Walker looked down at him slowly. Fernando wore a scowl, and his dark eyes almost seemed to dare Walker to say something negative.
“I took three tests,” Fernando continued. “All of them said the same thing. I have a doctor’s appointment next week to confirm, but I’m pregnant.”
The word hung there.Pregnant.
Walker stared at his omega, then his mouth opened and closed. Confusion and panic filled him, but one thing kept him steady. Fernando was there too. “Are you okay?” he asked finally, voice quiet.
Fernando nodded quickly, then shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m scared, and I didn’t want to tell you over text or anything. I just… I wanted you here.”
Walker let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. The silence stretched just long enough to be worrisome. Then he reached for Fernando and pulled him into a hug, one hand cradling the back of his head.
Fernando let out a shaky breath and pressed his face into Walker’s shoulder.
“We’re having a baby?” Walker whispered, the words sounding unreal.
Fernando nodded against him. “Yeah.”
Walker leaned back just enough to look at him, his expression softening, something like awe creeping in. “Wow.” A small, almost disbelieving laugh escaped him. “That’s big.”
“Too big?” Fernando asked, searching his face.
He shook his head immediately. “No. Just big.” He cupped Fernando’s face in his hands. “We’ll figure it out. Okay? Whatever this looks like, we’ll figure it out together.”
He quickly texted Pug to pick up food and a cake. They needed to celebrate.
Chapter 18
Walker grinned as he drove Fernando’s tiny car into Hobson Hills. His omega looked at peace again, and Beans was happy with his head out the back window. As was Pug. The October air had a bite to it, sharp and clean.
“Tomorrow, I want to go to the bookstore with Valentina and Beans, then get a cinnamon roll at Zoe’s place.”
“Deal,” Walker agreed easily. “Maybe with Janelle, too. I think she’s one of my people.”
Fernando smirked. “She is. You, her, and Pug will get into so much trouble.”
“She’s been thinking of another prank for Mal.”
Fernando shook his head. “When will you all learn?”
“Never.”
They only had a couple of days in Hobson Hills since they drove this time, but it had been worth it to bring Beans and Pug.
“Are you sure Grammy wanted us both out to the cranberry bog today?”
Walker nodded. “We’re going there first thing. She wants to show us something, and I want to see the berries now that they’re ready to harvest. Maybe I’ll even get to help her some.”
Soon, they pulled into the small gravel space next to the bog. Grammy and Gramps were already there, standing together on the dock, snuggling.
The cranberry bog stretched out like a dark red lake beneath the sun. The forest nearby whispered secrets as the wind blew through the golden leaves, and he could see a small, old house close by in the trees.
“This is beautiful,” Fernando said softly, eyes wide with awe. “I see why you like the bog.”
They walked together to the docks, Beans excited to be out of the car. The large puppy ran to Gramps and Grammy, tail wagging, as he begged for pets.
“Oh, you’re a good boy, aren’t you?” Gramps asked, kneeling down to properly scratch Beans’s sides.
Beans grinned and wiggled as if to say,Of course, I am a good boy, Gerard. Now, get to scratching, sir.
