Stepping into the big shed near the barn, I stop in my tracks. Grayson and Drew are busy sanding wood, but my eyes land on the nearly done crib.
“What the hell?” I survey the furniture as I circle around.
“Good, right? Drew did almost all of it.” Grayson has a wide smile slapped across his face.
My eyes dart to Drew who continues to focus on his task at hand.
“I asked for help, not for you to create a masterpiece in the span of weeks.” I’m in awe as I’m witnessing some real craftsmanship in front of me.
Drew shrugs and glances up at me as he sits on a workbench. “It was nothing. Grayson designed it, and I was done in maybe a week.”
I have to grin at his modesty. “Fuck, you found your calling. This is amazing.”
Grayson hands me a hammer. “I know you maybe wanted to be a little more hands-on, but you’ve been busy setting up the holiday party all week. So here, knock in that last nail and we can embellish your efforts if anyone asks.”
Looking between the guys, they both have subtle grins and watch me.
Taking the hammer, I look to them for the okay, and they wait for me to make my move.
A few knocks later and I can say I played a part in my son’s baby bed.
I can’t stop looking at it. “Painting is all me.” I need to do more because Grayson and Drew set the standard high.
“For sure.” Grayson pats my back.
I’m still shaking my head in astonishment.
“Nobody show Kelsey, not until we finish,” I add.
“Where will be delivering it to?” Drew innocently asks.
But it isn’t an easy question, and in fact, it’s the point of irritation that feels like my demise.
“Yikes. Still haven’t approached that topic with Kels?” Grayson asks as he begins to clean up some tools.
Scratching the back of my head, I remind myself that I’m trying to be patient, but with Kelsey’s belly expanding by the day, the clock is ticking. She doesn’t bring up the topic either.
“Tonight… or tomorrow,” I deflect.
“Sure there? You sound a little unsteady.” Drew for the most part is quiet, except when you least expect it, and he gets a little bold.
“Ha. Ha.” I give him an unamused look. “Anyhow, guys, we better all get moving, as we need to shower, shave, and look our best. This isn’t the year to break Olive Owl tradition,” I order and point a finger at them with a stern look on my face.
“Don’t worry, we will be ready to schmooze with Bluetop’s finest,” Grayson assures me.
An hour later, I’m standing in front of the fireplace with stockings hanging from the mantle for show. The inn and bar are decorated with greenery and white lights. Some classic holiday tunes are playing, but I know soon it will be drowned out by the sounds of people talking and laughing. Candles are scattered around to add to the mood.
The events at Olive Owl are never child-friendly, but we make the exception for Rosie who will probably sit in the corner on her tablet before crashing from a sugar overdose. No, our events at Olive Owl are sophisticated and chic—magazine worthy.
A perfect setting for when a set of arms comes from behind me and wraps around my middle.
“There you are,” I say as Kelsey hums in a breath.
“It’s really a crime how good you look when you get dressed up,” she mentions.
I pull her arm to guide her in front of me. Taking in the view of her, and my eyes go wide and my breath is stolen. The thoughts that spring to my mind make me feel like I should be put in jail, so her theory is probably correct.
She’s wearing a dark green dress, snug to her body and with her clearly pregnant belly on display, her golden-blonde hair partially up and in curls. I step to her and kiss her temple, plus selfishly breathe in her scent.
“Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” She smirks at me while she pretends to straighten my collar. “I may have stolen some cheese cubes when I checked in on the kitchen after finding the extra set of napkins.” She’s been helping me all day with little tasks, even took the day off work because she said it was an important day for me.
“Steal whatever you want.”
Kelsey takes my hands in her own and her eyes travel into my line of sight. “I’m sure you will be in high demand tonight, but I’m really happy you got to do this. I know you had to lead your family to still do it this year, but everyone will have a great night.”
“Just stay near me,” I plead with a smile.
“I wish, but baby boy is a little active today, wearing me out a little. Maybe I will sit in the corner with Helen and knit gifts with the other ladies from the Bluetop crafts club. It’s for charity, right?” She shrugs. The mere thought of Kelsey, my temptress, with those ladies is entertaining.
“You’re getting a little creative lately. The gingerbread house with candy corn was all you, I know it.” Kelsey helped Brooke and Rosie make a few houses for display, but it was clear which one belonged to whom. “But you are really doing a one-eighty; you promised me that you’re not a knitter or crocheter. Anyway, I promise not to leave you too much.”
Her thumb rubs my cheek. “Bennett, you’re leading a wine-tasting and hosting this party. Trust me, I have no place attached to your hip.”
