Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
The next day, while Ren is visiting Luci at the hospital, I start to move everything into the baby’s room. Matt, Deb, and Luci’s Mom are helping, while Luci’s Dad and I run to his store to grab pink paint. I even found this Alice In Wonderland wallpaper online that I’m going to surprise Luci with and put on two of the walls. I can’t wait for Luci to see the room. She’s going to be so shocked!
That night, I head back to the hospital, and I feel like I’ve been gone for too long. Luci hasn’t woken up since I got back, but that’s okay, I’m spending my time watching Alice in her bassinette. I can’t stop staring and smiling at her. She already consumes me.
The nurse comes in to check on Luci, waking her up.
“Hey when did you get back?” She asks groggily.
“About an hour ago.”
The nurse fumbles with her chart before leaving, and once she does, I sit next to her on the hospital bed.
“Marry me?” I whisper.
She bites her lip and smiles, like she always does when I ask.
“You ask me that every day.”
“Every day I want to marry you.”
She laughs quietly.
“You already admitted if that night didn’t take a turn for the worse you would’ve said yes,” I tease.
“You know I want to!” She sighs. “I just want to wait until the baby is older, so it doesn’t look like a shotgun wedding.”
“Isn’t a shotgun wedding something that happens before the baby is born? Because it has to be quick? You already made me wait. We’re no longer shotgun.”
“You know what I mean,” she sighs. “I want people to know we’re getting married because we love each other deeply. Not because you got me pregnant.”
“Maybe I got you pregnant because I love you deeply.”
“Yeah, okay,” she rolls her eyes. “We both know that neither of us meant for this to happen.”
“But I’m glad it did,” I kiss her. “She’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“She is, isn’t she?” Luci smiles.
“She takes after her mother,” I beam. “Besides, if anyone has any doubt that I’d be marrying you for any other reason than because I love you deeply, than they obviously haven’t seen the way I look at you. Because when I look at you I see us, and there’s no question about how madly in love with you I am.”
She sighs.
“Also, we better make it sooner rather than later, because like I said, as soon as the doctor gives the okay, I’m putting another one in you.”
“Josh!” She shoves me.
“I warned you,” I kiss her. “I want to make a million more Alice’s. Do you not see how perfect she is?”
“I do,” her eyes widen, amused. “But a million?” She teases. “I think we should reevaluate.”
“Whatever you want,” I tell her.
“Maybe one more in two or three years.”
“I urge you to revisit and revise that statement,” I beg, wanting desperately to touch her, but too afraid of hurting her. “There’s going to be more than one more, merely based on the way you take my come.”
“Josh!” She makes a face and looks over at the baby.
“Oops. She’s so quiet I forgot she was here!” I apologize. “And it’s not like she knows that word.”
Luci shakes her head, and I start to get up, but she pulls me back down.
“Don’t sleep in the chair tonight,” she pleads.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to sleep here,” I hesitate. As much as I want to, I want her to be comfortable, and the hospital bed is small.
“I doubt anyone will even come in again tonight. Please?”
I sigh. “Breaking the rules yet again,” I mumble, sliding my shoes off and getting under the covers. “Always so much trouble.”
“Oh stop,” she rolls her eyes.
“You’re just lucky you’re hot, adorable, sexy, beautiful…” I kiss her in between my words, and soon, we fall asleep in each other’s arms.
~*~*~*~*~
Just as I finish reading the love note Luci placed in my lunch, there’s a light knock on my office door. I hate being here while Luci is home with the baby, and my two weeks off since Alice was born weren’t nearly enough. I haven’t even had the chance to finish her room, and I’m just lucky Luci doesn’t go in there, otherwise my surprise would be ruined.
The handle turns before I have the chance to tell whomever it is to come in, and in walks Luci, shutting and locking the door behind her.
“Is everything okay?” I immediately stand.
“Yes and no.”
Panic washes over me. Is it something with the baby?
“No! It’s nothing serious,” she jumps upon seeing my expression, and I plop down in my desk chair, calming down.
“Where’s Alice?”
“With my Mom. She came over to help with laundry and dishes, and I decided to run some errands.”
“And your errands brought you to school?” I inquire suspiciously. “When you’re supposed to be resting.”