Page 138 of Mommy

“This contract isn’t to protect me, or the kids, Ivy… it’s to protect you. I am marrying you and no one else. And I don’t need to make sure that I am protected. I am your husband, and as that, my sole purpose from now on forward is to make sure that you are happy and safe. I will protect you and keep you safe, and it doesn’t matter if you love me and stay with me as I do so. You are free to go wherever you want, you are free to leave my side and find happiness elsewhere…. but I promise you, I will do anything in my power to make sure that never happens. This prenup is a safety net not for me, but for you. You deserve this safety more than I ever did, and it’s an honor to me that I can make sure it’s there should you ever need it. You have felt unsafe too much in life already, so I never want you to feel that again. If you stay with me until we are old and wrinkly, I want you to do so because you want to… not because it’s your only safe option.”

“I love you.” My words are choked, sobs making my lips quiver even as I press my knuckles against them to steady myself.

Derek’s hands capture mine and his thumb strokes over the ring on my hand. His ring.

“I love you too, Ivory.”

Epilogue two

Derek

“I’m taking her.”

Ivory has her arms crossed over her belly, forearms resting on the significant bump. Her eyebrows are drawn and the glint in her baby blue eyes dares me to tell her no.

Despite her petite body she stands in front of the shelter kennel like a guard dog, ready to get physical if need be.

I’d be more than willing to be physical with her.

Rubbing my face with both my palms, I groan. This is not the time.

When she called me because of an emergency I was fully prepared to fight death itself. I never left work that quick before. And for what? For her to be standing here, glaring at me like I’m what’s wrong with the world.

“Ivory, Honey—” I start, but she interrupts me.

“No, Derek.”

I internally cringe at the way she uses my name instead of one of the gazillion nicknames she usually addresses me with.

She’s serious.

“This sweet baby momma has been here for weeks. She came with 5 puppies and all of them got adopted. And no one wants her. She’s been all alone. I don’t know how much longer she has before she gets urgent. She deserves better than this. I’m taking her.”

The dog in the kennel behind her has all the physical attributes of an abandoned mommy for sure. The sad eyes, the sagging belly and hanging teats.

Letting my hands fall back to my sides, I take a deep breath.

“What about Posie?”

“They’ll get along.” Ivory snorts as if that’s the only possible option and honestly? I know my girl. Posie will probably love this additional dog. I haven’t once seen her not like another… anything, so… Ivory is probably right about that part.

The smile is already creeping into my cheeks, but I shake my head anyway.

“You are not adopting this dog.” I say as sternly as I can.

Ivory just snorts, her lips pulling into a tight line.

“Watch me.”

She tries to wriggle away when I reach for her, but I pull her so close that her baby bump touches my lower abs.

“You married me.” I remind her, brushing my nose over the top of her head and throwing another glance into the kennel behind her. “You agreed to make decisions together, baby. So, you are not adopting this dog. We are.”

I breathe in the scent of her, that perfect combination of orange blossoms and vanilla. How could I ever say no to this girl?

My girl.

She married me.