keep the baby Monday through Wednesday, since she picked up nursing shifts in the ER some Fridays, while Andrew’s mother would be on duty Thursday and Friday. Our baby would definitely be “Metholic” like us under that arrangement.
Andrew smiled halfheartedly.
“I don’t want to be an old dad. Think about all of our friends who have had trouble getting pregnant. I’m thirty, and you’re not far off.” We had multiple sets of friends who had tried for at least a full year before getting pregnant. Some still had not succeeded.
“What if we had twins?” I teased him. “What would you do then … say, twin girls?”
He rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically. “Don’t even joke like that. I could not handle twin girls. We will have a girl, then a boy … then another surprise. You watch.”
I giggled as he pulled me closer to him. “I want to make babies with you,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m glad we’re home.”
“Me too,” I whispered back, twirling my fingers through his thick brown hair. “It’s a new chapter in our lives.”
“I think we need to start writing this new chapter tonight. Let’s make it X-rated.”
“Does X-rated involve dessert?”
“It can if you want.”
So much for CSI .
“You’re scared.” Andrew wrapped his arms around me from behind, his lips resting on my cheek. “You just climbed the next rung on the corporate ladder, and you’re not even thirty. You should feel like a badass.”
Self-consciously, I smoothed a wrinkle out of my scrubs, but couldn’t smooth the wrinkle that creased between my eyes. Staring at my wide-eyed reflection in the mirror, I realized I did look fearful.
“I know.” I critiqued my new hairstyle, a sleek low ponytail, and decided to leave a few pieces to fly in the wind. The style was much more chic than my ex-cheerleader top-of-the-head ‘do, like I was finally taking the leap from Seventeen to Glamour. “I’m excited, but this is a huge responsibility. There is no one ‘above’ me anymore. I am totally responsible for my surgeons, the patients, and my territory’s performance …”
“You deserve this. Be confident,” said my charismatic husband who never lacked confidence.
I took a deep breath and smiled. “You’re right. Today starts a new chapter in my career.”
“Where is your meeting?” Andrew started rubbing my shoulders, and I felt my tension release.
My smile got sweeter. “Maybe it’s a good sign. We are meeting at McAlister’s.”
Wistfully, I reminisced over the first time I stepped foot in the place. Andrew and I were home for spring break—he was fortunate enough to grow up in paradise, so there was no need for an expensive trip. Andrew and I grabbed a bite to eat before watching some Nicholas Sparks movie at the theater. I was so wrapped up in him that I did not notice Mama’s best friend two rows ahead, staring at us all over each other like two lovesick teenagers. That was the night I realized I was falling in love, over chips and dip and grilled chicken salad. Date one and I was certain the whisper was telling me he was the one, but heaven knows I kept mum about that. Every desirable guy is implanted with a psycho-radar, and I was fairly certain that would set his off.
“I like the way I feel with you,” he said. “This … feels right, doesn’t it?”
I blushed. “Yeah, it does.” He caressed my hand with his under the table, sending shockwaves of heat radiating up the length of my body.
Now, he returned my smile with a long kiss. “I should have taken you somewhere nicer.”
Kissing him back, I murmured, “It was perfect.” I paused, my body warming as our kiss lengthened. “ This is perfect.”
Sighing, I forced myself to pull away and checked my watch. “Got to go. The meeting starts in half an hour.”
To kick off our new alignment, my new manager Jeff set up a business meeting with me and my new partner, Collin. For some unknown reason, Brooke Bennett, Covington
Andrew smiled halfheartedly.
“I don’t want to be an old dad. Think about all of our friends who have had trouble getting pregnant. I’m thirty, and you’re not far off.” We had multiple sets of friends who had tried for at least a full year before getting pregnant. Some still had not succeeded.
“What if we had twins?” I teased him. “What would you do then … say, twin girls?”
He rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically. “Don’t even joke like that. I could not handle twin girls. We will have a girl, then a boy … then another surprise. You watch.”
I giggled as he pulled me closer to him. “I want to make babies with you,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m glad we’re home.”
“Me too,” I whispered back, twirling my fingers through his thick brown hair. “It’s a new chapter in our lives.”
“I think we need to start writing this new chapter tonight. Let’s make it X-rated.”
“Does X-rated involve dessert?”
“It can if you want.”
So much for CSI .
“You’re scared.” Andrew wrapped his arms around me from behind, his lips resting on my cheek. “You just climbed the next rung on the corporate ladder, and you’re not even thirty. You should feel like a badass.”
Self-consciously, I smoothed a wrinkle out of my scrubs, but couldn’t smooth the wrinkle that creased between my eyes. Staring at my wide-eyed reflection in the mirror, I realized I did look fearful.
“I know.” I critiqued my new hairstyle, a sleek low ponytail, and decided to leave a few pieces to fly in the wind. The style was much more chic than my ex-cheerleader top-of-the-head ‘do, like I was finally taking the leap from Seventeen to Glamour. “I’m excited, but this is a huge responsibility. There is no one ‘above’ me anymore. I am totally responsible for my surgeons, the patients, and my territory’s performance …”
“You deserve this. Be confident,” said my charismatic husband who never lacked confidence.
I took a deep breath and smiled. “You’re right. Today starts a new chapter in my career.”
“Where is your meeting?” Andrew started rubbing my shoulders, and I felt my tension release.
My smile got sweeter. “Maybe it’s a good sign. We are meeting at McAlister’s.”
Wistfully, I reminisced over the first time I stepped foot in the place. Andrew and I were home for spring break—he was fortunate enough to grow up in paradise, so there was no need for an expensive trip. Andrew and I grabbed a bite to eat before watching some Nicholas Sparks movie at the theater. I was so wrapped up in him that I did not notice Mama’s best friend two rows ahead, staring at us all over each other like two lovesick teenagers. That was the night I realized I was falling in love, over chips and dip and grilled chicken salad. Date one and I was certain the whisper was telling me he was the one, but heaven knows I kept mum about that. Every desirable guy is implanted with a psycho-radar, and I was fairly certain that would set his off.
“I like the way I feel with you,” he said. “This … feels right, doesn’t it?”
I blushed. “Yeah, it does.” He caressed my hand with his under the table, sending shockwaves of heat radiating up the length of my body.
Now, he returned my smile with a long kiss. “I should have taken you somewhere nicer.”
Kissing him back, I murmured, “It was perfect.” I paused, my body warming as our kiss lengthened. “ This is perfect.”
Sighing, I forced myself to pull away and checked my watch. “Got to go. The meeting starts in half an hour.”
To kick off our new alignment, my new manager Jeff set up a business meeting with me and my new partner, Collin. For some unknown reason, Brooke Bennett, Covington
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