Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I cannot believe he did this. He’s so adorable.” I scratched behind his ears, and the puppy’s left hind leg started to spasm. “Bella, would you mind getting my cell so I can text Ford? I don’t want to let go of this little guy. It’s on the kitchen counter.”
Bella found my phone and snapped a picture of my new puppy licking my face while I smiled. She showed it to me, and I told her to send it to her brother.
A minute later, my phone buzzed with an incoming text.
Ford: I’m jealous of a dog. How do I get me some of that?
I smiled and texted back. My sweet little pup had knocked himself out in less than two minutes and was now snuggled in my lap.
Valentina: I’ll let you lick my face after you say I do.
Ford: It’s not your face I’ll be licking tonight, sweetheart.
Bella groaned. “You two should get a room. I can’t even look at you texting each other. You get that…” She waved her hand around in front of my face. “…that look that says you’re sexting with my brother. Gross.”
I laughed.
Valentina: BTW…your sister found one of your sticky notes this morning.
Ford: What the hell was she doing up before you?
Valentina: We were up late, and I slept in. The Montauk air must’ve wiped me out.
Ford: Well, you better relax and save all your energy for tonight.
Valentina: I will. And thank you for the puppy! He’s so adorable. Though now I have a child out of wedlock for the second time. You couldn’t have waited a few hours to give him to me? ;)
Ford: I can come take him back?
Valentina: Too late. I love him already. Does he have a name?
Ford: Nope. That’s all you. Pick something good.
Valentina: Are you nervous about today?
Ford: Not at all. You’re already my forever. This is just a formality.
***
Oh my God.
I covered my mouth and stared down at the stick. The plus sign was a deep, dark blue. I must’ve taken the first test too early. My hand shook, and I just kept whispering Oh my God, Oh my God over and over. I think I was in more shock than I’d been at seventeen the first time it happened.
“Everything okay in there?” Eve knocked on the bathroom door.
The sound made me jump.
“Ummm. Yeah.” Achoo! “Everything is fine. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“Alright. Fifteen minutes to show time. Don’t take too long.”
I’m pregnant.
Oh my God.
My son is twenty-one.
And I’m pregnant again.
My ex-husband and I had tried for years after we had Ryan, so I’d just assumed it couldn’t happen. Then again, Ryan and I never practiced getting pregnant anywhere near as much as Ford and I do. I had my doubts about lots of things with my future husband, but his desire for me was never one of them. The man was insatiable, so I really shouldn’t be surprised he’d knocked me up.
Oh my God.
I need to tell him.
I’d gotten him an antique pocket watch for a wedding gift. This was so much better.
Still shaking, I tossed the stick in the wastebasket and unlocked the bathroom door. My maid of honor and bridesmaid were downstairs waiting for me. In the excitement, I’d forgotten that this was the first time they were seeing me in my wedding gown. I’d picked a simple, lace dress with a mermaid silhouette and slight train. It had a beachy vibe to it and was perfect for a barefoot wedding in the sand.
I walked slowly down the stairs.
“You look…” Eve wiped her eyes. “Gorgeous. You’re glowing, Val. I’ve never seen you so happy.”
Glowing. Good choice of words.
I hugged my best friend and almost-sister-in-law. “Thank you. You both look beautiful.”
“You ready to get married?”
“Actually, no.”
Eve’s smile fell. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. Nothing. But I need to talk to Ford before the ceremony.”
“He’s already outside on the beach, waiting for you.”
“Can you…go out and ask him to come over? It’ll just be a minute.”
“Sure. Of course.” She hesitated. “Are you sure everything is okay? I heard you sneezing in the bathroom.”
I smiled. “It’s just pollen. I’m good.”
Eve and Bella went out the back, and a few minutes later, Ford knocked on the door.
“I thought you didn’t want to see me before the wedding because of the silly superstition?”
My feet were frozen to the living room floor. Ford had to walk to me. I couldn’t even meet him halfway. The minute he got a good look at my face, his grew pale.
“What’s going on, babe? Are you nervous?”
I nodded.
He immediately wrapped me in his arms. “It’s okay. That’s normal. Just take a few deep breaths.”
I did, but it didn’t make me any calmer. After a minute, Ford pulled his head back to look at me. “You’re shaking.”
I nodded. “Ford… I…” I choked up, and a fat tear spilled out and ran down my cheek.