Page 21 of Bound

“So, you are depressed?”

“Yeah, but I’m guessing it will pass soon. I’m going to see my doctor in a week.”

I rocked the baby and she slept peacefully while I chatted with the other guests. Claire came over to look at the baby. “Claire, this is my bestie Olivia. Olivia, this is Claire, Damon’s cousin and sister to Rowan.” I nodded toward him as he sat across from Damon. His face was stoic while Claire was smiling. “It’s nice to meet you, Olivia.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“And who is this?” Claire asked about the baby.

“This is Jade Victoria Carmichael. My god-daughter,” I told her.

“Well, she is cute as a button.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said with a smile.

“And when are you due, momma?” Claire asked me.

“Another two months. I’m in the final stretch of the pregnancy.”

“Do you know what you are having?”

“I don’t. We wanted it to be a surprise. Plus, we are raising Damon’s daughter Rose.”

“That’s his daughter? I had no idea.”

“Neither did he until her mom showed up.”

“It sounds like you have your hands full already.” She smiled.

“It is a handful but I can manage.”

I turned my attention back to Olivia. “She is not even fussy.”

“I know. She is a good baby. We got lucky. I should feed her.”

I handed the baby back to Olivia, and I made my way around to talk to everyone.

Halfway through dinner, Damon stood and I stood beside him. “We want to thank everyone for coming tonight. Each and every one of you are important to Kara and I. There is no one else we would want to share our special day with than all of you. And I’m truly thankful for having Rose, my daughter, in our lives. We have been blessed and I don’t feel like I deserve it.”

Everyone cheered with their glasses and celebrated us.

After another hour of chatting and celebrating, we headed home. “My feet are aching from the heels,” I told Damon as I kicked my heels off.

He moved closer to me. “Come here, woman.” He brought me into him, causing me to drop my hand bag, which spilled out all the contents.

He looked down. “What’s all that?”

“Uh.” I couldn’t hide the money as it spread across the floor. “There is something I have to tell you.”

Damon sat on the edge of the bed while I stood, telling him about my blackmailer.

“Babe. Why didn’t you come to me in the first place about this?”

“I don’t know. I was just gonna pay whoever it was and be done with them.”

“You are seven months pregnant. I will not allow you to put yourself in danger. So, I’m going to take care of the situation.”

“Okay.”

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