The Journey Home

She adjusted herself in the bed and said, “I feel great. I really do. It’s nice to have my body back. I wouldn’t trade a minute of any of it though.”

I smiled warmly at my best friend. She looked beautiful. She didn’t have an ounce of makeup on. Jack was still asking why he’d had to run and get the makeup if she wasn’t even going to wear it.

“I can’t wait for Lily to meet Craig and Lucy. She is going to have so much fun with them.” Cale said as he stood and rocked a cranky Craig.

I also stood and walked around with Lucy in my arms. She was so tiny, and I couldn’t get enough of her smell. I kissed her head before I placed her back in her bassinet. “How long do you have to stay here?”

Cale placed Craig, now asleep, in his bassinet, too. He stood, staring at both babies.

“I’m hoping I’ll be home in the next day or two,” Monica said. “Everything went great with the delivery, and the twins are as healthy as can be. I think we’d all be more comfortable at home.” She looked up and Jack smiled. He leaned down and kissed her.

“I love you, Monica,” he said. “Happy Mother’s Day, baby.”

I watched as a tear rolled down my best friend’s cheek. I couldn’t help but stare at the two of them. The way they looked into each other’s eyes, it was clear how much they loved each other. I pulled my eyes away and saw Cale watching me. He smiled and I smiled back. He pulled me into his arms. Cale’s lips moved across my neck, sending a chill from my head to my toes. When he found his way to my ear, I had to grab onto his arms to steady myself.

“I want to make love to you, Maddie,” Cale whispered as he kissed around my ear, which always drove me mad. His voice was laced with desire, which only blossomed my own want.

“Okay,” I whispered back. He stepped back and grabbed the camel.

“I’ll take this home and keep it safe for y’all, then bring it over once you get home.”

Jack shot Cale a dirty look. “Bastard.”

Cale threw his head back and laughed before giving Monica a kiss on the forehead. “We’re gonna let you rest now, sweetheart. The babies are beautiful, like their mother.”

Monica smiled and nodded. “Thanks, you guys, for coming and staying with us. You’re next!”

Monica pointed at me. I placed my hand on my stomach and giggled. I kissed Monica goodbye, and then Jack.

“We’ll be back tomorrow! Love you both!” I called out as I walked out the door.

Driving home, I couldn’t stop thinking about our baby.

Cale reached for my hand and squeezed it. “What are you thinking about?”

“The baby.” I glanced over and smiled weakly at him. “I’m…scared.”

He looked at me, concerned, before quickly looking back at the road. “What are you scared about?”

I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Am I going to be able to do this? Is it going to hurt? Will I know what to do with her?”

Cale smiled. “Her huh? You still sure we’re having a girl.”

I nodded and chuckled. “Yep.”

Cale took my hand and brought it to his lips. He gently kissed it. “Maddie,” he said, “you’re going to be wonderful. Look at how you just took over with Lily. Baby, you’re going to be the best mommy ever. And I’m sure our little princess at home will be itching to help out.”

I laughed and nodded in agreement. “Oh, I’m sure she will be. Let’s just hope that our Lily isn’t the jealous type.”

I WALKED INTO the living room and attempted to sit down on the sofa with some sense of grace. When I plopped down, I sighed. Monica laughed as she placed Craig into his swing. Lucy was sound asleep in her swing as it moved back and forth.

“I can’t believe the twins are five months old already,” Monica said as she stood and gazed at her two kids.

I jumped when my little kicker gave me a good one in my ribs. “Oh, God. When will this baby come?” I asked as I leaned back on the sofa. “It’s snowing like hell outside. I just want to go for a walk, and I’m stuck in the house…with you.”

Monica placed her hands on her hips. “Hey!”

I waved my hand to brush off Monica and looked up at Cale standing in Monica and Jack’s living room, looking all hot and shit. I couldn’t believe how horny I’d been during this pregnancy. I licked my lips as I looked over his body.

He looked at me and asked, “You ready to head home Maddie?”

I grinned and replied, “Yeah, I think so.”

Lily came running by as Jack chased her. “Jack Rembrandt, you hush up this second!” Monica called out. How the twins slept through everything was beyond me.

