Page 42 of Impregnated By the Alpha

Penny agreed excitedly, and we spent a few hours perusing the local used shop. There were no big-box bookstores in town, but the secondhand store would often order new releases for display. At times, they had even purchased bookswith specific customers in mind, knowing that they were almost one hundred percent sure of the sale.

Such was the case today. The bookstore owner, Cassidy, greeted me immediately when we entered the store.

“Nile! We were hoping you’d stop in soon,” she said.

“What have you got for me today, Cass?” I replied.

Cassidy was one of the first people I met when I came to Pinedale. In her late seventies, she could easily have retired by now, but she enjoyed her work. No one had a higher passion for education than she did, and she loved it when she was able to match people with books that fit their interests.

“A few, actually,” she said, pulling a stack from under the counter. “These were the two we were talking about last time you were in. I ordered this artist’s guide to Wyoming for Violet, and of course, there’s one here for my favorite five-year-old.”

Penny stood on her tiptoes at the tall counter so she could see the book that Cassidy had picked out for her. “What’s it about?” she asked.

“A princess who fights dragons,” Cassidy told her. “And then… well, I don’t want to spoil it for you. Why don’t you take it over there and find out?”

Penny snatched the illustrated hardcover and dragged Violet over to the comfortable bench where she liked to read when we visited. I watched as Violet read the story to Penny, her voice animated and Penny’s eyes wide with excitement.

“It’s good to see you two happy,” Cassidy remarked.

“It’s good to be happy,” I said with a smile.

When the book was finished, Penny brought it over to me, asking if we could take it home with us. I added it to my pile ofbooks to purchase and sent her off to look for any more she’d like to have. She came back a little while later with four more books.

“You’ve got some good ones there,” Cassidy said proudly when she saw her selections. “You take good care of those.”

“I will,” Penny promised.

We grabbed our books and headed back home, all worn out from our day.

Penny wanted to read and play games when we got home, so we spent a calm afternoon in the living room together as a family. We had finished our third game when Penny let out a contented sigh and came over to stand in front of where Violet and I were sitting on the couch.

“Violet, Daddy, this has been the best day ever,” Penny declared.

She wrapped her short arms as far around the both of us as she could reach, squeezing tight. Violet and I returned her hug, smiling gently at each other. We both knew it was time.

“We’re so glad you had a great time, baby,” I told her. “But Violet and I have something else we wanted to share with you.”

“There’s more?” Penny asked excitedly.

“Yep, and this surprise you get to keep for the rest of your life,” Violet told her.

“Forever?” Penny asked, looking up at us with wonder in her eyes.

“That’s right, kiddo,” I said. “Because in just a few months, Violet is going to have a baby—your little brother or sister.”

Penny’s eyes got even wider, and then they began to water. One tear slipped down her cheek, and Violet and I both leaned in closer to her, lending our support.

“Pen, baby, what’s wrong?” Violet asked. “Why are you crying?”

“I’m just… so… happy!” Penny gushed.

We both breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her into another group hug. For a long moment, we stood there—a family of three that was soon to become four.

“Is it a brother or a sister?” Penny asked once the tears had stopped.

“We aren’t sure yet, baby,” I responded. “But either way, I know you’re going to be the best big sister in the entire world.”

“I’m so excited to have a sibling,” she said.

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