I arch a brow, grinning. “Oh, I doubt that very seriously. In fact…” I pause to grab her by the hips and slowly roll her on top of me. “I’m ready to make you come again right now, if you are.”
She nods, her eyes flashing. “I think we both know the answer to that.”
As I sit up to kiss her, my hands already roaming over her body, I murmur the words that I plan to tell her every single day for the rest of our lives.
“I love you, Hurricane. More than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
A week later, I find Heather pacing in the kitchen. She’s been nervous all day about telling April, checking the clock every few minutes and wringing her hands whenever she thinks I’m not looking.
“She’s going to be excited,” I say for probably the tenth time over the past two hours.
“You don’t know that.” Heather’s voice is tight with worry. “She might feel left out. Or scared. Or like we’ll somehow love her less.”
“That’s why we’ll be ready to reassure her and answer any questions she might have. But she’s going to be excited,” I repeat, more firmly this time. “Trust me.”
Heather takes a shaky breath and nods.
When April bounces into the kitchen a moment later, I give Heather one more meaningful look. We’ve got this. It’s going to be fine.
“Can we watch a movie tonight? Sophie’s mom let us watch this cool one about space, and I think there’s a second part. Maybe even a third one.”
“Actually, sweetheart, we need to talk to you about something first,” Heather says. Her voice is nice and steady, like she hasn’t been freaking out over this exact moment for days.
April’s eyes widen. “Am I in trouble?”
“No, nothing like that.” Heather sits down at the kitchen table and pats the chair next to her. “Come sit with us.”
April climbs into the chair, looking between Heather and me, then back again. I offer a reassuring smile, but leave the talking to Heather.
“So,” Heather starts, then pauses. She takes a deep breath, then starts again. “April, you know how much we love you, right?”
“Yeah.” April’s tone is cautious now, like she’s waiting for bad news.
“And you know how happy we’ve been, the three of us, living here together?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, our family is going to get a little bigger.” Heather’s voice softens. “I’m going to have a baby. You’re going to be a big sister.”
April’s mouth drops open. For a second, she just stares at her mom. Then her gaze swings to me. “Grant’s the dad?”
I nod, and I’m already grinning from ear to ear. “I’m the dad.”
April breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen. “Really? I’m going to have a baby brother or sister? For real?”
“For real,” Heather says, and I can hear the relief in her voice.
“Oh my gosh!” April launches herself at Heather, wrapping her arms around her mom’s neck. “This is the best news ever! When? When is the baby coming?”
“Not for a while yet. A few more months.”
“A few more months?” April pulls back, and the flash of disappointment on her face is already being overtaken again by excitement. “That’s so long! But that’s okay. I can wait. I’m going to be such a good big sister. I’m going to teach the baby everything, and I’ll help with diapers and bottles and anything else you need, Mom. I promise.”
She’s talking so fast she’s barely breathing, and Heather laughs, pulling her close again. “I know you will, sweetheart. You’re going to be amazing.”
April turns to me then, and before I can react, she throws her arms around my waist. “Thank you for being the dad, Grant. I’m so glad it’s you.”
My heart does a slow roll in my chest as I wrap my arms around her and hold on tight. And now there’s a lump in my throat that makes speaking impossible for a few moments.
