Ruin: Part Three (Ruin 3)

strengthened our already unbreakable bond. I'm here now to convince him to join me for dinner, even though I doubt I'll eat much at all. I'm so nervous and nauseous.

He licks his lips as he pushes me against the wall. "Why are you so eager to get me home? Do you want me to eat your…"

"Meatloaf?" I ask loudly as an intern wheels an elderly patient in a wheelchair right past us. "We can have meatloaf tonight."

He leans forward and brushes his lush lips over mine. "I'll eat that and more the minute we're in the door."

"Can you come now?" I'm so anxious. I've never been as excited to share news with Ben as I am today. It's been a total of forty-five minutes since I found out but it feels like forty-five years.

"There's a supply closet around the corner you can blow me in." He pulls on my hand. "I can come in there now."

I swat my hand over the nametag that is hanging around his neck. "I'm not talking about sex."

"Fuck." He winks at me. "I am."

"Ben, please." I stomp my foot in jest. "I just want you to come home so I can tell you something."

"Tell me here." His eyes dart over my face. "What's wrong, Kayla?"

"Do you remember when you said…" my voice trails just as we both hear his name announced over the hospital's loudspeaker.

"Hold that thought." He grabs my shoulder. "I put in a call to a surgeon in Boston. I need to take that call in my office."

"Wait." I reach forward to grab his lab coat. "I just need a minute."

"Something isn't right." He runs his hand over my forehead. "You haven't been well. You've been sleeping more than normal. There's a virus going around. I want you to go into exam room three and wait…"

"I'm pregnant." I close my eyes tightly. "I'm…I mean… we're having a baby, Ben."

I feel movement in front of me but he doesn't say a word. This was my only fear. This is why I didn't tell him when my period was late. We haven't talked about when we'd have children yet. I don't know if he'll be as completely thrilled as I am.

"Kayla," he finally says my name in barely more than a whisper. "Open your beautiful blue eyes."

I do. I do it slowly. He's there but he's on his knees. A small ring box is resting in his palm. "I've been carrying this ring in my pocket for a week. I was going to ask you on my birthday but today, this is our real birthday."

I nod through a sob. "It's our birthday." I rub my hand over his on my still flat stomach.

"You have given me more than I've ever deserved in life, Kayla. I love you with every part of me. I will always love you." His eyes are filled with tears. "I will always love you and our baby."

"I love you too. I love you so much."

"Please be my wife. Marry me, Kayla. Marry me tomorrow."

I nod before I shake my head. "I'll marry you but not tomorrow."

He laughs as he slips the beautiful pear shaped diamond ring onto my finger. "I'll marry you on whatever day you choose and I will stay married to you until I take my last breath."

I lean down, cup his handsome face in my palms and kiss the man I love.