Max rushed over to her. “Are you all right?”
Zoe nodded. He embraced her, enjoying how her arms felt around his neck. She kissed him hard on the lips. It might have only been this morning since he’d farewelled her on the shopping trip, but it felt like a lot longer. Her taste tingled on his lips. It felt great to have her in his arms again.
“The baby?” he asked softly.
“Is fine.”
“I’m so glad you’re both fine.” He kissed her again. “Don’t think I’m letting you out of my sight again.”
“You’ll get sick of me.”
“I won’t.”
She rested her head on his chest. “I did something.”
Max didn’t like the tone of her voice. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“I…” She sighed. “I had to have a scan… of the baby… and, well… everything is fine, but… I couldn’t resist finding out… the gender.”
“Well, don’t tell me.”
“Mom was with me.”
“So, then both of you will have to be good at keeping a secret.”
“On that point…”
“Don’t tell me, she told my mom.”
“And your sister.”
He sighed with disappointment. “Do you think you can all manage not to tell me?”
“I have to be honest with you…” Zoe put on a slightly serious face. “… there’s no hope. They’ve already made suggestions on how to decorate the baby’s room and you’ll find out I have no doubt.”
“I must say—”
Zoe put her finger on his lips and silenced him. “You weren’t here.”
Her words cut deeply.I wasn’t. I was trying to give you a surprise.He still was trying.
It was taking all of his self-control not to tell her right now. He wanted it to be a surprise when she got back to the farm. And the cattle were still to be sold, and he wanted to give her a solid figure of how much she had to spend.
Maybe this is the price I pay for the surprise.
He was disappointed not to have been with her. But then the cattle could’ve been sold a day later, or a week later, or next month even. The satellite dish could’ve waited, in all honesty.
I have to readjust my expectations.This was something he didn’t do well. But he had to. For the sake of the baby, and for Zoe.
“Tell me.”
“We are having a baby girl.”
He grinned. The words that squeezed his heart was ‘we are.’ He felt even more connected with Zoe than ever before.
Max kissed her. “I’m so gladwe are.”
“Look.” Zoe handed him the photo she’d been looking at. “Our first baby picture.”
