Laya wiggles in my hold and I stand and make my way to the kitchen to join my wife.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” Chloe asked and I can sense her concern, as she twists her hands in front of her and looks between me and our daughter.

  “Yeah,” I lift Laya’s hand to wave at Mommy. “We’re good aren’t we baby girl?” I ask my daughter and she blows bubbles with her spit.

  “I could tell them that something came up and just stay home with you two.” Chloe reaches out and places her hand on Allayah’s leg. “I think I should stay.”

  She’s worried about me, I’ve never broken down the way that I did last night, but she was right I needed it.

  “This is a yearly event with all you ladies,” with my thumb under her chin I tip her head upward so she is looking at me. “I’m good, I promise. It’s Laya and Daddy date night, we’ve got plans.”

  “Plans?” Chloe smiles as I press a kiss to her lips. “Now I’m jealous.”

  “I have plans for us later too sweetheart,” I offer a wink. “You go bake with the rest of the ladies, have a few drinks and call me if you need me to come get you.”

  “I have Grace as my designated driver,” I keep forgetting Grace can’t drink. It’s still crazy that Terrance and her are gonna have a little one of their own.

  “Miss me,” Chloe backs away, letting her hand drop freely between us.

  “I miss you already.”

  Allayah and I watch as Chloe walks outside and gets into her car. She backs out of the driveway and waves before pulling away.

  terrance and grace

 

  ten

  Grace

  I’m not going to be able to do this. Walking up my grans drive I know it before I’m even inside, I’m going to cave. There is no hope for me, the smells, I told Terrance this was a bad idea.

  “Hey sweetheart,” I jerk at the sound of my momma’s voice and then notice her standing at the back of her jeep. “Help me with these.” It’s then I notice all the bags in the back of her car.

  Each year we all join together at Grandma’s house where we make enough cookies to feed the entire town. They are then packaged up and given out by the church to all the residents. Gran is and has been for as long as I can remember very active in the community.

  She is also the one that has secretly been helping me make sure that Terrance’s father is getting enough food.

  I know if he knew I was even involved he’d be upset, but I also know, even though he shouldn’t my husband still worries.

  His father was not good to him. But from what Gran said after my father laid into Terrance’s dad, the man is trying to clean himself up. He’s gone to the meetings the church offers weekly for addicts. He’s also been volunteering his time through the church helping the elderly around town do updates on their homes they can’t physically do themselves.

  I also drove by Terrance’s old home a few weeks ago and was surprised to find it had been cleaned up and even had Christmas lights twinkling through the front window.

  I don’t know if Terrance and his father will ever speak again but because I love my husband and he also still loves his father, I’m happy to know the man is working on getting clean.

  “You look peaked,” my mother’s words surprise me. “Are you feeling alright?”

  “I’m good,” I say much too fast. “Alright here, feeling fine, you?”

  She stops, holding the bags before her and stares at me with her brows bunched up and a frown on her face.

  “You’re hiding something,” she finally says and my stomach flips.

  “Nope,” shaking my head too fast. “I’m not, no, not hiding a thing.”

  “You’ve always been an open book,” she laughs. “Okay you want to pretend there’s nothing going on, fine. I’ll play, but you should know that once everyone gets wind of it, there will be no hope. You’ll burst like a balloon.”

  Don’t I know it, I just went through it a few days ago. Now it's time for round two. Terrance has confidence in me, but the man is insane, and he should really know better.

  My mother walks off laughing and I know the moment I walk inside all hope will be lost.

  I take in a deep breath and give myself a silent pep talk.

  “You’re not gonna make it sixty-seconds in there.” Chloe walks up behind me and I was so lost in my own thoughts I hadn’t even heard her pull up. She stands at my side, smiling as she bumps me.

  “Do you want me to give you something to preoccupy your thoughts for tonight?”

  “Umm yes,” I say as if that is even a question.

  “Maddison is pregnant too,” she shrugs and all I can think is why she knows this and I don’t. As if she can read my thoughts she answers me. “She was afraid to take away your joy by announcing it, so she and Mike have decided to wait until after the holidays and the wedding to share the news with everyone. I just figured it out when I stopped over and she was digging out all of Sarah’s baby stuff. She tried saying it was because she was cleaning but you know how we all are in this family. I swear we can smell a secret from a mile away.”

  “She is not hiding this,” I declare, once again able to find my sturdiness. “There is no such thing as too much good news.”

  “That’s what I told her too, but you know Mad.”

  “I do,” hooking my arm through hers, I start dragging her toward the house with me. It’s time to face the family, “I can do this,“ I chant and Chloe laughs.

  “Girl, you don’t have a chance.”

  “Here is Mikey’s peanut butter cookies,” Alexis, Maddison’s mom, hands her a container. I notice her nose wrinkle up as she starts to breathe through her mouth. Her throat bobs and she swallows hard and I want to laugh. I know how she feels, I’ve been doing my very best to hold back all night. So many smells, butterscotch and chocolate, even mint and I’ve barely held it together.

