a room.
Sean said it would take less than a week to get everything done and all of our things packed and moved into the new house. But before I let anyone start packing anything, I felt like I needed to call Louisa.
We’d spoken several times since she’d agreed to come. I didn’t ever want her to have reason to believe that something in a tabloid was true, and so I was determined to keep her in the loop.
Her face popped up on my screen. “Hey, Libby. It’s not baby time, is it?”
“Nope. She’s staying put for now. I’ve still got four weeks left.”
“Oh, I know. I’ve been counting down. And buying things.”
“You already bought me plenty of things,” I protested.
She shrugged. “Babies need a lot of stuff. So, how are you?”
“I’m doing well. Um, I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to be moving.” Better to just get it out there and over with.
She blinked in surprise. “Moving? This close to your due date?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Sean is getting really worried about the reporters and other people wanting to get photos. So we found a house that has great security, it’s own gate and everything.” I raised one shoulder in apprehension, afraid she would think my choice was somehow a negative reflection on Jonas, like he hadn’t taken care of me well enough or something. Probably irrational, but the fear was still there.
I watched as she took a deep breath and then heaved a sigh. “Good,” she said quietly. “That’s a good idea. I’m glad you’re doing that.”
“Really?” I asked, my body sinking in relief.
“Of course. I want you to be safe above all else. And I’ve seen some of those photos and I do not like how close those darn vipers are getting to you.”
“You’re not upset I won’t be living in the house I shared with Jonas anymore?”
“I’m”—she thought for a moment—“sad about it. It breaks my heart to have that reminder that he’s not coming back.” She pressed her lips together, nodding thoughtfully, her emotions close to the surface. “It aches knowing that you won’t be in the home that you shared with him.” She gave a little shrug. “It makes me sad.”
I sniffed. “Me too.”
♪♫♪
Even though he’d paid for the house, Sean still insisted on knocking on the back door before coming in. I just grinned and shook my head. “Come in!” I hollered as I pulled more plates out of the box.
Sean walked in and then rushed over. “No, no, no,” he said, removing the plates from my hand. “What’s the use of all this money if I can’t pay people to unpack for us?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t throw your money in my face.”
“You’re not supposed to be lifting heavy stuff.”
“It’s a plate, Sean.”
“I mean the boxes.”
“I didn’t lift the box, and even if I had, I am fully capable of knowing my own limits.”
“Are you though?” he questioned quietly.
“I’m nesting, Sean!” I brandished another plate at him. “My brain thinks it is imperative that everything be put away and in its place as soon as possible, and it doesn’t want me to wait for someone else to do it. So deal with it!”
Instead of getting defensive or sulky, he calmly wrapped me in his arms and I reluctantly burrowed my head into his shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to move out of your already prepared and organized house,” he said quietly.
“If you weren’t so garishly successful, this wouldn’t have been necessary.”
He chuckled. “I’m the worst.”
“You really are. Don’t you know it’s selfish of you to hoard all that talent?”
“I’ll work on that.”
I smiled and we lapsed into silence.
“Has it at least been nice not having to worry about people waiting out on the street for us?” he asked.
I lifted my face so I could look him in the eye. “Yes. It’s been really wonderful, actually. I do love this house,” I assured him. “And I am very happy to be somewhere safer. I’m just pregnant and that means I have to fill a daily quota for complaints.”
He laughed. “Could have fooled me. You hardly ever complain.”
“Hmm, I’ll have to work on that.”
“You do that,” he said. “Now, is there any chance you would sit on a stool and pretend to be a queen directing her servants?”
“Are you the servant?”
“Yeeees,” he said with a lazy smile.
“I suppose I could get on board with that.”
Three days later, Sean had brought in enough help and I’d done enough bossing around to feel like I had my