Work has been a good distraction, though I've had to make adjustments as my pregnancy progressed. Ethan wouldn't let me go back till I threatened to move in with my father, who was more than happy over the idea. I finally returned to work after two weeks. The arrests made the news, so there was more gossip in the hallways, gossip that shifted to my growing belly—which by now is impossible to hide behind loose clothing.
Gently, I pet Sophie, who stretches on my lap, her little pink paws kneading biscuits. She likes sleeping with us and often tries to suffocate Ethan in bed by crawling over and curling up on his face. He likes the kitten, though he pretends not to.
Sophie’s two biggest fans, however, are my father and soon-to-be father-in-law. I didn’t expect Harold Wilder to be interested in animals—he seemed too dignified and slightly grumpy—yet he and my dad like to put Sophie in their pockets when they’re visiting. And since Sophie is two months old and has to be fed every few hours, I can’t leave her alone at the apartment, so she goes with us when we visit Ethan’s parents.
“So how much trouble is Megan in?” I wince, looking up at Ethan.
He chuckles. “Derrick has always been a little sweet on her. He’s not going to let anything happen to her. But I’ve never seen her so vicious. This is the same little girl who used to cry at the sight of blood. We were lucky she was visiting Caleb and they followed us.”
Jake has described the scene to me plenty of times, adding a sprinkle of exaggeration in each version. In the latest one, she sent Rose flying across the room with one kick.
There is still a lot to get done in the company, a mole to dig out, the restructuring to be completed, but for now, I don’t care about any of it. I want to enjoy my time with Ethan and our small family. I want to be able to breathe easy.
“I hear my mother is coming tomorrow to help you put together the furniture for the baby’s room.” Ethan rests his chin on my head, playing with my hand, adjusting the shiny ring on my finger, the diamond catching the light.
“She was. Then Harold said that she’s never lifted a screwdriver in her life, so he’ll be coming as well. And then my Dad got wind of it, and he has also invited himself. Megan said she’d tag along, and Caleb and Jake said they’d stop by in the afternoon to fix the damage.”
Ethan laughs. “So, good thing it’s the weekend tomorrow.”
I hesitate. “Still no word from Nick?”
Ethan’s smile fades.
Elisha gave birth a week after I was released from the hospital. The family visited her in the hospital once, and there was a fight where she demanded her father-in-law give Nick’s inheritance to her. Not Nick, but her.
Harold refused, and Nick said he wouldn’t take it. He was pissed at his wife for even suggesting such a thing. She’s banned his family from seeing the baby. Everybody is upset, and Nick has become withdrawn.
I don’t know him personally, our interactions having been very brief, but I know Ethan is concerned about his youngest brother.
“Don’t worry. Give him time. On one hand, there’s his child, and on the other, it’s his family.”
“Dad would give over the inheritance,” Ethan grits out, “butshe won’t stop there. She’s been asking Nick to put his company in her name. She’s growing bolder by the second.”
“He wouldn’t do that, would he?” I ask, worry etching across my face.
He shakes his head. “He’s many things, but he’s not stupid. Now that his son has been born, Elisha is going to hold him hostage over the family to get what she wants. That’s why she wasn’t very happy about your pregnancy either. Moreso now that everybody is fawning over you.”
I feel flustered heat rising to my cheeks. “Nobody is fawning over me.”
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my cheek, his lips lingering against my skin. “You’ve given everybody access to our child before it’s even been born. Everybody is involved, with the nursery, with clothing, even with the smallest of things. You’ve made my family love you, Natalie. And our child will be adored.”
I smile widely. “I like that idea. I want our baby to have a wonderful childhood.”
“And it will.”
“I—” I look up at him, a mischievous glint in my eye. “I would also like to be married within a year after I give birth.”
Ethan blinks.
When he just stares at me, my lips curve into a smirk. “What? Cat got your tongue? Don’t tell me you expected me to remain engaged to you for the rest of our lives?”
His eyes flicker towards the diamond ring I’ve been wearing, sparkling on my finger.
I gently put Sophie on the other side of the couch and straddle my fiancé, showing him my ring. “We’re engaged. I want a wedding.”
Seeing him look so shocked makes me want to laugh. Mr. Always-in-Control Wilder is actually speechless.
“I-I didn’t think you were serious. I thought you just liked the ring.”
