Free The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella by R.C. Martin Page B

could possibly appear so calm; wondering if this feeling of panic really goes away; wondering if she ’ s just remarkably good at masking the fear I ’ m unable to hide or detach from the reality of motherhood.
    The woman who sits with her partner is practically glowing. I couldn ’ t tell you how far along she is, but she ’ s definitely sporting a nice, round baby bump. The couple is talking in hushed whispers and whatever he keeps saying makes her laugh every other minute. I wonder if their pregnancy was planned; I wonder if that makes them a gazillion times more prepared for this than we are; I wonder how we ’ ll manage to catch up in the next few months.
    The last woman looks to only be a few months along. She ’ s here with a toddler that can ’ t seem to sit still. She appears to be an extremely patient, if not tired, mother. I wonder at her strength, her endurance; I wonder at her bravery to do it all again; I wonder what her fear feels like … or if she ’ s too preoccupied to be afraid.
    I look down at my flat belly and it dawns on me that in a few weeks, I ’ ll be showing, too. I know — I know — no duh! Right? But I haven ’ t really thought that much about it. I have a tendency to let my thoughts get ahead of me. I mean, way ahead of me. My mind has been consumed with what will happen when the baby is here . I haven ’ t really been too worried about what will happen to me as the baby bakes.
    “You ’ re thinking loudly, again, ” Grayson whispers in my ear. I blush as I turn to offer him a small smile. “ What ’ s on your mind, Shorty? ”
    “I ’ m going to get fat , ” I murmur so that only he can hear. He smirks at me and I can ’ t help but giggle, even though I ’ m hardly amused. “ I ’ m serious, Sonny. I ’ ll probably waddle. ” His smirk turns into a grin and his barely-there-dimples change the temperament of my stomach ’ s butterflies.
    “You ’ ll be my sexy, little, waddling, mama. ”
    My chest fills with hope at his words. I slide my hand around the back of his neck, drawing his face closer. He rests his forehead against mine as I ask, “ Do you mean that? Do you promise you ’ ll still want me? ” I have no idea what having a baby will do to my sex drive, but I can ’ t imagine ever not wanting my husband. That being said, his body won ’ t change. Mine, on the other hand —
    “Ave, did you really just ask me that? ” Before I can find the words to explain myself, he gently takes my hand away from his neck and places it on the inside of his left arm. My fingers trace over his smooth skin, but that ’ s not all they touch as he reminds me of the first vow he ever made to me — forever inked on his bicep. “ I ’ m always, vibrantly, entirely, reverently, yours , sweetheart. And you are mine, now more than ever. Don ’ t think, not even for a second, that being pregnant will make you less desirable to me. It won ’ t. ”
    I throw my arms around him, hugging him as tight as I can. This man impresses me every single day. Right now, he ’ s my sanity and I couldn ’ t be more grateful. To know that this last year is simply a taste of what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life? It ’ s nothing short of amazing.
    “I hate to break it to you, Shorty, but I think your hormones are making you completely irrational. ” I hide my smile in his neck and he presses his lips against my ear. “ And if you hug me any tighter, ” he begins, his voice deep and just below a whisper, “ Everyone in this room will be able to see just how much I want you. It ’ s hard enough to keep my thoughts in check with you across the room in this dress. With you practically in my lap …”
    I free another giggle but I don ’ t let him go. This is how the nurse finds us when she steps into the room to call us back. I stiffen in Grayson ’ s embrace at the sound of my name. He rubs his hands comfortingly up and down my sides before encouraging me to stand.