Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: Unexpected Plans (Kindle Worlds Novella) (7 page)

Everything was too complicated. She opened her eyes and looked at Walt, who was waiting for an answer.

"Did you hear him?" she asked.

"Of course I did. I'm old, not deaf." He laughed then pulled out a chair for Keira. "Listen, I don't know what's going on, and I'm not the meddling type, but I think I know you both well enough to give you some advice. Interested?"

"Yes. You know I've always respected your opinion. You've been like a second father to me, and I've always appreciated that."

"I know you have, dear. And I also know that you really miss your parents. I've seen you hold back with me. You keep me at arm's length, and I know it's because you're afraid of losing the people who get close to you."

She nodded, happy to not have to explain that.

"Griffin loves you very much," he said. "I've known this for years. Not because he ever told me, he would never do that, but because I can tell. I saw it back when you were kids, and by gosh, I see it even more clearly now. Talk to him. Whatever's going on, I have every faith that you two can work it out. Just talk to him. I know he's my son, but really, that's all I'm asking of you."

Keira knew Walt was right, it just wasn't like her to wear her feelings on her sleeve or to talk about things like that. She was used to dealing with things herself, on her own.

She left Walt's office and found Griffin still standing by the elevators. He pulled her close to him and took her hand again. She loved being so close to him. She loved him. There was so much she wanted to tell him, so many things she needed to say, but she didn't know how to start.

Chapter Eleven

Keira's answer ripped through Griffin's heart, but he refused to take no for an answer. Her hand was still in his and she couldn't tear her eyes away. He could see she felt the same as him, but there was something she was keeping from him. Something she was hiding.

"Keira, what's this about?" he asked. "What's going on?"

Her brow furrowed as she shook her head quickly. Confusion crossed her face before she grabbed hold of her emotions and covered them up.

"It's just that I had plans," she whispered. "I didn't think things would happen this way, and I'm sure you didn't either."

"Talk to me." Griffin stood and put his hands on her shoulders. He could feel her trembling, and he wanted more than anything to comfort her and make it stop. "Tell me what's going on."

"No," she said. "I just need some time to myself. I need to think. I need to be alone."

She stepped back from Griffin and shook her head.

"Keira, please. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together. I love you, and that's all that matters."

She spun towards the elevator, but her heel caught on the rug. As she fell to the ground, Griffin caught her, but her bag flipped over and emptied its contents onto the floor.

Keira scrambled around as she started shoving her things back into her bag.

"Where is it?" she muttered as she looked around.

Griffin spotted a pale pink stick just out of her reach. He picked it up and at the same time, their eyes met.

"Give me that, please," she said.

"When were you going to tell me?"

He turned from her and glanced at the pregnancy test. He saw the result clearly and even though he was surprised, he couldn't help the excitement and joy it brought him.

"When I knew something for sure."

"You mean you don't know?" he asked.

"No," she said as she stood up. “I took it before I came up but never got to see the results." She reached up for the test, but he held it away.

He was stunned she had no idea and decided to use that to his advantage.

"So you're saying that I know something you don't," he said. As much as he didn't want to give anything away, he couldn't help but grin.

"Then just tell me."

"No, not until you say you'll marry me."

"I'm not going to say that," she said. "Right now you have the test, you know the answer. So I don't know if you're saying you want to marry me because it's negative and you don't want kids but you want to be with me, or because it's positive and you feel obligated."

"Have I ever told you that you think too much?"

"You used to all the time when we were younger."

"It's good to see that some things don't change," he said. "I asked you to marry me before I even knew this was a possibility. A month ago, I asked you to move in with me."

"Technically you told me to move in with you." Keira fought a smile spreading across her lips but lost.

"I know that none of this goes along with your planned-out life, but sometimes the most spontaneous and impulsive things are the best moments," Griffin said. "Sometimes unexpected plans are the ones worth having." He balanced the test between the tips of his fingers. "Did you mean to say no before?"