  I must say though, I’ve managed to avoid breaking like Chloe thought I would. Granted I’ve focused on Maddison so it's been easier to ignore my own secrets.

  Mad walks over to her bag and tucks the container inside, before slipping into the next room.

  I glance over at Chloe and silently indicate I’m goin’ after Maddison as I nod in that direction. She smiles, gives me a nod in return and I slip out of the room just in time to see Mad disappear down the hallway.

  Following her, I wait outside of the bathroom, and if she’s anything like me she’s taking the time to calm her stomach. Mine is always twisting, mouth-watering, it's a vicious cycle.

  I hear the flush, then the sink as I assume she’s washing her hands.

  A few minutes later the door comes open and she stands frozen in the doorway staring back at me.

  “Why would you think you couldn’t tell me?” At first she seems surprised. I watch as her eyes widen and then she takes a deep breath.

  “It’s not that I couldn’t tell you, it’s that I didn’t want to steal you—,”

  “My joy,” I finish for her and she nods. “We’re both having a baby, you announcing that, isn’t you stealing my joy Mad, it's only adding to it.”

  Madi worries her lip.

  Reaching out I take her hands in mine. “Our babies will be in the same grade, who knows they may even be best friends.”

  “I’m sure they will be.”

  “I’m over the moon that my baby will grow up with so many cousins. I know I always complained about having so many big bullies always taking away my fun, but I know now that wasn’t the case. You were all only protecting me, watching over me to keep me safe. I love that my little one will have those same things. They may hate it, but one day they will realize it's all because they are loved.”

  “Even if they are a virgin until they are forty?” Maddison asks and I have to laugh. I remember saying that very thing after my fun was interrupted and I was still fuming at Chloe for ruining girls night by calling Landon.

  “Even if they are a forty year old virgins.” I laugh, and we share a hug. “Congratulations,” I whisper and she squeezes me a little tighter.

  “You too Gracie.”

  eleven

  Terrance

  I feel the bed dip behind me and turn just in time to see Grace sliding in beneath the sheets. I turn over, fully facing her and she curls her body toward mine.

  I can see she is tired, as her eyes immediately begin to droop.

  “How was it?” I ask, reaching out to push the hair away from her face.

  “Good,” she says through a yawn and I can’t help but smile. I remain quiet watching her as she slowly gives into the exhaustion.

  I still can’t believe this is my life. I have a gorgeous wife who loves me. We have a house we’ve together made into the perfect home. I reach out and place my palm over her stomach. Now we have a baby on the way. Looking back I never imagined this, I never let myself.

  After losing my grandparents I gave up on happiness. I simply drifted through life until I met Rhett. The guy has the perfect parents, and the extended family is incredible. I was immediately envious of his life. Then I saw Grace and she was nothing more than his kid sister. But damn if that kid sister didn’t grow into a gorgeous woman and though I tried like hell to stay away, it was impossible.

  My stubbornness almost cost me the love of my life and I thank God every day that she came back to me.

  “I love you, Grace.” I whisper through the darkness, not expecting anything in return. But when she whispers back she loves me too, I feel my chest grow tight.

  I vowed the day I married her to love and cherish her and I meant every word. I also vow to give this baby and any that follow a better life than my father gave me. I will never turn my back on them, I will never hurt them, physically or any other way. I will protect them and anyone who ever tries to harm them better run until they reach the ends of the earth and then they better fucking jump.

  Sliding in closer I curl my arms around her and fall asleep to the sounds of my beautiful girl sleeping soundly.

  It's the best sound in the world.

  I step down off the last stair and pause listening to the sounds of Christmas music playing in the kitchen. The smell of something baking hits my nose and I breathe it in. That’s my girl, always baking even if it isn’t the holidays. Grace can make one hell of a mean cherry pie, and she often spoils me with them.

  Stepping through the doorway I watch as she busies herself with her back to me. An apron tied around her waist and her hips shifting to the sounds of the music. Immediately I feel my body reacting but I blame her for being so irresistible.

  She turns to find me watching her and smiles.

  “Good morning,” she smiles even bigger. “I made blueberry muffins and there are pancakes in the warmer too.”

  For years I went without anyone taking care of me. I had to fend for myself and when someone did offer help I’d refuse it. Now I crave it, but only from Grace. I love that she cares for me and that she spoils me. I love to think I give her all the things she needs in return too.

  It’s nice to have someone want to do all the things she does. I’ll never take it for granted.

  I walk around the island and pause before leaning in to kiss her lips. “How are you feeling today?”

  She’s been battling morning sickness almost daily.

  “Surprisingly I feel good today.” She smiles at me, leaning in to rest her hands on my chest. “I even ate a muffin without it turning my stomach.”

  Moving in closer I place my hands on her hips and press my body to hers. “You fell asleep so fast last night I didn’t get to say good night properly.”

  “Well then I guess you’ll have to do it exceptionally well tonight,” she shrugs. “You know to make up for last night.”

  “Or I could just do it now,” I kiss along her jaw and her head tilts back, opening up her neck more.

  “Have I told you lately how incredibly sexy you are?”

