“It’s okay,” she whispers. “I take it you want this baby?”
I spin her around the room once more, my heart overflowing with emotion.
“Yes,” I rasp. “I want this baby with you. I want more children with you too, Simona. I want you to be the mommy of all my children, and I want to keep you pregnant until you’re utterly sick and tired of it. I love you, Simona, and thank you for this gift.”
To my surprise, tears are streaming down my face like a baby, but I don’t care. This woman is everything to me, and even more, she’s changed my life for the better. After all, I thought there was a price to pay for my promiscuous ways. But with the right woman, things have worked out, and now I’m going to be a daddy for real.
“I love you too, James, my prince, my everything,” the sweet brunette whispers in my ear before gently placing my hand on the tiny bulge of her belly. “Say hi to Daddy,” she coos to our child.
With that, I let out a laugh and pull the curvy girl tighter into my embrace. “I want you, and I want the baby too,” is. my growl. You are my family now, Simona. You and the child both.”
And with those words, our fate is sealed forever. I never thought becoming a father was in the works for me, but with Simona by my side, even the most fantastical dream can become a wonderful reality.
Epilogue
James
* * *
Eight months later.
Simona and I are in a labor and delivery class. We sit in a circle with the other couples, my woman lying on her back between my legs as we count breaths together. Her belly is so huge that it’s like a mountain before us, but I love it. There’s nothing sexier than seeing my woman’s body swollen and growing with my child inside, and I’ve showed Simona many times in bed just how much I appreciate that fertile figure.
Even more, my love has been busy during her pregnancy. She quit City Girls, obviously, and instead focused full-time on her children’s book as her body grew lush and heavy. Jemima’s Dinner was published to great success last week, and my girlfriend’s gotten rave reviews for her work. Not only that, but sales have been through the roof, and I love seeing my curvy girl get the praise and recognition she deserves.
Suddenly, a yelp sounds out from the woman next to us, and we turn to look. Our fellow student Christine looks a bit like Simona, with the same curly hair and big brown eyes, but interestingly, she always attends class by herself. There’s something extremely sad about the single woman, and my girlfriend smiles sympathetically.
“Are you doing okay?”
Christine shoots us a wan grin while pressing both hands to her bulging tummy.
“Yes, I just got kicked by my little guy, that’s all. He’s going to be a soccer player for sure!”
We all laugh together, but my heart goes out to the brunette. Clearly, Christine is going to be alone on her journey of motherhood, and I’m suddenly fiercely protective of Simona. No way is my woman going to go through any of this by herself.
But then, I jerk. My pant leg feels wet and I look down, confused. Sure enough, Simona’s sitting in a pool of warm liquid, looking just as puzzled. But then we realize what’s happened simultaneously, and stare at each other with shock.
“Is it…?” she asks.
“Yes honey,” I growl. “Your water just broke. It’s time to head to the hospital.”
Quickly, I get my girlfriend into the car and soon, we’re in front of Memorial Hospital. At that point, everything turns into a blur and before I realize it, my daughter is born. Matilda’s pink, squirmy, and screams like a banshee, but as Simona and I stare into her scrunched up little face, to my surprise, tears are coursing down my cheeks.
“Welcome,” Simona breathes to our daughter, looking exhausted but utterly elated too. “Mommy and Daddy love you.”
I can’t even manage any words because of the tears clogging my throat, but I have something even better in store. Fumbling like an idiot, I dig around in my pocket for a box I stashed there before pulling it out.
“I do love you, Mattie,” I begin in a choked voice. “But I have something to ask your mommy too. I’ve had this with me every day for a month, and now, I have something to ask you, Simona. Will you be my wife, sweetheart? You’ve already given me so much, in addition to this beautiful daughter. Will you stay with me forever, and make me a happy man?”
The gorgeous brunette nods as her eyes fill with tears. “Yes,” she whispers before leaning forward to kiss me. “Nothing would make me happier, James.” Then, she holds out her left hand as I slide the gem on her ring finger. The diamond sparkles even under the harsh fluorescent lights, and to my surprise, there are two sets of tears dropping onto our baby’s head now.