Bonus Epilogue

Two Years Later

Gracie

 

I glance at my watch about hundred times anxiously anticipating Nathan getting home from work. Sitting here staring at the positive pregnancy test, butterflies swirl in my stomach. A baby. Nathan and I made a tiny human. We weren’t really even trying. Weren’t not trying either. Maybe it was happening too fast but everything about Nathan and me happened too fast. We started dating just a couple months after Michael and I broke up. Were engaged six months after that. Married that same year. Now, it’s a year after our wedding, and I’m holding this positive test in my hand. Two pink lines—two pink lines that change everything. I press my hand on my flat belly as tears blur my vision.

 

Ideas whirl around in my head. Thinking of all the ways I can tell Nathan we’re having a baby. Thinking of what his reaction will be. We’ve talked about starting a family. I know it’s something we both want. But will he be happy that our family is starting so soon? Maybe I should call my mom or Piper. Maybe they can talk me down from these thoughts.

No, I can’t do that. They can’t know before Nathan. I’m just being silly. He’s going to be over the moon with this news. And now I’m back to staring at my watch, waiting for Nathan to walk through the door. Nope, I’m not going to do this. I’ve got to get my mind off of clock watching—find something to occupy my time.

 

I grab my keys and get in my truck, heading for Wilmington. I can’t shop for what I want in town—I refuse to feed to Moonrise Bay rumor mill. We may have the cutest baby boutique but the minute I step foot in the door, the gossip chain will start, and Nathan will know before I get a chance to tell him. So Wilmington it is—where no one knows me and I can pick out the perfect baby gift to tell Nathan he’s going to be father.

 

By the time I pull into the shopping center, my hands are trembling with excitement. I sit in the truck for a minute, trying to come up with the perfect way to share the news with Nathan. He deserves something special—something perfect. Something that makes him smile that sexy grin that I fell in love with. I step inside the boutique, instantly surrounded by rows of impossibly tiny clothes. My chest tightens as I run my hands on the softest onesie I’ve ever felt. It’s white, simple and printed with bold, navy letters.

 

HELLO DADDY

My breath catches. “Well,” I whisper to myself, blinking back sudden tears, “that didn’t take long.” I clutch the tiny onesie to my chest, already picturing Nathan’s face when he opens the gift bag. The surprise. The disbelief. The joy. This is it. The perfect way to tell Nathan’s he’s going to be a dad. I pay for my purchase, get back in my truck and head home, planning out the perfect dinner for my surprise news on the way.

 

A few hours later, Nathan walks through the door. Soft music playing in the background, the aromas of his favorite dinner flowing from the kitchen.

 

“Hey, Gracie girl. Damn something smells delicious.” He says, sliding his arm around me from behind, pulling me close.

 

“Hey, babe. I thought I’d make you’re favorite dinner. It’s been such a long week, and I thought you deserved something special.”

I turn and kiss the corner of his mouth as he smiles.

 

“Mmm, it smells fantastic. Can I pour you a glass of wine?” He asks, grabbing a beer from the fridge.

Shit, I can’t have wine, but he doesn’t know that. I begin to panic, not knowing how to answer his question. I could just say sure and not drink the wine but, he’d notice that. I could just go ahead and give him the bag, and we could celebrate over dinner. At least that way I wouldn’t have to sit through this whole meal bursting with this secret.

 

Without answering, I smile and walk over to where I hid the gift bag. Nathan raises his eyebrow but doesn’t say anything until I hand him the bag.

“What’s this for, Gracie?” He asks, pulling the tissue paper out before removing the onesie. His eyes grow large when he sees what he’s holding in his hands. Silence settles between us as he stares down at the tiny fabric stretched between his hands.

 

HELLO DADDY

 

His fingers tighten around it, when he finally looks up at me. There’s something in eyes I’ve never seen before. Shock, wonder… awe.

 

“Gracie…” My name leaves his lips on a whisper. “Is this…”

 

I nod before he can finish, my throat too tight to form words. Tears begin falling and I don’t even bother wiping them away.

 

“Yes.” I manage. “We’re having a baby, Nathan.”

 

For a heartbeat, he doesn’t move. He doesn’t speak. He just stares at me like he’s trying to memorize every inch of my face. Then the realization hits. He mouth falls open and a breathless laugh brakes free from his chest. His gaze drops back to the onesie and then lifts to my face again.

 

“Are you serious?” He asks, his voice rough with emotion.

 

I nod, placing my hand on my stomach. “I took three tests to be sure.”

 

That’s all it takes. In two quick strides, he crosses the space between us, pulling me into his arms so tightly my feet nearly leave the floor.

 

“We’re having a baby,” he repeats against my hair, his voice thick. “Gracie… we’re having a baby.”

He gently places his hands to my stomach before dropping to his knees. He leans in and in the quietest voice I’ve ever heard he, says, “Hey, baby. I’m your dad.”

 

I drop to my knees, tears falling and grab Nathan’s face, gently kissing his lips.

 

“I love you, Nathan.”

“I love you so much, Gracie girl.”

 

And we sat there like that. Holding each other while our dinner grew cold—neither of us caring. In the quiet of that kitchen, wrapped in his arms, I knew this was just the beginning of our sweetest chapter yet.