  She doesn’t answer, only whimpers when I lick over her throat.

  “Is there anything in the oven right now?”

  “No,” she sighs.

  “Good,” with that I hold onto her a little tighter and lift. Sitting her on the countertop and slipping in between her thighs and pushing up the oversized shirt she’s wearing and finding a pair of pink panties beneath. Pressing my thumb to her clit I apply a small amount of pressure and she moans.

  “We’re gonna dirty this counter up a little bit,” I tell her, smiling against her lips. “Are you okay with that?”

  “Yes, please,” and before she can say more I push over the thin layer of lace and push a finger inside of her.

  “Oh, mmm yes,” she opens her legs wider and thrust against my hand.

  “I think I’d rather have you for breakfast.” I lower my mouth to the very spot my hand is and she cries out from the feel of my tongue. She falls back, gripping my hair and shifting her hips.

  Grace is not shy; she doesn’t hold back. If she wants something she asks for it, if she needs it, she takes it. I fucking love how greedy she is.

  “T,” she screams as her body jerks when an orgasm rocks through her. Her grip tightens in my hair and she pulls, but I don’t let up. “Oh my God!” She screams her body twitching and writhing against the cool marble.

  Suddenly she pulls and I release my hold on her looking up to find her with a hungry look in her eyes.

  “Come here,” she practically growls.

  I stand tall once more and she reaches into the waistband of my sweats and fists my erection. Sliding her small hand over me, my eyes feel like they roll back from the sensation.

  “I need you,” she says, pushing my pants lower as she slides to the edge of the counter. “Now.”

  And because Grace gets what Grace wants, I move in quickly and push inside of her. My toes immediately curl against the tile floor and I have to take a moment to calm myself. She is so tight and perfect that I almost lose it right then and there.

  I wonder if it will always be like this with us. Unable to control ourselves, so hungry and grappling for the next touch.

  She shifts against me and I grab hold of her hips and start to move. With each thrust I sense she is once again building, chasing her pleasure.

  Suddenly Grace wraps her legs around my waist and she digs her fingernails into my shoulders. Her back arches and the second I feel her tighten around me I slam forward and together we fall apart.

  twelve

  Grace

  “Do you need help at the church?” I ask Gran as I load another container filled with goodies into her car. “Maybe packaging up the gift baskets?”

  “We can always use help sweetheart. Your mom and Maria will be there with me, and Leann and Alexis plan to come too.”

  I bite my lip, wanting to ask about Terrance’s dad but worry he’ll overhear me. He’s over by the barn talking to Grandpa and Uncle Gavin.

  “He usually comes in around noon,” Gran answers my unspoken question. “We used to deliver it to his house each week but he’s been coming in to pick it up. He sticks around for lunch, talks to a few of the regulars and then he’s on his way.”

  I nod. I don’t know why I feel like I owe that man anything. Truth is, he hurt Terrance more than once and for years and years. I should hate him, and yes, part of me does. But I can’t help but wonder what or who he is without all the alcohol coursing through his veins.

  I know they say alcoholism is an illness, and I’ve never dealt with someone battling it. I wonder if it's true and would Terrance's father be a kind man without it. It’s hard for me to believe that Terrance could come from anyone who wasn’t good in some way.

  “You ladies need help?” My husband interrupts us before I can say more and I look at Gran hoping she knows that the conversations stop now.

  “I think Grace is going to join me at the church today.” I want to argue but an even bigger part of me is glad she took the choice out of my hands. I’ve been dragging my feet for months, wanting to see the man he is today but worried about taking that step.

  “Yeah,” Terrance offers me a smile but I know he’s wondering if I’ll be able to handle all the smells.

  “You’re planning to go with the rest of the guys this afternoon, right?”

  “Colton’s got a truck full of deliveries and we volunteered to be his delivery crew.” Terrance shrugs. “People are ordering stuff for Christmas gifts and he wants to get them all delivered this weekend. Not much time left to get them out before the big day.”

  “Call me when you’re done and I may have you swing by and pick me up at the church,” I say to ease his mind. “Unless I leave with one of the girls, then I’ll let you know so you don’t waste the trip.”

  “If you need me sooner, you just call.” He leans in to kiss my cheek.

  “Don’t worry Terrance, I’ll take care of her,” Gran tells him and he offers her a smile. I know he’d feel a lot better if people knew about the pregnancy. We only have a little more than a week before everyone knows. I have already told too many and I just want my parents to know first before the rest of the family. I have the shirts to give them and I’ve almost caved a few times wanting to give them to Mom and Dad so that I can stop feeling like I’m about to burst and scream in the middle of one of the many gatherings we’ve had.

  I hate secrets, I am so bad at them.

  “Love you,” he says, offering me a wink before he turns and starts walking toward his truck. He pauses next to it looking back at me once more, and Gran laughs.

  “That man can’t let you out of his sight.”

  “He’s a good guy,” I say watching as he pulls away offering me one last wave out the window.

  “Maybe he’ll feel better once the secrets are out,” I turn and look at her. “He wants to keep you and the baby as safe as he can.”