I walk out into the living room with Casper in my arms, along with the memory stick and the photo album, just as my friends enter the house.
“Wand, did you bring your laptop?”
She glances across the room at me but doesn’t say anything and walks to the kitchen with Izzy. The two set their grocery bags down on the counters and then come back out to the living room while my other friends take more bags into the kitchen behind them. She stops in the middle of the room. Her eyebrows knot together as her light brown eyes fill with confusion. “Yeah. Why? Do you need me to go get it out of the van?”
Before I can answer, Casper frantically nods his head and chimes, “Yes. Mommy has stuff for daddy.”
I smile at my son and add, “Katie has some files Cass says are for me on this memory stick. Can I use your laptop to look at them?”
Wand’s eye light up and she flashes me a brilliant smile. “Sure. I’ll be right back.”
As she turns to dash out to the van, Izzy quickly snatches the photo album from my hands. “What do we have here, hmmm…”
Casper covers his mouth with his tiny hand and snickers, “Mommy’s book of daddy.”
Izzy’s eyes pop wide open as Evan and Frank run out of the kitchen towards her. The three of them stand in the middle of the room beside me, huddled together, while hovering over the photo album, almost in a trance. They slowly look through each picture. When they finally turn the page containing the ultrasounds, Izzy gasps.
Casper glances down at the album and proudly announces, “Pictures of me inside mommy’s tummy.”
The three flash a smile at my son, but they don’t say anything. Instead, they continue to look through the book as Wanda rushing back into the living room.
Slightly out of breath, she holds up the laptop and chimes, “I’ve got it.”
I dash across the room and grab the laptop. My heart races as curiosity nibbles away at me. What did she put on the memory stick?
I sit down on the couch and place Casper on my lap. His face glows with excitement as I place the laptop on the coffee table and open it up. My stomach flutters and I look at my son and gently ask, “Are you ready to see what is on here?”
He glances up at me with his big, innocent eyes and nods.
Well, I guess this is now or never. I insert the memory stick into the laptop.
My breath hitches as I browse through the various videos and the numerous pictures. If my guess is correct, the files are all of Katie and Casper.
I scroll up to the oldest video and quickly open it. Katie’s beautiful but nervous voice flows into the air and hovers around us. “Shane, I just got here. How could I be this sick suddenly and it isn’t going away?”
They are in a doctor’s exam room. Katie is exactly how I remember her. Gorgeous. Her long, flowing brown hair cascades over her shoulders while a look of fear dances around in her marble brown eyes. But I don’t see Shane.
The video bounces around a bit as Shane’s voice suddenly chimes, “We will soon find out. Just be patient. You are going to be a doctor soon, so you should know the drill.”
Her gaze drifts to the side as someone knocks and then a middle-aged man enters the room. He points to camera and asks, “What is the phone for?”
Katie hesitantly replies, “For my family. They are far away and they want to know what is happening with me, so I record stuff and send to them. Is there a problem?”
The doctor waves his hand. “No, just wondering.”
Did Katie record this for me to watch later?
Halfway through the video, as the doctor discusses the tests he wants to do, Casper looks up at me. “Why is mommy crying? What is wrong with mommy?”
As I fight back tears, I choke out, “Mommy wasn’t feeling well, but she will soon be very happy. I think this is the day she finds out she is pregnant with you, little guy.”
My son’s eyes instantly pop wide open. “I’m in mommy’s tummy?”
I gently rub his back and hum, “Yes.”
As the video continues on, I’m correct. This is the day Katie finds out she is pregnant. I almost feel like I’m there with her. I can’t believe she recorded it.
When the video ends, I suddenly realize everyone is standing around the couch and is either watching me or trying to see the video. I turn towards Shane, sitting in a chair on the other side of the room. “Shane, did Katie record her whole pregnancy for me to see?”
He slightly bobs his head up and down. “Yes. She also recorded Cass’s birthdays and other special occasions. From what Katie has told me, she also recorded some messages just for you.” He gets up and walks over to me. Remaining silent, he leans over the coffee table and turns the laptop towards him.
What is he doing?
He takes a moment and scans the list of videos before selecting one and turning the laptop back around to me. “This one is an emotional message to you after she found out she was pregnant. I helped her record it because she was too emotional to do anything. Let me get you some earphones so you can listen to it in private.”
Wanda picks up Casper off my lap and asks, “Cass, have you ever helped either mommy or Shane to fix a meal?”
My son shakes his head. “No.”
She softly asks, “Do you want to help Izzy and I to fix a meal?”
Casper’s face glows like a spotlight as he frantically nods his head. “Can I? Really.”
Wanda giggles as she walks towards the kitchen holding a bouncing boy.
A grin dances across my mouth as I watch them disappear into the kitchen.
