Counting Stars (A Donnelley Brother's Novel) (33 page)

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Authors: Alannah Carbonneau

Tags: #romance, #loss, #adult, #emotional, #love story, #healing, #country boys, #new adult, #country boy city girl, #heart breaking romance

BOOK: Counting Stars (A Donnelley Brother's Novel)

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As you know, I’ve been living with Logan for six months
now. It’s February and I’ve spent my first winter living at the
Ranch. There is so much snow here, Derek, oh my goodness! (You know
how horrible of a driver I am when there’s snow). Logan put chains
on my tires before I even proved how horrible of a winter driver I
am. The first time I hit the ditch was because I couldn’t tell the
road apart from the ditch—you should have seen the look Logan gave
me. He was
not
impressed.

Anyway, enough about my
horrible driving. Logan and I have been really happy. He proposed!
I know it’s soon. But it also feels so blissfully right. I’ve been
going through wedding books like an obsessed woman, practically
living on my computer (not because of my work, which I am still
doing part time) but because I am constantly sending pictures and
ideas to Kat who is my far away maid of honor. We’ve planned for
the wedding to take place next fall. A beautiful September wedding
here at the Ranch. I’m excited, if you can’t already tell.

I still miss you.
Sometimes I catch myself hurting for you. Sometimes I catch myself
excited to tell you something about my day, but overall, I just
hope that you’re happy wherever you are . . .

“Reese,” Logan walked in
through the front door and I smiled up at him from where I was
curled up beside the fireplace, snuggled into a blanket. “How have
you been feeling?”

“Oh,” I waved. “I’m
alright.”

Sorry Derek, I thought
to myself. I forgot to mention that I haven’t been feeling all that
well, lately. I’m pretty sure I’ve come down with something.

Logan kicked off his
boots before shrugging out of his jacket. I watched him hang his
toque and jacket before sauntering over to me. He was carrying a
grocery bag with him. “I went to the store for some things.”

I raised a brow. “I see
that. But we didn’t need anything. I just went with Gracie a few
days ago.”

Logan nodded and I
couldn’t help but think he was nervous. “Yeah, I know you just
went.” He smiled unsurely, dipping his hand into the bag.

I watched as he produced
a little box and as my eyes zeroed on the label, my mouth dropped.
“A pregnancy test?”

Logan shrugged, “You
haven’t been feeling well for days, Reese, I thought you should at
least take it and see.”

“I’m not pregnant!” I
sputtered. “I can’t be.”

“We never use
protection, baby.” Logan grinned. “You might be.”

“But we’ve been having
sex for months, Logan. I haven’t gotten pregnant yet—I mean, we
were thinking that maybe, maybe I couldn’t.”

His eyes darkened and I
remembered how sad he’d been at the possibility that I might never
get pregnant. Reaching forward, he held my hand. “Reese, I love you
more than anything. If you’re pregnant, I’ll be the happiest man
alive and I’ll make sure you’re comfortable and that this is easy
for you.”

Tears misted my eyes and
I whispered. “But I’m afraid.”

“I know, baby. But I’m
here.” He pulled me into his lap, cradling me against his chest.
“I’ll always be here and we will do it together.”

Taking a deep breath, I
nodded. “Okay, I’ll take it.”

“Thank you.” He handed
me the box and I stared down at it, my heart racing a thousand
miles an hour. “Do you want me to come with you?”

I scowled. “To watch me
pee?”

He gave me the award
winning shit-grin. “To watch you pee on a stick.”

I stood, smacking him
playfully in the arm with the box. “Smart-ass.”

“Go pee on a stick.”
Logan shooed me away. “Bring back good news.”

I raised a brow. “What’s
good news?”

His eyes turned serious.
“You being pregnant with my baby, Reese. Nothing could make me
happier.”

My heart felt swollen
and I suddenly, for the first time in my life, hoped that I was
pregnant. “I love you, Logan.”

“I love you, city girl.”
He stood to place a kiss on my forehead. “Now hurry!”

I grinned as I padded to
the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I pulled in a deep breath
as I tore open the box. It was a good thing I had to pee—and I
hoped that the stick would glow with two pink lines when all was
said and done, because I wanted to give Logan everything he
desired.

Sitting down on the
seat, I shoved the stick between my legs and let it go. When I was
done, I placed the cap on the stick, washed my hands and stared at
the screen. I know most people flip it upside down and walk away
for the few minutes it takes to come up with an answer, but not me.
Nope, I sat down on the toilet seat and stared at the little screen
with a rapid pulse.

And then there it
was.

Two pink lines.

And then I was crying.
With joy. Placing the stick on the countertop, I opened the door.
Logan was standing in the kitchen with a bottle of wine in one hand
and a tin of hot chocolate in the other. As his eyes found mine,
taking in my tears, he frowned.

“What is it, baby?” He
placed the two drinks on the table, walking quickly to where I
stood in the middle of the floor. “What did it say? Are we
celebrating with hot chocolate or drinking wine and trying all
night tonight?”

I giggled through my
tears at his hopeful expression. “Hot chocolate!” I sniffled
happily. “We’re having a baby!”

He laughed. The sound
was one of pure, perfect happiness and infectious joy. I felt it
right in the center of my heart. Pulling me tight against his
chest, he picked my feet up off the floor and spun me around in a
circle. “Tell me you’re happy.”

I assured against his
neck, as I held on tight. “I’m so happy, Logan. We’re starting our
family.”

“City girl, I love
you.”

“Country boy, I love you
more.”

The Donnelley Brothers
Series

continues with Book Two

Counting Stars
means so much to me—it’s incredible just how deeply I love this
novel. This idea came to me when I had a fleeting fear, as I
sometimes do, that my fiancé Collin, might not come home. As a
woman, I believe we all have this fear. As a human being, I believe
we all fear the possibility of losing a loved one.

While writing this
novel, I was on one emotional roller coaster ride, but let me tell
you, it was a beautiful ride. Writing about Reese’s love for both
Derek and Logan was difficult in a sense, because I was placing my
heart in Reese’s characters shoes, and God, did it ever hurt to
think of ever losing Collin (my fiancé). I myself, have never lost
a loved one in such a way, but I know that there are women out
there who have lost the man that they love—and I pray that I’ve
captured the tug of war, beauty and pain, that is the life after
loss.

Thank you, from the
bottom of my heart, for reading this novel. I hope that I’ve made
you laugh—I hope that I’ve made you cry. I hope you were so
immersed in the world I created, that your toes curled and your
heart sped as you read through the journey Reese traveled toward
healing after such a terrible loss. I hope you fell in love,
alongside Reese, with Logan and his beautiful soul.

Thank you again!

-XXX-