Free Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) by Ruthie Henrick Page A

bitch. You’ll feel better soon.”
    But she continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Anyway, I’ve never been regular, my cycle sort of keeps its own schedule. And one day I was sick—you were already gone to work.” Her eyes were wild, darting.
    What was he missing? Oh, God, was she ill? His eyes widened, his breathing became rough in his chest. He grabbed her hands for support—hers and his both. “Allie, for God’s sake, what is it?”
    She blew out a slow breath, locked her eyes on his and murmured. “I think I might be pregnant.”
    His jaw dropped. His breathing, which had been choppy, now stopped altogether. Of all the things she might have said, this was not on his radar. “But we take precautions.” How lame did that sound? But he bought a box of condom— a damn big box—when they began sleeping together. They’d snickered about it at the time.
    He wanted children, her children. But did he want them yet ? His gaze skidded around the room. At the apartment, that was barely big enough for them to turn around in. At the ceiling, for what—divine intervention? At Allie, who wasn’t ill, but instead was pregnant.
    And miserable.
    He was an ass.
    He wrapped her in his arms, held her tight and rocked her as they would rock their child. Jesus. The idea took root, warmed him. Through the renewed pounding of his heart echoing in his ears he welcomed the slow grin that made its way across his face. “Al, you mean we’re going to be parents?”
    Without letting go he loosened her in his arms, tilted his head back, caught her bemused expression, the nervous grin hovering around her mouth. “Are you worried? Anxious? Allie, this will be great! We’ll be great.” He paused a beat with his eyes narrowed. “Wait… you said you think. We need to know for sure. Right now.”
    He lurched from the sofa, but Allie pinned him. She squawked as he tumbled her into the cushions. Suddenly remembering her posited condition, he helped her find her feet.
     
    It took them only minutes to hit the nearest drugstore, buy the required test kit and return home. “Pee.” Allie would probably call it an order. Maybe it was, but he didn’t care. He followed it up by propelling her into the bathroom without ceremony.
    She stumbled across the threshold, her purchase clutched in her fist. “Impatient son of a gun, aren’t you?”
    “On the stick.” He didn’t care if he was grinning like a mad man. “Right now.” Like a sentry he guarded the open doorway.
    “Come on Ben, I need a little privacy.” She grabbed the knob, swung the door closed in his face which was probably stupid with surprise, and spoke through the wooden panel. “Give me a little consideration, will you? I’ll get this done and then show you.”
    He pushed the door back open, shut her up with a kiss. “I want to know if I get to be a daddy. I don’t have time for consideration.” He heaved a sighed, relented against her impatient glare, shut the door again. And begged from the hallway. “Now pee. Please?”
    She peed.
    He waited with his arms around her. Back to front so they could both watch the magic stick.
    And there it was. Two pink lines.
    Her hand shook only slightly as she held the plastic stick for him to see. “Okay, Daddy. What now?”
    He had no idea, this was supposed to be years away. But he certainly couldn’t tell her that. It was time to man up. She would need holding so he turned her into his chest, brushed his lips against her temple. “Hell if I know. What I do know is it’s you and me, and we’ll make it a good thing.” His forehead against hers, he murmured the words against her skin. “I love you so much.” His gaze lowered, followed his hand as it rubbed low on her belly. “And I already love our baby.”
    Even pale and skittish she was beautiful. And she was having his baby. How the hell did a guy get so lucky?

 
     
     
    “In the kitchen!” Her shout came from that direction as he walked through the door after work.