[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Cassie gasped.“Oh my God.It all makes sense now.Why you were so damn teary before the wedding.You have baby hormones, don’t you?”Penelope nodded.“Please forgive us for not telling you earlier.”“You’re the mother of my new niece or nephew.That makes you exempt.You are beautiful and perfect.My brother, on the other hand, will have to work to make up for this.” Her words sounded fierce, but her smile said otherwise.As they began to fill in Cassie with the details for the Vegas wedding, Chris looked around for Julie.She wasn’t on the couch any more.It was probably past time to get her home and back into bed.He went to search her out and his stomach twisted when he found her sniffling in Penelope’s old bedroom.A baby blanket was crushed in her arms and it sounded like her heart was shattering as her fragile shoulders quaked under the barrage of emotion.As he looked around the room, he realized they’d already begun the transforming it into a nursery.Needing to comfort her, he couldn’t leave her to her privacy.He didn’t want to scare her, so he touched her gently on the shoulder before he turned her so she pressed against his chest.He rubbed her up and down her back.Was this still grief over Aaron’s death? How could Cassie question her depth of loss when just looking at baby things pushed her into this sort of breakdown? Of course, she had hopes of having babies with him before he died.She was a normal, healthy woman.It was natural for her to dream of having babies with the man she loved.As he stood there feeling helpless with her in his arms and unable to fix her pain, it occurred to him again that he’d never be able to have a child, one Julie obviously wanted.But he’d gotten an erection and that wasn’t supposed to happen either.Were his chances at fertility better now? His eyes welled up as he placed a soft kiss on top of her head.The sobs slowly subsided and she untangled herself from his embrace, swiping at her eyes.“I’m sorry.I don’t know what brought that on.” She lightly fingered the tears staining his shirt.He lifted her chin so she had to look him in the eye.“It’s okay, Julie.I understand.Babies bring out a lot of emotion.There’s nothing wrong with that.Do you want to head home? I know you have to be exhausted.”She nodded, the relief showing in her face.“I would, but I can’t go back out there looking like this.Can you go grab my purse for me so that I can repair some of the damage?”Ten minutes later, they all exchanged hugs on the way out.They’d almost made it to the door, when Penelope squealed, “Wait.I almost forgot.” She rushed back to the bedrooms while they all exchanged confused glances.When she rushed back in, she carried a huge notebook which she pressed toward Julie with a grin.“My latest book.Since you’re basically bedridden this week, you could use some reading, right?”Julie nodded and looked down curiously at the book in her hands.“It’s the start to an all new series and I think you’ll like it.But I’m really nervous about how my readers will take it so I need you to read through it first and let me know your thoughts.”“Okay, thanks Penelope.”* * *Julie awoke and blinked drowsily at the familiar sight out the side window of the truck as they stopped in front of Chris’s townhouse.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to doze off.”“It’s okay.” His voice was hushed in the quiet, dark cab of the truck.“You’re still recovering from pneumonia and it was an emotional night.It’s actually a wonder that you lasted as long as you did.”He jumped out of the truck, went around, and opened her door before she had a chance to even think about getting out.“Thanks.”They walked up the sidewalk to her front door.He unlocked it for her and held it open.She ducked inside.“I’ll be back in about ten minutes,” Chris said as he turned toward his place.Her brain was still half asleep as she frowned toward her closed door.Why was he coming back? She was just planning to go to bed and she sure wasn’t up for a midnight chat.The couch called her name, so she sank into it, pulling the blanket around her.This would work for a bed for now.She was just too tired to attempt at anything better.The sound of the door opening startled her out of her half-sleep.She sat straight up, trying to orient herself to what the heck was happening.Glancing at the doorway, she was surprised to see Chris standing there, scowling with a duffle bag in his hand.Why did he have an overnight bag? “Chris?”“Yeah, it’s okay.Go ahead and go to bed.I’ll just make myself comfortable in your guest bedroom
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]