Forever You (35 page)

looked at me again.

“I got your blood work back and everything came back normal.”

I sighed with relief. “Thank god. Then why have I been so tired lately?” I asked.

Dr. Taub looked at me and smiled. “You’re pregnant, Ellery.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Peyton blurted out.

My mouth dropped open as I sat there in shock. “Are you sure, Dr. Taub?”

“Yes, I’m sure. According to these numbers, you’re about eight weeks along. You need to make an

appointment as soon as possible with your OB/GYN and start preparing for a healthy pregnancy.”

Peyton hugged me when we stepped outside the hospital. “I’m so happy for you and Connor. I know

this is what you both wanted so badly.”

“Connor’s going to be ecstatic; I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I tell him!”

I went back to the penthouse and laid down for a nap. I put my hands on my stomach and smiled. I

couldn’t believe there was a baby growing inside me. This was perfect timing. Connor’s birthday is

in a few days and telling him he’s going to be a father will be the best present for him. I finally fell

asleep when I felt warm lips traveling across my face. I opened my eyes as Connor was staring at me.

“Are you ok, baby? You’re starting to worry me with all these naps you’ve been taking lately.”

“I promise you that I’m perfectly fine, and there’s no need to worry about me,” I smiled. I pulled

him on top of me and we made love before dinner. It was the best way to distract him from my naps.

***

It was Connor’s birthday, and I couldn’t wait to give him his gift and tell him the news. It was so

hard to keep my pregnancy a secret from him. I woke him up the way any man would want to be

woken up. He opened his eyes and smiled as he looked down at me.

“Happy Birthday, my love,” I smiled as I took him in my mouth.

“You’re a very naughty girl, but thank you,” he moaned. I made sure that he was well taken care of,

and that his day started off just right. I told him to stay put as I got up, walked to the dresser, and

pulled a box from the drawer. I handed it to him and told him to open it. A grin graced his face as he

took the watch he wanted out of the box.

“I love it, Ellery; thank you,” he said as he kissed me.

“You better love it since it’s the one you picked out,” I said.

“Oh, is that so?” he laughed as he pinned me to the bed and started tickling me.

I laughed and squirmed as I tried to make him stop. He finally did stop but only after I told him I

was going to pee in the bed. I looked at him as he laid there smiling at me.

“I have another present for you.”

“Babe, the watch was enough,” he said as he stroked my hair.

“I racked my brain, trying to figure out what to get the man who has everything in the world. Then

suddenly, a gift, something you don’t already have, fell right into my lap,” I smiled.

“Oh, really? What is it?”

I brought the back of my hand to his face and stroked it up and down as I stared into his eyes. “I’m

pregnant, Connor. You’re going to be a daddy.”

He looked at me as tears formed in his eyes. “Are you 100% sure, Elle?”

“Yes, Connor, I had the blood work done, and Dr. Taub confirmed it; Happy Birthday, daddy.”

He jumped up and grabbed me. “I can’t believe this. The doctor said it would take a year to

conceive a child. How far along are you?”

“Dr. Taub said that I’m about eight weeks along. The way I calculated it, we got pregnant on our

wedding night.”

Connor hugged me tight. “That explains why you haven’t been feeling well and taking so many

naps. Thank you, baby; this is the best birthday that I’ve ever had,” he whispered as he kissed me. “I

can’t believe I’m going to be a father.” We made love for a couple of hours and then headed to the

beach house for Connor’s birthday party.

Chapter 31

CONNOR

It was the best birthday that I’ve ever had. We celebrated at the beach house with about 70 close

friends and family members. I made the announcement about Ellery’s pregnancy, and the whole room

beamed with excitement. I still couldn’t believe it myself, and every time I looked at her, she was

glowing. Ellery had arranged it so the party was mainly outside between the patio and the beach. It

was a beautiful summer evening. When the last of the guests left, Ellery turned and looked at me.

