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But first, I need to confirm we’re really having a baby.

Bowen unlocks the truck, and I climb in, then wait for him to clip himself in before I lean over the center console and kiss him.

He cups my cheek and deepens the kiss, stroking his tongue against mine. Someone whistles from the porch, and we break off, grinning at each other.

Bowen shakes his head, then returns for another quick, soft kiss. “Sorry about that.”

“No, don’t worry. I really enjoyed myself today.” I sit back and put on my seat belt as we pull away from the curb. “I like your family.”

He rests his hand on my thigh and squeezes lightly. “You know we’ll always have your back, right? Even if your parents don’t understand you.”

“I know.”

I give him a watery smile, determined not to let the thought of my parents’ disapproval get me down. But my emotions have been all over the place, which might be another indicator that I’m carrying a tiny spark of life in my belly.

We take the winding road up the mountain. Snowflakes drift from the sky, adding a layer of fresh white to the foot of snow we already got a few weeks ago. With the tall dark trees lining the road, the scene is magical, but I’m glad when the cabin comes into view.

“I’ll get the fire started.”

Bowen kisses my temple and walks into the living room. Moving quietly, I toe off my boots and slip into the bathroom.

There, hidden beside my box of tampons that I might not need anytime soon, is the slim box with the pregnancy test. I read the instructions twice, then extract the test and carefully pee on it. I cap it and leave it on the edge of the sink, then wash my hands and start the timer.

It’s supposed to take three minutes for the test to be accurate, but after only a minute and a half, two pink lines show up, clear as day.

My heart thumps, and a rush of emotion follows, adrenaline mixing with pure, undiluted joy.

We’re having a baby.

I press my hands to my cheeks and stare at myself in the mirror. I’m going to be a mom. I don’t look any different than before, but the knowledge that I’ll soon be responsible for a tiny new human being slams down on me.

My fingers tremble as I pick up the test to take it to Bowen. He’ll be so happy, I know it, but right now, I mostly need him to confirm that this is real.

But when I exit the bathroom, I find him standing stock-still in the middle of the living room, his posture rigid. He walks over to me, takes my shoulders, and leans down for a kiss that steals my breath—it’s fevered, almost desperate. I cling to him with my free hand, surprised by the intensity, especially since we were only apart for a matter of minutes.

“Bowen?” I pull back to stare at him. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” His voice comes out hoarse. He clears his throat and tries again. “I, uh, I thought I wanted to do this at today’s lunch, but then I thought—this should be just between us, right? No pressure for you, just the two of us…”

I raise my eyebrows at his stammering. “Um, sure?”

He smiles, so handsome my heart skips. This is the father of my baby, and I can’t wait to see him holding our little one in his strong arms.

But Bowen is moving away from me, and before I can say anything or show him the test, he takes a small box from his pocket.

“I’ve wanted to do this since the day I met you, Lainey.” He hangs his head, staring down at his hands, then lifts his gaze to me and adds, “I’ve never wanted anything in my life like I want you. I want to marry you and give you as many kids as you’d like. We can tear down this cabin and build a house with six bedrooms if we need to. Or move someplace else if you’d like. I don’t care, as long as I get to do it with you.”

My eyes well with tears at the emotion in his voice. “Really?”

“Yeah,” he confirms. “I want you to be my wife, Lainey. Will you marry me?”

I nod. “Yes. To all of that. Yes!”

He wraps his arms around me and squeezes me close, his face buried in my neck so his short beard tickles my skin. He lets out a choked laugh, then kisses me, smiling against my lips.

“You’ve made me the happiest man on earth,” he murmurs. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”