Chapter Fifteen

“So, that wasn’t so bad,” Karli decided as they left their first childbirth class later that afternoon. “A lot of that stuff I already knew, and I am totally okay with the idea that watching the video isn’t required.”

Jordan grinned.

“I thought that might make you happy. I’ve had to watch it, as part of my EMT training. It’s pretty, um, intense.”

“You know what else is intense? This heat,” she observed, fanning herself with the welcome pamphlet they’d been given. “Late summer in Texas is always a beating, but being almost eight months pregnant in mid-August? That sucks on a whole new level.”

“Sounds like you could use air conditioning, a bowl of ice cream, and a foot rub,” Jordan mentioned. “And I just happen to know a place that has all three.”

“Lead the way,” she urged. “Before we melt.”

In a half-hour, Karli was stretched out contentedly on Jordan’s couch, a bowl of her favored sea salt caramel ice cream in her hands.

She was also moaning lightly as Jordan gently worked a knot out of her right foot’s arch.

“Man, that feels so good,” she sighed. “They hurt all the time now.”

“I can imagine, honey,” Jordan replied. “But just think, not much longer, and our little angel will be here.”

She smiled.

He said it again. ‘Our’. I love hearing it. I hope he never stops.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she answered. “Just happy to be with you, that’s all. You have to work tonight?”

“Actually, no, I don’t,” Jordan revealed. “And I was thinking stay in tonight. Chinese food and that new action flick we saw the ad for. It’s out on N*****x now. Wanna watch it with me?”

“Absolutely,” she grinned.

“And after that, stay with me, Karli. Spend the night,” he said, almost bashfully.

“Um… I really appreciate the invitation to… you know… but I kinda can’t right now,” she stammered, waving at her belly like a model might gesture at a shiny new prize on a game show.

“Oh my God, no, not like that,” Jordan exclaimed, his eyes wide, his discomfort growing exponentially as he turned beet red.

“I mean, not that I don’t want to… What I’m saying is I’ve always wanted to when it comes to you… Geez, now I sound like a perv and an idiot…Um… no, I meant just sleep, Karli.”

“You’ve thought about us… together like that?” she queried, also blushing now, even as she thought oh good, it’s not just me.

“Every day, for the past seven-plus years,” Jordan said without hesitation, the raw want flashing in his eyes.

“Are you kidding me? Look at you. You’re gorgeous. But I am willing to wait for as long as it takes. And not just because you are pregnant, Karli. Being with someone that way… it’s a big deal. A big step, for both of us. One that only needs to happen if, and when, we are both ready for it to. You know?”

If I weren’t already falling for him, that right there would have done it for sure, she thought as she nodded, blinking back happy tears.

“Now,” he directed, “you wait right here. I’m gonna order the food, cue up the movie, and then, you’re gonna give me your left foot to work on.”

***

Two and a half hours later, she’d nodded off on his couch.

He sat, gazing at her, her feet in his lap, her long blond hair spilling over the miniature couch pillow. Karli was making a little wispy sound as she exhaled, and a rush of emotion almost overwhelmed him.

God, I love this woman. Even when she snores.

Jordan’s heart was suddenly so full it felt like it would burst right out of his chest.

He gently eased himself out from under her feet, stood, then slowly scooped her up off the couch and carried her into the bedroom to lay her gently on the bed. Karli sighed once and gradually turned on her side but did not wake.

He turned off the lights in the living room and kitchen, then made his way back to his room and lay down next to her. He snuggled up behind Karli and draped one arm protectively over her, his hand splayed like a shield over the unborn child that he already loved as his own.

Jordan smiled into the dark, reveling in the feel of Karli’s body in proximity to his, and faded into sleep.

***

But by the time Labor Day weekend approached, Jordan had become very secretive, including ending calls abruptly whenever she walked in the room.

Karli had begun to worry that maybe he’d changed his mind about the two of them.

Maybe the reality of a ‘ready-made’ family finally sank in, and he just can’t figure out how to break it to me, she worried as she washed dishes at Sarah’s sink.

The doorbell ringing caught her attention, and she shuffled to answer it.

“Hey,” Jordan said nonchalantly when Karli opened the door. “I have some errands to run. Want to come with me?”

“Um, sure, I guess,” she shrugged.

But she could tell he was holding something back, and the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

Oh, my God. He’s breaking up. He doesn’t want to see me anymore, her brain concluded, and it almost buckled her knees.

She moved to his truck on autopilot, tears already threatening, trying her best to steel herself for the conversation she just knew was imminent.

“I need to swing by the station right quick,” he murmured, and she only nodded, focusing her attention out the passenger side window in a desperate effort to keep it together.

Jordan pulled into the station’s visitor parking lot, then went around and opened her door.

“Come on,” he said. “This won’t take long, I promise.”

Karli reluctantly took his hand and let him help her down to the ground.

“Just through here,” he pointed, holding the door open.

She walked in front of him down a narrow hall, turned right where he indicated – and jumped with both surprise and a little fright as a room full of people, including Madge, her parents, and Sarah yelled out, “Happy baby shower!”

“Wait…what…” Karli’s mind was reeling.

“I wanted you to have a baby shower,” Jordan whispered in her ear, his arms around her as he stood close behind her. “Cool surprise, huh?”

“Is this why you’ve been so secretive lately?”

“Yeah,” he admitted. “I really wanted it to be a surprise.”

“So… so… you’re not breaking up with me?” she whispered back.

He slowly turned her around to face him, and she gasped as she saw a flicker of hurt in his brown eyes.

“Honey. Is that what you honestly thought?”

She nodded.

He squeezed her to him gently.

“You’re the love of my life, Karli,” he told her in a low murmur meant only for her that thrilled her to her core. “I’m not going anywhere. Ever. I promise.”