Page 40 of After the Red Carpet
“My period was late, and I’ve been feeling so emotional and out of sorts lately. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe we’d gotten lucky. I thought it was too soon since we only started trying a couple of months ago, but . . .”
“We were made to make babies together.”
She rubbed the tip of her nose to his. “When I took the pregnancy test, and later when the doctor confirmed it, thisprofound, peaceful joy bubbled up inside of me. It was torture keeping the news to myself. I couldn’t wait to tell you.”
“You didn’t have to go by yourself. I promised you that if we had children, you wouldn’t go to so much as a single doctor’s appointment alone. I’ll do everything with you. I want us to go through this pregnancy together, and when our baby is born, I want to be a hands-on parent. I’ll do everything in my power to be the best father I can possibly be.”
“I know, and I love you for it. Our baby is so lucky to have you.”
He rested his hand on her tummy. “I already love them more than I can say. Ella, you are my world. The family we’re creating is my world. Please know you’ll always come first.”
She kissed him softly. “Finn, I want us to raise our family together, just you and me. No nannies or anything like that. We already have people cooking our food and doing our laundry. I want us to be the ones taking care of our children—guiding them, enjoying them.”
“I want that too.” He chuckled and asked, “But we can hire a babysitter from time to time, right?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied through a smile. “I know we’re both passionate about our work, but . . .”
“We’ll figure it out. We’ll make it work. Our way. As partners.”
“Can I tell you something?” Ella asked.
“Anything.”
“You know I’ve never been much of a planner, and I don’t dwell on the future, but after I found out I’m pregnant, I thought about holding our newborn, watching them grow up, and before long, I was daydreaming about being old with you, about how handsome you’ll look with gray hair and deep lines on your face,” she said, tracing the soft lines around his eyes. “I imagined our adult children andlots of sweet little grandchildren running around. At the center of it all was the two of us, together, enjoying them all, as in love as the day we got married. Maybe it’s silly, but I can see it so clearly.”
Finn smiled and kissed her forehead. “It’s not silly to me. I see it too, just as you described. Like I’ve always said: with how we feel about each other, there’s no fantasy we can’t make a reality. I’m so excited for this next part of our adventure.”
“Me too. We’re having a baby,” she whispered, tears in her eyes.
“We’re having a baby.”
“Finn, I need you,” Ella said, grabbing his bicep to pull him closer. She guided his hand between her legs. “Oh, yes,” she moaned with delight.
“That’s it, baby, that’s it. Come here,” he said, sitting up and pulling her into his lap. He swept her hair back and started kissing her ear, neck, and mouth.
“I’m so in love with you,” she whispered.
“Oh my God,” Finn groaned as he held Ella’s hips and thrust against her until they both let out sounds of bliss. They held each other tightly, trying to catch their breath. “Lie down with me,” he whispered.
Finn caressed her arm and planted a soft kiss on her mouth. “I can’t believe how many times we make love each day.”
“There’s nothing else I want to do,” she said.
“These pregnancy hormones are incredible!”
“Every time you even brush past me, I just have to have you. You are the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, and you’re all mine.”
He blushed. “This is the most erotic time in my life. I’ve never been so attracted to someone in my life, or so in love.”
“The magnetic pull between us is so strong. I wondered what it would be like, my body changing, but I’ve never feltbetter, more alive, or closer to you. Or this sensual,” she said, running her finger down his face.
“You just get more and more beautiful by the day. I love this sweet little baby bump that’s starting to pop,” he said, rubbing her tummy.
She smiled. “At our appointment this afternoon, they’ll do an ultrasound. We need to decide whether we want to know the sex. It’s a little early, but sometimes they can tell by now.”
“It’s up to you, sweetheart. I’ll follow your lead.”
“I never thought I’d be someone who would want to know. True surprises are so rare in life,” she said.
