Chapter 13 #2
“It’s so tall! I can’t sees the top!” Kaitlin gasps, pointing at the sleek building across from us.
Sunlight glints off the mirrored exterior, making it appear as if it’s made of gold.
How expensive would it be to live somewhere like that?
Shoot, are Foster and Shepherd rich?! They have to be to afford to live in this neighborhood.
Words dry in my mouth when we finally arrive at their apartment.
I expect masculine minimalism, but what we step into is gilded warmth.
A patterned cream rug complements the golden oak floors and off-white walls.
Two overstuffed chairs sit opposite a curved couch.
Between them is a marble coffee table with golden trim.
The living area screams wealth, but the fluffy pillows and throws littering the space give it warmth.
As does the array of photos covering the back wall.
Foster has Kaitlin take her shoes off and shows her the small closet behind the door where we can store them. I lean one arm against the wall, ready to undo my sandals, but Foster turns and kneels to help me. He stands with a wink and offers me a hand. “Ready for the grand tour, Angel?”
Am I ready to invade their home? I should say no, but the truth is this feels like my home, too. I’m comfortable here, wrapped in the everyday remnants of their scents and surrounded by luxury. “That sound lovely.”
To our left is a door. He swings it open to reveal a dark, dreamy bedroom.
Their bedroom, I quickly realize when Shepherd drops their bags on the tufted bench at the end of the massive four-poster bed.
The black frame is inlaid with golden details that match the silk bedding.
It’s sparse otherwise, with only a few pieces of art hung on the walls.
“My nest is through the door at the end,” Foster tells me.
The casual way he directs me to the entrance to his space makes my pulse flutter.
No one may enter an Omega’s nest uninvited, and a guest would never have the entrance pointed out.
But I’m not a guest, am I? They don’t want me to be here temporarily; they’ve already admitted they want me here forever.
Here in the apartment, and here in Foster’s nest.
“Down here is the bathroom.” He moves on quickly, likely trying not to overwhelm me with too many invitations in one day. “And here is our laundry nook. This will be your room.” ‘For now’ goes unspoken, but I can see the words written in the pointed look he gives me as he opens the door.
“Woah! Do I really get to sleep on this big bed, Mommy?” Kaitlin turns to look at me from the bottom of the queen-sized mattress. She’s looking around the space with wide eyes. Her room in Whitlan was barely half the size of this one, and a bed like this never would have fit inside.
Running a hand along the soft, tan bedspread, I smile down at my daughter. “You sure do, Little Bug.”
Excited chatter fills the air as she climbs up and face-plants into the pillows.
I meet Foster’s eye from across the room and offer him a watery smile.
All the gratitude and longing held in my body are let loose for that one moment, just long enough for him to see.
He nods, pressing a hand to his heart and pointing at Kaitlin and me.
He doesn’t just see what I feel; he understands it.
“The kitchen is between this room and the living room. I’m going to check on our grocery situation and leave you two beauties to get settled.”
“Thank you, Foster!” Kait yells, springing upright with a toothy grin. “I loves it here!”
Grabbing my bags from Shepherd when he arrives with them, I take a moment for myself. To soak in my new reality. It’s been so long since I felt any hope for a happy future. I’d accepted the hand Fate had dealt me and settled for eventually escaping my father’s cult.
The possibility of a pack, a family who loves us…
If I’m dreaming, I pray Fate never wakes me. Let me exist in this paradise until the end of time.
Walking into Willow Gardens Women’s Clinic is…
weird. There’s no ghastly green or smoky yellow paint on the walls.
The staff have actual computers to track patient information, and the questionnaire they have me fill out is extensive.
It’s like stepping into a different world when compared to the doctor’s office I went to in Whitlan.
Only Foster is with me today. Kaitlin wouldn’t have been allowed back with us, so Shepherd took her to a nearby shopping mall to grab some essentials. Given his past shopping trips, I have a feeling they’ll be visiting the closest toy store to spoil my girl.
