PAYTON
It doesn't take long to move Kaitlyn in. Her dad and I set up her bed, nightstand, dresser, and bookcase while she sorts her clothes. She spends another hour organizing her bathroom. While we wait, Jackson mentions the horse rescue and how excited he is for us. Kaitlyn told me last night how he reacted, but hearing it from his mouth confirms this is really happening. Knowing how the Bishops work, they'll want to get started as soon as possible. When someone pitches a new venture for the ranch, and they approve it, they make it happen right away, which I'm looking forward to.
Once we say goodbye to her parents, Kaitlyn and I head into the kitchen.
"Any dinner ideas for your first night here?" I ask, opening the fridge.
"I'm really craving pizza," she tells me. "With mushrooms, pepperoni, and—"
"And extra cheese," I finish her sentence, smirking. "Yes, I know. That's why I always have dough on hand."
She helps collect the ingredients as we chat. Once the oven is heated and the pizza is piled high with her favorite toppings, I place it inside and set the timer.
"So I know you don't talk about your family often, but will you tell them about the baby?" she asks while sipping on her sweet tea.
I blow out a breath and nod. "I haven’t decided yet."
Once the pizza is ready, I cut it into slices, and we eat on the couch. I share more details about my mom and how she met my stepdad. After my dad passed, my mom was so depressed and already had low self-esteem that when Stan entered the picture, she was eager to do whatever he wanted. But regardless of our strained relationship, I think my mom deserves to eventually know. Maybe not right away.
"Do you think she'd be excited?" Kaitlyn asks.
I scratch my cheek, wondering how I'd even tell her. "Yeah, I think so."
Being that I'm an only child, I'm her only chance of having grandkids.
"I was lookin' up some birthing plans. We should probably have one."
"Like what? Go to the hospital and push out the baby?" I tease and am rewarded with a hard punch to my shoulder. Kaitlyn hits like she has a personal vendetta against you, even if she’s messing around. With brothers like Knox and Kane, I understand why.
"Ha ha, you're funny. There's actually a lot more to it than that. A birthing plan lets the doctor and nurses know your wishes in the event a major decision needs to be made. Do I want pain meds? What if I need an emergency C-section? What if I bleed out? What if there are complications in surgery? What if the baby's breech?"
"Jesus Christ," I mutter. My heart leaps into my throat at all the possibilities.
"Childbirth isn't always safe, Payton. If you have to choose between the baby and me, you pick the baby's life."
"Absolutely not, Kate." My deep voice harshly rushes out.
"Yes, that's my decision. In some cases, there isn't time to save both. I read an article about a woman who was eight months pregnant and got into a car accident. She was bleeding out and begged them to save her baby first. They promised her husband they'd do their best to take care of them both, but it was too late. They only had a few minutes to make a decision, and it was the woman's final plea that made them deliver the baby. She ended up passing away.” Kaitlyn wipes away a tear, and we sit in silence for a while.
“Wow,” I finally breathe out.
“I know. Anything could happen, and I want us to be prepared."
How am I supposed to raise our baby alone if something happens to her? And then see Kaitlyn's sweet face in our child every day? I can't do that.
"Kate..." I want to argue but based on the look in her eyes, it'd be a losing battle.
"For me, okay?" She leans over and tenderly presses her hand over mine. "If it comes down to it, you do that for me. You be that baby's daddy, and you give them everything."
I hate that we're having this conversation, but I swallow hard and force myself to nod. If that's what she needs from me, then I'll do it. Kate's always been passionate and strong-willed, and there's no talking her out of something once she's made up her mind.
"Aside from that, there are other things such as who will be in the delivery room and other prenatal concerns," she adds, then grabs another slice of pizza. "But we have time to get it documented. It's just something I wanted to mention so we can start thinkin' about it."
"You mean panickin'..." I mutter, losing my appetite.
"You worried about me, huh?" she taunts with a cocked brow. "You know you can't get rid of me that easily. Plus, I should be the one worried about you. Out in the pastures, using heavy equipment, and being around horses who want to do nothing but fuck. You could get injured or killed at any time."
"Probably why Knox made me sign a contract that they can't be sued if anything happens," I say with a chuckle, though I'm being serious.