Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
We watched Kayden play with Pogo for a few minutes, then we left for dinner at Matt’s home.
I parked the car and as we walked to the front door, Matt opened it.
“Whoa, who is this?” he shouted in a gruff voice while looking at Kayden.
“Kayden. I’m Kayden,” Kayden shouted back.
“And I’m your ride,” Matt replied, and lifting a squealing Kayden high into the air deposited him on his shoulders. He began to do the elephant walk as he headed back into the house, and Kayden’s delighted shrieks filled the air.
Willow and I were laughing as we walked in after Matt.
“Come on in,” Alice said, meeting us in the living room.
I kissed her on the cheek and sunk into a chair. Matt settled Kayden down with toys which I’m sure they’d made a special trip to the toy store to buy.
“Wow, you’re starting to show,” Willow said to Alice.
An image of a pregnant Willow sprouted to my mind. She would look beautiful pregnant. I went as far as imagining my arms wrapped around her growing belly, before I stopped myself. What the fuck was wrong with me? My mind was going crazy imagining happy family scenarios when she hadn’t made any commitments to me yet.
Alice rested her hands on her belly and glanced at Kayden. “I am, and we found out the gender of the baby. It’s a boy.”
“A friend for Kayden,” Matt said, ruffling my son’s head.
“That will be awesome,” Willow said, but there was a forlorn note in her voice that made me turn to look at her.
We chatted for several minutes and then we moved to the dining room when dinner was ready. I was pleased to see there was a highchair for Kayden. I thanked Alice for it, sure it had been her idea.
Lunch was fun. Lots of laughter and remembering old stories. I was glad to see how well Alice and Willow got along. After lunch, we moved back to the living room, but I could see that Kayden was getting tired.
“Come and sit with me,” Willow said to Kayden, and he went to her and laid his trusting head on her lap.
“Let me show you where Kayden can have a nap,” Alice said when she returned to the living room. “It’ll be more comfortable, and I have a baby monitor. We’ll know when he wakes up.”
Willow turned to me and I gave her a nod.
“Come on, little man, let’s go and take a nap,” she said to him.
And… just like that I knew. She would be the best mother for Kayden.
49
WILLOW
“You must be so excited about the baby,” I said to Alice as I followed her carrying Kayden down the hallway.
“You won’t believe how much. I’m so excited to be a mom, sometimes I don’t sleep at night. I just can’t wait for my baby to come out. I know, I know…it’s months away.”
“I’d be excited too.” I laughed at her enthusiasm, but inside I felt sad. It was ironic how the world worked. I’d never met a man whose baby I wanted to have until Rex, and it was looking good. He was a single man until I met him and realized I was in love with him. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he becomes a father, and complicates everything.
I let out a small, involuntary sigh of frustration, but Alice heard it.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
For a flash of a moment, in that warm, friendly room, I wanted to spill everything to her, but I knew better. Even though she was kind and good-hearted she was Rex’s friend, not mine. I didn’t know her well enough to spill my guts to her.
“Oh yeah, everything’s fine,” I said, giving her a bright smile.
I turned back to Kayden. He looked sleepy but he wasn’t asleep yet. “Want me to tell you a story?”
He smiled sleepily. God, he was sweet.
“I’ll bring the monitor,” Alice said and left.
“Once upon a time, there was a naughty snowman called Yadred. He had a carrot nose and two sticks for hands,” I started in a soft, soothing voice. I’d come to love the days when I got to read for Kayden or tell him stories. I loved the way he slowly drifted off with a smile on his face. Heaven.
He made me wish he was mine.
Alice returned with the monitor and speaking in whispers, showed me how to turn it on, then left. I continued with the story and three minutes later, Kayden was deeply asleep. I kissed his forehead and tiptoed out of the room.
Matt’s voice drifted to me as I walked down the hallway. Then I heard Alice’s voice. My name was mentioned, and I found myself slowing down, then coming to a stop just before I entered the living room.
“When are you guys going to take the leap?” Matt asked.