Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Daddy!” Elara raced into the foyer and sprung into Hale’s arms.
Since Daddy disappeared for several days each week, he tended to be a hotter commodity than Mommy, who was always around and, therefore, old news.
I pulled the big sister T-shirt out of my bag. “Come here, peanut. I have something for you.” I slipped the T-shirt over her nightgown and grinned. “Let’s go find Grandpa.”
Holding Elara’s hands, we walked into the den where Remington was already midway through his morning. “About time you showed up.”
“Pop-pop,” Elara crashed into Remington and climbed up his legs to get to his lap. He helped her up, and she pulled on her shirt. “Uh-oh.”
He glanced down at the pink T and read the words BIG SISTER. “Uh-oh, indeed.” He looked at us for clarification. “I imagine this was the thing you had to deal with the other day.”
I nodded and smiled. “We’re due in March. He or she will be an Aries. I know that stuff’s important to you.”
“Well.” He sat Elara down and came to shake Hale’s hand. “Congratulations to both of you.”
“Thank you.” I hated how formal Hale acted around his father. All morning he’d been elated. Now he acted like this was nothing more than a wise business merger.
Remington looked at me, smiled, and held out his arms. “You’re carrying some precious cargo, Meyers.”
I lunged at him, hugging him tightly to make up for the cold handshake he’d just shared with his son. “I’m going to demand the best maternity package you can afford.”
“Now, wait a minute. How did I know this was going to somehow cost me money?”
“Mr. Davenport.” Miles entered the room with an arm full of paperwork and stilled. “Sorry. Am I interrupting?”
Hale looked at me, and I smiled. No point in keeping it a secret. “Not at all. We were just telling Remington that I’m pregnant.”
His eyes bulged. “Pregnant? Well, congratulations!” He shook Hale’s hand. “Great news.”
Next, we told Alphonse and the other members of the household staff. Elara took a bit more explaining. We gave her the baby doll, but she threw it on the floor and went to find Meep Meep her sheep.
When we got home, we had a video call with Seraphina and Barrett, where we let them read Elara’s shirt. Then we did the same thing with our moms. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but it was well worth it. I had everything I wanted and needed. I couldn’t ask for more.
Closed for Business
There I was, just peacefully enjoying my banana and yogurt when it hit. Like a kamikaze meteor hurtling toward Earth, my stomach detonated. There was no cramping. No warning burble. Just complete and sudden anarchy.
“Oh God!” I bolted from my seat and rushed in the direction of the toilet.
“Rayne?”
There was no time to explain. I needed a vessel and the bathroom was too far! There was a demon inside of me, and it needed exercising!
I made it as far as the hall when Vesuvius erupted out of me. As my eyes bulged, I covered my mouth as my shoulders locked, but there was no stopping it, so I rushed to the umbrella stand and exercised that fucking demon all over Hale’s Swarovski umbrella.
A warm hand pressed against my back as I shivered and hugged the narrow umbrella stand. “Are you okay?”
I was in shock, shaking and fighting back tears. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. It happens. Can you stand?”
“I need a minute.” I’d puked before. I was a college student at one time. But I’d never experienced anything quite as sudden and violent as what just happened.
“Let me get you some water.” He disappeared and returned a moment later with an uncapped bottle.
I took the bottle with a shaky hand as he casually carried the bin of umbrellas outside. At least they were waterproof.
“Was that morning sickness?”
“That was…” I swallowed a small sip of water and wiped my mouth, fearful it might trigger another episode. That was unlike anything I ever felt before. And not in a good way. I was speechless. “I feel really weak.”
“Take my hands and I’ll help you up. Not too fast.” Hale wrapped me in his arms and ushered me to the sofa. Elara carried on from her high chair, trapped and irritated that we forgot about her.
“Just sit for a minute. Try to drink some water. I’ll find you a cracker to settle your stomach.”
The sweat on my skin chilled and I shivered, pulling the lap blanket up to my chest as I tipped onto the pillow and groaned. He helped Elara down from her tray and I heard him tell her, “Mommy needs a hug”, with a warning to be gentle. “Her belly hurts.”
She toddled over to the sofa, dragging Meep Meep in her wake, and stared at me curiously with a cocked head of curls, still wild from sleep. “Momma sick?” She climbed onto the sofa and nestled into the nest of my knees. “Baby?” She pointed to my stomach.