Harvest of Love: Insta-Spark Collection

“I missed you.”

“Yeah? Then you’ll be happy to know Gabe and Ella are taking over for the weekend, and we’re going away.”

She smiled, pressing her hands together with glee. “Are we going to the cottage?”

She loved the cottage. Since I had taken her there for her belated birthday last year, we’d returned a couple of other times. She loved the rustic, homey cabin, and it was a perfect hideaway for us. The farthest we went once we got there was the small outcropping of rocks that overlooked the water—Dani loved watching the waves in the daytime, and at night, I built us a fire and we cuddled under a blanket, often sharing a glass of wine. Only us—my wife and I—and all the time in the world to reconnect with no interruptions. It was our favorite place, aside from our home.

“Yes, it’s all booked. We leave in the morning.”

She flung her arms around my neck. “I love you.”

I held her tight. “I love you, Dani.”

The fire glowed bright against the dark of the night, the flames burning a brilliant yellow and orange. Dani was snuggled into my arms, her back pressed to my chest, a blanket draped around us to make sure she didn’t get cold. She’d been sleepy all day and very cuddly—my favorite kind of Dani, especially when we were alone at the cottage. We’d made love, slow and sweet after we arrived and again later in the afternoon, losing ourselves in each other under the light blankets and staying nestled together after in the post-orgasmic glow. We’d gone for a short walk but decided against a trip in the small boat the cottage came with. Her brow had furrowed, and she’d muttered something about pushing her luck and opted for another snuggle under the blankets. I was more than okay with that. We cooked dinner over the open flames, sharing the same plate and fork, the food always tasting better when we ate that way. Everything in life became better when shared with Dani.

Leaning over her shoulder, I pressed the wineglass against her lips, frowning at the tiny sip she took. She’d hardly drunk anything, aside from the bottle of water she’d asked for. “It’s your favorite, Sprout. Not in the wine mood tonight?”

She tilted up her head, giving me a smile. “Not really.”

I ran my hand over her hair, cupping the back of her head. “Are you all right, Dani? You’ve been rather quiet today.”

Her lips quirked as she bit back a smile. “I thought I was pretty vocal earlier.”

“Well, you had your moments,” I admitted with a grin. “But the rest of the time, you’ve been…off.”

She half turned in my arms. “I didn’t mean to be. I’ve just been, ah, thinking.”

My heart clenched a little at her words. “Is something wrong? Talk to me, baby. Whatever it is, I want to help.”

Reaching up, she ran her fingers over my face, cupping my cheek. Turning my head, I kissed her palm.

“You always want to help, don’t you?” she murmured in awe. “You always want me to be okay.”

“Anything you need. Always, Dani.”

“You look after me so well.”

“That’s because I love you.”

She drew in a deep breath. “You asked me once to try this life with you. A way of life I didn’t really understand. I was so scared about all the unknowns. To leave behind what I was accustomed to and try something new.”

“I know. The trust you put in me, in us, was humbling.”

“You showed me something amazing. I love our life. I love you, Noah.”

“What are you telling me?” I whispered, my voice tight. Something was going on—I could just feel it.

“I want to show you something amazing now.” She reached into her pocket. “Hold out your hand.”

Shaking, I did as she requested, staring down at the small pea she placed in my palm. Confused, I looked at her.

“Do you know why it’s so amazing?” she whispered.

“No,” I admitted.

Her eyes glowed in the firelight, filled with love and a joy I didn’t understand—yet. “That’s how small your baby is right now.”

The meaning of her words hit me—the wineglass went one way, and I thought the blanket ended up in the water below us. All I knew, all I felt, was my wife wrapped in my arms, my head buried in her neck as I wept with joy.

I was going to be a daddy.

My Sprout, my Dani, was pregnant.

I lifted my head, meeting her watery gaze. “Are you okay? Is everything…”

“Yes. Everything is good. I’m fine.” She nodded. “Tired, and a little emotional at times, but fine. I haven’t even had any morning sickness—which I hear is a bonus.”

“Are you happy?”

She smiled tenderly and took my hand, pressing it to her flat stomach. “Happy? Noah, happy isn’t a big enough word. I’m carrying your child—our child. Nothing could make me happier.”