He smiled at me, clearly relieved. Then he returned to smiling broadly at Lily. “And your Daddy is going to sell his Nissan GT-R and buy a nice car-seat friendly vehicle. Then I can take you and your mommy forrides.”
His words warmed me up inside. “You’re really going to sell it? But you love thatcar.”
He looked up at me. “I do, but what’s the point of it if I can’t take Lily for rides?” He went back to smiling at hisdaughter.
I grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand and shuffled over to join them. The picture I took of father and daughter was nothing like what Kelsey would have taken—but I thought it looked utterlyadorable.
Since I hadn’t told my parents yet, I fired off a text with the photo. Next, I sent one to Erin and Kelsey. Erin immediatelyresponded.
Congratulations! She’s adorable. Samantha and I can’t wait to meether.
Mum texted right back, congratulating both Josh and me, and telling me she couldn’t wait to meet hergranddaughter.
A moment later I received a text from Drew.Congratulations, Holly. She’s beautiful like her mother. Look forward to meeting the newest Whittaker someday realsoon.
I leaned down and kissed Lily’s forehead, then kissed my boyfriend’s scruff-coveredcheek.
“How’re you feeling?” heasked.
“Sore. Like my body doesn’t belong to me.” The second part wasn’t anything new. I’d been feeling that way since getting pregnant. But at least then I had a baby inside ofme.
The best thing about being pregnant? Having a tiny life growing insideyou.
The worst thing right after giving birth? Hello, stretch marks and postpartum flabbystomach.
But I would be going home with a healthy baby—and a sweet and caringboyfriend.
What more could I wishfor?
Right—for Josh to love me like I lovedhim.
And for my green-card application to beapproved.
29
Josh
Valentine’s Day—thesappy, stress-out-any-man-in-a-relationship day that the creators of chocolate and greeting cards had dreamedup.
Or so I oncethought.
I smiled at the two most important girls in my life sitting next to me on the couch. Lily was busy sucking away at Holly’s breast. The butterfly necklace I had given Holly for Christmas sparkled in the sunlight streaming through thewindow.
“I’m going to pretend I’m not jealous,” Isaid.
Holly’s head jerked up from watching the hungry baby eat. “What are you talkingabout?”
“I had staked claim to those gorgeous breasts. They’re mine and no one else’s.” The smile on my face? One hundred percent smirk—even if the breasts weren’t one hundred percent mine. At least not for now. They were currently on loan like fine artwork in amuseum.
“Lily might have something to say about that.” Holly yawned, which didn’t surprise me. She hadn’t slept much since Lily’s birth three days ago. When Lily wasn’t sleeping, she waseating.
And for something so small, she sure liked to eatfrequently.
“Why don’t you have a nap once she’s finished lunch?” I said. “I’ll make dinner.” Which had been my plan allalong.
“Are you sure?” Holly yawned again. “It’s not like you got much sleep last nighteither.”
“I got more than you did.” At least on the road, I’d get to catch up on my sleep. I was one of those lucky bastards who slept pretty much anywhere. Good thing too, with all the traveling the teamdid.
