Page 44 of Bewitched

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Monday, May 1

Walking past the bookcase, Paige noticed another picture of her and Blake. She lifted it and saw that it was one taken at his family ranch. They were standing in front of the garden, and Blake was kneeling in front of her, kissing her stomach. The sun was setting behind them, and his big hands were silhouetted against her bump. Rubbing her finger over his face in the picture, she felt a tear slip down her cheek.

Today was the day he was returning to San Diego, and she was doing everything she could to hold it together. A bright, happy smile had been painted on her face since she woke up, and it was going to stay there until he walked out the door.

Quickly, she replaced the picture and then straightened her shoulders. This was no time for her resolve to weaken. Wiping her face, she called out his name, “Blake, where are you?” It was time to make some lunch, and she might as well get started.

He poked his head out of the nursery and waved. “I’m finishing up the changing table. Want to come see what it looks like?”

“You didn’t have to do that. My dad said he would put it together.” She walked down the hall and stepped into the room. Blake had insisted on painting it and had gotten it done yesterday. Standing against the wall, she watched him tighten a screw on the drawer. It was a combination changing table and chest of drawers and it was going to be perfect. The crib hadn’t arrived yet and probably wouldn’t for another eight weeks. “You should get packed because you’re leaving in a couple of hours.”

“I am packed. My bag is on the bench in the bedroom.” He turned back and began checking the screws.

“That’s just your laptop and book. What about your clothes and stuff?”

“I’m leaving them here. I’ll be wearing my uniforms when I get back to San Diego.”

Fisting her hands, she tried to control the rising tide of anger. “You should take your stuff home. You may never come back, so it doesn’t make any sense to leave your clothes here.” She knew she was pushing it, but it felt like the only thing she could do. If she allowed herself to think for one minute that he was coming back, then she was setting herself up for a mountain of heartache. He was probably going to be cleared for active duty, and that meant he wouldn’t even be here when the baby was born.

When he turned around, she saw anger clouding his features and didn’t really care. He could pretend all he wanted. It didn’t mean that she had to. Remaining in denial about the chances of them being together wasn’t going to do her or the baby any good. “It makes more sense for you to pack.”

“We have no idea what the future holds, Paige. I may be medically retired by the end of the week.”

“I doubt it, Blake. You’ve been working out every day since you got here. You told your brother that you felt great and were one hundred percent operational. That doesn’t sound like a man who’s going to be medically retired anytime soon.”

He set the screwdriver down and opened his arms. “Come here.”

Shaking her head, she crossed her arms. “I have to go make lunch.”

Taking a step toward her, he engulfed her in a hug and held her as tightly as her baby bump would allow. “You’re not going to get rid of me. My clothes are staying in the drawers, and my boots and toothbrush are not going anywhere. Every morning when you brush your teeth, you’re going to see mine sitting there, and you’re going to be reminded that we’re in this together. I don’t know how or when, but we are.”

Resting her head against his heart, she let out a sigh. “Why are you so stubborn about this? The chances of you coming back are atrocious. I’ll bet in four and half months, you’ll be on some op in the middle of God knows where, not here in the delivery room.”

“Paige, there’s one hand that you’re going to be holding when you give birth, and it’s going to be mine. You think I’m going to miss seeing my son born?” Looking down, he shook his head. “You know better than that.”

Burying her face in his shirt, she didn’t respond. What could she say that wouldn’t start an argument? Nothing. If this was what he needed to believe to get through the day, then she wasn’t going to change his mind. As far as she could tell, this might be the last time she saw him. He would not only be in the middle of a mission when she was due to deliver but also be putting his life on the line. It was better for everyone if she never forgot that fact.

***

They sat at the kitchen table and enjoyed her mother’s delicious lasagna. At least, Blake was enjoying it. She was just pushing it around her plate. Her appetite had disappeared over the last week as her nausea increased. It was a good thing that she ate so much during the first twenty weeks because it looked like the next twenty were going to be a little bumpy. She hadn’t said anything to Blake, and she didn’t plan on it.

As far as he was concerned, she was the happiest, healthiest pregnant woman there ever was. The last thing she needed was him worrying. He’d make her crazy even if he was fourteen hundred miles away in San Diego. And, yes, she knew the exact distance, because she had looked it up earlier. Twenty hours by car and three hours by plane. Not that they would be going back and forth or anything. “Are you looking forward to getting back to work?”

Turning, he gave her an incredulous look. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“Good Lord, Blake. I was trying to make conversation, not start a fight. If you’re going to be touchy, then we can just remain silent for the rest of the meal.” Sitting back, she tried to find a comfortable spot. The baby had a foot jammed into her rib, and she hoped he moved it soon. She had another appointment in a couple of days, and it would be interesting to see how big he’d gotten in the last month. If he took after his daddy, then she was going to be carrying around a large bowling ball before too long.

Blake pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave without you.” He lifted her foot, placed it in his lap, and started rubbing it. “Maybe you can come out next week.”

Sighing, she wondered how she was going to survive without his heavenly hands. Somehow she had become addicted to his touch. He was a surprisingly affectionate man. He was constantly touching and kissing her, and not just in the bedroom. All the time. Even when they were in line at the grocery store. It seemed that he’d kept her within arm’s reach since he arrived, and she was going to miss the hell out of it. “What did you say?”

Laughing, he pushed his knuckle into the ball of her foot. “You lose your concentration whenever I rub your feet. I asked if you wanted to come out next week.”

“Oh…well…let’s just see how things go for you. You may not even be in San Diego.”

He took her other foot and started massaging it. “Have you ever been to Coronado before?”

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