.”
When the word baby comes out of her mouth, her eyes get very big, and I’m instantly worried. She quickly reassures me she’s fine and then says, “I want to show you something I bought this morning. Wait here.”
She runs away, so I call after her, “Slow down! You’re pregnant!”
A minute later, she returns with a white and gold bag and sets it down on the island already crowded with that enormous floral arrangement and a dozen other decorations from around the penthouse. Before she shows me what’s in the bag, she gives me one of her trademark Eden looks of disapproval.
“Marius, you do know there are women who run marathons while they’re pregnant, so I can jog through our house. Just because I’m expecting a baby doesn’t mean I can’t do the same things I’ve always done. Well, at least in the first two trimesters.”
I don’t want to ask what happens in the last trimester. Matthias has already told me those last three months were hard on Ava, especially with Matty. I can only hope my Duck has an easier time of it.
“Fair enough, but I worry about you. I’m allowed to do that, right?”
That gets me a smile. “Yes, you can worry. Just don’t worry too much. This baby is like the size of a walnut right now. It can handle me trotting into the living room to get a bag.”
Appropriately scolded, I glance at the bag. “Did you want to show me something, or is the bag what you wanted to show me?”
Duck rolls her eyes and gives me a tender jab to the solar plexus. “You’re silly. No, I didn’t want to show you the bag. What I want you to see is in the bag, so look inside.”
I do as she says and see white fabric inside the white and gold bag. It doesn’t look like enough to be something for a fully grown person, so I have to assume it’s something for the baby.
“You bought cotton,” I say, teasing her.
She rolls her eyes again and takes the bag off the island to pull out a little outfit. Holding it up in front of her, she points at something in the center of her chest.
“Look! It has a little duck on it. Isn’t that cute?”
I lean in and see a little yellow duck with an orange bill on the onesie. “A little duck for my Duck.”
Instantly, I realize what I said and smile as I look at Eden. “That’s it! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. I’ve got the kid’s nickname already. Little Duck. Duck and Little Duck. It’s perfect!”
Eden folds the outfit and slides it back into the bag. “You are too cute. Do you know that? I love that you’re as thrilled as I am about us having a baby.”
I take her in my arms and hold her to me before kissing her. “Whatever makes you happy, Duck, makes me happy. What is it they say? Happy wife, happy life.”
For some reason, that makes her frown. I want to ask why, but Matthias warned me about pregnant women’s hormones. The last thing I want to do is make her cry.
“Marius, I want you to be happy all on your own. I love that you want me to be happy, but it’s important you’re happy too. Tell me. Are you really happy?”
Now I understand. She misunderstood. Okay, I can fix this.
I pull her to me and say, “Duck, I’ve never been happier in my life. Seeing you happy makes me happy. I don’t know how else to explain it. I’ve had everything anyone could want in this world, except what you give me.”
“And what’s that?”
“Your love. I don’t need anything but that. I have everything else. But without it, I’d have nothing.”
Now she starts crying for real. First come the sniffles, and then a second later, tears fill her eyes.
“That’s so beautiful, Marius. How did I get so lucky to find a man like you?” she asks, wrapping her arms around me in a hug.
I kiss the top of her head and whisper against her soft hair, “Well, you see, there was this guy, and he was a real jackass. I saw this gorgeous woman and decided I wanted her for my own. Luckily for me, he made it easy.”
She lifts her head and wipes the tears from under her eyes. “So if it was hard, would you have still wanted me?”
I lightly tap the tip of her nose. “I would always want you, Duck.”
Eden begins talking about how much we have to get ready for the movers and how she’s so glad Matthias and Ava are willing to let us crash at their house until our new place is ready in a couple weeks.
I’m not really listening, though, because all I can think about is at this time next year, it’ll be three of us.
My Duck and my Little Duck. And me.