same as I nodded to him. I wasn’t thrilled that there would be a whole family gathering as soon as the doctors cut me loose, but at least for a few minutes, I would have time alone with Hailey. At that moment, she was the only one I wanted to see. My mother hugged me one last time before she was ushered out with the others by my father.
Hailey sat down next to me, her head resting on my hand. I looked down at her beautiful eyes, and my heart started to race once again. I would never get tired of looking into those matching pools of warm chocolate. They seemed to take my heart downriver to her very soul. She smiled up at me, and I felt every little lick of flame on my body again.
“Hailey, I have made so many mistakes—”
“We don’t need to do this right now,” she interrupted.
“Would you just let me talk, you stubborn woman?” My cheeks felt hot. “I love you! I love that fire in your eyes and the way you don’t care what anybody else thinks. I love that you fight with me and argue. I love the way you pout when you don’t understand something right away and the way you care about your mother. There isn’t a single thing I don’t love about you, actually. I don’t want you to be my wife for the next six months. If I get sixty years with you, it still won’t be enough. I want to be your husband for the rest of my life and wake up every morning next to that smiling face.
“I know I’m terrible at times, and I know that I’m no good at talking about stuff like this. But with you, it’s different. I can open up and be myself with you. You are my family, and my house isn’t a home unless you are right there with me. I want us to have a handful of babies, and yeah, I’d love nothing more than to see you barefoot and pregnant on that front porch of ours. Why? Because I think you’d make an amazing mother. I already know you are an amazing daughter, woman, and wife.”
She sucked in a breath, letting go of my hand and climbing into the bed next to me as she kissed my lips. I pulled her closer, the small gap between us still too much. I had to keep her close to me. In a breathless motion, she dragged her lips away from mine despite my moan of protest. It had been days since I’d felt her body next to mine, too many long days and lonely nights.
“Jackson?” she asked.
“Yes, my love?”
“Am I allowed to talk now?”
I laughed, smacking her rear playfully as she covered me again in kisses. I couldn’t imagine a happier moment in my life.
“Did you really mean all of that?” she asked.
I nodded. “Every last word of it. And listen, I know that you probably don’t want kids right away. I get that. I guess it was just the heat of the moment. I just want to be with you. We can figure out all the rest later.”
“Actually,” Hailey grinned, “I was thinking we could start on a family right away.”
My eyes grew wide, a goofy smile on my face. “Oh yeah? Well, I’ve got no problem with that, and even if it doesn’t take right away, we will have an amazing time trying.”
“We don’t need to try. We’ve already succeeded.”
“Huh?” I didn’t understand.
“I’m pregnant.”
A wave of joy crashed into me, my mouth dropping to my chest like a fool. I let out a cry so loud a nurse scurried to the door, but we ignored her. Pulling Hailey back into my arms, I ran my hand down her stomach and felt the small bump protruding from between her hips. There was life growing inside of her! My son or daughter.
The weight of the day hit me. There were no clouds of smoke to blame the tears on as they sprang to my eyes. One slipped down my cheek onto Hailey as she looked up at me, her concern evident.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?” she asked.
I nodded. “I have never been so happy in my life. Of course, I just said that ten seconds ago to myself, but still. Any more surprises I need to know about?”
Hailey shook her head. “Let’s see, I love you with all of my heart, I can’t wait to be your wife for real,