Slowly, Luke turned to look at Bella. She still wasn’t sure if he was going to storm off or burst into tears. Instead of either, he pulled her into a tight hug. Into her hair, he whispered, “Thank you. Thank you, Bella.”
When he let her go, he kept his hands on her waist.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? With pictures of Jenna on our wall?”
“Of course,” Bella said. “She’s important to you.”
“I just… I loved her,” Luke said, “but she’s been gone a long time now. I’m happy to remember her, but I want you to know thatyouare the one I want to build a life with. You know that, right?”
Bella looked up at him, her heart racing in her chest. They were very close together, and his arms were around her, and he was talking about building a life together. It was all very heady, and it was making her knees weak. “I know that.”
“I hope that’s whatyouwant, too,” Luke said quietly. Bella’s chest tightened. A life with him was what she wanted — it wasallshe wanted. She could imagine raising their baby together, waking up in Luke’s arms each morning, planning family vacations to Disneyland, and camping on the Oregon coast. She could imagine kissing him goodbye each morning as he headed out to work and she went to a catering gig.
It all felt so very real. And in that moment, Bella could see that Luke wanted it, too.
She nodded, her heart hammering in her chest.
Just then, the oven timer beeped. They both blinked, and Luke released her.
“I’d better go check on the lasagne,” Bella said quickly, turning away and hurrying into the kitchen. Her heart was still racing from the moment of closeness with Luke.
She was glad she could help and support him as he’d helped and supported her all these months. And more and more, she could almost believe that they could be a real family, the kind she’d never had. This could be a second chance for her — and a second chance for Luke, too.
"Dinner’s ready!” she called as she pulled the lasagne out and set it on the table with the salad and garlic bread.
“Excellent — I’m starving.”
As they sat down and dug in, neither of them brought up the topic of building a life together. Bella was glad of that. As much as she liked the idea, it all felt a little overwhelming, and she was pleased to take a step back.
Still, that night, as she brushed her teeth and slid beneath her covers with one hand resting on the curve of her stomach, she couldn’t help imagining the three of them as a real family. Thekind she’d never had. The kind she’d barely allowed herself to dream of. The kind she wasn’t completely sure existed.
CHAPTER 19
LUKE
Luke stared at the wall of pictures for a while after Bella went upstairs. His heart was very full, so full he was worried it would overflow. It felt good to remember Jenna. He’d spent a long time trying not to think of her, to keep himself from getting hurt all over again. Now, though, he remembered all the laughter they’d shared and all the plans they’d made.
Yet remembering Jenna didn’t make him sad. Not anymore. He’d shared a beautiful but short marriage with Jenna. Now, he had a second chance with Bella and their child, and he was going to enjoy every second of it that he could. He would always care for Jenna. But it was Bella who was in his life now, Bella who he cared deeply for, Bella who was carrying their child. It was Bella who he couldn’t imagine losing.
Bella.
She’d turned his life upside down. He could no longer imagine a sleepy Sunday without lounging on the couch beside her, watching a show, or teasing each other, or just reading together. He could no longer imagine coming home from work and notseeing her in the kitchen, or on the phone with her staff, or doing prenatal yoga in the living room. He could no longer imagine eating instant food for every meal, or going days without smiling, or sleeping in the on-call room every night so he wouldn’t have to face an empty house. He could no longer imagine anything happening, good or bad, without wanting to tell Bella about it. In just a few short months, she’d become such an important part of his life that he couldn’t imagine being without her.
That was a scary realization. For a moment, his thoughts drifted back to Jenna. He’d loved her and, in an instant, she’d been gone. Now, he… well,lovedwas a strong word, but he cared very deeply for Bella. Maybe he even loved her. And if he lost her or their baby, he was sure he’d never recover.
But that was silly. Bella was safe. After the few Braxton-Hicks contractions that had brought them together, she’d had a textbook pregnancy. Yet fear still gnawed at his heart in that deep, painful way that reminded him that nothing was guaranteed in life.
Suddenly, Luke wanted to see Bella. He wanted to see with his own eyes that she was safe and well and happy. He climbed the stairs and went to her room, where he knocked and waited for her to call him in, as he did every night.
“Come in!” she called after a moment. He nudged the door open and stood in the doorway, as he always did. Bella had decorated her room since moving in, using the same recipe posters he’d admired in her old apartment. She had a colorful bedspread, too, and the crib that they’d settled on (without a ruffle) was already set up and waiting on one side. The window was open, letting in warm early May air and the faint scent of flowers.
Luke noticed all this in a moment, and turned his attention to Bella. She was propped up on half a dozen pillows, leaning back, with a slightly dreamy look on her face. When he came in, she straightened and reached for a book resting on the bedside table, holding it on her lap, though she didn’t open it.
“Do you need anything?” Luke asked, as he always did.
Bella shook her head. “I’m okay. Thanks, though.”
“More pillows?” Luke suggested. “Tea?”
