Epilogue
Two months later…
AVA
I stare at the stick as the first tiny line appears. Then hold my breath as I glance at the timer on my phone. The box promises a result in three minutes, but it’s less than twenty seconds before the second line appears and my heart starts to clatter in my chest.
I’m pregnant. Don’t get me wrong, it’s early days. This test can detect the pregnancy hormone before I’ve even missed a period.
But the lines don’t lie – and by the time I take a second test I’m convinced that it’s true.
Myles and I are having a baby.
I wasn’t upset when I got my period after the second month that we tried. I even wondered if it might be a good thing. We sat down and talked long and hard about it, but Myles insisted that if I was ready to be a mom that we should keep trying.
And so we have. Not that it’s been a hardship. We still can’t keep our hands off each other. Every time he travels to New York I’m patiently waiting for him to come home, and then I pretty much launch myself at him as soon as he’s through the door, unable to keep away from him.
Things at Smith and Carson are going well.
I’ve been spending a lot of time with Naomi who’s come up with a brilliant concept.
Twin kittens – a boy and a girl – who are abandoned to the street before being adopted by a tiger.
Yes, a tiger. It makes sense when you read it and it’s so lovely, but also so modern.
We launch next year and I can’t wait. Naomi is already the talk of the town.
I hear the front door open and I look at the tests again.
He’s back from New York and it’s time to tell him.
I run down the stairs to see him dropping his travel bag on the polished wooden floor.
He looks tired but delicious, and I know that later I’m going to nag him about getting some sleep, but right now I need him awake.
“Guess what?” I say.
“Your mom’s been arrested again?”
“Nope.” I grin, because he actually loves my mom. I introduced the two of them properly the weekend after we got back and she told him that even though she hates the patriarchy she’ll make an exception for him, as long as he keeps me happy.
Which he does. He’s made it his personal mission. Damn, I love this man.
His mom and Deandra are equally as welcoming to me.
We visited them in New York last month and they insisted on taking me out for lunch without Myles.
It was fun – we had cocktails (well, mocktails for me) and tapas while Myles apparently paced up and down in Liam’s office asking if it was too early to pick me up.
We’ve even been to visit his dad and Julia. She’s really starting to show now. I don’t think we’ll ever be besties with them, but at least they’re all trying to get along.
And this baby will have a huge family waiting to welcome him or her.
“What is it then?” Myles asks, pulling me in for a kiss. “Has Ryan beaten the world record for donut eating? Has Sophie discovered a cyclone that’s going to level Charleston?”
That’s another wonderful thing. He adores Sophie and Lauren and they love him. Some of that is due to the fact that he’ll pick us up from anywhere at any time, no matter how drunk they are or how far away he is.
But mostly they see how happy he makes me. That’s enough for them.
“No,” I say, grinning. “I’ve just decided to set up a focus group. I thought it would be a good way to test out our future projects. Go straight to the source and ask the kids what they want from books.”
He blinks. “Oh. Okay. When’s that happening?”
“In about eight months.” I tip my head to the side. “Or three years if we need them to be able to give proper feedback, I guess. Three more if they need to be able to read.”
He stares at me, uncomprehending. “Why so long?”
“Because I have to grow it first,” I whisper.
Understanding washes over his face. His eyes sparkle, as he reaches for me again, a huge smile on his face. “You’re pregnant?” he asks.
“I just tested.”
“Fuck, Ava…”
“That’s how it happened.” I love teasing him, and he makes it so easy. He smiles and strokes my hair and I feel warmth wash over me. “It’s simple, really.”
“No, baby,” he says, his hands warm on my back. “It’s not simple. It’s a goddamn miracle.”
“You’re happy?” I ask him.
“I’m ecstatic.” His grin widens. “You’re having my baby. Why wouldn’t I be happy?”
“Because it’s somebody else to look after. You have enough people to worry about already.”
“Yeah, well maybe I like worrying about you. And him or her. You’re my people. It’s my job.”
“So you’re ready to be a dad?” I ask him.
“I’ve been ready for a lot longer than you think,” he admits, cupping my face and kissing me. “You’ve made me the happiest man alive.”
Tears prick at my eyelids. “Thank you for being perfect,” I whisper. “I can’t believe you’re here. And I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“You’re the perfect one,” he growls, his eyes grazing my face like he can’t bear to look away. “I love you, sweetheart.”
And I love him, too. So much. I can’t believe I ever felt differently about him. But that’s the thing about life. Sometimes it likes to take you by surprise, jumping out and shouting ‘boo’ when you least expect it.
“When can we tell people?” he asks me.
“I don’t know. Maybe wait until I’m three months along?”
He grimaces but nods. “You’re right. But it’s going to kill me.”
“You could tell Liam,” I suggest. “I’ll probably tell Lauren and Sophie.”
“Let’s just not tell them together,” he says, because Liam and Sophie have something against each other.
That’s a whole other story, and Lauren and I think it’s sexual tension, but still, they’re going to have to get over it if they’re going to be godparents to our baby.
“It’s a deal,” he says, pressing his lips to mine. “Oh, and one other thing.”
“What?” I ask because what more could there be? I already have everything I ever wanted.
He lifts my palm to his lips and presses a soft kiss there, before folding my fingers over it. Then he gives me that sexy smile that nobody else ever sees. “We’re definitely getting married before the baby comes.”