50. Trace
TRACE
F or three months we manage to keep our secret. I don't even know how we do it. Katie's struggled with nausea more often than not, she's been annoyed and moody, but somehow we've hid it. Until today.
"I can't hide this anymore," she hisses as she hitches her jeans up around her middle. "They won't fucking button, Trace."
"Do you want to wear one of my button downs?" I offer.
When I look over at her, she's got tears in her eyes and her face is red. "Trace, I'll just look fat. I won't look pregnant, then I'll have to worry about people saying things at Enchanted Pages. Life as I know it is over," she flops down on the bed.
"Why are you being so dramatic? This is a temporary solution. We can head into Bozeman this weekend and grab you some maternity clothes."
She rolls over and sighs. "It's not just that, Trace, but now we have to tell them. There's no hiding what's happening at this point. Now we'll have to be on our toes. This is scary."
I reach out to her, grabbing her hands and pulling her up. Once there I wrap my arms around her neck. "I know, but we're in this together."
"What if I told you I don't feel safe without you being around?"
This is a vulnerable side to my wife I haven't seen before. One that breaks my heart. "What do you want to do about it? Do you want to work at Enchanted Pages more? I can get up early and take you to work, pick you up. Or you can start spending the days with me, if that's what you'd prefer. It makes no difference to me. Whatever it takes for you to feel good, then we'll do it."
"I don't know," she wipes at the tears under her eyes. "Not even my bra fit this morning, and I'm weepy."
Those words are all I need to hear. "Fuck it, we're taking the day off. We're going to Bozeman, and we're gonna get you some clothes that fit. In a couple weeks we're going to have the first snowfall, and you'll need good clothes then too. Do you have a dress you can wear today? If not, my offer for my button-down still stands."
She rolls her eyes, but the smile on her face is brilliant as she looks up at me. "Thank you, Trace."
"I love you, Katie. There's nothing I won't do for you."
"I feel it, more than ever, I feel it."
We head down the stairs together, and once there, we spot my parents at the dining room table. My Dad has the paper in his hands, I don't even know why they still deliver out here. He must be paying them an exorbitant amount of money. "Trace, why aren't you working?"
With my hand on the small of Katie's back, I push her forward. "My wife and I are going to be spending the day together. We're heading to Bozeman to get her some new clothes."
My mom lifts her lip in a snarl. "I noticed she's been putting on some weight. Especially in the stomach and up top."
It takes everything I have not to pop back at her, but I'm doing my best to hold my temper. I glance at Katie, and she okay's my thoughts with her eyes. "She's pregnant. She needs some maternity clothes, and that's what I'm going to get her. We're taking the day together."
Both of them gape at the two of us. "What?" Mom squeals. "If she's gained this much weight, she must be further along than a month or two. Trace what haven't you told us?"
"It wasn't your business," I run my hand down her arm and grasp her hand in mine. "This is ours. Our family and our future."
"That's where you're wrong," Dad interrupts us. "Everything about this is our business. This is the heir to the Miller Ranch."
The old me would've told him everything I plan on doing to this ranch, and dangle it barely within his grasp. I would throw it in his face that I'll have fifty-one percent ownership and there's not a damn thing he can do about it. Instead, I keep my mouth shut, keeping them guessing will be the best thing for us right now. "This is my child, not the heir to anything."
"They have a birthright," Dad stands up to his full height.
"That they do, but you won't be the one who introduces him to what his birthright is. That'll be me, and it'll be done on my timetable, not yours. Babe, you ready?"
"Yeah," she blows out a breath. "I'm ready if you are."
Together, fingers entwined, we head out together, and get in my truck. When we're seated inside, we look at one another.
"Do you think that was smart to do?" She questions, buckling her seat belt. "I feel like that was a declaration of war."
"In a way it was. They'll see it that way at least, and they'll respond accordingly. We have to remain strong and steadfast," he puts the truck in gear and slowly drives it off. "It'd be best if I take you to work and pick you up from now on. I'm worried about what might happen."
"I don't always believe in myself, but if I need to, I can take care of myself," she reminds me with a smart-ass look on her face.
"I have no doubt about that, but I do believe sometimes you might need to think about yourself a little more instead of everyone else."
She seems to take what I've said into consideration. As the tires eat up the miles between here and Bozeman, we relax. The further we get from the ranch and my parents, the easier it feels to breathe. We don't have to say anything to one another. The silence between us is easy, what I've longed for my entire life.
Pulling into the main shopping area an hour later, we head for a store that proclaims itself to specialize in maternity clothing. "Are you going to come in with me?" She questions, hooking her arm through mine.
"Of course, I'm not letting you do this by yourself. We're a team now. We fight together, we win or lose together."
She smiles up at me, before standing on tiptoe and connecting our lips together. "You keep saying things like that, and I'm going to have to give you a good time."
"Don't threaten me with one," I growl after pulling back. "I'm bound to take you up on it."