ELEVEN
Rae
Five Years Later…
I hurry into the apartment,double checking that Brooks isn’t home from the VA Hospital yet before I rush into our bedroom and straight into the bathroom. I dig out the pregnancy test that I bought at lunch and open it to read the instructions.
It seems pretty straightforward. I pee on the stick, setting it on the bathroom counter and pacing as I wait the three minutes for the results.
I had been feeling nauseous and so tired the last few weeks. I thought that maybe it was the flu, or I was coming down with something else, or maybe I was just working too much. Then I missed my period and realized that it could be something else entirely.
“Rae? You home, baby?” Brooks calls and I hear the front door close behind him.
“Yeah! Be out in a minute!” I call as I wring my hands together.
I still have a few more seconds before I can check the test and I hold my breath as I count down the seconds. Finally, my alarm goes off on my phone and I turn the test so that I can see it.
Two pink lines.
I let out a laugh as my heart starts to beat so loud that I can hear it in my ears.
“Rae? Are you okay?” Brooks asks, and I can tell that he’s outside the bathroom door.
I open it, grinning at him, and he smiles back at me.
“Did you have a good day?” he asks as he pulls me into his arms.
“Yeah,” I say, hugging him back as I grip the pregnancy test tighter in my hand. “How was your day?”
“Good. We made some progress with the group today,” he says, and he sounds proud.
Brooks decided to go to college a few years ago and graduated with a psychology degree just a few months ago. He’s been promoted at the VA Hospital and I’m so proud of him. He gets to do something that he loves, something that gives him a purpose and makes a difference in so many soldiers’ lives.
“That’s great!”
“Yeah, it’s been a positive day,” Brooks says as he pulls back and moves to take my hand.
“Yes, a very positive day.” I giggle.
That’s when he sees what I’m holding.
“Rae,” he says, his voice cutting off as he looks back up at me for an answer.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, my voice coming out hoarse as tears spring to my eyes.
“A baby?” he asks, his hands going to my stomach. “We’re having a baby?”
“Yeah,” I tell him, the tears slipping free and streaking down my cheeks.
Then I’m in Brooks’s arms and I laugh as I wrap my arms around him.
“You’re happy?” I ask and he chuckles.
“Of course. I love you, Rae. You’re my whole world. I want a family with you. I want everything with you.”
I squeeze him tighter, burying my face in his chest, and I can tell that he’s smiling as he rubs my back.
I wasn’t really worried about Brooks’s reaction. He still treats me like I’m the center of his world and even though we agreed to wait until we were both done with college to have kids and were more settled in our careers, it feels like the time is right.
I started working for the Pittsburgh Penguins as one of the team’s physical trainers. I wasn’t much of a hockey fan before, but Brooks loves it and we’ve even gone to a few games together.
We’re in the off season now, so work is pretty light and it couldn’t be a better time for me to deal with the first trimester symptoms.
“Should you be sitting down?” Brooks asks and I laugh.
I knew that he was going to be overprotective as soon as he found out that I was pregnant and it looks like I was right.
“Maybe. I’m pretty tired,” I admit as I yawn.
“Come on then. I’ll tuck you in and make us some dinner.”
I let my husband lead me into our bedroom and tuck me into our bed. He kisses my forehead, giving me a smile before he heads out to the kitchen.
We’re still in the same apartment that we fell in love in and as my eyes close, I wonder if we’ll have to find a bigger place soon.
I don’t care where we live. As long as I have my tempting man, I’ll be happy and I know that Brooks feels the same.
I smile as I give in and fall asleep.
* * *