Page 14 of Baby Makes 3

My mind is already working on what changes we’ll need to make once we adopt our new baby. We’ve discussed it at length. If we should become parents, we’ll move to my family’s gatedcompound—that’s what my sister Lia calls it. It’s basically a small, private gated subdivision in Lincoln Park. Shane purchased all of the lots on a cul-de-sac and installed a manned security gate at the only entrance. Most of my family lives there now, except for me, Liam, and Hannah.

There’s a spec house nearing completion that would suit us fine. It just happens to have a perfect space in the back for an art studio, with lots of windows facing south for the best sun exposure. I doubt that was a random design choice. Shane must have known we’d be moving to the compound eventually.

Breakfast is just about ready when Molly walks into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” she says, leaning up to kiss my cheek. “Do I smell blueberries?”

“Yep. Blueberry pancakes.” I grab a blueberry from the colander and pop one into her mouth. “I got a good batch.”

“Mm. I’ll set the table and pour the coffee.”

While Molly sets the table, I scramble up half a dozen eggs and drop some bread into the toaster.

“Has Gus eaten yet?” she asks.

“Yes. And if he tells you otherwise, don’t believe him. He’s lying.”

She laughs. Gus has a reputation for begging for human food.

As we sit down to eat, I tell her what’s been on my mind this morning. “If the adoption goes through, I think we should move to the compound. When we have kids, we’ll want them to be able to play outside without worrying about traffic. Plus, it’ll be nice to live close to their grandparents and cousins.”

“Their?You’re speaking in plural,” she notes.

I shrug. “I figure we’ll want more than one, right? It’ll take time, but eventually.”

“Right.” She chuckles. “With nearly all your family close by, our kids will have built-in babysitters and playmates galore.”

“Then you’re okay with it?”

“Moving to the compound?” she asks. “Sure. I can’t imagine a better place to raise a child.”

“Or children.”

She laughs softly. “Yes. Orchildren.”

After Molly leaves for the studio, Gus and I make ourselves comfortable in my office. I boot up my dictation software and pick up where I left off the day before. At the moment, the story’s hero is pinned down outside a small mountain village in Afghanistan, surrounded by Taliban fighters. He was on a reconnaissance mission when he’s separated from his special ops unit. The odds are against him as he waits for evac.

Even now, years later, I can still hear the sounds and remember the smells of the mountain terrain. I can hear the laughter of Afghani children playing in the dusty roads.

Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like now if I hadn’t been injured in combat, if I hadn’t lost both eyes. I’d still be serving in the Teams. I never would have returned home to live with Shane while I recuperated. I never would have moved out on my own, and I never would have met Molly.

I wouldn’t trade anything for that. I don’t need to see to be happy, not when I have the love of an amazing woman.

Shaking myself out of my reverie, I return to the book I’m writing. It’s my twelfth military thriller. I may not be an active Navy SEAL any longer, but based on my own experiences I’ll never run out of stories to tell. It’s my way of staying connected to my fellow SEALs.

Right after lunch, I call Shane.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asks as he takes my call.

“Got any plans for that spec house you’re building in the family compound?”

“God, please don’t call it a compound. That makes it sound like a prison. It’s bad enough that Lia started calling it that. Not you, too.”

“Well, it fits. Anyway, if the offer still stands, Molly and I would like to move in.”

“Of course the offer stands. This is great news. Beth will be thrilled. So will Mom and Dad. But why the sudden change of heart? I thought you two were happy in Wicker Park.”

“We are. But we’ve been offered an opportunity to adopt a baby girl. Her due date is in two months, just a week after our wedding. We think it’s time for us to think about moving closer to family.”

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