Satisfied 2X

I rushed to the trashcan under my desk and hurled into it.

“Vanessa, are you ok?”

I nodded, kneeling in front of the wastebasket. “I can’t handle all the stress.” I reached for bottle of water on the drink cart Candy kept stocked in my office.

“Or maybe you’re pregnant?” Charlie cocked one eyebrow higher than the other.

“What?”

She shook her head. “You do like things in threes. Why not make me work three projects at once?”

“No. No, no, no.” I couldn’t be.

“Who is the father? Dylan or Isaac?”

“Charlie,” I hissed. But then my eyes landed on the painting. And I knew.

It had only happened once, but that’s all it took. I knew with everything in my being the night we made this baby.

I closed my eyes. “It’s Isaac’s.”

I fumbled for my chair. I chugged the water. I hadn’t had a period, but it didn’t occur to me until now that I should have been watching my calendar. I should have paid attention.

“Should we go into my plan, I guess?” Charlie offered.

I nodded. My hand rested on my stomach. I was pregnant.

Forty-One

Vanessa

I hung up the phone with Steve just before the car pulled to the front of the house. I rushed outside to meet Isaac. Dylan strolled along next to me.

The driver walked around to the back of the stretch limo and opened the door. Isaac put one foot on the driveway and then the other. I had to fight the impulse to help him, but I knew he was stubborn and proud. He wouldn’t want my help.

“Glad you’re home, man.” Dylan grabbed his bag from him.

“Glad to be out of that damn hospital, brother.” Isaac slapped him on the back.

“Can we please go inside so I can kiss you?” I leaned toward his ear to whisper.

“Hell yeah.” He walked gingerly. I was surprised there were no crutches, but his doctors said he could use them when he felt it was necessary. I knew that meant never.

“I’ll take this upstairs,” Dylan reported, leaving us alone for a minute in the foyer.

I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and deposited it in the bowl by the front door. It was a new habit I had. When I walked through this door I was theirs.

I wrapped my hands around his neck. “Don’t you think you should sit?” I asked.

“And miss my homecoming kiss?”

His mouth landed on mine and I was instant

ly lost in the heat of his tongue. It twined, lashing in my mouth. I tasted the mint on his lips and tugged against his neck, sinking into the kiss.

“I missed you,” I whispered.

“Not as much as I did.”