Hot tears are racing down my cheeks. How did I ever think I could walk away from him? Mom must have sent him to me. I know she would have loved him. I smile at the thought.
“There’s my beautiful girl,” he says, tenderly tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Maxton…” His lips softly touch mine. My resolve is broken. His words crumbled the last bit of resistance I was hanging onto.
Breaking away from the kiss, his lips trail down my neck and up to my ear. “We made a baby, Kens. A part of me is growing inside of you.” He pulls away so he can see my face. “I can’t explain how that feels.” His hand is back on my belly yet again. His palm is lying flat, his fingers splayed. “I can’t wait to take this journey with you.”
“I love you,” I say through my tears. “I’m sorry I left; I didn’t want to come between you. I didn’t want you to resent me.”
“Never.” His words hold conviction. “We’re a family, you, me and this little peanut.” He holds up the ultrasound picture. “I’ve never wanted anything in my life as much as I want this with you.”
“Knock, knock,” my dad says from the doorway. I quickly wipe my eyes. Maxton, however, does not. His cheeks are still wet from the tracks of his tears.
“Hey, Grandpa,” Maxton says happily.
My dad stops in his tracks, processing his words. I can tell once it really hits him because his face lights up. It’s the same smile he used to give my mother. He’s truly happy again in the moment. My baby did that.
“Grandpa, huh?” he asks, walking to the opposite side of the bed from Max.
Maxton hands him the ultrasound picture as confirmation. “That talk we had, it’s going to happen. I hope you’re with me,” Max says to my dad. I have no idea what they’re talking about, but Dad seems to understand. He nods and his smile grows even bigger, if that’s possible.
“Congratulations.” He kisses me on the cheek. “I think I prefer Papaw though, don’t you?”
Max and I both laugh at his request. There is another knock on the door and in walks Bright and Nicole. “What did we miss?” Bright asks when he sees the three of us smiling.
“This,” Maxton says, handing him the ultrasound picture.
Brighton studies it and then looks up. “What am I looking at exactly?” he asks hesitantly.
“That, young man, is a picture of my first grandchild,” my dad says proudly.
“Holy shit! Congratulations, guys.” He holds his fist out to Max and they bump knuckles.
“How are you feeling?” Nicole asks and I can read between the lines. She wants to make sure I’m okay with Max and the baby.
I look up at Max, who is already looking at me. “Never better,” I say, my eyes never leaving his. He leans down and kisses me on the lips.
“I love you,” he says. His voice is firm and loud. He makes sure everyone in the room heard him, causing me to blush. “Don’t leave me hanging, beautiful.” He chuckles.
“I love you, too.”
THE DOCTOR COMES in and tells us that Kensi will be able to go home tomorrow. I insist that she stays with me. She argues that she’s fine. I need for her to understand that I want to take care of them, her and the baby.
Baby.
I’m going to be a dad.
“I can take care of myself,” she whines.
I cup her cheek in the palm of my hand. “I know you can take care of yourself. I also know I want you with me. I want to be the one you lean on. I want to take care of you.” I place my other hand over her belly. “Both of you.”
I watch as her eyes glass over with tears. This is hard for her. She, like me, never thought what we have was a possibility. She didn’t see herself finding what we have. It’s hard for her to accept that I’m in this.
Forever.
I can tell from the look in her eyes what she’s thinking.
“I can do this—”
I place a finger over her mouth to halt her words. “Not going to happen. I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong. I told you I loved you before you… left. I meant it. Baby or no baby, I want you with me.”
Her eyes bore into mine. She has trouble trusting and I know that. I’m okay with it. She will see that I’m not going anywhere. She’s a part of me and we’re having a baby. That’s just about as good as it gets. I really wish Dad were here to see this. To meet her and see how amazing she is, to see me become a dad. I will make damn sure I give our baby the love and support he/she needs.
“Don’t fight him, Kensi,” her dad pipes up. “Let the man spoil you. You deserve nothing less,” he tells her.
“See, let me spoil you. You have to listen to your father.” I wink at her.
“Since when are you two so chummy?” she pouts.
Leaning down, I place a chaste kiss on her lips. “Since you are the most important person in our world. We both love you; that alone is enough to bring us together,” I tell her.
“He reminds me of me at that age. I loved your mother and would stop at nothing to have her.” Her dad gives her a sad smile.
“Live life, Kensi. Love hard and enjoy every second.” His voice cracks.
“I love you, Dad.” Her voice is thick with the tears she’s fighting.
I sit on the edge of the bed and wrap my arms around her. She places her hand over mine. “Thank you,” she concedes.
Finally! “Never thank me for loving you, for taking care of you. It’s what I do.” I wink at her, trying to change the mood and dry up her tears.
“Now I just need to convince you to never leave,” I whisper in her ear. Her mouth drops open in surprise. I lift her chin to close it and kiss her softly on the lips. “We’re a family now, Kensi. The three of us.” I settle back against the bed and allow her to lean on me. This is where I’m supposed to be.
I WAS RELEASED from the hospital and Max brought me straight to his place. I’ve been here ever since. Nicole had already packed a few of my things and dropped them off. She and Bright have been staying at the apartment. Maxton keeps dropping hints that it’s the perfect switch. Not that I would tell him, but I agree. This time with him has been incredible. He’s sweet Maxton tenfold.
Rolling over, I look at the alarm clock. It’s one in the morning. Today is the anniversary of the day I lost my mother. I’ve been tossing and turning for hours, two, to be exact. I had to wait for Max to be in a deep sleep before I could wiggle out of his arms. He grumbled but released me. Afraid I’m going to wake him with my restlessness, I climb out of bed and head for the couch.
Curling up in the oversized chair with the throw he bought me, I let the tears fall. I tried to be strong, tried to hold it in. I’m glad he’s sleeping, not watching me fall apart. He worries about me, about the baby. He’s barely let me move a muscle this week. I’m fine; it was only a panic attack, but he doesn’t seem to care. He still babies me.
“Kensi.” His thick sleep-laced voice breaks through the sound of my tears. Striding toward me, he scoops me up in his arms and sits in the chair, holding me in his lap. Kissing my forehead, he says, “I got you, baby.”
The dam breaks and I let go of the pain. Even though I didn’t want him to see it, I’m where I need to be, in his arms. Maxton is able to soothe me with just a touch of his hand. He brings a peace over me that I’ve never felt. My heart breaks for the loss of my mother, but soars for the love of this man.