“I’m exhausted,” she said as she fell into my arms.

“Thank you for the wonderful party,” I said as I kissed her on top of her head.

“Have I told you lately that I love you?” she smiled as she looked up at me.

“You tell me every day over and over again,” I smiled back as I picked her up. I held her as she

wrapped her legs around me and grinned.

“I love you, and I will never let you go. We are forever, Mrs. Black, and nothing will ever change

that.” I kissed her as I carried her into the house and upstairs to bed.

***

Over the next couple of months, I watched Ellery’s belly grow. She was just as beautiful pregnant.

She was happy and had a glow about her that was felt every time she entered the room. I was lying in

bed, checking my emails when she came from the bathroom and climbed in next to me. She looked at

me and pouted. I cocked my head and raised my eyebrow.

“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“I’m craving some rocky road ice cream, and we don’t have anymore,” she pouted.

“Ellery, it’s 11:00 pm. Do you really need it that badly?” I asked.

“I’m pregnant with your child, and our child wants rocky road ice cream. What do you want me to

do, starve the baby to death?”

“So, what you’re saying is, if I don’t go and get you rocky road ice cream, our baby will starve?”

She nodded her head and pushed out her bottom lip. I nipped at it as she smiled. “I’ll be right

back,” I said as I got out of bed and put on some clothes. I ran to the corner store and grabbed a gallon

of rocky road ice cream. I arrived back at the penthouse, went to the kitchen to get a spoon, and

walked to the bedroom only to find Ellery sound asleep. I stared at her and shook my head. I took the

ice cream to the kitchen and put it in the freezer for tomorrow. I climbed into bed and snuggled

against her back. I put my arm around her and softly stroked her belly.

***

The alarm went off, and I reached over and patted the empty side of the bed. I opened my eyes and

looked around the room. I laid there for a minute and took in the aroma of something delicious baking.

It smelled like banana bread. I got up, put on my pajama bottoms, and walked down to the kitchen. I

stopped in the doorway as Ellery was bent over, pulling something from the oven.

“Is that banana bread I smell?” I asked with a smile.

“Yes, I made it just for you, babe. I got the recipe from Claire.”

I walked over and cupped her face in my hands. “Thank you, sweetheart, and good morning,” I

whispered as I kissed her.

“Don’t thank me yet until you taste it. I can’t promise that it’ll be any good.”

I put my forehead against hers. “It’ll be the best banana bread that I’ve ever tasted. Please don’t tell

Claire I said that.”

I put my hands on Ellery’s belly, knelt down, and kissed our baby. “Good morning to you too little

one,” I said. Ellery ran her fingers through my hair as I had my ear pressed against her belly.

Suddenly, I felt something kick against me. “Did you feel that, Connor?!” Ellery asked with

excitement.

“I sure did!” I smiled as I stood up. To be able to feel our baby moving inside Ellery was the most

amazing feeling. I took her in my arms and embraced her. “I love you, Ellery Black.”

“I love you more, and so does our baby,” she whispered as she buried her head into my neck.

I poured a cup of coffee as she sliced the bread and placed it on the table. “Are we going to the

doctor’s office together or are you meeting me there?” she asked.

“I’ll have Denny pick you up first and then stop by the office to get me; we’ll go together. Are you

sure you want to find out the sex of the baby?” I asked her.

“I thought we talked about this, Connor, and you said you wanted to find out, didn’t you?”

“I do, babe. I just want to make sure that you really want to find out,” I said as I took a bite of

banana bread. It was delicious, just like Claire’s. “This is excellent, Elle; I love it.”

“You’re not just saying that, are you?” she asked tilting her head to the side.

“No, I swear; I love it.”

I finished my bread and coffee and looked at my watch. “Shit, I’m going to be late for my meeting,”

I said just as Denny stepped into the kitchen. “Perfect timing, Denny; we have to roll or I’m going to

be late.”

