Chapter Eleven
Penelope
Neal and I stood shoulder to shoulder at the podium. He was smiling broadly, holding a massive pair of scissors as my brother completed the press conference announcing the opening of the small offices of Madeline Media’s first nonprofit, Nest.
“Nest is the beginning of a new era for Madeline Media,” Will said, looking over at us. “One where we are prepared to give back to the city that we grew up in. Nest will provide safe and affordable housing options for all of this city’s citizens, regardless of financial situation.”
Neal squeezed my hand, and I stopped listening. I’d heard Will practice this a hundred times. He’d wanted it to be perfect and had asked for Neal’s input a half-dozen times before my husband had told him it was fine and to get out of our house.
I grinned a little. My brothers might make Neal crazy, but I knew that he’d gotten quite fond of them over the past few months. Especially after he pitched this concept, a new aspect of the company that spoke to the heart, not just the wallet. To my surprise, Will had instantly jumped on board.
And now, only a few weeks later, Neal and Will were deep in the thick of it. As for me, I was just proud of Neal. He was everything I could’ve ever dreamed up. Kind, gentle, and utterly obsessed with keeping me happy.
Especially now.
I tucked my hand against the lightweight jacket, feeling the tiny bump at my belly. I was telling everyone this weekend at Sunday dinner, but Neal and I couldn’t keep it from Madeline. I believed she had known even before me. She stood on the other side of the podium from us, grinning wildly. I sighed, following her gaze into the crowd. Her brother had come. Her half-brother, that is. And regardless of what I felt about her father, I was thrilled that Neal had managed to set up regular visits between the two of them.
Madeline deserved it all, and now she could have it. A doting, albeit slightly grumpy stepfather. Fantastic uncles, and now one half-sibling with another on the way.
Will stopped speaking, and I felt Neal usher me into position. Wordlessly, he tucked me up against his body, our hands sharing the enormous golden scissors together.
“And now, to formally open our first Nest location…”
Neal’s breath warmed my neck. “Thank you.”
I looked back at him, hearing the media’s voices dim. “For what?”
Together, we closed the scissors over the ribbon. It sliced through easily, officially opening the new business. Neal caught me up in a hug, moments before Madeline slipped in under my arm.
His whisper was meant just for me. “For everything.”
The End
Bonus Scene
Penelope
I had to stifle my laughter as my daughter shouted through the door of my bathroom. “How hard can it be? You literally dip the stick and then put the cap back on. Come on, Mom.”
I opened the door with a flourish. “Calm down. I already dipped it.”
Madeline screeched, “You were supposed to tell me!” Her fingers raced over her phone. “I need to start a timer.”
I hummed in agreement then swept past her to sit on the edge of the bed. Neal, looking both humored and a little ruffled, watched as Madeline paced back and forth.
“Are you sure you want another one?” he asked, purposefully loud.
Madeline stopped pacing long enough to stick her tongue out at him and then resumed. “One more minute. Then we can look.” A flash of horror whipped across her features. “You didn’t peek, did you?”
“No,” I responded dryly. “I was too busy being read the instruction manual by my daughter.”
Madeline nodded, ignoring the obvious sarcasm as she paced faster. “It has to be positive. I just have a feeling. If you are pregnant, then they would nearly be a Christmas baby. How cool would that be?”
She didn’t wait for our answer, because in her hand, her cell phone began to quietly chime. Silence filled the room as she poked the screen once. Her eyes, so much like my own, stared at both Neal and me. I wasn’t sure what she needed in this moment, and it nearly undid me. I pressed a hand against my belly to quell the sudden onslaught of nerves.
I was late, but only a day or two.
If it was negative, there were about to be three very disappointed people in this room. If positive, then our entire world would shift. A team of three becoming four.
Either way, a massive change was coming our way.
Neal must’ve sensed the change in my mood, because his hand pressed against my knee.
“I’m going to leave you guys,” Madeline said softly, turning abruptly for the door.
I felt as my heart leaped to my throat, unsure of what to do.
Neal, however, knew exactly. “Stop.”
Madeline froze, not used to her stepfather raising his voice. “What?”
“Come back here.” Neal rose from the bed, his broad shoulders relaxed as he moved towards the bathroom. He plucked the test, which was safely pushed back into its wrapper, off the counter and moved back into the bedroom.
“Come here.” He held an arm out to me.
I moved instantly, letting the contact with my husband calm my racing heart.
Then he looked to my daughter. “You too, missy.”
Gingerly, Madeline moved over and pressed herself to my side. I could nearly feel her racing heart.
“No matter what, we’re already a family,” Neal said. “Someone count me down.”
Madeline let out a long breath as I pressed a kiss to her temple. “Three,” I said into her hair.
“Two,” Madeline said, excitement bleeding into her words.
“One,” Neal said, and I heard the wrapper being pulled back. In a heartbeat, I clamped my eyes shut, trusting the two most important people in my life to see this news first. And before I could take another breath, both were shouting.
Shouting with pure joy.
Madeline was there, screaming and running around the room, climbing onto the bed. Neal was speaking roughly against my ear, his gratitude for me, his plans to worship me. And then he was on his knees before me, pressing kisses against the skin of my belly.
Laughing, I let my head fall back, the joy of this moment and my family filling me entirely.
The End