In this moment, I transform from a girl who thought she'd never know what this felt like into a mother willing to fight for her child and give her life if necessary.

"I love you, Baby," I whisper as the tears continue to flow, each one evidence of the fierce love blooming within me.

***

“So, I’m okay?” I ask, sitting across from Dr. Larsen, my heart racing with anticipation.

“You're fine,” he assures me, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Congratulations! I know you’ve been through a lot. With your type of injury, the chances of getting pregnant were pretty slim, but now that you've crossed that bridge, your ability to carry this child is promising.”

"I can't believe this is happening," I murmur, shaking my head in disbelief, my breath catching in my throat.

"I can't believe it either," he admits. "Your body has shown remarkable resilience. Your uterus has healed well, and while there is some scar tissue and you only have one functioning ovary, your hormone levels are stable. That’s crucial for ahealthy pregnancy, which means you have a good chance of carrying this baby to term.”

"Do I need to do anything special to keep us both healthy?" I ask, instinctively placing a protective hand over my belly.

Dr. Larsen leans in slightly, his voice reassuring. “I’ll be monitoring you closely throughout this journey. We’ll schedule regular ultrasounds and check-ups to ensure everything is progressing as it should. If any concerns arise, we’ll address them promptly, but from what I see now, you and your baby are doing well.”

"I know it might be too early to tell, but... can I have more children?" I ask, a hopeful tremor in my voice.

"Absolutely," he smiles. "Many women go on to have more children after a successful pregnancy. If you decide to expand your family later, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way.”

***

"Marian wants to keep Davey until tomorrow," Noah says as I walk in the door, frustration etched on his face. "I don’t want to have a full-blown argument with her before she leaves, but this is becoming ridiculous."

"I'm sorry, Noah," I reply, lightly touching his arm as I settle beside him on the couch.

"I wanted us to part on good terms, but she's making it nearly impossible."

"So when will she bring him back?" I ask, confusion lacing my tone. "She leaves tomorrow, so what does she plan to do? Just drop him off on her way to the airport?"

"Yes," he replies, his expression tightening with frustration. "That’s exactly her plan."

"What can we do?" I ask, anxiety creeping into my voice. "Should we go pick him up?"

"She put him on the phone when she called, and, of course, he begged me to let him stay," he replies, raking his fingers through his hair.

I was so excited to come home and share the news about the baby, but it feels inappropriate now. It’s clear he’s reeling with anger. This is exactly what he meant when he said Marian would use Davey to manipulate situations and get what she wanted.

"After tomorrow, there will be thousands of miles between her and us," I say softly, hoping the reminder will ease some of his tension.

"You're right," he says, taking my hand and kissing it softly. "How was your day?"

"It was good," I say, offering a smile. "I stopped by the studio and helped Zoe with a few things. Then she helped me put together the last of the welcome folders."

"We have the rest of the day all to ourselves," he says, his tone softening. "What do you want to do?"

"How about we make dinner together and spend a quiet evening at home?" I suggest, a smile tugging at my lips.

"You read my mind," he says, his gaze glinting with devotion. "Maybe we can even look up some wedding bands and see if we can decide on something."

"I'd love to have matching wedding bands," I say, glancing down at my engagement ring with admiration.

He gently cups my face, and I close my eyes, leaning into the warmth of his touch. A smile spreads across my lips just as his lips brush over the dimple on my cheek, followed by a kiss so full of passion that time seems to stand still. I let myself sink deeper and deeper into the circle of love he builds around us, cradled safely in his arms.

Chapter 27

Noah