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I watch her sleep in the early dawn hours, not wanting to wake her up. I see the dark circles under her eyes and I’m not sure if it’s from traveling or from the weariness of the past nine months. I get out of bed, pull on a pair of sweats, and make my way to the coffee pot.
I grab my phone and call my secretary, Tina, and leave a message on her work line. I let her know I won’t be back in the office until Monday and I’ll be working remotely.
My next order of business is calling Declan and letting him know the news, but that will have to wait. It’s too early and if I wake up Kendall, I’d never hear the end of it.
Making myself a cup of coffee is the next order of business, before I look to see what’s in the refrigerator that I can make for breakfast. I see there are bagels, eggs, cheese, and bacon. I’ll make us a bagel sandwich. Then, as soon as the doctor’s office opens, I’ll see if I can’t get Larissa in there right away.
I know she said she went to the doctor while she was out in bum fuck Wyoming. I’d just feel better having her see one here.
Once my coffee is made, I grab my mug, snag my laptop, and make my way to the outside patio. I’m thankful it isn’t too cold out yet and I can sit outside and work.
My laptop is up and running and I’m deep into my e-mails when I hear the sliding glass door open. I look at the clock and see I’ve only been out here an hour and it’s still too early for Larissa to be up.
Her hair is piled on top of her head haphazardly, she’s got on my discarded shirt from last night and I can see she went rifling through my drawers to find a pair of socks to put on before coming out.
“Morning, baby,” I tell her as she comes closer. She bends down to kiss me, and I bring her to sit on my lap.
“Morning, Jake. You know, I’m too big to be sitting on your lap now,” I can hear the raspiness in her voice from sleep.
“Bullshit, you’re right where you belong,” I tell her. She takes my mug and before I can tell her she’s not allowed to have caffeine, she brings the cup up to her nose and inhales the scent.
I chuckle, knowing how much Larissa loves coffee. Even though I was about to open my mouth and make an ass out of myself, I know she’d never put our child in any kind of unwarranted danger.
We talked for hours on ends as best friends. She knew she wanted to be a better Mom than the one she had growing up. Her mom was more interested in herself than she was in taking care of Larissa. Her father wasn’t much better. He barely held down a job to keep a roof over their head. I couldn’t imagine the way Larissa grew up. My parents have always been my biggest fans.
“God, I miss coffee. Decaf isn’t the same. Not that I drink that either. I’m too scared of what would happen if I did,” she grumbles.
“Not much longer now, though,” I reply.
“I don’t see caffeine at all in my future, especially if I plan on nursing.” She looks back at my coffee wistfully. I can envision it now, her nursing our son or daughter. Her body nourishing our child with her own milk. Fuck, what it does to me.
“That’s something you’re planning on doing?” I ask.
“If my body will allow it, I’ll nurse our child as long as I can,” she says.
I’m dying to tell her my feelings, but I don’t want to spook her and make her leave again. Damn, do I love this woman.
“I’m so thankful to have you as the mother of our child, Rissa,” I use the name that’s reserved only for me. She once told me how she hated the nickname “Rissy”. To tease her, I started calling her Rissa. She never once told me not to, so I ran with it.
“You’re going to make me cry, Jake,” she says as she faceplants into my neck. I hold her until she settles down and the sun is high in the sky.
Chapter Ten
Larissa
My emotions have been a roller coaster the past couple of days. When I told Jake I was going to look for an apartment, he was adamant that I stay with him. He didn’t give me the chance to hedge. Jake simply took my keys and unloaded my car with all of my belongings and dumped them in the master bedroom closet.
I’m officially all moved in. The next thing I need to do is start looking for a job. Obviously, not until after the baby is born. I’m really glad I have money saved up. Babies are not cheap, and I don’t want Jake to feel like he has to pay for everything.
