“What is it, sweetheart? I want to hear it.”
I giggle a bit.
“Well, you know how we always use protection?”
My boyfriend’s eyes flare as he nods.
“Yes, absolutely. We’re always careful about that.”
I inhale deeply.
“Yes, but we weren’t careful enough that first time, Justin. When you came to take my car.”
His big body goes utterly still.
“Are you telling me …?” his voice trails off, and I nod with a smile through my tears.
“Yes, I’m pregnant Justin! I’m carrying your baby. We’re going to have a child in oh, about six months’ time.”
He stares at me for a moment before lunging forward and covering me with kisses.
“Honey, holy shit! This is a dream come true. Too many things are happening at once, and it’s gone from being a nightmare scenario to the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Pregnant? Are you sure?”
I nod, again through tears.
“Yes, Justin. You’re going to be a daddy.”
With that, the alpha male begins to cry. I never thought I’d see my handsome man lose it, but tears are trickling from his eyes and trailing down that sculpted face. He pulls me close again, burying his face in my hair.
“I love you, Marley, and thank you. For everything. For your zest, your sass, and your incomparable bravery. For putting yourself and the baby at risk, although it should never happen again,” he growls. “You’ll be walking on clouds now, and you won’t stir from our bed.”
“Oh does that mean I’m moving in?” I say in a playful tone.
He nods, eyes fierce.
“Yes. You and the baby belong to me, and I want the whole world to know. This child will be loved by its mother and father, and I can’t wait to be a dad, honey. Thank you again.”
With that, it’s resolved. What began as the worst week of my life is ending on a high note, and not only that, but it could be the best week of my life so far because now, I not only have the man I love, but he accepts me for who I am and what I’ve done in my past. After all, I’m not an angel, but with Justin’s help, I’m about to become a mommy.
Epilogue
Justin
Eighteen months later.
It’s been a while since the kidnapping incident. Life has settled down since then, thank god, because I never want to go through anything like that ever again. Yes, it’s exciting while it happens but I don’t want my girlfriend risking her life ever again. Marley is as beautiful as she is bold, and I know she’ll put everything on the line to save me and our family.
After all, our daughter, Missy, is everything to us. Even more, she’s already a sassy little thing like her mom, but she has my looks. She’s got my dark hair and eyes, and many of my mannerisms. Marley jokes with me that she just produced a mini-me, forgetting to input her own DNA, but there are pieces of Marley in there and it comes out when our daughter acts naughty. Missy likes to climb cabinets even though she can barely walk, and I know it’s her mother’s bold personality coming to the fore.
Then again, our family is a little non-traditional. We aren’t married, for starters, because Marley tells me that marriage doesn’t matter to her. She says that a wedding certificate is just a piece of paper, and she’s happy to be with me with or without the government’s approval. I see her point, but I’ve also got a surprise for her, and it’s just around the corner.
But back to our family. It’s non-traditional because I’m a stay at home dad now, which is pretty uncommon in NYC. I stepped down from the repo business and handed over the reins to my cousin Paul. He’s the new CEO, and honestly, it’s a great change. Sure, Paul’s an asshole still, but he’s grown the business in ways I never anticipated and even expanded into other areas. Then again, I’m hardly a couch potato either, and I’m looking into other ventures. But for the time being, I enjoy my time at home with my baby girl and money’s not an issue; we have enough put away to support us for years and years, even if the market crashes.
So yes, Marley is the little woman who goes out to work. But I’m so proud of my girlfriend because she’s incredibly successful. After moving in with me, Marley quit Evolve Yoga because the New Canaan location was just too far away. Instead, she founded her own yoga studio a few blocks away from our apartment. Yes, I helped her secure the lease but everything else, she did everything on her own, and I’m so proud of her. In addition to standard yoga classes, she offers nutritional classes and health counseling, and the curvy girl’s really hit her stride. That studio is filled from dawn to dusk, with waitlists that are perennially full.