Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“That was certainly a Thanksgiving to remember,” Christopher says as we get into his car. He turns my face to him and kisses me deeply, tasting sweetly of pie spice and wine. He caresses his hand down my arm, and I run my fingers through the thick black waves of his hair.
“Our first Thanksgiving together--really together,” I murmur between kisses.
He pulls back to look at me, those blue eyes piercing my very heart. “Our first of many,” he says, and takes my hand in his. “I love you, Bailey Prescott.”
“I love you, Christopher Maddox,” I whisper.
We pull out of the driveway and into the night, moonlight illuminating our path to a new life together.
Epilogue
Christopher
“Come home from work, babe,” Bailey says in the voicemail she left on my phone. “I have something super exciting to show you.”
Usually, I’m busy enough that any pleas to return home early can’t be accepted. Today, though, I’m done with my meetings, and everything seems to be running smoothly. Bailey isn’t typically one for exaggeration--if she says she has something exciting to show me, it probably will damn near bowl me over.
“I’m out of here, Jenna,” I tell my secretary, and she wishes me a good night as I head out of the office.
Commuting an hour from the business to my new townhouse is taking some getting used to, but it means I get to live near campus with Bailey, who’s still going to school full-time. It’s been a full year since we confessed our love for each other, and revealed our relationship to her dad. I knew it was going to be difficult for Rick to completely swallow despite his initial acceptance. For months, we were on rocky ground as we traversed this unfamiliar territory. I only knew he was starting to come around for real when he invited me over for beer and brats one day. Now, my buddy fully embraces my relationship with his daughter, although he still teases Bailey relentlessly for going after an “old man” like me.
But to be honest, I suspect that at the moment Rick’s dating someone his daughter’s age. It’s just a feeling, but it would kind-of explain his change in demeanor. He hasn’t introduced the new woman to us yet, but something tells me we’re going to meet Rick’s secret girl soon.
“I’m home, Bails,” I announce when I walk through the door of our townhouse. She’s parked at our kitchen table, as usual, with a mountain of books and papers in front of her. I smile at the sight. She’s chosen to pursue a marketing degree with a concentration in interior design. I’m proud of her work ethic, and how deftly she balances her classes, her friendships, and her relationship with me. We even find the time to go visit Rick some weekends, and have made a trip or two to her mother’s, as well.
“Hi honey!” Bailey jumps up from the table, runs over to me, and kisses me like I’m the only man she’s ever wanted. I smile into the kiss and dip her dramatically backwards, making her laugh against my lips. I would do anything to hear that sound every day for the rest of my life.
“So,” I say as I hang up my leather jacket. “What was so exciting that I needed to rush home?”
“Well…” Bailey hustles back to the table, then proudly holds up a thick stack of papers. “Tada!” It’s an essay she slaved over for five nights in a row, and it’s emblazoned with a scribbled “A--well done!” at the top.
I scoop her into my arms again and shower her with kisses.
“Hell yeah, babe!” I congratulate her. She consistently earns stellar grades, and it’s no surprise to me, knowing how hard she works. “But… Is that really something I needed to come home to see?”
She suddenly looks shy, and I tip her chin up to look at me. A soft smile plays at the corner of her lips. “Well…” she says, her eyes dancing. “Maybe there’s something else.”
She goes back to the table, grabs an item, and holds it behind her back. With a deep breath, she presents it to me.
A pregnancy test.
A positive pregnancy test.
“Holy shit,” I breathe, losing my composure immediately. I’m not an overly emotional man, but somewhere, deep down, I’ve always wanted to be a father. I just never found the right woman to parent with, and figured as I neared my fifties that my time was up. I look at Bailey to see tears streaming down her beaming face.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“This is the third positive one I’ve had,” she says, laughing shakily. “I’m very sure, love.”
I hold her hips and press a kiss to her stomach.
“Hi, baby,” I whisper to it, my voice hoarse. “We can’t fucking wait to meet you.”
“Don’t teach the baby how to swear while it’s still in the womb!” Bailey laughs, and then I’m holding her again, kissing her again, like we’re the luckiest people on the planet--which, in my mind, we are. I’m close to tears myself. This is everything I’ve ever wanted.