Billion Dollar Stranger - Stephanie Brother Page 0,69

up to no good." she smiles.

The cousins laugh in unison, hugging tightly in the way that family who truly love each other react. They look uncomfortable only because their bellies obstruct the hug, making their butts stick out. Ryan stands and reaches out to shake my hand again. "Well done, Aaron," he says. "Well done."

Nicole disentangles from Jessie’s arms and looks at her cousin-in-law. "What do you mean, ‘Well done, Aaron’? His involvement in this process was pretty short-lived."

"Really?" Jessie wiggles her eyebrows, and we all laugh.

"I'd prefer it if you'd say my involvement was epically memorable," I say.

"Well of course it was, darling." I love it when Nicole calls me that. With her clipped British accent, she sounds like an extra from a British period drama.

"Was it me, or did that sound patronizing?" I roll my eyes but smile broadly as Nicole rests her hand on her belly. I can't tell you what it does to me to see her like this, to know that she's carrying my child inside her. A small shiver of worry passes through me, but I shake my head to shift it. Nicole is fine. Her heart is strong. The doctors have no concerns. I can tell myself all of that but knowing about Nicole’s heart defect will mean that I will always have an extra level of worry about her health, especially now her body is under additional pressure.

Abbey drops Fluffy onto her father's knee and tells him to kiss her toy. Ryan does without hesitation. He's certainly a man who's used to being a father to a demanding little girl.

"Sean is making the most delicious meal for us," Nicole tells her cousin. "Are you hungry? I'll tell him to bring it up."

"Sure," Jessie says. "I could eat."

"She can always eat," Ryan says. "I swear that baby is really a giant tapeworm."

Jessie screws up her pretty face. "So gross."

"Mommy has a worm inside her?" Abbey says, bringing her hands up to press against her small round cheeks in shock.

"No, I don't," Jessie says. "Daddy's just being silly."

Abbey swats Ryan's knee as though she's scolding a naughty toddler. "Daddy…you told a lie."

Ryan lifts the giant rabbit into the air. "It was a joke, sweetie," he says. "Here, catch."

Abbey grabs hold of Fluffy. "Bunnies don't fly," she says.

"I hope you're getting ready for this," Ryan says. "Girls don't turn into women. They're born women, just in smaller bodies."

Everyone laughs with genuine warmth, and I'm filled with relaxed happiness from the inside out. There was a time when I didn't believe that I'd ever feel this way. There was a time when I could clearly see the emptiness of my life stretching before me like a dusty road to nowhere. There was no capacity for trust in my heart, no belief that I'd ever be capable of letting someone in again.

But then I met Nicole.

I watch my wife call down to Sean and ask him to bring food for our guests. She's reluctantly gotten used to having some help around the house. More so since she's been tired during the pregnancy. With only two more months to go until we temporarily relocate to England, things have changed a lot. Her mind is on the move.

We spent much of the beginning of our relationship bridging the Atlantic to come together. I didn't want her to give up her life for something that I couldn't guarantee. We trod so carefully around each other's feelings, and it worked.

Slowly, we built confidence.

When I asked Nicole to marry me, I asked her if she'd be prepared to relocate to Atlanta. I needed her to be in my bed for more than just weekends and vacation time. I needed some certainty, and leaving my company behind just wasn't an option. I promised her that she could spend as much time in England as she wanted. She agreed without hesitation.

But when we spoke about starting a family, she told me she wanted to have the baby in London so she could be near her family. I agreed because I understand the sacrifice that she's made to be with me.

We'll be in London for six months. Two months before the baby is born to get my Kensington house ready for our family. Four months for Nicole to have the support of her mom and dad. I told her I'd pay for her to have the baby at a private hospital, but she's opted to use the local hospital. "We have great free healthcare, and