“Our baby,” Zoe repeated. She glanced down at her still-flat stomach. “Really? Are you really okay with being a father?”
“I’m more than okay with it,” Nathan told her. “I can’twait. I know parenthood will be a huge challenge, but as long as we face it together, I know we can do it.”
She looked up at him. “I know I made a lot of mistakes. I lied about my experience. And then I accidentally revealed the pregnancy to everyone. Are you sure you can forgive me?”
“Zoe, there’s nothing to forgive.” Nathan took a single step closer. “I messed up just as much as you did. I should have checked that mic pack. I should have given you a chance to explain. I feel terrible about how I treated you — I never wanted to hurt you, but I did. Can you forgiveme?”
“Oh, Nathan.” Tears sprung to Zoe’s eyes. Then she closed the distance between them and fell into his arms. He held her tightly, rubbing her back and savoring her soft floral scent. It felt so right to hold her again. Nathan couldn’t believe how close he’d come to never having Zoe in his arms again.
After a moment, she pulled back and looked up at him, her soft brown eyes shining.
“You’re all I want, too,” she said. “I want to be with you. I want to raise our baby together.”
“What about your career?” Nathan asked.
“I can repair my career.” Zoe smiled. “It might look a little different, but I’m sure I can figure something out. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as much anymore, not when I have you and our little one.”
Nathan kissed her cheek. “You’ll always have me.”
“What if we have another misunderstanding?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I promise,whenwe have another misunderstanding, we’ll talk it out. I won’t run off again.”
“Good, then.” She smiled up at him, then lifted onto her toes and brought her lips to his. The kiss was soft and gentle, but full of feeling, and Nathan pulled her closer and kissed her back. The world seemed to stand still as they held each other, and, inthat moment, all was right with the world. Nathan was with the woman he loved, she was with him, and they were going to have a baby together. Nothing could be more perfect.
EPILOGUE
ZOE - EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER
Zoe pressed send and sat back in her desk chair, smiling. She’d just agreed on a contract with a young influencer from LA, who she’d work with remotely on expanding her following. She went to click on the next email, but paused, her hand poised above the keyboard.
From the next room, she heard the soft sound of giggles, then a deep chuckle. Her heart softened, and she shut her laptop and followed the laughter.
Nathan was sitting on the living-room floor with their ten-month-old son, Alex, lying in front of them. Nathan would tickle the little boy’s belly, and the baby would shriek with laughter and wiggle. Zoe paused in the doorway to watch the heartwarming scene. Baby Alex, named after Nathan’s father, had Nathan’s bright blue eyes and Zoe’s curly blond hair. His cheeks were still round with baby fat, and his tiny fingers splayed and closed as he laughed.
“Hey there, beautiful.” Nathan had spotted her.
“Hey,” Zoe smiled.
“I thought you had a little more work to do,” he said. “I hope we weren’t too loud.”
“No, not at all. And Iwasplanning to do a little more work, but how can I when you guys are so adorable? That’s the beauty of working for myself. I can just stop for the day." After struggling a little career-wise after the cancelation of the show, Zoe had taken a little time off to be home with her newborn son. Now that Alex was a little older, she was starting to get back into work with a few hand-picked clients she worked with remotely. The slower pace was exactly what she’d needed.
"Are we adorable?” Nathan asked Alex. The baby cooed, and Nathan scooped him into his arms and stood, turning back to Zoe. “Should we start our walk, then?”
The family had a Friday evening tradition — they went up to the viewpoint that Nathan had visited with his father and with Zoe, and walked around. They’d been doing so ever since Zoe moved to Islingburn almost eighteen months ago.
“I’m ready.” Zoe grinned and held out her arms for Alex, who beamed as he reached for her. She settled his warm weight on her hip and grinned at Nathan. “It’ll definitely be easier than hiking nine months pregnant.”
“We didn’t go when you were nine months pregnant,” Nathan protested. “Eight months, maybe.”
“I’m not so sure. I definitely remember waddling up that hill, as round as a beach ball.”
Nathan chuckled and came to kiss her on the cheek. “You always looked beautiful, and not at all like a beach ball.”
Zoe took Alex upstairs to get him changed. It was February and cold in Islingburn. The path to the viewpoint was well maintained, so it was safe to walk up there, but it could be chilly. She bundled her baby into his snowsuit, making faces at him all the while to keep him entertained, before handing him over to Nathan so that she could get her own winter gear on.
They all piled into the car and headed to the viewpoint, singing along to the radio. Since Zoe had finished work early, as had Nathan, it was still light outside. Nathan parked in the usual spot, and they walked along the familiar path. Nathan had baby Alex in the carrier, and Zoe walked beside him, holding his hand. She never tired of seeing Islingburn spread beneath them. Zoe was deeply proud of her adopted hometown. She’d never imagined being happy in a small town, but she loved Islingburn. She loved that she knew almost everyone who lived here, and they knew her. She loved that Alex would grow up riding bikes and going for hikes. She loved living in Nathan’s house, which they’d decorated together so that it really felt like home. And she loved that she truly felt like she belonged.