Glancing off into the distance, I notice my brothers in the other room. We have about ten minutes until showtime. Looking back at Kelsey and I’m surprised that suddenly she has a candy cane in her hand that she is licking. Fuck, what a view.
But I’m confused that it popped out of nowhere. “Where did that come from?”
“There is a benefit to my changing cleavage right now, and it’s the fact that I can hide little things in my bra.” She speaks so matter-of-factly that it makes me grin.
However, when she flinches then I immediately change my tone. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” I touch her arm as her other hand cradles her belly.
“Yeah, it’s baby boy. He’s moving. Here.” She grabs my hand and places it below her navel.
For the last few weeks, she’s been able to feel him, and every time we try for me to feel, I’m left disappointed. They say it’s normal.
The flutter under my hand surprises me and my eyes shoot down to our hands on her stomach “That’s…wow. Him?”
Her beaming smile spreads. “Completely him. He seems ready to party, either that or I need to cut down on the sugar.”
A brunt little kick hits my hand. “Whoa, we have ourselves an athlete.” I’m grinning in amazement that this is our child that I feel in her belly. He’s very much real.
Releasing her hand, she cradles my face to kiss me on the mouth. She squeals slightly from excitement. “See? A perfect night you shall have.”
“I couldn’t agree more, but now you definitely are not leaving my side.” My hands move around her middle to try and feel him again, but disappointment hits me when all I feel is the hard slope of her stomach.
“Relax, he doesn’t move all the time. He sleeps a lot,” she assures me.
“Yeah, I guess he is growing,” I lament.
She nods gently. “Baby Blisswood will be here before we know it.”
My heart feels like it skips a beat, because the realization that every day we are closer to welcoming him into the world hits me. Decisions need to be made, plans set, and I need to wrap my head around the idea that I can’t lose Kelsey. The most frightening feeling overcomes me, and I do my best to sweep it to the back of my mind, but I’m not sure it’s possible to hide this fear.
Kelsey interlaces our fingers and she encourages me to follow. “Come on, it’s your night.”
All I can do is smile weakly.
Later in the night, after a successful wine-tasting and party, I slide into my bed, moving in behind Kelsey to spoon her. She went to sleep about an hour ago when I said I would clean up a little with my brothers and Drew. It’s almost two in the morning and the air is crisp, but the mattress warm. Kelsey radiates a lot of heat during pregnancy, which is why she sleeps naked—no complaints.
But it’s more than that. She is perfect in my bed, she belongs here, and I want it to be our bed. The mere thought makes me hold her tighter.
All night, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her as she spoke with people, helped Rosie pick out a slice of cake, or kept Lucy occupied from watching Drew all night. Kelsey blends in with all of us, always has, but now she’s my other half, the woman I’m going to share a whole life with via our son. Maybe I was distracted tonight as people tried to grab my attention, but I don’t care. I’m trying to figure out what is happening in my head and heart.
Kelsey murmurs and rustles in her sleep as I curl up behind her and kiss her gently on the curve of her shoulder. My hand travels to rest on her stomach.
I feel him under my touch, I can’t be imagining it. Kelsey doesn’t wake, but I can’t sleep.
Scooting down the mattress, I move to rest my ear against her middle. It’s crazy because I know I won’t hear anything, but I kiss her belly button softly and let my finger swirl gently around her navel.
“Hey, baby,” I whisper. I never in a thousand years would have imagined myself in this scenario, but it’s what my instinct tells me to do in this moment, and I read somewhere that he should get used to my voice. “Listen, I need you to promise me something. Father to son, okay? I’m sure you are super comfy in there now that we got your mom on the good kind of candy. But I need you to cooperate and make this really easy for her when you’re ready to come out. You still have a good while in there, and I’ll be waiting in the world when the time comes. But I’m waiting for you and your mom, you both are a packaged deal, okay?”
“Bennett,” a drowsy voice of an angel mumbles as she stirs beneath me. “Are you talking to my stomach?” Kelsey rubs her head as she adjusts in bed to look at me.
“Guilty,” I admit softly.
Her arms come out to indicate for me to fall into her embrace, and sliding back up in the bed, I lay my head next to hers as her arms drape around me.
“Tell him anything good?”
I realize she didn’t hear anything I said, and I’m slightly relieved.
“Only how beautiful you are.”
She strokes me hair and kisses the tip of my nose. “Liar. Come on, let’s get some sleep.” Kelsey holds me closer.
And I wonder, how am I going to wrap my head around this? Because we are entering the homestretch when I need to be in top form and charming enough to get her to commit big. There is no space for her to see that I’m horrified of losing her from something out of our control.