Page 125 of Dr. Stone
Andie’s mom and mine were seated just inside, chatting while Brandon played at their feet with his toys, entertaining them through the open doors that overlooked the patio. Out here with the men, Dad and Harry had found some common ground talking about selling yachts, laughing over their cognacs. It was everything I’d hoped for in this family gathering, and something I knew damn well my parents weren’t exactly used to.
As lovely as it was, there was nothing that could match how perfect and beautiful Andie looked as she stood at the kitchen island, cutting up vegetables with an angelic smile, barefoot and glowing. Damn, she was the best thing I could have ever askedto come into my life, and if my heart swelled with any more love and gratitude for the woman, it felt like it would burst.
Once dinner was served, we all gathered around the formal dining table—the one that had never held a single plate, despite costing ten grand and being imported from Italy. No one had ever sat in those chairs, and I hadn’t even realized just how killer the view of the ocean was from this room. I might need to remodel and convert this into a living room, relocating the dining area elsewhere. How many other rooms in this house would surprise me like this, spaces I’d never used until Andie came into my life?
“So, what’s the big news, kids?” Andie’s dad questioned after swallowing a bite of steak, the booze having loosened him up.
“I think everyone here by now knows that Andie and I aren’t just casually dating anymore,” I said, eying everyone’s smiles, “and so, I was grateful when she took me up on my impassioned plea for her and Brandon to move in with me.”
“This is definitely news,” my mother said first.
“What are you going to do with your place?” Andie’s dad answered, being the typical concerned dad.
“I’m probably just going to rent it out and let the renters pay it off for me,” Andie answered with a smile.
“Are we looking at wedding bells in the future?” Andie’s mom asked, addressing her daughter with a warm smile.
“We’re not that far down the road,” Andie chuckled, her bashful eyes glancing to my adoring ones, then back to her mom. “One step at a time.”
“Although marriage would be the optimum choice,” I interjected, “Andie and I learned some lessons the hard way by rushing into things. We don’t want to make that mistake again.”
“Well, if it means anything,” my dad said in a tone I didn’t recognize, “I’m proud of you, son, and your mother and I look forward to enjoying more dinner dates with you all.”
My dad’s words meant more to me than I could ever verbalize. It wasn’t just the surprising part that hesaidit at all, buthowhe said it. The old man never seemed entirely genuine when he told me he was proud of me, not even during medical school or with my career as a doctor. But this felt real. And the fact that he was proud of me for something as simple, yet monumental, as the woman I chose to build a life with, and the decision we’d made just a week ago to start that life by moving in together? That shit was gold to me.
It was probably cheesy to have a dinner date with our parents just to announce we were moving in together, because honestly, who really gave a fuck? It’s not like we were announcing an engagement. Still, Andie and I wanted to see our parents together in the same room, if only to gauge whether holidays would suck in the future. Surprisingly, everything was nearly perfect in how the two separate worlds blended into one wonderful little moment that Andie and I couldn’t be more grateful for. So now, when the bigger announcements came, at least we knew our parents wouldn’t stress us out about it.
We spentthe rest of the night chatting, our parents getting to know each other better, and everyone enjoying each other’s company, but I was secretly relieved when everyone went home, and the house was finally quiet. Brandon was asleep upstairs in the crib I’d had set up for him after Andie and I got back from Sebastian and Darcy’s wedding. The dishes were done and the lights were low. Everything was perfect, and my happiness was utterly indescribable.
Once the house was locked up for the night, I jogged up the stairs to our room, eager to take my woman in my arms and show her how much I’d missed her today. When I reached the top step, Andie was walking in from the wraparound deck, thebreeze still drifting in through all the open sliding doors, cooling the entire upstairs. And damn, if she didn’t take my breath away. Hair loose and wavy, wearing one of my T-shirts and nothing else. She looked like the perfect ending to the best night of my life.
“Hey, handsome,” she said softly, voice a little shaky.
I walked to her and pulled her into my arms, hoping nothing was said to her outside of my presence that may have upset her. “You okay, gorgeous?”
“I’ve never been happier,” she smiled at me, but I saw concern in her eyes.
“We’ve already discussed your cute ass not saying what’s on your mind,” I said, reaching my hand up to her face. “What’s bothering you? I can see it in your eyes, baby.”
She leaned into me, lacing our fingers over her stomach.
“Well, I’m pregnant,” she said in a tone that was equal parts excited and worried.
“Holy shit,” I answered in complete shock. “Pregnant? As in?—”
“As infour monthspregnant,” she said, smiling, but she still had that damned worried look on her face.
“Four months?” I repeated, grinning. “Are you telling me Sebastian and Darcy’s wedding is the reason for this?” I laughed, feeling more happiness in that moment than I ever had before.
She laughed, and tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “Yes, it had to be during that time.”
“When did you find out?” I asked, doing the math in my head. “I mean, how are youfourmonths along and just now telling me?”
“I just found out too,” she said before continuing as if she was explaining herself. “So, I—I didn’t skip my period, not really. They’ve been spotty and sporadic, but I thought it was irregular from stress or something. It’s not that unusual,” she continuednervously. “Lately I’ve been overly tired and feeling really bloated, or so I thought, but nothing like when I was pregnant with Brandon, so it didn’t cross my mind at all. Then, when I was due for my annual exam at the OBGYN, that’s when my doctor came back with the unexpected reason for me being tired.”
I covered my mouth in happiness and shock, and I shook my head in awe that this was happening.
“It’s my fault,” she sighed, looking defeated. “I missed a couple of days or more of taking the pill while we were broken up, and I think it didn’t have time?—”
