Page 59 of Runaway Girl

Ever so slowly, Alicia grasped my hand and pressed my palm flat against her lower abdomen. A sudden warmth rushed through me as my lungs seized from the deliberate statement.

My baby.Our baby.

“Are you happy?” Alicia asked, tears freely running down her cheeks.

I rushed forward planting my lips on hers before I dropped to my knees once more, my face buried in her stomach to try and staunch the onslaught of emotions. “Happy? I never thought this would happen for me, love.” I peppered kisses over her middle, loving on my girl and our little creation.

Then, after a long minute, I looked up at my fiancé, freely giving her my tears and my joy beaming from within. “You gave me a family, Ali. Youaremy happiness.”

We were shortly surrounded byourfamily, accompanied by Rudy Harris sniffling through the phone. I was one lucky son of a bitch. Enveloped by so much love that I was near bursting with gratitude.

Through Alicia, I had found the future I had never dared to hope for but dreamed of all the same.

She was my purpose. My future. A distant wish, come to life.

Raising to stand, I shifted and pressed my forehead against hers, then whispered one last vow over the seal of her lips. “Thank you for running back to me, love. Thank you for giving me this life.Thank you.”