Chapter 29 #2
Taking a deep breath, I nod and walk through the doors, my heart pounding with each step.
The sterile scent of the hospital fills my nose, and the hum of fluorescent lights buzzes overhead.
Each step feels heavier than the last as I make my way to the emergency room, dreading what I might find but desperate to see Shepherd.
I don’t wait for anyone. I keep moving and push through the double doors. When I reach his room, I quickly wipe my tears and take a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside.
“Sir, please, you need to stay until you have your results,” a nurse insists.
“Shepherd?” I ask, my voice trembling.
He snaps his head toward me, and I see the relief in his eyes as they meet mine. “My girl is here. You can go wait for my results now,” he says, directing his attention to the nurse.
She shakes her head with a small smile as she walks toward the door, but stops in front of me. “That man was ready to leave with a possible broken rib to get to you. You’re one lucky lady,” she says kindly.
My eyes swim with tears as I look from her to him. “Come here, baby,” he says, holding out his hand to me.
I make my way to him, and the tears fall as his warm hand wraps around mine. “I was so scared,” I cry out, my voice breaking.
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. Come here,” he says, pulling me closer to him.
I carefully rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat, just so I know he’s all right. The steady thump under my ear is the most comforting sound in the world right now.
“I have fought since I’ve been here to get ahold of you. I told them I needed you to know where I was, but they kept telling me I needed tests first. I’m so sorry,” he says, kissing the top of my head.
“I thought I lost you,” I admit, my voice muffled against his chest as I cry.
“Never. You’ll never lose me,” he promises, his voice firm and reassuring.
After a few minutes, I finally get myself under control and sit up, holding his hand in mine. “What happened?”
“This truck tried to pass me and hit me. I lost control and hit a tree, but I’m fine. They said possibly a broken rib, but I’ve had worse happen falling off my bike as a kid,” he reassures me with a wry smile.
“Are you in pain?” I ask, worry evident in my voice.
“Not too much. They gave me something for it,” he says, his thumb gently rubbing the back of my hand. “Just seeing you makes me feel a whole lot better.”
I squeeze his hand, feeling a mix of relief and lingering fear. “I was so scared,” I repeat, needing him to understand just how much he means to me.
“I know, baby. I know. But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” he says softly.
He reaches up and rests his hand on my cheek. “Not since you walked in.”
I lean forward and kiss him, thankful he’s still here and grateful he’s mine. “I love you,” I whisper against his lips.
“I love you too, and this isn’t exactly how I planned this, but I need to see your smile.” He looks over my shoulder and points to his pants. “Go reach into the front pocket.”
Reluctantly, I move away from him and do as he asks. I pull out a set of keys and my brow furrows. “Keys?” I ask, moving to sit next to him again.
“Keys to our home, baby. The house on the hill is ours.”
My eyes widen as they dart between his. “What?”
He chuckles and then groans, clearing his throat. “We are moving in together, and our boy deserves a home filled with love, laughter, and memories. You love that house, and I love the possibilities of our family filling it. So I bought it.”
“Shepherd, I don’t even know what to say.”
“Are you happy?” he asks, smiling.
“Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel.”
“Then you don’t need to say anything. I love you, and you deserve a home you love.”
This man is my world, and he’s giving me the world—a home, a baby, and his heart.
“I can’t wait to get out of here and christen every room of our new house.”
I giggle as I look into his eyes. “I can’t wait.” I kiss him, this time with everything I’m feeling, and he kisses me right back.
There’s just one thing that I’ve been wondering about and if I don’t ask now, I probably never will. I clear my throat and stare into his loving eyes.
“You want to ask me something?” he asks, squeezing my hand.
“Why were you always so grumpy? I haven’t seen that guy and I guess I’m just curious what happened.” I feel almost silly asking, but I just really need to know.
He grins and pulls my hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss across my knuckles.
“You see, I had this incredibly sexy, insanely beautiful neighbor that was engaged to another man. I watched from afar, not in a stalker way just to be clear.” We both laugh, but he quickly continues, “That asshole didn’t appreciate her.
He didn’t love her or treat her how she deserved.
I couldn’t tell her this because it wasn’t my place, so I watched.
The longer I watched the grumpier I got.
He had what I wanted. I was seeing everything I wanted and I could’ve reached my hand out and touched it, but it was untouchable.
So, my emotions got the better of me and the longer this gorgeous woman was out of my reach, the grumpier I became.
But then she stomped up onto my porch looking for her Christmas decorations and my entire world changed.
Everything I ever wanted, everything I never knew I wanted, fell into place.
That grumpy guy no longer exists because he has the love of his life right here staring at him with just as much love in her eyes. ”
I wipe my tears and smile at him. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“It’s just the truth, baby.”
It all makes so much sense now. He was grumpy until we got together. I should’ve put the pieces together.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you, too.”
“Sorry to interrupt, but there is a large crowd in the waiting room wanting to know what is going on,” a nurse says, stepping into the room.
My eyes slide to Shepherd’s, and I laugh. “Oh right, your siblings are all here.”
“Please just allow them back, otherwise they’ll never leave,” he says, shrugging.
This big, loud, loving family is everything, and I’m so grateful for them all.
“They were amazing,” I tell him.
“They love you, baby. Almost as much as I love you.”
When I found out I was pregnant, I thought I’d be raising the baby alone.
I never imagined Shepherd would be happy about it, and I sure as hell didn’t think we’d end up falling in love.
Yet, here we are, thankful for what we found and excited for what’s to come.
One night with my grumpy neighbor turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.