Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64320 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 214(@300wpm)
“He’d have loved to help us move down here.” I say the thought out loud to offer her something.
“At least this time you hired movers,” Kat says with a bit of humor, but her voice is solemn.
She winces with pain and grabs ahold of her belly, her eyes closed tight and my heart races.
“Babe?” She ignores me, just like she’s been doing. For some unknown reason, I continue to think she’ll respond during these Braxton-Hicks contractions.
Hovering over her, I eye her carefully then walk slowly to her and wait, afraid to do anything wrong.
I may have made mistakes while learning to be a good husband, but Pops showed me how to be a good father and I won’t let him down.
“Oh my gosh, that was a long one.” Kat finally breathes out as her body visibly relaxes.
“Do you want to go in?” My nerves are all on edge. I’m terrified, but I won’t tell Kat. I’ve never even held a child, let alone having one depend on me to live.
Kat rolls her eyes at me. “For one contraction? I think not.”
She reaches into the bag at her feet and pulls out a water bottle. “Besides, I read a baby comes when you’re ready and relaxed, and we have four more rooms to set up and get settled in before I’ll be anywhere near relaxed. And another two weeks until our due date.”
A huff of humor leaves me and I move the top box off the nearest stack, ripping the tape back to expose what’s inside.
“So, what do you think?” she asks me.
“About what?”
“About naming him Henry?” She tilts her head to the side and her long hair falls over her shoulder.
“I think Pops would have loved that,” I say, getting out the answer before my throat goes tight and take in a deep breath. “I think he’d be proud.”
Lowering myself to the floor in front of her, I let my hands rest on her thighs and bring my forehead down to rest on her belly. “What do you think?” I ask our son and Kat’s belly shakes as she laughs.
“You think it’s funny, but he’s going to know my voice.” Kat doesn’t hesitate to lean down and kiss me. The first one is a peck on my cheek, but then she moves her hand to my jaw and keeps me still for a longer one, a deeper one.
It’s slow and sensual and makes my blood heat.
“I know he will, and I love you for it.”
I take her small hand in mine and look deep into her eyes. She’s seen so much of me. All of my bad along with the little bit of good I have in me, and she still loves me. There’s no way I could doubt that. “I know this past year has been rough, but I’m going to do everything I can to make our lives easy for … forever.”
A small smile seems to tickle Kat’s lips, still a darker hue from our kiss, and she moves her fingers to them.
“I mean it, Kat. I love you and this baby more than anything.” Tears come to my eyes and I only pray she knows that I love her just as much as she loves me.
After a moment, she nods. “I know you do, and I know you will.”
Moving my hand to her belly, I feel our little one kick just beneath the small bit of pressure. It still gets me every time.
“He knows too,” Kat says with a smile that lights her eyes.
“So, Henry?” I question, feeling a swell of pride in my chest.
She nods her head, her eyes getting glossy as she puts a hand on her belly.
“Henry.”
Diary Entry Three
Hey Pops,
I wanted you to know, every day I think about what I should do to make you proud. Even the days I mess up. I guess those days especially. Your voice is always there, telling me to make it right.
Lately, I’ve been doing good. I think you’d agree. Sometimes I make mistakes. Like when little Henry peed through his diaper last week at four in the morning. I changed his diaper but didn’t change the onesie. Kat let me have it for that one.
Common sense and all that goes out the window when it comes to him. She didn’t tell me to change the onesie too. I should have known, but I’m just so careful around him. She’s teaching me, though, and we’re learning together. You’d love it. We miss you so much.
He’s so small, Pops, I can hold him in one hand. I’m scared I’m gonna break him some days. Kat tells me I’m fine, and that I look good holding him. But I’m terrified I’m going to mess up.
I guess I’m just nervous to ruin it, so I keep waiting for her to tell me what to do.