Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
H annah
Alex and I went to Adalyn’s house for brunch the following morning. She called it a celebratory brunch for our engagement, which included herself, Colin, Lucy, Alfred, Luis, my mom, and Antonio.
“Let me see that ring!” My mother exclaimed when we walked through the door.
Holding out my hand, I proudly showed it off, but not without many tears.
“Darling, why are you crying?” Luis walked over and hooked his arm around me.
“I don’t know. I’m just so happy.”
“Aw, Hannah Banana. Come on. Let’s get you some food,” he said, leading me to the kitchen.
“Hannah!” Lucy ran up and hugged me. “Were you surprised?”
“So surprised.” I sobbed.
“I’m happy you and my dad are getting married. I don’t want anyone else for a mom.”
Hearing her say that made the tears fall harder.
“I love you so much, Lucy.”
“I love you too. You don’t have to cry.”
“I know. I can’t help it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve been so emotional the past week.”
After we ate, Alex took Lucy and went outside with Colin, Antonio, Luis, and Alfred.
“What is wrong with you?” Adalyn asked as we cleaned up the kitchen. “I know you’re over the moon with happiness, but you’ve literally been in tears since you got here.”
“I know what’s wrong with her,” my mother said, placing the dishes in the dishwasher.
“Nothing is wrong with me. I’m just so happy.”
“You’re pregnant.” My mother pointed at me.
“I most certainly am not. Why would you say that?”
“I first suspected it last week when we were out shopping, and you started crying when we were looking at baby clothes for Ellery. I asked you what was wrong, and you said the clothes were so adorable that you couldn’t help it. I was the exact same way for a couple of months when I was pregnant with your sister. I thought I was going crazy.”
“Mom, stop. You’re being ridiculous,” I said.
“Is it possible?” Adalyn stared at me.
“I don’t know. Anything’s possible.”
“Are you and Alex using protection?” my mother asked.
“Mom!” I cocked my head. “Of course. I’m on—oh shit.” My eyes widened.
“What?” Adalyn asked.
“There was a small window when I forgot to pick up my pills, and I missed a couple of days because I was so busy at the shop. But I made sure Alex and I didn’t have sex.”
“But the second you got the pills and took one, you had sex, right?” Adalyn smiled. “You do know it doesn’t work right away when you stop taking it for a few days, right? Come on.” Adalyn grabbed my hand. “I have an extra pregnancy test kit upstairs. Remember, the one you gave me came with two tests.”
The thought that I could be pregnant terrified me because Alex and I hadn’t discussed having kids yet. What if he didn’t want any more children?
After peeing on the stick, Adalyn set the timer on her phone, and she, my mother, and I sat on the edge of the bed. My mom reached over and took hold of my hand.
“Congratulations, sweetheart.” A bright smile crossed her lips. “I’m so excited to have two grandchildren.”
“Mom, we don’t even know if I am yet.”
“You are.”
The bedroom door opened, and Colin stood in the doorway, staring at us.
“What’s going on in here?” He smiled. “They’re up here, Alex.”
“There you are. Are you almost ready to head home?” Alex asked.
Suddenly, we heard Ellery crying over the monitor in the bedroom.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s go get your granddaughter and leave Alex and Hannah alone.”
My mother squeezed my hand before getting up from the bed and leaving the room with Adalyn.
“Babe, are you okay?” Alex asked.
I patted the bed. “Come sit with me.”
“What’s going on?” He took hold of my hand.
“In the bathroom is the pregnancy test I just took. My mom seems to think I’m pregnant because of how emotional I’ve been all week. I’m scared, Alex.”
“Scared of what?”
“What if I am?”
The corners of his mouth curved upward. “That would be the best news ever.”
“Really?” My eyes swelled with tears. “You want a baby?”
“Of course. I know we haven’t discussed kids yet, but I want to have a baby with you. Whether it happens now or in the future, I don’t care. All that matters is we created a child out of our love for each other.”
