Chapter 36
Chapter
Thirty-Six
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Brie stood in the bathroom of Hunter’s apartment, staring at the small white stick in her trembling hand. The second pink line had appeared slowly, darkening until there was no mistaking it. Positive.
Her eyes darted around the bathroom. Suddenly everything seemed different.
Her toiletries crowded the counter next to Hunter’s.
Her rosewater face cream, her makeup bag, three different hair products all jostling for space beside his shaving kit.
Four months of living together and she’d taken over most of his counter.
Now there would be baby things too. Baby shampoo and bath toys and diaper cream.
The thought made her heart race. But was it panic or excitement? Both, maybe.
Her floral shower curtain was the first thing she’d changed when she moved in, softening his stark masculine space. His dark gray towels hung beside her cream ones. Little integrations, little compromises. They’d figured those out. They could figure this out too.
Couldn’t they?
She touched her still-flat stomach, and something fierce and protective surged through her chest, mixing with the fear.
A baby. Their baby.
“What’s wrong?” Hunter’s voice came from the bedroom, followed by his footsteps. He appeared in the doorway, shirtless and alert, dark blue eyes scanning her.
Wordlessly, Brie held up the pregnancy test.
Hunter froze, his eyes locked on the two pink lines. Through their connection, his emotions flooded into her like a tide. Surprise crashed first, followed immediately by a joy so intense it made her knees weak. Then came the protectiveness, fierce and overwhelming, wrapping around her like armor.
Hunter crossed the small space in one stride, pulling her against his chest. His hands framed her face, tilting it up so he could see her eyes.
He let out a sound that was half laugh, half sob. “Brie, I’m...” He stopped, apparently unable to find words big enough. Instead, he kissed her, pouring everything he couldn’t say into the connection.
Zach and Maisie’s house glowed warmly in the golden light of the spring afternoon. Brie had barely knocked before the door flew open. The scent of roasting lamb wafted onto the porch.
“Sweetheart!” Maisie pulled her into a fierce hug, holding her tight for a long moment before pulling back to study her at arm’s length. Her keen eyes narrowed slightly. “Something’s different about you.”
Before Brie could respond, Zach appeared, his ice-blue eyes crinkling with pleasure. He embraced Brie quickly before turning to Hunter with an extended hand.
“Hunter. Good to finally meet you properly.”
The two men shook hands, and Brie could see them taking each other’s measure. Both former military, both protectors, both recognizing something fundamental in the other.
“Come on, dinner won’t cook itself. Everyone can help.” Maisie said, ushering them all inside.
The kitchen became a hub of activity. Zach carved the lamb at the counter, the knife moving smoothly through the perfectly cooked meat. The scent of rosemary and garlic filled the air, making Brie’s stomach growl.
“Hunter, cutting board’s in that drawer,” Maisie directed, pointing with a wooden spoon as she stirred the sauce.
Hunter found the board and began assembling a salad. Romaine chopped into uniform pieces. Tomatoes in perfect wedges. Brie watched his hands work, steady and capable, and tried to imagine those same hands holding a tiny baby.
“Brie, honey, can you set the table?” Her mother didn’t look up from the stove. “Use Grandma’s china. It’s a special occasion having everyone together.”
Brie moved to the dining room, pulling the delicate plates from the hutch. Each piece had tiny hand-painted flowers along the rim. She arranged four place settings, folded napkins, placed silverware, filled water glasses from the pitcher her mother kept in the fridge.
Back in the kitchen, her father was plating the lamb while her mother tasted the sauce, adding a pinch more salt. Hunter tossed the salad with dressing.
They carried dishes to the table. The carved lamb was on a platter; the roasted vegetables were still steaming.
There was also salad, fresh bread, and sauce in a gravy boat.
The scents mingled together, rich and savory.
They settled into their chairs, Brie beside Hunter, her parents across from them.
“Tell us about the world tour,” Brie said. “Your posts were amazing, but I want to hear everything.”
Stories flowed as they ate. Maisie described the tango lessons in Buenos Aires, the Thai street food, the Australian beaches, and the Northern Lights in Iceland.
“How was Christmas Eve with the Brights?” Maisie asked finally.
“It was wonderful,” Brie replied, smiling at the memory.
“Cory had the whole family there. Holly and Elias, Ivy and Henry with little Oliver, Ash and Eliana with baby Eli. Reed was playing his guitar while the babies played on blankets. Even Zoe and Rollo came with Ezekiel. The house looked amazing with Holly’s ornaments everywhere. ”
“All those babies!” Maisie sighed. “Cory must be over the moon with two grandchildren already. Everyone our age seems to be entering the grandparent phase.”
Brie felt Hunter’s hand find hers under the table. She caught his eye, and he nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Actually, Mom, Dad...” Brie took a breath. “You’re going to be grandparents too. We found out this morning.”
For a moment, complete silence. Zach froze mid-bite, his fork suspended in air. Then chaos erupted. Maisie let out a sound that was part shriek, part sob, launching herself from her chair to pull Brie into her arms.
“A baby! Oh my god, a baby!”
Zach set down his fork, stood, and crossed to Hunter. For a moment, they just looked at each other. Then Zach pulled the younger man into a back-slapping embrace that made Hunter grunt.
“A grandfather,” Zach said, his voice thick. “I’m going to be a grandfather.”
As the evening wound down, Hunter helped Zach clear the table while Maisie and Brie put away the leftovers. This was what she’d wanted. Family. Belonging. All of them together.
After they finished cleaning up, Hunter and Brie stepped out onto the back deck while her parents sat by the fire. The sun was setting over Fate Mountain, painting the sky in brilliant shades of pink and gold.
Hunter wrapped his arms around her. Through their bond, she felt his complete contentment mixing with her own.
“I used to watch young families through the bakery window,” Brie said. “Perfect little units of belonging. I wondered if I’d ever have that.”
“And now?” Hunter asked, his breath warm against her ear.
“Now I have everything. A mate who knows every part of my soul. Parents who traveled the world but came home to us. A community who supports us. And soon, we’ll have someone new to love.”
Hunter turned her in his arms, cupping her face with gentle hands. “You gave me a life I never thought I deserved. A home, a family, a future. You saved me, Brie.”
“We saved each other,” she corrected, rising on her toes to kiss him.
The sun continued its descent behind the mountain, painting the sky in shades that looked exactly like the frosting on her mother’s famous petit fours. She stood in her mate’s arms, their child growing inside her. She was finally, completely, home.