Page 171 of The Maverick
“Okay. I’ll wait here.” She popped a grape into her mouth.
I walked into my office and saw a white rectangular box beside my keyboard. Did she get me a new pen? I opened thebox and saw the positive pregnancy test. Joy burst inside me as I threw the tester up into the air, caught it with my hand, and rushed back to my wife.
Michelle
I heard him rushing out of the office and smiled to myself.
“Angel!” He picked me up and kissed me.
“Viking, you’re squeezing too hard.”
He released me, kissed me again, and drew back. “I’m sorry I didn’t know.”
“Men.” I rolled my eyes, then smiled. “It’s okay. Now you do.”
“How far along are you?” Royce asked.
“Eight weeks. Still early days. I haven’t told my mom or anyone yet.”
“We’re having a baby.” His eyes gleamed. “We’re going to be parents.” Shock and love covered his face, making him look adorable.
We’d talked about starting a family a while ago. But I didn’t want to start until we got married. When I missed my period and the sudden fatigue hit, I knew something was different. Then I couldn’t stop eating, so I bought a test, and it confirmed everything.
“Get used to me eating all the time.”
His smile stretched. “I’ll make sure you have an unlimited supply of food.”
Prior to meeting Royce, I struggled with an eating disorder. But my Viking had developed an app that helped me fight my monsters.
I feared this new craving for food would trigger the illness again. But this situation was different. I wasn’t eating fromstress or trying to look pretty for a competition—I was eating to feed another human growing inside me.
“I’m so happy.” I embraced him.
“Me too.”
“Do you want to know the gender or keep it a surprise?”
“I want to know.”
“Great! Come with me to next month’s doctor’s appointment. They can tell from the bloodwork.”
“I’ll accompany you to all the appointments.”
With joy bursting in my heart, I grabbed his hand and dragged him back into his office. “Let’s browse ideas for the baby room. Boy and girl.”
“Anything you want, my love.”
NATALIE AND GRAYSON
EPILOGUE
Months later
Grayson
I’d been traveling for the last two weeks to complete a building project with a Californian company. I was supposed to be home on Friday but finished everything two days early. So now, I was in the driveway of my home, preparing to surprise my wife. I’d missed her so much. Two weeks without her was horrendous, even though we’d spoken on the phone every day. It wasn’t the same as having her beside me.
She’d been working on her Fall Collection and couldn’t accompany me like she usually did.
