The Military Wife (A Heart of a Hero, #1)(96)

“That’s amazing. I’m so proud of you.”

A sob slipped out of her.

“What the hell is wrong? Is it Ben? Allison or Darren? The kids?” An urgency thrummed like he wanted to bust through the line and tackle the problems.

“No. Everyone here is good. Great, in fact. It’s … it’s me. And, well … I’ve been feeling sick this week. I threw up this morning.”

“Stress is a killer. You’ll feel better now the shop is open.”

“Nope. I don’t think I’ll feel better for like seven months. Maybe seven and a half.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m pregnant.”

A thud sounded on the other end followed by heavy breathing.

“Bennett? Are you still there?”

“Sorry, I dropped the phone. I’m here and shocked. How? When?”

“I’m pretty sure you know how. You’re pretty amazing at the how part. As far as when, I think it was that time in your truck. We took a chance, remember?”

A long spate of silence. “Are you happy about this?” His voice was soft.

She took inventory. Fear was there in spades, but also satisfaction and, yes, happiness. A second chance at love had snuck up on her. She’d assumed her one shot had died with Noah.

“Yeah, I am happy.” She inhaled sharply as the truth arrowed through her.

“Now will you marry me?”

Her head swam and she sank down on the edge of the couch and folded over her knees. “What about Ben? Where will we live? And, what about—”

“We’ll figure it out. Together.”

The surety of his words and voice sloughed away her panic. The alternative to not figuring it out wasn’t an option. Their history wound through the years, their connection fated.

“Unless you don’t want to get married?” Uncertainty crept across the line in his voice.

She wanted to teleport into his arms to offer reassurances, but she had to content herself with words. “You’re not getting off that easy, Mr. Caldwell. I’m going to marry you and make you the happiest man alive.”

“Too late for that. I’m already the happiest man alive.”





Epilogue


Harper’s eyes popped open. A dull pain rippled through her belly. She was a week overdue, so going into labor wasn’t a surprise. In fact, she’d been scheduled for an induction that afternoon. It seemed the baby wasn’t going to wait. The tightness and pain eased.

She and Bennett and Ben were living at her mom’s house in Nags Head, waiting for the contractors to finish the house they’d had built outside of Virginia Beach, close to Bennett’s business. Of course, it was supposed to be done a month ago with plenty of time to get moved in and settled before the baby came, but a rainy summer had delayed the work.

Harper wasn’t upset, though. Honestly, being home with her mom was comforting, and she had desperately wanted Adele to deliver her baby. She heaved herself off the bed and stumbled toward the window, her balance compromised and her back aching.

The rising sun streaked the sky with pinks and oranges. It was December. Another winter had come. The leaves had dropped and been swept away by the wind, leaving the grass barren and the beaches lonely.

Yet her familiar melancholy had stayed at bay. She and Bennett had walked down to the dock the night before, the air crisp and her mood high. The site of their first kiss. In spite of her stomach making things difficult, they had re-created the moment.

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. Bennett was a massive lump under the covers, only his arm visible where it lay in the spot she’d left as if seeking her.

The last months had brought enormous change. Ben had been ecstatic at the news of the baby and the fact that he was gaining Bennett as a stepfather. But his enthusiasm had waned when he’d discovered he would have to change schools and leave Yaya’s house.

Bennett’s loft above the shop was perfect for one but not a sudden family of four. And it made sense for them to move to Virginia Beach. She was already working remotely, running the internet sales side of the café and planning for their expansion, but Bennett needed to be on-site to run his business.

She braced a hand on the sill as the next pain took hold. Time to wake the soldiers. She sat on the edge of the bed and put her hand on Bennett’s shoulder. He startled awake, his eyes wide, his mind back in his dream. Was he with Noah?

“It’s time,” she said softly.

“Time?” At first confusion clouded his face, but it cleared as sleep was cast off. “It’s time. Holy shit, it’s time.” He jumped up, more agile than she was, and stood in the middle of the floor, his hands up as if frozen in indecision, which was very unlike him.

“Get dressed.” She gave his butt a pat. While she was sure the female staff at the hospital would appreciate Bennett Caldwell in nothing but boxer briefs, she didn’t want Adele distracted with a spate of heart attacks.

She did the same, pulling on stretchy yoga pants and a T-shirt that hugged her belly. Bennett returned, buttoning his jeans, a lost look on his face.

“Grab my ba-a-a-ahhh … dammit.” Another contraction took hold, this one stronger. She grabbed Bennett’s forearms.

The pain faded and she loosened her grip, but her fingernails left indentations on his skin. Color had drained from his face. “Is this normal?”