Chapter 28 Zofia
zofia
THREE WEEKS LATER
Alright, Mom and Dad. There’s your baby,” the ultrasound tech said, pointing at the little bean on the screen.
Nic squeezed my hand, and I looked over at him, finding his eyes filled with tears.
We finally had our first appointment after finding out I was pregnant, and part of me couldn’t believe that this was real. That I was growing our baby inside me right now.
Somehow, they’d defied the odds, some of Nic’s pre-cum clearly enough to knock me up. I’d teased him on more than one occasion about it, though it was clear all that did was make him want to do it again.
Any moment I wasn’t throwing up, I was all over him.
I’d never had any doubts about him being the perfect husband, but the last month had been better than I’d ever imagined.
Especially once he’d found out I was pregnant.
Nicolas had doted on me, making sure I ate, even it was just crackers or the ginger candies he’d gotten me to help with my nausea.
He’d held my hair back as I threw up, and we sat on the couch every night, curled up under a blanket, his hand resting on my stomach.
I never should have worried about him not wanting to have kids, not when he was so excited.
“You’re not supposed to be the one crying,” I told him, poking a finger at his cheek. My hormones were all over the place and I’d cried more in the last few weeks than ever, but today, all I felt was bone-deep happiness.
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Can’t help it, gorgeous.” I smiled as he grinned down at me, blinking away the moisture.
Our tech smiled at both of us, clearly used to first-time parents being overly-affectionate. "Do you want to hear the heartbeat?”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Yes.”
She pressed some buttons, and then a fast, rhythmic thumping filled the room.
“It’s really real,” I said, throat tight.
Nic pressed his lips to my belly. “There’s a baby in there.”
“I just need to take a few measurements, and then the doctor will come in and go over the results. And I’ll get a sonogram printed for you.”
“Can we get two copies?” Nic asked.
She smiled. “Of course. Lots of dads want a copy, too.”
He brushed my hair back behind my ear, both of us looking at each other as the tech finished her final examinations before pulling the ultrasound wand out of me, leaving us alone in the room.
After sitting up and getting dressed, I rested my head on Nic’s chest. “Did you hear that? She called me dad.” He sounded like he was in awe.
“I’m gonna hang the sonogram in my office,” he said, grinning down at me.
“I want everyone to know that you’re having my baby. ”
“Caveman,” I groaned. Though I liked how possessive he was over me, so I couldn’t complain. Much.
“Only for you. Especially now that I can’t see you from my office.”
I rolled my eyes. “I see you more every day than I did when I was your assistant,” I reminded him. “Every morning, every night, plus lunch…”
“And somehow, it’s still not enough time with my wife.” He leaned in, kissing my lips softly. “I love you. And I love our baby. Thank you for giving me this.”
My eyes softened. “I should be the one to thank you,” I told him.
“For knocking you up with my super-sperm? Noted.” Nicolas gave me a sexy smirk. “Can’t wait to do it again.”
My stomach rested over my stomach. “Maybe let’s wait until this one’s here before we make plans for another.”
He grinned. “Sure, baby. But that’s not going to stop me from trying.”
I hummed, loving the idea of him spilling his seed inside of me over and over again, like he was trying to knock me up, when the doctor came in the room.
I’d insisted on having my OB be a woman, and I was lucky enough to find one who was half Indian. It was comforting to see someone who looked like me on the other side of the table.
“Everything’s looking great, Zofia. Baby’s growing perfectly, and from everything you’ve told me, I’d estimate your due date is around May twenty-second. But don’t get too attached to that, because most babies don’t come on their due date.”
I nodded. “Right.”
“How are you feeling? Do you have any questions for me?”
I looked at Nic, who squeezed my hand.
“My wife made a list, if that’s okay?” He’d known exactly what I needed last night when I was freaking out and spiraling over today’s appointment, and had run his hand up and down my back as I rambled off my list, conveying every single one of my worries and concerns.
“Perfect. Let me have them.”
And somehow, I knew everything was going to be okay. Because with Nicolas at my side, I had the best support system a girl could ever ask for.
The best husband I could have ever dreamed of.
“I’m so excited that we’re doing this,” I said for the tenth time as I wiggled my toes in the warm water, enjoying my pedicure.
