Page 114 of Takedown

“Hmm,” is all Jason says.

“You guys want dinner?” Adam asks our guests, and they both say yes. “And where are my nieces?”

“They are spending the night with Mom,” Jason says.

“What the hell is that smell?” I ask again when Adam uncovers a dish and sticks it in the microwave.

“I think it’s chicken and dumplings.” I make a gagging sound and Jason narrows his eyes.

Alex comes and sits next to me on the couch. “Mellie, could you be pregnant?” she asks.

Adam freezes and then slowly turns around. He approaches and now all three of them are staring at me.

“Um, absolutely not. I’m worn out, that’s all. Between our wedding, honeymoon, work, and school I’m exhausted. I never miss a pill so I can’t be pregnant.”

Jason looks around again and says, “No birth control is one hundred percent effective, Mellie.”

“Well, I can’t be because we have too much going on. I’m in law school, for heaven’s sake.”

“If ever there was a reason, law school would be it,” Jason says back with a dramatic eyeroll.

“Why didn’t I think of this before? It makes sense, Mel. No birth control can withstand what went down on our honeymoon.”I feel my cheeks redden. Alex laughs and Jason makes a gagging sound.

“Adam!” I admonish.

“I have a pregnancy test downstairs.” Alex runs out, and I refuse to acknowledge the possibility out loud, but all the symptoms make sense now that I think about it. I haven’t had my period since the week before our wedding, but I blamed that on stress.

Alex returns a few minutes later. I take the test from her and run to the bathroom. Adam follows right behind me.

“I can pee alone, stud,” I tell him.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight from now until that baby is born.” He puts a palm on my belly.

When I look into his eyes, I can see the love. He wants this. I wrap my arms around him, and he rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up, Adam.”

He kisses the side of my neck and pulls me closer. I know him. In his mind, I’m pregnant.

“Too late. I’m already thinking of names. We’re having a baby.”

I ask him to turn his back while I pee on the stick. It takes less than a minute for two pink lines to appear. The second it’s confirmed, my husband lifts me off my feet and carries me bridal style out of the bathroom. He gently lays me on the couch, but instead of covering me, he kneels down, presses his face to my stomach, and kisses me.

“Does this mean what I think it means?” Alex asks.

“I have my love, and soon I’m going to have a little love,” my husband says.

THE END.