My heart felt full watching it. Watching him taking in every word, every hug, every praise. He stood there not knowing what to do with all the love being poured on him, but he deserved every drop of it. All of it and so much more.
I waited patiently, letting the room give him his moment because tonight was about celebrating the man who saved me,saved us, and rebuilt everything with his bare hands. And I was so, so damn proud.
“You’re not drinking?” Seth asked, turning toward me with that raised eyebrow he always gave when he knew something was off.
“You know I’m breastfeeding,” I said quickly, throwing out the first excuse I could grab.
He squinted. “You don’t got enough milk stored to pump and dump for the next few days?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Seth you really been reading those breastfeeding books a little too hard.”
He shrugged. “I pay attention. Blame the damn books you keep leaving all over the bed.”
“It’s fine,” I said, trying to keep it casual. “Plus, I need to be good. I got the boys tonight.”
“That’s what they got grandmothers for.” He nodded toward my mom and his, both sipping apple juice like it was Hennessy. “They over there chillin’. You free. Come drink with me.”
He pulled me closer by the waist. My heart jumped panic mixed with excitement. He was getting too close to the truth, and I wasn’t ready to tell him yet. Right on time, my phone buzzed.
Party Planner: The surprise is here.
That was my cue. I stepped away gently. “If I can have everyone’s attention one more time! I promise after this we can party nonstop.”
The room quieted, and I turned to Seth, taking a deep breath. “Thank you for being the father and husband a girl could only dream of.”
“That’s not a dream. That’s prayer, baby! A mother’s prayer!” Jo hollered, and Serena high fived her.
Everyone cracked up, and even Seth smirked.
I continued, voice shaking just a little. “Today we celebrate a new chapter in our lives. We’ve been through so much these last few months but becoming your wife, helping you raise your son, and us creating a life together it’s brought me so much joy. I want you to know I appreciate everything you do for this family. And we’re gonna keep celebrating you and every milestone from here on out.” I turned toward the projector. “And I got a little surprise for you.”
I pressed play. First came our Disney engagement pictures and videos.
Then our wedding clips. Then Shiloh’s gender reveal, his christening, his six-month party, every moment of our growing family. And then, in big bold cursive words across the screen: Hey Daddy… we’ll be welcoming baby number three in a few more months.
The room exploded with people screaming, cheering, clapping. I turned back to Seth just as he looked from the screen at me then down at my still flat belly.
His eyes widened as his chest rose and every emotion he tried to swallow showed right there on his face. “You pregnant?” Seth asked, his voice low and calm too damn calm.
I couldn’t read him at all. “Yes,” I whispered, tears slipping down before I could catch them.
He repeated it, softer this time. “You’re pregnant…”
Then he scooped me straight off my feet, kissing my cheeks, my neck, my lips anywhere he could reach as the whole room broke into laughter and cheers.
“That’s why y’all on baby number two already!” Jo screamed from somewhere in the crowd, and everybody hollered.
People clapped, people shouted congratulations, and my man held me like he was scared I’d disappear.
I cupped his face. “Are you happy? I know we said a year or two… I just…. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
He kissed me again, slow and deep. “Baby, I couldn’t be happier. Growing our family with you? That’s all I want.”
Just then Rich appeared, Shiloh in his arms. “I had to let him know he not the baby no more,” Rich announced. “Told him it’s time to get off that titty.”
Everyone laughed as he dapped Seth up and pulled me into a hug.
Shiloh reached out for me instantly. My little shadow and S3 wrapped himself around my leg claiming his spot too.