"No," she said sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I'm just scared. The only people I loved died. I was afraid of losing you like I lost my parents. Don't try to make sense of it. It's just my whole life has been turned upside down since you came back into it. That week we were together was amazing, and it had nothing to do with where we were."

"I know it didn't, all that mattered was that we were together. That's how it always was with us. So why did you really say no?"

"I just needed to know the results before I said anything. Can you tell me now?"

"No."

"No?"

He shook his head. "I know you love planning things and you know how impulsive I can be, but you know what? I think that's what makes us work. We balance each other out." He slipped his arm around her and pulled her close but still kept the test out of her reach. "There are only a few things in life I'm sure about, Keira, and one is that I love you, I've always loved you. Two is that no matter what, I want us to spend the rest of our lives together."

"And three?" she asked as she looked up into his eyes.

"Three is that you're going to make an amazing mom."

Chapter Twelve

Eight Months Later

Keira watched the scenery speed by as Griffin drove to his parents' home. Shortly after the first ultrasound, he insisted they needed an SUV so he purchased a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S with every available option. She had to admit she liked the car, even if today the curvy roads were adding nausea to her usual heartburn.

Last week had been her last day with Turner and Turner. After accepting Griffin's proposal, she had read through the case against him, and one thing stood out from the woman's complaint. It was her signature. Keira did a little digging and discovered the woman was using an alias. She was part of a large syndicate of con artists and thought Griffin was an easy mark after she read an article in a magazine.

As they drove up the curved driveway leading to the Goodrichs’ Georgian-style mansion, Keira felt a cramp run through her abdomen. She winced and rested her hand on her round belly.

"Everything alright?" Griffin asked, his face filled with concern.

"Yes, I'm fine. Just a weird cramp." She grabbed his hand and put it on her moving belly. "He's stretching."

As they approached the house, Nilsson came into view. He was gently wiping his Ferrari with a shammy.

A cramp shot through her abdomen again and she gasped.

"I saw that," Griffin said. "We're going to the hospital."

"No, I'm fine. It's probably just the breakfast burrito."

"Better safe than sorry, Keira. I'll just run in and tell my parents."

As Griffin ran inside, Nilsson waved and walked over to the Porsche. Keira lowered the passenger window.

"Everything okay? Where's Griffin going?" he asked.

"I'm having some weird cramps," she said. "Griffin thinks I should go to the hospital—"

"The hospital? Oh, then we should be on our way."

Griffin stepped outside with his parents as Nilsson ran towards the garage.

"I'll bring the Maybach around front," he called out. "I'm driving!"

"No, wait," Keira said, but it was too late. Everyone was going to the hospital with her.

Keira sat in the front passenger seat to make it easy for her to get in and out of the car. Griffin sat behind her and held her hand while Nilsson drove.

The hospital was at the other end of the old downtown. Keira was feeling better and hadn't had a cramp since they left. She was looking at the old buildings as they drove through the town's main street when she noticed City Hall.

"Stop!" she screamed.

Nilsson slammed on the brakes.

"What is it? Did your water break?" Griffin asked.

"No, I'm fine. But that's City Hall. I know we're planning a big wedding after the baby is born, but I don't know. I want to get married now."

"Now?" Nilsson asked. "I'll find parking."

Walt, Emme, Griffin, Keira, and Nilsson entered City Hall, and Keira took the lead. She found the department that issued marriage licenses and as she took the form, another cramp shot through her abdomen.

The form floated to the ground as Griffin put his arms around her.

"I'm fine," she said.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"I've never been more sure about anything."

"I can't believe you're being so impulsive." Griffin leaned closer to Keira. "It's sexy as hell."

She giggled before another cramp stopped her. Tears filled her eyes.

"How long is this going to take?" Walt grumbled to the woman seated behind the counter.

"Well, once the form is completed, they'll have to wait for the next available judge unless they make an appointment," she said. "We always recommend appointments."

"We don't have time for that. Where's the judge?" Walt looked around then noticed a tall man in robes heading towards the men's room. "Excuse me, Your Honor."

