Page 74 of Pursued By My Grumpy Fiancé
“Landon, are you ready to come meet your darling nephew?”
“He’sperfect,”Haileywhispersas she leans in, getting a closer look at my nephew in Penny’s arms.
Penny smiles up at her, looking disheveled with her hair up in a messy bun and a sheen of sweat covering her face.
“Ten fingers and ten little tiny toes,” Penny whispers, running her finger gently along his cheek.
“He’s so tiny. I remember when you were that tiny,” my mom says, leaning her head on my shoulder.
I squeeze her in closer.
“So, did you decide on a name?” I ask.
They’ve hidden their name choices from us the entire pregnancy, wanting them to be a surprise. I guess they wanted everything to be a surprise, really. I understand, though. The media vultures would have been all over it if it was public, plastering the name all over the news.
“Well, I liked the idea of Parker Junior, but he objected.” She smiles at her husband and he shudders to confirm his objection.
“So conceited to name your kid after you. No, I want him to have his own identity, forge his own path,” he says, gripping Penny’s hand in his.
“That’s why we decided to name him Johnathon Charles,” she smiles up at me, and I can sense how tired she is.
“Oh, that’s a lovely name. Absolutely perfect,” Hailey says.
She and Penny smile at each other. It’s great to see them becoming so close. I hope that they’ll become very good friends in the future.
“Alright, visitors, let’s let mom get some rest. You can all come back in the morning,” a nurse says as she rolls in a small metal cot that doubles as a bassinet.
We say our goodbyes and make our way out the door.
Once in the car, Hailey turns to me, threading her fingers through mine.
“Landon, do you want kids? We’ve never discussed any of this before.”
Maybe that’s because I’ve never thought of it before. I look at Hailey, getting lost in my imagination. Hailey, sitting on our couch with a pregnant belly, teaching our son to play tee ball, playing princesses with a daughter. Me, making pancakes with Hailey in the morning in silly shapes to appease our children. A smile spreads across my face as my heart fills with warmth.
“I would love nothing more than to have a family with you one day. Do you want them?” I ask her back.
She squeezes my hand.
“I’d never thought of it before, but today, seeing the way Parker and Penelope looked at their baby, how he supported her. Watching them surrounded by their family—I do want them. I want that. I want us to be married, and have a family.”
I lean forward and put my lips on hers, the kiss deep and meaningful, full of the promises for our life to come.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Hailey
Oneyearlater
Nerves course through me as I stand in line behind a dozen other people dressed the exact same way. They’re cycling through everyone, giving them their diplomas.
There’s only two people ahead of me now. Peering out into the crowd, I see many familiar faces. Landon sits with his mom and sister, Penny. Landon grips his mom’s hand, anticipation apparent on his face. It’s so sweet how nervous he gets for me, as if he’s the one going on stage and facing a fear of public speaking.
Next to the Goulds in the crowd are my mom and my sister. Mom’s on the upturn, the experimental treatment working wonders for her. She’s not completely in the clear, still staying at the hospital, but now she can leave for outings, which is nice. Emma picked her up from the hospital and brought her straight here.
Standing in the back, so far I almost have to squint to see him, is Bruce. It’s funny, but he’s actually grown a lot on me. He’s quiet, a man of few words, but he’s always been there for us. In a way, he’s like family. In fact, he should really be sitting with everyone. But, I know that’s not his way. One day I’ll convince him though.
“Hailey Marilyn Dunn.” My name is called.
