Page 173 of The Maverick
We’d wanted to start a family for a while, but things hadn’t been aligned until now.
I placed a hand over my belly. “I can’t wait to meet you, little one. We’re going to love you so much.”
I couldn’t begin to explain the feeling of being pregnant, of knowing that a baby was growing inside me. Would he or she look like Grayson or me?
Smiling, I looked at the T-shirt I’d screen-printed. It came out perfect. I folded the shirt and placed it inside a box with pink and blue tissue paper.
I hadn’t told my mom or myfriends yet. I wanted to share this incredible news with my husband first.
After putting the baby books and magazines away and making sure no clue was left anywhere in the house, I dropped into a chair to rest. Exhaustion tugged at me.
After resting for a while, I strode into the kitchen, poured myself a glass of cold water, and downed it. I heard the garage door open, and excitement thrummed through me.
Three hours had flown by. My heart raced as I poured another glass of water.
Grayson entered through the kitchen door with two bags of takeout. He placed the bags on the kitchen island, walked over, and embraced me. “I missed you so much.”
“Missed you too.” I tightened my grip around his sturdy body.
He drew back and kissed me gently. “I’ll be right back. Need to get the rest of my stuff.”
“Okay. I’ll prep the food. Smells delicious.”
Grayson returned with an enormous bouquet and a box of pastries. “For my beautiful wife.”
I smiled as I got out a tall vase and added water. “What’s the occasion?”
“Just because I love you. Let me.” He placed the flowers into the vase, adjusting them as best he could. Then he embraced me. We stood in the kitchen, hugging each other for a long moment.
“Are you okay?” I asked. “How was the business trip?”
“Everything went well. I’m just glad to be home.”
I led himto the living room couch and ushered him to sit down. Sitting next to him, I picked up the silver box and gave it to him. “I have a gift for you.”
Smiling, he took the box, opened the lid, and removed the tissue paper.
He took out the T-shirt, and tears filled his eyes. “This is the best gift I’ve ever received. Thank you.”
Love overflowed inside me. I threw my arms around him. “We’re having a baby!”
His arms rubbed my back. “Yes, we are, and you’ve made me the happiest and luckiest man on the planet.”
KIERA AND FORREST
EPILOGUE
Months later
Forrest
One more week, and Kiera and I would meet our little boy. I stood in the baby room with its light green walls and accents in baby blue and taupe. A white crib sat against the wall with an adorable Need Name sign at the top. We hadn’t settled on a name yet. I’d made a dresser and a bookcase that matched the crib.
We’d received many gifts already for our little guy. He didn’t have a name yet. Kiera and I had three names we were toying with, but we wanted to wait until we met him before deciding.
“Hey, BaMBu Beast.” She waddled up to me in her maternity dress. “What are you doing?”
I grinned at the nickname she’d given me. I had a new respect for pregnant women after seeing what Kiera went through. The sleepless nights, the cramps, and the physical changes of carrying all that weight around. As a doctor, I knew the changes, but seeing my wife experience it firsthand helped me understand the miracle of nurturing a baby from conception to birth.