The judge turned around. "Yes?"

Griffin helped Keira sit on a wooden bench as she started to regulate her breathing.

"My future daughter-in-law is in labor and wants to get married now. How long will this take?" Walt asked.

Keira gasped as pain wracked through her middle.

"I'm in the middle of reviewing documents, plus I'm not on duty for officiating weddings today," the judge said.

Walt's face scrunched. He glanced over at Keira and nodded his head before turning back to the judge.

"I will give you $100,000 if you come with us to the hospital and marry my kids on the way."

The judge's jaw dropped open. His eyes moved from Walt over to Griffin and Keira. Slowly, he started to nod.

"I have kids of my own," he said. "And grandchildren, too. Let's go."

The clerk waved the license in the air, and Walt grabbed it as they joined Nilsson in the waiting car.

Griffin squeezed in the front of the Maybach between Nilsson and Keira while the judge sat directly behind them.

"Fly, Nilsson," Griffin said.

With a nod, Nilsson pulled the car onto the street. He had spent a summer working as a New York City cab driver when he was younger, and it was time to put that driving experience to good use.

"Dearly beloved," the judge said.

Keira began to breath rhythmically like she learned in a class they took a couple of months ago. Pain drove through her body, and she squeezed Griffin's hand as she gritted her teeth.

"Breathe, honey," Griffin said.

"What do you think I'm doing?" she growled.

"Quicker, Your Honor. Get to the important part," he said.

"Yes, yes, what was I thinking?" the judge said, flustered. The car jerked as Nilsson quickly changed lanes. "Keira, do you?"

She nodded. "I do."

"And do you, Griffin?" the judge asked.

"I definitely do."

"Then by the powers vested in me by the state of Washington, I pronounce you husband and wife."

"Go ahead, Griffin," Walt spoke up from the back of the car. "Kiss your bride."

Griffin's eyes met Keira's before his lips softly met hers.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too," she said as she gently squeezed his hand.

As he wrapped his arms around her, Nilsson pulled the car to a stop next to the emergency room doors.

***

Ten hours later, Keira held her baby boy in her arms. Griffin peeked into the blanket at the sleeping baby then kissed his wife on the forehead.

"Did you call Monica?" she asked.

"Yes, my mom said she's been waiting with them."

"Is the judge still here, too? I never got to thank him."

"I'm sure he knows. But if you want, we can visit him at City Hall one day. Dad said he wouldn't accept the money."

"Really?"

Griffin nodded. "Yes, he said if it was burning a hole in Dad’s pocket, he could donate it to charity. He said seeing how happy we were was enough. Well, that and having a good story to tell his family."

As Walt, Emme, Monica, and Nilsson entered the room, they rushed over to see the baby. Emme hugged her son then kissed Keira on her cheek.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Walt asked.

"Not yet," Griffin said. "We had a few ideas, but Keira doesn't think any of them fit."

"Mind if I make a suggestion?" Walt asked with a sly smile.

"Sure," Keira said. "What is it?"

"It's probably Walter," Griffin said. "I can tell he's up to something."

"Well, I do think Walter is a splendid name for a child, but I actually had something different in mind. What do you think about the name Joseph?"

"Hmm…Joseph," Keira said. "Did you know that was my grandfather's name? What do you think of Joseph Goodrich?" She looked up at Griffin.

"What about Joseph Rivera Goodrich?" he asked.

Keira thought for a moment and then nodded. "I think it's perfect, just like him."

"Then he takes after his mother," Griffin said as he took the baby from her. "Because you are absolutely perfect."

Keira looked up at Griffin as he leaned down and kissed her lips. She was grateful for every day she was with him and she knew he felt the same. As Griffin rocked the baby in his arms, she thought about what he said about unexpected plans being the ones worth having. He was right.

The End

Thank you for reading
Unexpected Plans
, part of the
Melody Anne Billionaire Universe for Kindle Worlds
. I hope you enjoyed it!

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