Shane gently nudges my shoulder. When I turn to look at him, he hands me some earbuds. “You can use these, and I’ll make sure no one bothers you. I also brought some tissues just in case. If you need anything, let me know. Okay.”
I plug the earbuds into the laptop and get them situated in my ears as I glance up at him and nod. My heart races, wondering what kind of message she has recorded for me. I take a deep breath.
Am I ready for this? My stomach flutters as I stare at my beautiful Katie on the screen.
I’m not really sure I am, but I want to know what she has recorded for me.
I reach over to the laptop and click the play button.
Katie’s trembling voice fills my ears as she looks right into the camera. “I can’t do this. What was I thinking? I can’t make this video now.”
Is she talking to me? Her eyes are red and swollen as a few tears slide down her cheek. My heart aches seeing her like this.
Shane suddenly scolds, “Katie, you said you want to record this while everything is fresh in your mind, so you better start talking.”
A stream of tears trickles down her cheeks as she mumbles, “I know, but I don’t know how.”
Shane quickly counters, “Just pretend the camera is Mark and tell him what happened today.”
Katie takes a few seconds and a couple of deep breaths. “Mark, I know you don’t remember the night of my going away party but….. Oh, this hard…… Really hard….. Okay. But we ended up having sex. Amazing sex.” A smile spreads across her face and her cheeks turn rosy as soon as she says sex.
She is so cute.
I definitely have to agree with her comment, though. It was amazing, and it was the best night of my life.
“I didn’t know this could even happen, but somehow it did. Oh, I know you aren’t going to believe me, but I’ll say it, anyway. Mark, I ended up getting pregnant. Now, before you ask if I’m sure, I have to confess something. I know you are the father because I haven’t been with anyone since high school. You see, uhm, when I first saw you, everyone else became kind of dull and I couldn’t bring myself to be with anyone else but you.”
My mouth falls slightly open. I couldn’t believe what I’m hearing. Katie hadn’t been with anyone for years because she was in love with me. YES!!! She wanted only me.
My heart races as a warmth fills my chest. This is so much more than what she told me that glorious night, but I couldn’t be happier right now.
Katie pauses for a moment. “I wish you could remember the night. I could just call you and tell you, but I can’t. How can I call you up and tell you something like this?”
She lowers her head, and her long brown hair falls forward, covering her face. A faint sniffle spills from her and pulls at my heart.
Barely able to hear, she whispers, “Our baby is my precious little secret.”
With her head still lowered, her body trembles and a few more sniffles hang in the air. My eyes sting and glisten.
No, please don’t cry. I won’t be able to stay strong if you cry.
She stops sniffling and softly mumbles, “I miss you so much, Mark, and I love you more than you can ever know. I will love and protect our child while hoping someday you will find me and love me and the baby.”
Katie POVI press my lips together as I look at the opening in my young patient’s abdomen. This should have been a simple procedure, but a long one. Unfortunately, nothing has been easy tonight. It is almost like the world is out to get me after the rough day I previously had. I don’t want to lose another patient this week. I don’t know if I can bear two in one week. My nose itches behind the mask. My lip instantly twitches, trying to get relief. My hands stop in midair as the itching gets worse. Is someone talking about me? Or is the saying someone is thinking about you? Whatever it is, I hope this itching stops soon. A child’s life hangs in the balance right now, and I need to keep my focus on him.From the other side of the operating table, a nurse looks at me. Confusion circles around in her eyes as she asks, “Katie, are you alright? Is something wrong?”I quickly shake my head and proceed with what I was doing. “No. Nothing is wrong. My nose is itching, nothing e
Katie POVI breathe a sigh of relief as I step away from the operating table, and my gaze goes to the newly stitched incision. Luckily, things have ended up going well, and the surgery is a success. This is something I really needed right now. The only thing better than this would be if Mark suddenly appeared in front of me with his arms opened wide and the playful smirk I love. A faint smile dances across my lips as his handsome face pops into my head. Images from our last and only night together come flooding back to me. He looked even more handsome than normal, or it was just me and I didn’t want to leave him. But I didn’t have much choice. My goal has always been to become a doctor, and I wasn’t going to put it on hold, even for him. His dark brown eyes seemed to be darker and sexier than usual that night, and his muscular body looked amazing in his tight shirt, which accented every line on his toned body. He looked the best, though, without the shirt on. Ah, is it gett