I walked over to Ellery and kissed her goodbye, making sure to bend down and kiss her growing

belly. “I’ll see both of you in a few hours.”

“Bye, babe, I’ll see you later,” she smiled.

***

We sat in the room and waited for Dr. Keller to come in. Ellery sat on the table, and I sat in the

chair beside her. I held her hand and looked around at the pictures on the wall of the development

stages of a baby, growing inside a mother’s womb. It was a miracle to me. It was something that I’ve

never thought of before, not even when Cassidy was pregnant with Camden. Dr. Keller walked into

the room and told Ellery to lay herself down on the table. She pulled up her shirt to expose her baby

belly as he squeezed some gel from a bottle onto her stomach. He turned the monitor on and started

moving the wand around her stomach. I gasped when I saw our baby for the first time. Ellery looked

at me, and a single tear fell from her eye. I squeezed her hand gently as I wiped her tear with my other

hand. The doctor pointed out the baby’s heartbeat, fingers, and toes as he took measurements.

“Would you like to know the sex of your baby?” Dr. Keller asked.

“Yes, we would, doctor,” Ellery smiled.

“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Black; you’re having a girl.”

Ellery looked at me and smiled. “We’re having a girl, Connor!” she said excitedly.

“I couldn’t be happier,” I said as I kissed her.

Dr. Keller handed Ellery a towel to wipe off the gel, congratulated us, and left the room. I helped

her up off the table and hugged her.

“I can’t believe that I’m going to have a daughter,” I whispered.

We left the doctor’s office and walked down the street to a local deli for a late lunch. We sat the

table and looked at the menus.

“I can’t decide what I want,” Ellery said.

“You love their chicken sandwiches.”

“I know, but I want something to go with it. I’m starving.”

The waitress came by to take our orders. Ellery told me to order first as she was still deciding. I

ordered the turkey sandwich on wheat bread. The waitress looked over at Ellery.

“I’ll have the chicken sandwich, a bowl of French onion soup, and the chef’s salad with Italian

dressing. Oh, and throw in an order of French fries,” she smiled.

I looked at her in horror. “Are you seriously going to eat all that?” I asked when the waitress

walked away.

“Yes, I sure am. Why? Do you have a problem with what I ordered?” she asked with an attitude.

“No, I don’t have a problem with anything. It’s just…”

“Just what, Connor?!” she snapped.

“I just don’t want you to get sick from eating too much,” I whispered across the table.

She was sensitive these days, and I really needed to watch what I say. Cassidy already warned me

about the hormones that come with the pregnancy. She wouldn’t look at me. I pissed her off with a

simple question. I reached over the table and grabbed her hand.

“Baby, look at me,” I said. She was looking off to the side and refused to turn her head. “Ellery,

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by my question.”

“Bullshit, Connor! You were implying that I’m fat because of what I ordered,” she snapped as she

stared at me.

“No, I wasn’t. I just don’t want you to overeat and get sick,” I said trying to diffuse the situation.

The waitress brought our food and set the feast in front of Ellery. I couldn’t look at her because I

would’ve started laughing. I thanked the waitress and reached over to take a French fry from Ellery’s

plate; she smacked my hand. She ate everything in front of her and then took a three hour nap when we

got home.

***

I walked up the steps and stopped in the doorway of the bedroom that we were converting into a

nursery. The room was empty as all the furniture had already been moved out. Ellery stood in the

middle of the room, staring at the walls. “What are you doing, babe?” I asked.

“I’m deciding what mural to paint on the wall.”

I walked into the room and wrapped my arms around her waist. “Anything you paint will be

beautiful.”

“I’ve given a lot of thought to this, and I want our daughter to have angels watching over her, like

they’ve watched over me. I’m going to paint a mural on the ceiling of clouds and angels. That way

she’ll be protected while she sleeps.”

“That sounds beautiful, Ellery. Are you sure you’re going to be able to paint the ceiling? Do you

want me to hire someone to help you?”