Cale helped me stand up. Pain shot through my abdomen and I let out a little gasp. I’d been having small pains since around six in the morning. At first, I thought maybe there were just Braxton Hicks contractions. Now I wasn’t so sure, since they were slowly getting stronger.

“Jesus, she finally sat down and now you’re making her get up and leave?” Monica said. “I swear, Maddie, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were having an elephant.”

I glared at her. “You’re such a bitch.”

“Bitch!”

I covered my mouth and Monica busted out laughing.

“Bitch, bitch, bitch!” Lily repeated as she ran around Cale and me.

“Great,” I whispered.

Cale tried not to laugh as he scooped up Lily and we made our way to the car.

Five minutes later, Cale was telling Lily a story in her room before putting her down for a nap. I made my way into the kitchen and sighed. I was nine months pregnant and felt like a beached whale. Cale would tell me at least five times a day how beautiful I was.

I opened the refrigerator and peered in. I needed something spicy to get this baby out. I pushed things around on the shelves, looking for something to kick-start my labor.

Nothing. I turned and headed into the living room and down the hall. I walked past our bedroom and into the guest room, which was now the nursery. Inside, I stopped as I felt the baby moving.

I placed my hands on my stomach and watched as an elbow moved across my swollen belly. I smiled and shook my head. “I think you’re too comfy in there. It’s time to come out and meet your big sister, Lily. Mommy needs her sleep back, little one.”

I felt Cale’s presence as he walked into the nursery. He came from behind me and placed his hands on my stomach. The baby must have just repositioned herself. “Is he moving a lot today?”

I smiled to myself when Cale called the baby a he. We’d never found out the sex of the baby. The French country theme could go either way. I glanced around at the finished nursery. All it needed was our baby.

Cale, his dad Mitchel, and my father, had all painted the nursery in one day. The walls were painted my favorite color, Sea Salt from Sherwin Williams. It was neutral enough to go with either a boy or a girl. The country cottage, distressed, white furniture looked beautiful in the room. We’d bought a crib, a wardrobe, and a changing table. There was a light blue chair in the corner that had belonged in Lily’s room when she was a baby. I’d spent weeks making a canopy for the crib. It looked beautiful.

Cale rubbed my stomach as he said, “This room is truly breathtaking, Maddie. You did a wonderful job on it.”

I smiled and nodded. I glanced up and looked at the blue ceiling and the white, puffy clouds that Monica and I had made together. It truly was a beautiful nursery.

“I just wish she would make an appearance soon. I can hardly sleep anymore and she seems to be the most active at night. I think she’s confused.”

Cale laughed. “I think it’s because during the day you rock him to sleep. At night is when he wakes up to party.

I turned around and smirked. “I’m telling you, Mr. Blackwood, it’s a girl.”

He shook his head. “Boy.”

“Girl.”

Cale’s eyes moved over my body and I saw the lust in his expression. I was instantly turned on. “I know a way we can try and speed up y

our labor.”

I raised my eyebrows and smiled. “Lead the way. And I hope you’ve come up with a good position, ‘cause I can’t move!”

Cale took my hand and led me out of the nursery and into our bedroom. He quickly stripped out of his clothes and I followed. I stood before him completely naked and was shocked by what I saw. “Cale, do you have…tears in your eyes?”

He cupped my face with both hands. “You’re so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever in my life seen a woman so breathtaking. You stomach swollen with our child turns me on more than you could ever imagine, Maddie. I desperately want you right now.” Cale kissed me softly on the lips. “Marry me. Now. I don’t want to wait until the baby is born. I want to make you mine.”

I closed my eyes as he moved his lips across my neck. “Cale,” I whispered. He moved his lips down my body to my nipples. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach as I held my breath. Shit. My body must be reacting to him in different ways.

“I love you, Maddie.”

Soft kisses covered my body and threw my libido into overdrive. I wanted to have an orgasm so badly that I thought I might cry. When Cale dropped to his knees and lifted my leg over his shoulder I hissed out, “Yes.” One swipe of his tongue across my sensitive bud had me moaning like a crazed woman. “More. Give me more.” I pulled on his hair and buried his face between my legs. Dropping one hand. I reached out and held onto the bedpost as Cale began to suck and lick.

“Yes. Yes. I want it so bad, Cale.”