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Snapping out rasped her hands I startled her and those damp lashes lifted "I am not sorry," I told her "I could never feel sorry that you’re having my child"

Her eyes widened and she whispered, "What?"

I brought her hands to my chest as I hauled her up to her feet "I wasfuck, I was shocked I was not expecting you to say that At all But I aainst our joined hands "You’re not? You’re okay with mewith this?"

"How could I not be okay?" I shook my head as my heart pounded a h that I just fell over on my ass, but I love you--I will always love you That means I will love our child"

I couldn’t believe I just said those tords Our child But theelse could feel so right I knew, in that moment, it was true

A tremble rocked her body "But howhow can we do this? We’re not ready--"

"We’ll get ready," I told her, ht We were the furthest thing froet there "I don’t have a doubt in my mind that you’d make--" My voice thickened and became hoarse with emotion "--you willher face into my shoulder "I can’t believe you just said that"

"Why?" Was she crying? Letting go of her hands, I curled one aruided her head back up with the other "Psychi"I justI was so afraid you would be unhappy and I’ood ht, and I’--like too young I mean, we can live for, like, eternity and I don’t even knohat this baby is going to be and there’s sohoarsely, I smoothed away her tears "I could never be unhappy and you have no reason to be scared, Josie We’rewe’re in this together I know there’s a lot of crazy, but you’re not in this alone"

Josie blinked rapidly as she stared up at me "You’re reallyyou’re really okay with this?"

"We’rewe’re having a baby, Josie How could I not be okay with that?"

She let out a throaty sound and threw her ar the three words over and over

It hit ht out froe and we needed to seriously talk about what that ht now, all I could focus on was thisfuck, this beautifulto be a father," I said, sort of du into a smile--a smile I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to "I neverIt’s not soht ht it would be in my future Probably because it wasn’t until recently that I even had a future, but I never" I laughed in shock, only because it was rare when I was actually speechless "I’ to be a dad"

Josie s father No child would ever be more loved, more safe"

Her beautiful face blurred as stark e those words would have such a intense impact? But they did And ain and ht

Lifting her up, in one powerful lunge, I had Josie on her back, and all that glorious hair was spread out along the bedspread I hovered over her, my fist punched into the bed beside her head andraainst my ribs as I stared down at her

"I love you," I said,as I slid it over, resting just below her navel "And I love thisthis child already" Shocked at the truthfulness in that stateaze lifted to her in a dazed wonder "Neither of you will ever want for anything I promise you that"

And that was a promise I would kill to keep