I started sobbing as I wrapped my arms around him.
“Hold it together, babe.” He held me tight.
“I can’t help it. It just keeps happening out of nowhere.”
“I think we should go into the bathroom and see what the test says.” Alex broke our embrace and helped me from the bed.
Walking into the bathroom, I took a deep breath and picked up the stick from the counter. Alex and I stared at the two highly visible pink lines.
“Does that mean?—”
“Yep,” I said. “We’re having a baby.”
After we let the news sink in, we went downstairs to tell the family.
“Can you announce it?” I asked Alex. “I’m afraid I’ll break down.”
“You bet.” He kissed the side of my head. “Listen up, everyone. Hannah and I have an announcement. We’re having a baby.”
“Oh, my lord!” Luis ran over and hugged me. “Congratulations, you two.”
“I’m going to have a brother or sister?” Lucy asked.
“You sure are, kiddo.” Alex smiled. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m so excited!” She hugged us both.
A lex and I were married three months later. We had a beautiful ceremony and reception in the park, and most of the town came to celebrate with us. We also discovered we were having a little girl, which made Lucy very happy.
One night, Alex and I were lying in bed. He was working on his laptop, and I was reading a book.
“Have you decided on a name yet for the baby? he asked. “You are due next month. Every name I’ve mentioned, you shot down.”
“That is not true.”
“Yes, it is.” A smirk crossed his lips.
“I’ve thought of a name I’d like to name our baby. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
“Hit me with it, babe. What name are you thinking?” he asked, typing away on his laptop.
“Athena.”
His fingers stopped typing. He turned his head and stared into my eyes.
“Are you serious, babe?”
“I am.” A smile crossed my lips.
He closed his laptop, set it on the nightstand, and wrapped his arms around me.
“I love it.” Tears swelled in his eyes. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
“I know it does.” I brought my hand up and softly stroked his cheek.
A lex
Our daughter, Athena Claire Harbor, was born on the exact day she was due to be born. Weighing seven pounds, she was absolutely beautiful and looked like her mother. Holding her in my arms, I vowed to do things right this time around. Lucy was excited and loved her sister as much as we did.
As I sat in the sand with my daughter lying on my legs, I never thought the darkness that consumed my life after my sister’s death would lift. But it did, and all thanks to my beautiful wife. If I had never met her and come to my senses, Athena would still be trapped here, and I would still be living with the guilt of what happened all those years ago.
“Hey, you.” Hannah walked over, sat beside me, and kissed my cheek.
“You’re home.” I smiled. “I missed you. Did you get Lucy a new tennis racket?”
“I did. She’s on the tennis court trying it out.” She reached over and stroked Athena’s head. “How was the baby while we were gone?”
“Pure perfection.” I smiled. “She loves it out here.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Hannah hooked her arm around me.
“Thank you, babe.”
“For what?”
“For coming into my life, becoming my wife, and giving me this beautiful baby girl. Only you could make me feel the way I do, and I will spend the rest of my life thanking you. Are you ready to try again?” A smirk crossed my lips.
“Try again for what, Alex?”
“Another baby.”
“Ha, you’re funny.” She pointed at me. “Athena is two months old, and you want another one already?”
“I want as many children with you as you’re willing to give, babe.”
“How many?” Her brows furrowed.
“Maybe two or three.” I grinned.
“How about we get through the first year with the one we have and discuss it then, big guy.” She patted my back.
“You really want to wait a year?”
“Uh, yes.”
“Okay. I can live with that but mark my words. By this time next year, you will be pregnant again.”
“We’ll see, my love.”
“I love you, Hannah.”
“I love you more, Alex,” she said as we stared at the calm ocean water.
Lucy walked over and sat on my other side, taking her sister from my lap and holding her. I stared at her for a moment and then looked over at Hannah, who sat there with a bright smile on her face. This was my family, and I would protect them at any cost.
Thank you for reading Only You (Harbor Falls Series, Book Two)!
I hope you enjoyed it.