Second Chance Hero (37 page)

“Open it.” She smiles, standing next to my chair and
leaning into it.

“You really want me to open it?” I ask, sensing her
nerves. She must have tried a new recipe.

“I can't wait to see you open it.”

I hesitate, wondering what she’s come up with this
time. I didn’t like the peanut butter ones last night. She overdid the peanut
butter and it got stuck to the roof of my mouth. I open the box, praying it’s
lemon or butterscotch.

There are nine cakes in the box – too many for me to
eat. But it’s the decoration that stops my heart. They alternate between mint
green and lemon yellow, with a white letter piped on each little cupcake.

‘I’m pregnant’

“Holy motherfucking shit.” I choke as my hands and eyes
stay frozen on the cakes, “We’re having a baby?”

I manage to turn my head to see Jenna nodding,
slowly, the fear of my reaction clearly displayed on her face.

We’re having a baby.

We’re having a fucking baby.

A real life baby. Half Jenna and half me.

A baby.

“Deac?” She whispers, touching my hand and
redirecting me to put the box down.

“We got our honeymoon baby?” I ask.

We thought it would take longer. Jenna didn’t get
her injection the August after I proposed, but the nurse told her it can take
up to five years to conceive when women come off the depo-something. They can
re-evaluate that estimate. We’re having a baby.

“I’m not sure. We have to have a scan to see how far
along I am.” She slides onto my lap and looks at me, still wary of my reaction,
“Are you happy?”

“I’m going to be a dad.” I say, more to myself
because although we’ve been letting mother nature do her thing for a year and a
half, I’m in shock, “And you’re going to be a mum, baby. I couldn't be fucking
happier.”

She relaxes as the worry leaves her and I pull her
to me, caging her in my embrace.

“Can we do a test?”

“What?” She sits back, the fear back in her eyes.

“I want to see the little blue line on the stick. I
believe you and I’m the happiest man alive. I just want us to do one together.”

A smile creeps onto her face, and she reaches for
her bag, pulling out a long foil packet, “I hoped you’d say that. Race you to
the house.”

She bolts from the office and I hear her heels
clicking on the metal steps on her way out of the office. I grab her stuff and
chase after her. The work can wait.

I’m going to be a dad.

“I have an idea.” Jenna says, trailing her finger
through my chest hair.

We’re lying on the bed, with Jenna’s head on my
chest, her leg slung over mine. One of my arms is round her shoulder, the other
holds the little white stick above us as we look at the little window with
‘Pregnant 3+ weeks’ in it.

“So it means we created a miracle how long ago?” I
ask. She’s already told me, but it’s confusing as hell.

“It means we created life more than three weeks ago.
The leaflet said the doctor will date it five weeks and over on a twenty-eight
day cycle.” She rolls her eyes and laughs when I stare at her, at a loss, “It
means I’m five weeks. Or more. I booked an appointment with the doctor for
tomorrow. They had a cancellation. I know you have to work so-”

“I’ll be there.”

“Deac. I’ll probably just pee in a pot and that’ll
be it.”

“I’ll be there.”

She smiles, glad I insisted. I’m not missing one
minute of this. We agreed we’d take one day at a time. Treat every day as if it
will be our last. But that went out the window the minute she told me she’s
pregnant. We’ve got nine months, and a life of parenthood to plan for.

“So my idea.” She turns and rests her head on her
hand, looking up at me, “I know it’s early. And it’s up for discussion, but-”

She stops, looking away and I watch her eyes gloss.

“What’s the matter?” I ask, placing the stick on the
nightstand and pulling her into me, “I’ll love your idea, no matter what it
is.”

“The baby was created because of your dad.” She
grimaces, “That’s gross. We would never be together if it wasn’t him and his
antics beyond the grave... if we have a boy... I want to name him after your
dad.”

I stop breathing, “You’d do that?”

“Yes. And give him my dad’s name too.”

“Dominic Esteban Reid?” She nods, and my heart
flutters in excitement, “Sounds like a heartbreaker.”

“Oh, he’ll break hearts alright,” she leans up,
feathering my chest with kisses, “and his dad will teach him to mend them.”

“What do you think I am, some sort of hero?”

She throws her leg over mine, straddling me and
pressing her palm on my chest, over my heart.

“No. You're not some sort of hero.”

She grabs my hand and brings it to her chest over
her heart.

“You’re my hero.” She guides my hand down her body
and settles it over the bottom of her stomach, “Our hero.”

               
I have to say a big thank you to
everyone in my life. Without all of you this story wouldn’t have been possible.

            To all of my friends, for still being
there after I turned into a hermit in the final stages of this journey, and for
reading over every minute detail to make sure I served the story justice.
There’s a bottle of wine and a girl’s night on the cards before I get cracking
with the next book.

To my family for supporting me as I jumped from idea
to idea, trying to figure out what to do with my life. You have been there for
me no matter what and I love you unconditionally.

            To my son, and my hero, Alfie. I did
this for you, buddy. To show you that you can do anything you want to do.
There’s no mountain you can’t climb, no goal you can’t reach. I promise I will
give you the life you deserve. I love you with all my heart.

            And to my Pops. You were the greatest
man I ever knew and I think about you every day. Thank you for watching down on
me, making sure I do a good job. I hope I’ve made you proud. The first star I
see at night? That’s you. The very same star I saw when this story came to
mind. I miss you and I love you.

            To my readers, you awesome bunch. Thank
you for sticking with this story to the end. There’s plenty more on the way.

            For updates and information on my latest
work, come and join me on Twitter @RRSherwin or like my Facebook page: facebook.com/rebeccasherwinauthor