Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“No,” Winnie rushes to tell her. “Harrison just thinks we’re having a girl. We find out at our next appointment.”
“You.” She pokes me in the side, causing us all to laugh.
“What are we doing here?” I ask Winnie.
“Registry. Well, kind of. We’re making a list.” She points to the notebook paper in front of her.
“I tried to get her to let me register her online, but she said you were taking her.”
“Babe, you do it however you need to. If online is easier, then we’ll do that.”
“No, I like the idea of going to the store and strolling up and down the aisles.”
“We going tonight?”
“Yes.” Her eyes light up with excitement. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be home early enough,” she comments.
“Told you I would be.” I know it’s going to take some time for her to get used to this, to get used to the fact that she can trust my word, and I hate that. I never once stepped out of our marriage, but not keeping my word is just as bad in my eyes.
“Can I go?” Gabby asks.
“That’s up to you, Winnie. I’m going to go grab a quick shower while you ladies figure it out. We’ll grab dinner while we’re out.”
“Harrison,” Winnie calls, and I stop in my tracks turning to look at her.
“Welcome home.”
“No place I’d rather be.” I race upstairs and strip out of my clothes while the water heats. I rush through the shower and dress in shorts and a T-shirt. My feet thunder down the steps to find my wife and sister-in-law waiting by the door. “Ready?”
“Yes.” They both clap their hands and wiggle around as if they are toddlers and I just told them that I was taking them to Disneyland.
“I’m so excited,” Gabby says as we make our way to my truck.
“This is really happening,” Winnie says, stopping at the passenger side door.
“Peanut will be here before we know it,” I add, placing my palm over her small bump.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Gabby quips, pulling our attention from one another to her.
“See what day?” Winnie asks, reading my mind.
“The day Harrison and Gwen were… you again. This is how you were before things got bad, and it’s inspiring. I want a love like that someday. One like the two of you, and Mom and Dad. You two finding your way back to each other gives me hope that there’s someone out there for me.”
“There is.” Winnie leans into me, and I wrap my arms around her. “You’re going to find him, and then you’ll understand,” she says softly, her gaze meeting mine.
“Understand what?” Gabby asks, but Winnie’s eyes stay on me. Green orbs shining with happiness and love, all directed at me.
“Understand that when you give your heart away, when you truly find the one, you’ll never get it back. No matter the circumstances.”
“I love you.” I bend and press my lips to hers.
“Come on, you two, we’ve got a baby to shop for.” Gabby pulls open the back door of my truck, and climbs inside.
The girls chatter back and forth during the drive about the items on the list, and everything a baby needs. From clothes to bottles to diapers, they cover it. I chime in when I can, but I’m content to just be here with them. Soaking up all the baby information that I can. Soaking up as much time with Winnie, and hell, even Gabby, as I can. She’s always been a big part of our lives, and I missed her too. She’s been a little sister to me. I lost my second family, not just my wife.
The girls insist on the baby store first, so that’s what we do. Aisle after aisle, we scan so many items it’s hard for me to believe one tiny human needs so much. Then again, some of it I know is overkill. Like the jazzed-up swing I scanned. That thing has like fifteen functions, and the reviews online said it was the best. Yes, I checked. I’m that dad who stands in the middle of the aisle checking safety and parent-approval reviews online before scanning. It’s my job to keep Peanut safe, and I’m taking it seriously.
Chapter 14
Winnie
* * *
“What time does the boat set sail?” I ask my sister as I slide out of my car and head toward the front entrance of All Fit.
“Ten in the morning. Dad says it’s gassed up and ready to go,” Gabby confirms.
Tomorrow is supposed to be an amazingly beautiful August Saturday, and my sister has been bugging me to take our parents’ pontoon boat out on the lake. Our town was built around Fair Lake, and during the summer months, everyone congregates to their boats and rafts for weekend fun. Harrison and I used to take the boat out often, after he’d get off work on Saturday afternoon, but when his dreams of expansion started to take off, our weekend getaways were put on hold, much like our relationship in general.