Epilogue One
EPILOGUE ONE
Korrie
One year later
They said when it rained, it poured, and sure enough, that seemed to be what was going on in my life. Granted, not all of it was bad, not in the least. There’d been ups and downs—my father’s illness, the city life in general just wearing a human to the bone, but then I had Bishop, my job at Lyrics, and I was even thinking of going back to college, at least part-time.
But this… this new revelation had my hands shaking and my heart jumping in my throat.
I closed my eyes and just breathed as I waited for the pregnancy test to show the results. It had only been twelve months since Bishop and I made things official, and although we took precautions where they were needed, there were of course times when things were too heated, the moment too scorching, that we just… got lost in each other. And if this test came back positive, then it looked like one of those times had stuck, so to speak.
Would he be happy? Upset? He loved me, and I loved him, and I wanted him as my husband, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with Bishop. But sometimes when curve balls were thrown into people's lives, they just couldn’t handle it very well. And I didn't know if Bishop fell into that category.
I opened my eyes and stared down at my engagement ring, a smile forming on my lips instantly. Although we’d only been together a year, Bishop proposed six months into our relationship. Some may have thought that was fast, but I would have said yes if he asked a month into us being together.
Because I knew I’d loved him right away and wanted to spend my life with him.
I breathed out and finally picked up the test, staring at the stick, already knowing the truth before I saw the two pink lines. And because I didn’t do anything half-assed, I did a double test, a digital one. And yup, sure enough, a big fat PREGNANT was splayed across the screen.
“Well, I guess that about sums it up.”
I heard the front door open and close, breathed out again, and knew I was just going to take this head-on. There was no point in letting my worry or the fear of the unknown make me weak in this situation.
So I left the bathroom, walked down the short hallway toward the small foyer that opened up into the living room, and saw Bishop toeing off his boots. He held a big brown paper bag, takeout inside it, but my stomach was suddenly cramping something serious, the idea of food not sitting right with me.
I stood there a moment, just watching the man I loved, wanting to run into his arms, knowing there was no place I’d rather be.
I’d begun staying at his place a couple nights a week, nervous about leaving my dad, but he insisted I spend time with Bishop. After going back and forth with him, I decided I’d at least get someone to stay with him overnight the times I was with Bishop. Because he didn’t need medical aid that a home health worker would give, I’d been able to afford the expense. Not that my father liked having a “babysitter,” as he said, but he hadn’t given me a hard time, because he wanted me to live my life. Or so he claimed.
Bishop called out for me just as he lifted his head, our eyes locking, his smile forming instantly. “Hey, baby.” He held his arms out.
I found myself going into them immediately, letting Bishop wrap himself around me, my head on my chest, the two pregnancy tests still in my hand.
“What do you have there?” he asked as he pulled away, his eyes going to what I held.
I couldn’t answer as my heart lodged in my throat, and I lifted them up with a shaky hand.
He was silent for long seconds and then murmured, “You’re pregnant.” He didn’t phrase it like a question as he turned wide eyes up to me.
All I could do was nod. More long seconds passed, and neither one of us spoke, didn’t even move. The air was thick, and I felt sweat bead along the valley between my breasts and also dot my temples.
Say something. Anything.
I didn’t know if I was talking about him or me.
“Yeah,” I finally said, one hand holding the tests, the other twisting nervously at the edge of my shirt. And then he grinned, so broad, so wide I felt a hiccup in my chest from my heart faltering momentarily.
“I knew one of the times we were wild would take.”
I felt my eyes widen, my mouth opening and closing like I was a fish out of water, trying to gasp for air. “You did not just say that.”
His grin spread, and that sexy-as-hell dimple flashed. “Baby, you getting pregnant is the best fucking news I’ve had since you told me you loved me too.” His grin was so… rakish. “Besides, I’m glad it took.” He winked.
I started to chuckle and rolled my eyes. “You did not just say you’re glad your seed took.”
He laughed softly but then sobered, his expression getting really serious as he stared into my eyes. “It’s always going to be you for me, Korrie. I always saw marriage and babies. I always saw you in my life until the day I die, and I can’t lie and say I don’t love that we are already starting that part of our lives. It’s all I want.”
He held me for a long time, and that was okay. That was perfect. Being in Bishop’s arms always felt like being home . He pulled back, not saying anything, and instead kissed me long and slow, not one that was filled with the sexual heat I always felt when his lips touched mine, but one that was pure, genuine love.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, rising on my toes so I could hold on to his body. And before I realized what his plans were, he was on his knees, had my shirt pushed up, and kissed my belly. A little shocked gasp left me as I stared down at the man I loved being so damn tender.
“My baby is in here,” he whispered. “You make me so happy, Korrie.” He glanced up, and I felt tears prick my eyes. “I hope the baby looks like you.” I smiled softly and cupped his scruff-covered cheeks. “I hope, whether it’s a boy or girl, they have your beauty and big whiskey-colored eyes and gorgeous thick curls. I hope they have your honesty and your empathy.”
“I hope they have your dimple,” I muttered and touched that little indentation when he smiled up at me. “I hope they have your strength and the drive to get everything they want out of life.”
He shook his head slowly. “I hope they have your strength. You’re the strongest person I know, baby.”
My heart did a little flip.
“Promise you’ll always be mine.”
I gripped his biceps and pulled him up, kissing his lips before he stood to his full height. “As long as you promise you’ll always be mine.” My grin was so big my cheeks actually hurt. I was choked up with emotion, feeling so stupid for thinking Bishop wouldn’t have embraced this and been happy like I was.
“You were forever mine the moment I saw you.” He smiled down at me. “A baby,” he murmured softly and pulled me into his arms a second later, holding me tightly, taking the oxygen from my lungs, and God, it felt incredible. “I’m so ready for this, baby,” he murmured against my lips, and I melted against the man I loved. “A family,” he whispered, the joy clear in his voice. He pulled back so we could look into each other’s eyes. “You’ve given me a family, Korrie.” He pulled me in for another hug and lifted me up, the tips of my toes barely touching the floor. “You were my life before this, and I was never letting you go, but now?” His smile was so boyish, so authentically happy that I was the one to kiss him now. “Now this means we are tied for life, and I've never wanted anything more.”
He tightened his hold on me, and I closed my eyes. “I love you,” I said against his neck, my eyes closed, feeling euphoric.
“And I love you more each day.” He kissed the shell of my ear. “You’ll never know how much, never know the depth of what I feel for you, but I look forward to showing you, proving that to you, for the rest of my life. Now, let's hope your dad doesn't kill me since I knocked his daughter up before marrying her.”
I couldn't help but chuckle. “He wouldn't dare. He knows how much you mean to me.”
He knows you’re my world.