It reminds me that he loves me and I love him.
We pull up out front of the hotel where the event is being held. Rogers nods as we leave, joining the throngs of well-dressed people.
Several men greet Mason as he moves through the crowd. It’s almost like he didn’t disappear from society for five years, although of course nobody can ignore that. There are whispers, comments, rumors, that sort of thing.
None of it matters. He’s my Daddy and we love each other. That’s all I need.
He squeezes my hand and smiles. We find a little corner of the room and he sips some champagne. I decline a glass, which makes him raise an eyebrow.
“I want to tell you something,” I say.
“What’s wrong?”
I glare. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s a good thing.”
“Is that why you dragged me out tonight?”
“Maybe. I wanted an excuse to get dressed up.”
“You wanted an excuse to see me in a tux.”
“That too.”
He laughs. “Okay, what do you want to tell me?”
“I’m pregnant.”
He stares at me. For a second, I think he’s going to be upset. I know he lost a baby when his first wife died, when she was pregnant.
I know that still haunts him sometimes, but less every day.
But his face breaks out into a huge smile. “You’re joking.”
“No, I found out this morning.”
“You’re pregnant!”
He scoops me up in his arms and hugs me tight. He doesn’t seem to care that everyone’s staring at us.
I don’t care, either.
Let them stare. I couldn’t be happier than I am in this moment.
I’m pregnant with his baby. We’re going to be together, raising a child together. This is more than I ever dreamed of.
“I guess we’ll have to get married now,” he says, grinning huge.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Seriously,” he says, kissing me softly, holding me close. “We’re getting married.”
“Okay,” I say, giggling like an idiot.
“You’ll be my wife, and I’ll be your Daddy,” he whispers in my ear. “Can you do that, forever?”
“Yes, Daddy,” I whisper back, and kiss him slowly and deep.
My Daddy, my husband. Father of my child. This is what I’ve always wanted from my life, what I didn’t even know I could have.
It’s perfection. I have no other way of putting it. Sheer, absolute perfection.
I stay in his arms as he holds me close and I don’t want to go anywhere ever again. I can be a recluse in his arms for the rest of my life and always be happy.
THE END