Angelina and Gabbi had invited me out to celebrate my new job. I’d officially moved into my new office this week, and I was hard at work finishing the final prep for the charity gala later this month. It wasn’t much different from when I was Nic’s assistant, except now I got to do it all full time.
At least until our little one got here, and then I’d switch to working part time after my maternity leave. It was perfect because it meant I didn’t have to give up doing what I loved, but I could also have the role I’d dreamed of: being a mom.
Everything was better than I’d ever imagined.
“I know,” Angelina said, her head titled back against the headrest. “It’s so nice.”
“Agreed. I love girls’ day,” Gabbi sighed, a moan slipping from her lips from the massage setting on her chair.
We were getting manicures and pedicures, and I’d already picked my nail polish color to match my dress.
It was a surprisingly decent day, despite it being November in Portland.
The gray of winter had already descended, but even though there was a chill in the air, it wasn’t raining, and that was a win in my book.
“How have you been feeling lately, Zo?” Ang asked.
“Honestly, awful.” I laughed. “The nausea is constant, and I don’t know why anyone decided to call it morning sickness when it happens all throughout the day. Nic started eating lunch with me in my office because any small scent can trigger me. And I’m so tired, all the time.”
“But everything’s good?” Gabbi asked, and I nodded.
“Everything’s amazing.” I curled a hand over my tiny bump. It wasn’t visible yet, but I was pretty sure I could feel a difference now, the smallest curve to my stomach. “We had our first ultrasound this week, and I’ll never forget hearing that heartbeat for the first time.”
“How’d Nic do?”
I chuckled. “Oh, he cried.”
“Yeah, that tracks,” Gabbi agreed. “He’s the biggest golden retriever I’ve ever met.”
“I can’t wait to see him as a dad,” Angelina said. “I can’t believe we’re all at that age where people are having babies.” She scrunched up her nose. I knew how Ang felt about having kids, and her apprehension, but I knew that one day, if she had kids, she was going to make an incredible mom.
Warmth filled my heart. “He’s going to be such a good one. I know he worries, on account of losing his mother at a young age and his father not being around as much, but I can’t imagine anyone more suited to being a dad.”
“You got a great guy,” they both agreed.
“We all did.” And we were damn lucky to have men who loved us and doted on us.
“I can’t believe we’re all in relationships now,” Gabbi said. “For the longest time, I was convinced it would never happen.”
“How’s everything with Hunter been?” I asked.
“Amazing.” She giggled. “It’s great. After we shared our feelings, it just felt like we unlocked this whole new side of our relationship. And now that we’re moving in together…” Gabbi smiled to herself. “I’m excited to get to see him more.”
“No way!” Angelina exclaimed. “Bitch, you didn’t tell me! I’m so happy for you two!”
Gabbi nodded. “It just happened. But fuck, Ang, I’m so happy.”
“One step closer to being my sister for real,” she said, reaching over and squeezing her hand.
“But we’ll always be best friends before sister-in-laws,” Gabbi responded.
And I couldn’t help but smile, because these were my girls.
This was the family I’d chosen.
I’d never trade it for the world.
“I thought we were going out to lunch next,” I said, frowning as we drove down the highway in the opposite direction I’d expected. Angelina pulled off at the exit for Washington Park, and I frowned. “Where exactly are we going?”
“Shhhhh, babe. It’s a girls day surprise.”
I furrowed my brows. The only things up there were the Rose Garden and the Zoo, neither of which seemed like a location we’d be heading to.
After getting our nails done, I’d thought we were going directly to the restaurant, but then they’d dragged me to a salon, where we’d had our makeup done. My curls were down naturally around my shoulders, and everyone agreed they were all too pretty to touch.
“I didn’t even get this pampered before my wedding,” I admitted to my stylist.
She offered me a small smile, continuing to put the finishing touches on my eyes. “You’re gorgeous,” she said, squeezing my shoulder. “And every woman deserves to feel good—no matter what day it is.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a little choked up. "Damn pregnancy hormones,” I muttered to myself.
But I felt even more beautiful than I had in weeks, and maybe it was because my friends had pampered me all morning.