Exhaustion washes over me as I walk down the hallway towards the hospital’s staff locker rooms. The smell of disinfecting chemicals hangs in the air, while a lingering smell of blood is stuck in my nose. My legs wobble when I realize I still have to go home and fix supper for everyone. This is one of those times when I wish Shane knew how to cook. My mind wonders to the park near the house and my occasional little escapes. I wish I could go there tonight, but I can’t. It is already late and by the time I fix supper, it will be past Casper’s bedtime. Ugh… I drag my feet down the empty hall and into the locker room. As my mind goes through the list of things I need to do, I only feel energetic enough to fix a meal tonight, and it might push me beyond my limits. I slowly change before walking through the hospital towards the parking lot and my car. My feet drag the entire way as if I have bricks tied to them. Oh, I hope Shane didn’t have any problems with Casper tonight. M
I smile at Casper and then look at Mark as warmth fills my chest. “I’m very happy. Happier than you can even imagine.”Evan, Frank, Wanda, and Izzy all scurry towards us and huddle around while Wanda chimes, “We came, too. We have all missed you. When are you coming home?”With tears in her eyes, Izzy adds, “Yes, we want you to come back with us and I don’t think Mark is going to leave without you and Cass. Plus, we have promised to teach him how to cook so he can make a meal for his grandparents.”Frank sternly continues, “We all know your secret now, so there isn’t anything to hide. I believe Mark has proven himself that he is planning on staying with you. You better not try to stay behind or avoid him. If you try to, then we will just take Cass with us.”What? I shake my head and shout, “No, you can’t! Cass stays with me.”Mark tightens his hold on me and whispers, “You and Cass stay with me.”Heat rushes across my face at his words. I don’t know why. I have desperately
As I sit looking into Mark’s gorgeous brown eyes, I can’t believe this is happening. I have been wishing and hoping for this for six years, but I still can’t believe it is actually happening. Knock. Knock. Knock.Wanda’s soft, muffled voice slips into the room. “It is time for Cass to go to bed. Izzy and I have given him a bath, and I have to say he acts just like Mark used to act when we were kids and were swimming. Splashing and having more fun.”With our gazes still locked on each other, Mark and I chuckle. His red eyes flash with every emotion he has, like an open book.I’ve always wondered if our son’s excitement in the tub was something he has picked up from his father. I have never seen a kid have so much fun in the water. We both wipe each other’s tears away before we get up and go to the door. Mark unlocks the door and as we walk out and past Wanda, I softly whisper, “Thanks. You have no idea how much it means to me that you guys are here and helping me. Plus, I
KatieMark’s moist lips curl into a smile against my sensitive neck as he pauses for a moment. “I miss the sound of your moans.” His warm breath cascades against my skin, sending a wave of pleasure pulsing through my body.Closing my eyes, I lean my head back against his shoulder. “I miss your body, your touch, and your lips. I miss how your lips can send shivers throughout my entire body.”Before I realize what is happening, he swiftly takes my shirt off and has my pants undone as he pushes them down to the floor, leaving me only in my lace bra and panties.Desire ignites within me, and I can’t wait anymore. I want to ravage and feel every part of his godlike body. I spin around and grab the hem of his shirt. As if I’m a wild animal in heat, I nearly rip his shirt off him.My eyes rake over his sculpted chest, remembering all the naughty things we did the night of my going away party. My core aches, wanting to do more than look. I grab the front of his pants and my fingers w
Ring..ring…ring…ring..Whose phone is that? Ugh... What time is it?With my eyes barely open, I roll over and grab my phone to see it is my mom. I’m awake now. I blink a few times at my phone before the symbols on the phone register with my groggy head. It’s a video call. SHIT! I glance back at the nightstand and the clock. My stomach sinks as I realize it is a little after midnight. My previous message and picture I had sent them earlier with Casper suddenly pops into my head. What am I going to do? I’m sure she wants answers and right now, I have no idea what to tell her. Do I even have a choice?I swallow the lump in my throat as I lean over to the nightstand and turn on the lamp. I silently hope things go well and quickly answer the phone call. “Hello, mom.”Both my mom and dad eagerly greet me with smiles, but I can’t miss a spark of excitement in their eyes as they chime, “Hello, son.”My mom then takes the initiative and begins her pointed interrogation. “Mark, w
“You’re what!!” Izzy’s shrill voice startles me as I stand in the middle of the living room, hoping the floor would open up and swallow me whole. Casper happily dances around me, singing. “Mommy and daddy are getting married. Getting married. Mommy and daddy are getting married. Daddy kissed mommy.” The rest of our friends are scattered around the room. Mark walks over to me and drapes his arm around my shoulders. A small smirk spreads across his mouth as he calmly replies, “I thought you knew what I had bought, Izzy. I know you were there when I had talked about my plan. Katie was supposed to come back right after her internship. If you had heard me all this time, why are you so surprised?” A few steps away from us, Izzy shakes her head and stares back at him with disbelief in her eyes, but she doesn’t say a word. Shane is the first to walk over to me and hugs me. “Congrats! I hope you will be happy together. If it is any sign of how much you have missed Mark, then