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“How did he get a hold of a ball?”
“We suspect some of the visiting kids from one of the school classes might have thrown some of the dogs’ balls around and one of them landed up in here.”
“Do we need to call the vet?”
“No, he’s done it before, and he’ll be fine tomorrow.”
We walked back to the main house hand in hand and found the kitchen empty.
“I suppose Kate is showing him around then,” Fleur commented while heading straight for the stairs.
“Can I stay in the bathroom with you while you do the test?” I asked as I ascended the stairs right behind her, hoping that she wouldn’t exclude me from any part of this.
“Of course.”
Fleur didn’t need to read the instructions. She knew how these tests worked, but I read every line on the box while she peed on the stick.
“If it’s not positive, we’ll just keep trying,” I said as we waited, but while we both stood bent over the small stick lying on the sink, I had my fingers crossed along the side of my body hoping for two lines to show.
The way Fleur’s hand grabbed my arm and gasped made me do a double take.
“Do you see what I see?” she whispered and lifted up the stick.
“Hold it still.” I placed my hand on top of hers and right there a second line formed in front of our eyes.
My rib cage suddenly felt too small for my lungs and I started panting. “You’re pregnant.”
“I’m pregnant.” Fleur stared at the stick like she was afraid the line would disappear.
“We’re having a baby,” I exclaimed, trying to understand why she didn’t explode with happiness.
“What if it’s a mistake?”
“Take the other tests if you need to, but the answer is clear. We’re going to be parents, Fleur.”
“I just emptied my bladder and I can’t pee again this soon.”
“It doesn’t matter because you’re pregnant. I know you are.”
Fleur’s eyes filled with tears and her shoulders began lifting up and down as she cried with happiness.
“Honey.” I wrapped her in my arms and held her. “You make me so happy.”
“I’m going to be someone’s mother,” she cried.
“Yes, you are. And you’ll be the best mother there ever was. Our son or daughter will be the luckiest child in the world to grow up on a farm with animals to play with and parents who’ll adore him or her.”
“Max, I’m shaking.” She held out her hand for me to see.
“Me too, but in a good way.”
We laughed together while she dried her tears away. “Now you’re in trouble, pal, because a child will bond us forever.”
Her words made me place a long kiss on her mouth like a way to seal a pact between us. End of this month we would be married, but the child growing inside Fleur’s stomach would unite us in something much greater than us. We would share a bond of parenthood from now on. I had once thought of that responsibility as heavy, but after meeting Fleur that had changed. I couldn’t wait to see her belly grow and to become a father.
“You know what this means, right? Our first child will be a spring child.”
“Aww.” Fleur cupped my face. “Spring is already my favorite season. Now I’ll be looking forward to it even more.”