The car stopped, and I looked up at the rose garden.
“This is still open?” I asked, frowning at the sight.
I’d been here during the summer as a girl because my parents loved bringing our family here.
It was probably why I loved flowers as much as I did, used to seeing the hundreds of colors and types of roses scattered along the hillside.
I followed the other two girls inside, surprised that no one else seemed to be around. They led me to a spot that overlooked the city. Since it was a sunny day, you could actually see Downtown Portland. I smiled, finding our office building easily.
Thought it was November, and most of the flowers had already bloomed, there were still some holding on. It might not have been as colorful as the summer, but it was still gorgeous.
“So what are we—” I turned back to Angelina and Gabbi, but they’d both disappeared. “Hello?” I turned around completely, and there was my husband.
Nicolas.
I couldn’t move.
There he was, in the middle of the rose garden, hand outstretched towards mine. He was dressed more casually today, in a maroon polo and slacks, and my heart fluttered at the sight of him.
“Nic.” I could hardly breathe. I placed a hand over my mouth as I stared at the gorgeous man who was undoubtedly mine.
“Hi, gorgeous.” Words that made me melt.
I took a step towards him. Then another.
And then he sank down.
Down on one knee.
A thousand thoughts flew through my mind.
“What are you doing?” I took the final steps towards him, taking his hand as I came to a stop in front of him.
“What I should have done from the beginning,” he said, those deep blue eyes that reminded me of the ocean staring up at me.
“Zofia Avanthika Narayan Larsen, you know I love you. You know I have for a long time.” I nodded, tears pooling in my eyes, and I tried to blink them away so he didn’t grow blurry.
“Being your husband has been the single greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life, and it’s all I want to be for the rest of my life.
Before, you were contractually mine. But now, I’m giving you the story that you deserve.
So, I wanted to ask you…” His hand held mine, finger rubbing over my wedding ring. “Will you marry me?”
I quirked an eyebrow, flashing my ring at him. “We’re already married, Nicolas.” Like he needed the reminder.
He gave me a small pout. “Let me have this, why don’t you? I had an entire speech planned.”
“Sorry. Continue, husband.”
“Be my best friend. Be my partner. Be my wife. Be everything, because you’re already the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
” Nicolas grinned. “Marry me again. Because I love you, and I want to do it right this time. The big wedding that you deserve. All of your family there, and all of mine. Surrounded by our friends and loved ones as we reaffirm our love for each other. What do you say?”
I shook my head, loving how ridiculous this was that he’d clearly had the girls go through some elaborate scheme just so he could propose to me. “I don’t need any of that.” The corners of my lips turned up in a smile. “I just need you.”
He pulled me up into his arms, kissing me softly. “That’s all I need too, gorgeous. You and our baby.”
My eyes fluttered shut as he kissed me again.
“But, for the record, we’re still having the ceremony next year, right? Because I kinda already told your mom about my plan, and she threatened to disown me as a son-in-law if I didn’t let her plan this wedding.”
“Yes,” I laughed. “I will marry you again, Nicolas Alexander Larsen.” We both rested our hands on my belly. “And our little one will get to be there, too.”
He was beaming. “You know the grandparents are going to eat that up.”
I interlaced my fingers with his. “I love you for doing this for me, Nicolas, but you really didn’t have to.”
“Oh, no. I did. It’s part of the grand gesture. The girls explained it all to me.” He turned, cupping his hands over his mouth. “She said yes!” he shouted the words, and all our friends flooded out of the trees—and our parents.
“Oh, Nicolas.” My eyes filled with tears. I noticed Gabbi had a camera strapped around her neck, and I realized she’d taken photos of Nic’s proposal. He’d planned this all along—for me.
“Baby, don’t cry,” he told me, cupping my cheek.
I shook my head, laughing. “Happy ones, I promise.”
“Come on. We’re celebrating. It’s our re-engagement party.” Nicolas laughed. “Everyone wanted to come when I told them my plans, and I couldn’t say no, so here we are.”
He tugged me towards our families, and I let him, knowing that there was nowhere else I’d rather be—and no one else I’d rather be with.
Everything was better than I could have ever imagined it.
The best part? It was real.
No contract—just us.