Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 101398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Her knees shake, and so does her breathing.
“Norah, please, I’m begging you…would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
“Bennett…I…I have to tell you something.”
It’s not the answer I’m expecting, but I’ll be honest, I was expecting a no. This…I think I can handle.
“Is the thing you have to tell me ‘Yes,’ by any chance?”
“Bennett…I’m…I’m pregnant.”
A candle blows out in the corner and then another one at the side, and before I know it, the whole room is cloaked in darkness. And then, just like it never happened, the candles are lit again.
“What was that?” Norah whispers, scared. And that’s when it hits me that this is Summer’s way of saying hello.
My throat is thick as I choke around a ball of emotion. “Pregnant?”
“I just found out,” she whispers. “And I know this is probably not the best time for you to hear this news, and I know—”
“Norah, I love you,” I tell her and rise to my feet. In an instant, I pull her into my arms. “Marry me. Be with me. Raise our baby with me.”
“You’re…” She pauses and leans back to meet my eyes. Tears stream down her cheeks, and her bottom lip quivers with her words. “You’re okay with this?”
“Okay with this? Norah, I want it all, and I want it with you.” I press my lips to hers, taking her mouth in the kind of kiss I’ve been desperate to feel with her for what feels like forever. “Marry me,” I say again, my lips just barely grazing hers.
And this time, she answers.
“Yes, Bennett. Of course, yes.”
My life and all its scary parts flash before me like a blinding light. And then, peace.
Just like that…we’ve made it to the good part.
Tuesday, November 9th
Norah
With Bennett’s new paintbrush tucked in my mouth, I grab the mug of coffee I just made in one hand and my laptop in the other and rush to the side door of the house to get to the studio.
For the past few weeks, he’s been back in his studio and painting. And with the pace he’s been going lately, I know he’s been up and working for hours. But when it comes to me being able to wake up in the mornings and start my day when he starts his, this pregnancy is kicking my ass.
I’m halfway there when my phone rings in my pocket, and I have to shuffle to figure out how I can free up a hand. Bennett’s log-splitting station is nearby, so I make a quick jog, set down the steaming coffee, and grab my phone out of my pocket just as the ringtone is coming to an end.
There’s no time to look at the caller, so on a wing and a prayer, I put it up to my ear and say, “Hello?”
“Hi there. May I speak with Norah Ellis, please?”
My eyebrows knit together slightly. “This is she.”
“Hi, Norah. My name’s Amanda. I’m Dr. Vesper’s nurse, calling from Burlington Women’s Group. Dr. Vesper wanted me to call to let you know that we got the results of the genetic testing back from your blood work.”
Tears sting my eyes as every emotion flashes through me in a blink. Hope and worry and happiness and a sad, deep longing for Summer. Missing her is just part of who I am now. And I know that goes for Bennett, too, but on an even deeper level.
Two weeks after he proposed and we reunited, I had my first ultrasound, and the audible sounds of our baby’s heartbeat brought us both to tears. It felt like Summer was in the room with us. Like she was right there, watching the screen, and witnessing her little brother or sister move around in my belly.
But ever since then, in the back of my mind, I’ve been waiting on pins and needles to find out the results of my blood work.
“Do you have a minute for me to go over them with you?”
I inhale a deep breath and brace myself. “Yes.”
It doesn’t matter that I’m standing in the middle of the frigid outdoors of Vermont in November or that I was already running behind. I’d stop in a pool of fresh lava to hear this without delay.
“Okay, great. Let’s see. As far as genetic abnormalities…we didn’t find any. With the risk of OI, we’ll likely do another ultrasound at eighteen weeks or so to be conclusive, but Dr. Vesper is fairly confident we’re looking at a happy, healthy baby.”
I swallow hard, putting a hand over my mouth to stop a sob. Everything inside me feels like it’s just been released from a vise. “We can also tell you the sex, if you’d like. Is that something you’re interested in knowing, or would you like to wait?”
Truly, I hadn’t even considered whether we’d find out or not, but right now, in this moment, I know with absolute certainty. “I want to know.”