Page 65 of Nanny for the Damaged Ex-SEAL

Charles bobs his head. "Yes. They grew up together, like siblings, so we thought it wasn’t right for you and him to be together. Everyone who's ever known either of them knows them as family. But yes, I knew."

Amy dabs her eyes again. "I'm sorry, Connor. I'm sorry if I hurt you." She gets up and goes to Aria.

"How far along are you?"

"Six weeks."

She smiles and rubs her shoulder. "You deserve to be happy. This has nothing to do with your father and me, and it has nothing to do with how our family might look to other people. This is about your happiness and the family you're building now."

Charles nods. "You have our blessing."

Three days later, after dropping Ethan off at school, I make a detour and drive to Bria’s house. When I get there, Aria is waiting on the porch. She's moving back to my place today. She comes down to meet me as I shut the door. I sweep her into my arms, and she giggles.

"Is that a new cologne you're wearing?" she questions.

"Yes, I stopped using my old one because it reminded me of you and it made me miserable. I'll go back to it if you want."

She smiles and holds onto my hand as we go in.

"Are you done packing?"

"Yes, my boxes are in the living room."

We load her few boxes into the car, and a few minutes later, we're on our way to my house. To our house. When we arrive, Aria takes a deep breath.

"It's good to be back home," she says, and twirls around the living room.

I catch her by the waist. "It's good to have you back. And guess who else will be excited? Ethan."

"Did you tell him I'll be coming?"

"No, if I did that, he wouldn't have wanted to go to school today."

Aria laughs out loud, and we kiss.

A few minutes to five, I come back home with Ethan in the car. I didn't tell him about Aria being at the house. I open the car door and he jumps out. I lead him to the house and open the front door. Aria isn't in the living room, but as Ethan is heading toward the stairs, she comes out of my room and appears at the top.

Ethan freezes and turns back to look at me with wide eyes.

"Aria! Aria! Aria!" He starts to jump for joy.

Aria runs down the stairs and swoops him in her arms, spinning round and round with him laughing loudly. After about three minutes of laughing and twirling and banter, Aria puts him down and crouches to be at eye-level with him.

"Daddy said you went on a trip. Where did you go?"

"I went around the world."

"Will you take me around the world too?"

"I will. I will," Aria says, and takes his hand as they go up the stairs.

I smile and follow after them.

Two months later, we find out we’re having a girl. After dinner, we decide to sit Ethan down and break the news about the baby to him.

"How would you feel about having a little sister?"

He looks at me curiously. "A little sister?"

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