Page 43 of Knocked Up by Mr. Grump Lawyer

“If it’s a girl…” I added, smiling. “Asha means hope.”

At first, she continued to look at me blankly. Then it dawned on her that I was talking about baby names. She looked shocked.

“Dillon also means hope,” I said. “If it turns out to be a boy…”

“I like both those names,” she finally whispered after several minutes of silence. We were at the door now of the guest room.

“To me, the baby symbolizes hope,” I shared with her.

She nodded. “Hope for a future, maybe.”

I completed a future for us, for a family, in my head. She didn’t say it out loud, but I knew that it was what she meant.

“Can I sleep beside you tonight, Kayla?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’d love that.”

My heart soared.

Chapter 19

KAYLA

Iwasecstaticwhenmy doctor finally announced that I could move about and go to various places, as long as I took extra care of myself.

“Yes, yes, yes!” I screamed, raising my hands up in the air and almost jumping. But then I remembered that such movements might not be safe. “Oops, I’m sorry.”

The doctor just grinned at me. “Just remember that you have a baby in your tummy.”

Earlier that day, she let me hear the heartbeat again and see the baby through the ultrasound. I almost cried once more. It was just so incredible.

I wished Robert was there to see and hear it too, but he was busy with our case. I felt bad about not being able to work with him on it, but I had no choice at this time. At least he gave me detailed reports and updates, even though he initially hesitated. He did not want me to worry, but I told him I’d be more worried if I didn’t know what was going on.

I took a shower that afternoon and took extra care doing my makeup and dressing up nicely in a casual dress. I had just missed it and felt like I wasn’t so beautiful anymore.

Raven called shortly. “I can’t believe you’re finally free to go out again!” she squealed. I remembered the time I’d finally told her about my situation. She had absolutely freaked out and had wanted to come see me in Robert’s mansion. I was so glad she hadn’t because she might have caused a scene and I especially didn’t want Riley to witness that.

“Well, I definitely can’t go clubbing,” I told her. “And I don’t think we can go to a spa either.”

“We can go shopping or have our nails done!” Raven said excitedly. “Oh, you know you want to, Kayla! How about getting our hair done too? It’s your birthday, after all!”

I laughed. It sounded like she was the one who’d been given freedom after two weeks of bed rest.

“Happy birthday!!!” she shrieked over the phone. I had to remove the phone from my ear.

“Ouch! That broke my eardrum,” I said, laughing. “But thanks so much, Raven. I really feel the love and energy!”

“I’ll see you in a bit!” Raven said, laughing too, before she put the phone down.

I took a cab to meet her at our favorite beauty center, where she’d actually booked a private room for our pampering.

“You paid for this, Raven?” I asked, surprised.

“Well, not just the room,” she informed me proudly. “I’m paying for all the services too, alright? You can’t argue because this is my birthday gift to you.”

“But it’s too much!” I complained. “Don’t you have bills to pay?”

“Well, for your information,” she started saying with a grin. “While you were on house arrest in that beautiful big mansion, I was working my ass off as an actress at Fantasy Flicks. An actress! Not a makeup artist!”

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