Page 94 of Make Me Whole

Sky raised a brow at me. “So, it really is your fault.”

I took a deep breath, fully ready to take one more for the team, but then she winked and smiled. Exhaling with relief, I shrugged. “Maybe I took my time with the nursery because I’m not ready for Leah. I’ve been having too much fun with pregnant Sky—”

Ella’s hysterical laughter interrupted me. We all looked at her with various expressions until she finally stopped laughing. “Wasn’t that a joke, Dad?”

At that, all of us, including Sky, laughed.

“Nope,” I replied but didn’t elaborate. Explaining sex to her was Sky’s job, and one that was hopefully about thirty years in the future. “How about we go in and look at the room?”

“Good idea,” Sky agreed after giving me a knowing wink.

“We chose the theme, Mom,” Aiden informed as he took her hand.

“It’s the aquarium!” Ella yelled before opening the door, officially ruining the surprise.

Indignant, Aiden looked at his sister with the deepest frown. The honeymoon phase of their siblinghood had passed and morphed their relationship into a more traditional bickering situation that was annoying, hilarious, and adorable at the same time.

“Seriously, El? Think before you speak. Jeez . . .”

Her big, dark eyes searched mine remorsefully. I just rolled mine and waved a hand toward the room, telling her to open the freaking door already. She followed my command and opened the door to the nursery.

My stomach fluttered with not-so-manly butterflies as Aiden ushered Sky inside. From the painted fish on the wall to the seahorse mobile above the armchair, I tried to recreate our day at the aquarium, our first outing as a family, as best as I could. Even Ella’s giant turtle made an appearance.

I walked to the glider, sat down, and watched as our children showed their mother every detail in the room. They talked and laughed and waved their arms, and though Sky looked emotional, she gave each of the kids her undivided attention as if this moment was about them instead of her. Of the many things I loved about her, seeing how amazing she was as a mother was my favorite.

After a while, the kids got over the nursery and left to play. Once they were gone, Sky sighed and turned to look at me. “You’re awfully quiet.”

I rolled my eyes and shrugged. “Not by choice. There’s no talking when those two are around.”

Sky laughed. “Their excitement over little sissy is adorable.”

“It is.” I agreed with a nod. Then, I added, “And a little overwhelming.”

Laughing once again, she caressed her bump and looked around. Her eyes glistened as she looked at each detail and perfect contentment shone on her face. It was heartwarming, but I still wanted some words.

“So? What do you think?” I asked, stretching my arm and motioning with my hand for her to come closer.

“Oh, Max,” she said as she waddled toward me. “It’s perfect. I love the fish parade wall, and the darn turtle. I love that you used my souvenir frame to get a picture of our family here, but most of all, I love that you framed the onesie I never got to give you.”

I looked at the wall above the changing table and smiled at my personal favorite item in the room. She was finally within reach, so I pulled her down on my lap and she kissed my cheek. “You captured every detail from my second-favorite day and put it in this room.”

I cocked a brow. “Second-favorite day?”

She nodded. “Our wedding will always be my number-one.”

It was the perfect answer. And as much as I loved hearing that, I loved her even more. I brought my lips to hers and kissed her deeply. Our mouths danced together and tongues caressed each other with fire and commitment and adoration. The kiss combined with her wiggling ass on my crotch had me just about ready for another Leah-evicting sex session when something doused my cock.

Frowning, I pulled back and so did Sky. She looked down as I asked, “Honey, did you just pee on me or is that an abnormal amount of arousal?”

She blinked twice, then answered. “Neither. That was my water breaking.” Her face scrunched, and she brought a hand to the side of her belly. “And this is a contraction. Ouch . . .”

My heart rate spiked. “She’s coming?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “Thank the good Lord!”

Labor pains are notorious for being the worst kind of pain a human can endure, so that Sky was laughing after a contraction was a testament to how miserable her long pregnancy must have felt. Because I loved her, I was happy that Leah was finally coming and her discomfort would be over.

However, also because I loved her, a part of me wished she could be that miserable for a little while longer. So long as she was miserable, she was alive.

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