I’m nervous as we’re called back, but having Foster here helps.
He’s a nurse, and even if he doesn’t work in pediatrics or obstetrics, he knows enough to understand if anything seems amiss during the appointment.
I trust him to look out for me, which feels weird to admit.
Fate-matched mates work like that, though.
You meet, feel the spark of that connection, and after that everything moves in fast forward.
The room we’re directed to is bright and welcoming.
After taking my vitals, the nurse sends in an ultrasound tech.
Lying on the bed is uncomfortable, but I distract myself by memorizing Foster’s reactions.
He stands beside me, holding my hand and shifting every couple of seconds as he waits for the technician to turn her screen around.
His impatience makes me laugh and fills me with wonder.
I cannot tell which of us is more excited.
“Alright, Hannah, ready to hear your little one?”
I nod, and a whooshing sound fills the air. A rapid heartbeat. Strong and steady. Foster’s fingers grip mine tighter. His lips are parted, and he’s smiling so brightly it brings tears to my eyes.
After a few seconds, the technician spins her screen, allowing us to watch as the baby moves around.
He’s been more active this afternoon. Kicking and rolling.
It’s almost like he can feel us watching and is putting on a show.
A loud laugh slips through my lips when he spins to show us his bottom. He’s so big. So healthy. I think.
“That’s our baby,” Foster whispers, eyes trained on the screen.
I stare up at my Omega and question why I ever thought I could hold myself back from him. How can I stay away from someone who has been all in from the minute he met me? “Yeah, that’s him. Our little bean.”
The technician leaves us with pictures to take home, and the doctor arrives a short while later.
“Mrs. Boyd-”
“Wilson, please.” The request slips out before rational thought can stop it. Warmth spreads up my neck and face, embarrassment washing over me. I dare not look at Foster for fear I might burst into tears.
“Of course, I’ll make a note on your chart. This is your first checkup with me, so we’re going all out. I want the best picture of your pregnancy I can get. Tell me how things have been so far. Is this your first?”
The next half hour is spent answering questions and getting my stomach measured to see how well the baby is growing.
It’s oddly relaxing to listen to the doctor’s voice as she goes over what to expect over the next several weeks.
Completely opposite of the male doctor I was seeing in Whitlan.
He was cold, rude, and made comments about weight gain entirely too often.
Foster asks a few questions, too. Jumping into the conversation with the ease of someone familiar with the field. Or maybe he’s never been scorned by a medical professional the way I have? I wish I felt as comfortable as he does. Trusted the doctor as easily.
“Please call the office with any other questions you have. We have an after-hours line that will direct you to a nurse in our OB unit, so don’t wait until the next day if you have concerns. Otherwise, we will see you again in two weeks!” With a wave, she leaves me to get dressed.
“So, Mrs. Wilson,” Foster coos, a smug smile stretched across his lips, “do you feel better now that you’ve seen a real doctor and not a cult quack?”
Rolling my eyes, I open the door and walk out into the hall. “I do, actually. Am I going to go home and research everything she said to double-check? Probably. That doesn’t mean coming here didn’t help.”
His hand slips into mine as we approach the reception desk to schedule my next appointment. “Being nervous and wanting to make sure our little one is getting the best care is natural. Even moms who weren’t raised in a cult without access to modern medicine do that.”
That makes me feel a little less crazy. I’m behaving like a normal mom, which is a feat given my upbringing.
With my appointment card tucked into Foster’s wallet, he steers us out of the building and across the lot. I look for their car, but it’s not in the lot. When we reach the sidewalk, I ask him where we are going.
“I want to show you something,” he explains as we reach an intersection and wait for the lights to tell us to cross. “Don’t worry, I already okayed the trip with Shepherd and Donovan.”
Curiosity builds as we walk another block and round the corner. There are so many businesses and buildings that it’s difficult to guess which one could be our destination. What surprise does my Omega have in store?