I couldn't have asked for a more perfect moment to give him my final surprise.I stepped back, turning to get the gift bag I'd placed on the side table.
"What are you doing, Sunshine?" he asked in confusion, reaching for me and trying to set the bag down.
I smiled at him as tears welled in my eyes, and he looked at me with alarm.
"Allie?" he asked hesitantly. "What's wrong, love?"
I handed him the bag, guiding him to sit down on the edge of the bed, then motioning for him to open it.
He looked at me questioningly, and I simply motioned toward the bag again.
"Look in the bag, honey. Just trust me," I cajoled when he still looked confused.
He pushed aside the tissue paper, pulling out an envelope and the T-shirt that I'd carefully folded and placed in the bag.At the sight of the pink, child-sized shirt, his obvious confusion grew.
He held the shirt in his hands as I took the envelope and set it aside. I gently took the shirt from him and unfolded it, holding it up in front of me so that he could read what it said.
"I'm going to be a fantastic big sister!"he read aloud, his eyes widening as his confusion seemed to clear. I handed him the shirt, and his gaze darted to my bare stomach.He gently, reverently, placed his palm over my still mostly flat belly, cupping the tiny baby pooch left over from my pregnancy with Gracie.
"Are you..." he swallowed hard as his eyes darted back up to scan my face. I just smiled as the first of my tears fell, then handed him the envelope.
He took it with shaking hands, carefully opening it and pulling out the single sheet of paper. His eyes roved over it, taking in the sight of the photo of the positive pregnancy test, and the words I'd printed underneath.
"Congratulations, Daddy. Baby #2 will be here in six and a half months!"
Nico looked at me in shock for a beat or two, then reached forward and pulled me close to him. Since he was still sitting on the edge of the bed, this put my stomach fairly level with his face.
"We're having a baby?" he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
He closed his eyes for a moment, tipping his head backas if in prayer. He brought both hands up from where they were grasping my thighs, cupping them around my belly. He openedhis eyes and looked at me, and I cried harder at the sight of the tears shimmering in his beautiful chocolate-brown gaze.
I rested one hand on his shoulder and ran the other through his hair, from his temple to his nape. He leaned into my hand and nuzzled his head into my touch before leaning forward to place a gentle, almost reverent kiss to my belly.
"Hello, little one," he said, his voice catching as he tried to control his emotions.
"I'm your Daddy, and you are going to have the best Mommy and big sister in the world."
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