Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
The trial for the former professor, John Milton, was held when I was three months pregnant. He had a decent attorney, but when I took the stand, the jury saw right through their story. Milton was found guilty of attempted kidnapping and assault and is currently serving ten years behind bars.
With the way he looked at Bryan in the courtroom and the memory of his beating fresh in his mind, I don’t believe we’ll ever see or hear from him again.
We load the baby in the SUV and take off for Sleepy Hollow. Bryan holds my hand as he drives like he always does. It doesn’t matter how long we’re together. His touch still ignites a fire inside me.
“What are you thinking about, sweetheart?” he asks me.
“I was thinking about how nice it will be to take this trip when the baby is older. How cute will it be when she can jump in the leaf piles and pick her own pumpkin for Halloween?”
“It will be very cute. You’re right about that. Then, she can teach all of her little brothers and sisters how it’s all done.”
“All of them? How many are we talking here, Daddy?”
“As many as possible, baby girl.”
“Give me some time to recover from this one. I’m still as big as a house.”
He looks at me like I just sprouted wings. “What do you mean? You’re just as beautiful and hot today as you were that day on the plane. You remember what you did to me that day, right?”
“That’s sweet, but I can’t look in the mirror.”
“You’re silly. You’re my sexy little girl and you always will be.”
We arrive at the homestead, and after helping me out of the car, Bryan moves to the backseat to collect the baby. We head up the porch steps and are greeted by his mother and Mary who practically pull the baby from his arms. He places his arm around me and says, “Look how good you did. They love her already.”
I smile but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t break my heart just a little. How nice would it be if my own mother was here and this excited to meet her first grandchild? We go inside and watch as the family dotes over Brianna.
Bryan’s mother stops just long enough to embrace me and tell me how wonderful I look. Some of the neighbors even stop in to see our precious girl and to catch up with Bryan, whom they haven’t seen since he left for college all those years ago.
It’s overwhelming but exactly the kind of life I want for our children. I want them to be surrounded by people who love them.
“Let’s go for a ride,” Bryan tells me.
“But the baby?”
“My mother has lots of experience. Besides, we could sneak out and we’d be back before they even notice we’re gone.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
Bryan drives about two miles from his parent’s place and pulls down a long stretch of narrow road. I watch out the window as we pass the white farmhouses and horse pastures.
“We’re outside the village limits, but the kids here still go to school in town.”
“That’s nice, but why are we here?”
He turns into a driveway and pulls up beside a gorgeous blue house. He shuts off the engine and says, “Welcome home, baby.”
“What? What do you mean?” I practically break my neck trying to see.
“I bought this place. I know how much you like it out here. I don’t want to raise a family in the middle of the city either, so here we are. Surprise.”
“But what about work? What about the company?”
“There’s a train station in the village. It’s not a long commute. But, with me taking the train to work, I think it would be best for you to stay at home with the kids.”
Being independent used to be my top priority, but I don’t need that anymore. With Bryan, I don’t ever worry about being abandoned or going without anything. I love the idea of being a full-time mother. It’s something I would have given anything to have when I was a little girl.
“Come on, I thought you would have jumped out and run to the house by now,” he says.
“I’m just stunned. I can’t believe you did this. I love you so much.”
“And I love you. I told you before that there's nothing I won’t do for you.”
We exit the car and take a walk around the grounds. The property is dotted with mature apple trees and blueberry bushes. There’s a barn and pasture behind the house, which sits on a small hill.
“Are you ready to check out the inside?” Bryan asks me.
“I can’t wait.”
We enter through the backdoor into a completely updated farmhouse kitchen. It holds a sort of old-world charm but contains top-of-the-line, modern appliances. Next is the dining room, which is large enough to hold a table for twenty with room to spare. The living room has large bay windows on two sides and a beautiful stone fireplace.