Page 76 of Hidden Vows
After one of the most emotional conversations of my life last night, I woke Abbey up and got her out to her car before she fell asleep again. When we made it back to the apartment I didn’t even try to wake her up. I slipped her out of her seat as gently as I could and carried her up the stairs and into bed. Even with stumbling to unlock the door and slipping her out of her clothes and into one of my shirts, she didn’t move a muscle. It was an emotionally exhausting day and I didn’t blame her in the slightest.
But it’s a new day and I want a chance to talk to her before she gets distracted by the bookstore. Things have been strange between us all week and while I’ve tried to give her time to come to me with whatever’s bothering her, I can’t take it anymore. If she’s changed her mind about being together, I need to know now.
“Abbey,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her neck. “It’s time to get up.”
“Hmm,” she hums, her body pressing further into mine. “I wanna keep sleeping,” she whispers groggily.
“It’s almost ten o’clock, love. We need to get down to the store so you can finish setting up for the grand re-opening in just a couple days.”
“You’re right,” she groans, stretching. Her body arches against mine before she turns in the bed to face me. “Good morning,” shewhispers, a small smile playing at her lips.
“Good morning,” I whisper back, my arms wrapping around her and pulling her close.
“Your dad woke up yesterday.”
“Yeah.” I chuckle. “He did.”
“I’m so happy,” she whispers, almost like she’s afraid if she admits it something bad might happen.
“Me too.”
We’re silent, the both of us studying the other. I’m the one who breaks the silence, unable to stop myself from asking the question I can’t stop thinking about. “Want to tell me why you went to visit him yesterday?”
Her body goes taut as she tries to pull away. “Am I not allowed to visit him now?”
“Abbey, you know that’s not what I’m asking. I’m just surprised you went to see him this close to the opening of the store, and things have been off between us all week.” I smooth a piece of hair from her face, gently forcing her eyes to meet mine. “I want to know what’s bothering you.”
“It’s nothing.” She pushes at my chest, and this time I let her pull away.
I sit up in bed and watch her pad across the room, saying my next words to her back. “Abbey, if you’ve changed your mind about us, just tell me.” She freezes, but doesn’t turn around. “I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
She spins to face me and the tears in her eyes have me on edge. I want to go to her, but I force myself to stay where I am. I won’t push her more than I have. I need her to want to tell me what’s going on.
“I haven’t changed my mind.” Her voice is quiet as she fidgets with the hem of my shirt, flashing her pale yellow panties.
“All right,” I say gently, shifting to the edge of the bed and planting my feet on the floor. I have to hold onto the edge of the mattress to stop myself from going to her. She might not want to break-up, but something is still bothering her. “What’s going on, love?”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispers, so quietly I’m not sure I heard her correctly.
“What?”
She releases my shirt and squares her shoulders, her voice much stronger the second time around. “I’m pregnant.”
The second her words penetrate my brain, I’m off the bed and she’s in my arms. I never thought I’d be happier than the moment Abbey let me back into her life completely, but this beats it, hands down. She’s the love of my life and creating a family with her sounds like the perfect thing.
I slide my hands up her side and cup her cheeks, making sure she sees how serious I am when I speak my next words. “Nothing could make me happier than starting a family with you.”
“You’re sure?” she whispers, tears filling her eyes.
“I couldn’t be more sure.”
“Oh, thank God.” Abbey springs to her toes and wraps her arms around my neck, molding her body to mine. “I didn’t know how you’d feel. I know we have so much history, but this is still new.”
“Mo ghrá, you’ve always been in my heart. A lifetime could pass us by and I’d still want everything with you.”
I feel her tears hit my neck, but I know they’re tears of joy. We may not have talked about it first, and this might not be the way we planned it, but it’s still a dream come true.
thirty-five
