Page 52 of Bound to the EMT

EPILOGUE

EMMELINE

Six-month checkpoint

A happy sigh drifts from my lips as I hurry home with some snacks and supplies. Soon, the Governing Body representative will be here, and after, Branson and I get to celebrate with all our friends and family.

My heart skips a beat as I walk in and set everything down on the counter. My husband isn’t home yet, so it gives me time to prepare for my big surprise. The bond ripples between us as I try to hide my thoughts, keeping them to myself until he gets home.

It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. But based on how things jangle between us, it seems as if he’s cutting me off as well. Curiouser and Curiouser. Since we’ve bonded, neither of us has kept secrets from each other, but in my mind, as long as it’s for a surprise, it can’t be that bad.

Humming under my breath, I fiddle about with things, keeping myself busy so the bond can’t reveal the secret before I have a chance to share it. A small smile curves my lips as I prepare three bags, one for each parent, and slide the small surprise inside.

Minutes feel like hours as I wait for him, but soon he strides inside. I run into his arms and drag in his scent, needing that more than I need air. He wraps his arms around me and holds me close, his heart pounding against me as I sink into his warmth. With a soft kiss on my head, he leads me into the living room and helps me sit down.

My body squirms as excitement rolls off of me. It takes everything in my power to not blurt it out then and there, because it’s clear he has something to tell me himself. To take my mind off of it, I let my gaze drift about the room and linger on the various artworks hanging on the walls.

My artwork.

Until Branson and his family, I’ve never had anyone believe in me like they have. It’s a balm to my ragged soul, a bandage that melds my broken pieces together. Looking back into his eyes, I take in his shining gray depths.

“Wife,” he growls, the sound drifting over my body until my clit and nipples throb. “I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, yes,” I squeal, bounding around in my seat. “What is it?”

Instead of answering me, he hands me a sheet of paper. A frown pulls down my lips as I hold it up and skim. I read it, then read it again, not sure I’m completely understanding. “You’re going back to your family name?”

“Yes. I figured now is as good a time as any before any official paperwork is filed. You loved me as an Afford, so now I want you by my side as an Astorford.”

Tears prick my eyes as squeeze his hand. “Do your parents know?”

“Yes. They had to be there to finalize it.”

“What does this mean for us? Does this mean you’re not working as an EMT anymore?”

He smiles and shakes his head. “You’re not getting out of being an EMT wife that easily. I’m still going to have to take the odd shifts every now and then.”

“Oh.”

“You’re not disappointed, I hope. I can’t really get a good read on you. I thought the money didn’t matter.”

Hurt rankles through the bond for a moment, and I can’t help the tears dotting my eyes. “You misunderstand. This has nothing to do with money, or your job, or anything like that. I’m happy here with you regardless if you’re an Afford or an Astorford.”

“Then what’s going on? Please. The suspense is killing me.”

“Well, I’m just trying to figure out if our children will be an Afford or Astorford.”

A sigh drifts from his lips as he shakes his head and runs a hand across his beard. “You worried me for a moment. But any child born after this change is an Astorford. Not that we have to worry about that any time soon.”

My heart pounds in my chest as I take his hand in mine and place it on my stomach. “Maybe sooner than you think?”

His face goes slack for a moment as he stares at me. For a few heartbeats, I worry he’s not happy, but then he scoops me in his arms as he tips his head back and shouts for joy.

“Really? Truly?”

Unable to keep the grin off of my face, I dig around in my purse and pull out an ultrasound. He simply stares at it, running his finger across the small bean in the picture. “How did I not know?”

“Well, I’m pretty sure it’s because you’ve been more concerned with the process and less concerned with the result.”